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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 11
March 18, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Martin to replace Powell as FCC chair
* +Amateur Radio gets high praise at grantees conference
* +Science-oriented questions dominate QSO with ISS commander
* +ARRL charges Ambient, FCC with failure to deal with BPL complaints
* +League asks FCC to shut down Texas BPL pilot
* +Next step could be a fine, FCC tells Vermont licensee
* +Hiram Maxim Percy Award nomination deadline looms
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF: 
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
    +"Oppositions" to BPL petitions for reconsideration due by March 23
    +ARRL seeks information on 60-meter experiences
     Anthony Monteiro, AA2TX, wins February QST Cover Plaque Award
     DXCC Honor Roll list deadline just ahead

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================
NOTE: Because ARRL Headquarters is closed Friday, March 25, next week's
editions of The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News will distribute to
subscribers one day early. There will be no W1AW bulletin or code practice
transmissions on March 25. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Monday, March 28,
at 8 AM Eastern Time.

==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
===========================================================

==>PRESIDENT TAPS COMMISSIONER KEVIN J. MARTIN TO HEAD FCC

President George W. Bush this week announced his intention to designate
Commissioner Kevin J. Martin to chair the FCC. He'll replace Michael K.
Powell, who stepped down this month. Martin, 38, a North Carolina attorney
with close White House ties, has served on the FCC since 2001. In
congratulating Martin on his appointment, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, also
took the opportunity to refresh Martin's memory regarding Amateur Radio's
stake in the broadband over power line (BPL) issue. Last July, Sumner and
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, met with Martin and aide Sam Feder
to discuss their fears about radio interference from BPL systems. When the
FCC unanimously adopted new BPL rules last October, Martin acknowledged
Amateur Radio's concerns, said he would take them seriously, and expressed
confidence that the Commission would take the necessary steps to address
interference.

"Unfortunately, I must advise you that the Commission's record of addressing
BPL interference has proved to be woefully inadequate," Sumner continued,
citing continued BPL interference complaints. "To date the Commission has
not ordered a single BPL system to be shut down, despite the failure of BPL
system operators to resolve interference," Sumner pointed out.

This week, the League renewed its complaint of ongoing BPL interference in
Briarcliff Manor, New York, and filed a complaint with the Enforcement
Bureau and the Office of Engineering and Technology outlining an ongoing BPL
interference case in Irving, Texas (see below).

"The ARRL and the nation's radio amateurs are anxious for a sign that we can
expect this sorry situation to be corrected under your leadership," Sumner
concluded. Since he already sits on the FCC, Martin's appointment will not
require US Senate confirmation. 

Considered the front-runner for the job, Martin said he was "deeply honored"
to be tapped as the next FCC chairman. While Martin and Powell reportedly
clashed over telephone deregulation and media ownership issues, they
essentially were on the same page regarding the promotion of BPL. News
accounts say that Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy, a Republican and a BPL
booster, is also planning to leave the FCC. Abernathy's now-notorious
"broadband Nirvana" remarks about BPL drew sharp opposition from the amateur
community. 

BPL manufacturer Ambient Corporation promptly issued a news release hailing
the appointment of Martin as "a vocal proponent" of BPL systems and citing
segments of Martin's laudatory comments about the technology following the
FCC's October 14, 2004, adoption of new BPL rules. 

Sumner pointed out to Ambient, however, that its news release ignored some
of Martin's other comments in his statement last fall, in which the
commissioner acknowledged Amateur Radio operators' and broadcasters'
interference worries and concluded, "I am confident that the Commission will
continue to monitor these concerns and will take steps, where needed, to
address interference problems going forward."

Sumner reminded Ambient that the League "already has called on Commissioner
Martin to do exactly that."

Attending his 90th FCC meeting and his last as chairman, Powell said
good-bye to his Commission colleagues March 10. "I've loved it! Every single
day of it," he proclaimed, his voice beginning to crack. "It will be the
greatest memory of my life."

==>AMATEUR RADIO IS "POSTER CHILD" OF HOMELAND SECURITY GRANTEES GATHERING

Amateur Radio earned high marks and frequent praise this month during a
gathering of Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) homeland
security grant recipients. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart,
K1MMH, and Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO,
represented the League at the series of meetings March 2-5 in Washington.
ARRL--a special volunteer program--received a 2002 CNCS grant to subsidize
Amateur Radio emergency communications courses, now available on three
levels. The League was among 29 CNCS homeland security grantees attending.

"I wish that every ham--whether or not public service is their primary
interest--could have been at these meetings to celebrate this grant and the
reputation ham radio enjoys among these volunteer service organizations,"
Hobart said. "It really validated Amateur Radio's contribution. There is new
and rekindled appreciation for the sustained public service that Amateur
Radio operators are able to provide nationwide."

Indeed, at the opening session, USA Freedom Corps Director Desiree T. Sayle
used Amateur Radio and the success of the League's CNCS training grant as a
prime example of a successful program. White says she was amazed to hear
Sayle recite the exact number of ARRL emergency communications course
graduates and talk about their continuing work in disaster preparation and
response.

Noting that the CNCS grant tuition subsidies--now in their third and final
year--will expire in June, Hobart strongly urged anyone considering taking
the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses to sign up now. In
that vein, White noted the comments of CNCS Executive Director David Eisner,
who told the CNCS grantees: "Jump aboard a moving rain, rather than find
fuel for a new train that hasn't left yet." 

Hobart and White said that during the various conference sessions, it was
not unusual to see attendees nodding in assent whenever the discussion
turned to Amateur Radio's positive role in their communities. As White
recounted, "it was roundly acknowledged that Amateur Radio operators are
always needed--for assisting in the wake of blackouts, floods, earthquakes,
fires and other emergencies."

Hobart said that in every session were representatives of volunteer
organizations who are working with Amateur Radio and recognize it an
integral component of what they do. 

White says there are several steps hams can take to keep the momentum going.
"If you are a Section Manager, Section Emergency Coordinator or District
Emergency Coordinator, make sure your state and local emergency management
teams know who you are," she said. "If you are a club president or ARES team
leader, please encourage your members to enroll in the grant-funded
emergency communications course before it's too late." To date, more than
4000 radio amateurs have taken advantage of the grant-subsidized ARRL
emergency communications courses.

Hobart also noted that two of the volunteer programs represented at the CNCS
meeting expressed interest in the ARRL Education and Technology Program.
"The reception Amateur Radio received at this meeting was like a welcome for
a good friend," she summed up.

The gratitude and goodwill cut both ways. The ARRL delegation expressed the
League's thanks to Eisner and CNCS for "taking a chance on a non-traditional
organization" in awarding the 2002 training grant. Hobart and White assured
Eisner that radio amateurs are proud of the program's success and "have
voiced the renewed commitment of Amateur Radio to provide emergency
communication whenever and wherever needed."

==>STUDENTS' SPACE QUESTIONS VIA HAM RADIO SHOW STRONG SCIENCE SLANT

A group of Texas high school students emphasized science in posing their
questions via ham radio to International Space Station Expedition 10
Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW. The March 8 contact between Rains High School
in Emory and NA1SS was arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) program. One student quizzed Chiao on how he adjusted
to Newton's Third Law of Motion aboard the space station.

"Well, yes, Newton's Third Law definitely comes into play in space, and it
becomes very obvious that if you push on something, you're going to react in
the opposite direction," Chiao observed. "That's something you get used to
very quickly, and you quickly learn that all you need is a fingertip to push
yourself to the other side of the module."

Students also raised the subject of exposure to radiation in space. Chiao
noted that the crew has both active and passive devices available to
determine their radiation exposure.

"Radiation is very important to monitor in space, because we're getting
exposed to it obviously," Chiao explained. "We have instruments on board
that record the radiation history that we're receiving on the station. We
also wear personal dosimeters that are analyzed after we get back down to
the ground--they also measure the exposure we've received." The crew also
relies on satellite data, he added. Responding to another question, Chiao
conceded that radiation exposure could be a limiting factor for
long-duration human space ventures.

In reply to another physics-related query, Chiao told one student that a Hot
Wheels car could run indefinitely on a track aboard the space station were
it not for friction, which eventually would slow it down and stop it. A fish
could not swim for long in a blob of water floating in microgravity, Chiao
explained fielding another question, because its motion likely would soon
break up the globule, leaving the fish literally high and dry.

Handling Earth-station duties for the contact was Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, at
Sacred Hearts Academy in Honolulu. MCI donated a teleconference circuit to
provide two-way audio between Texas and Hawaii. Mentoring the contact was
Howard Ziserman, WA3GOV.

Marring portions of the Rains contact were deep signal fades and apparent
Doppler shift. ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, at
Johnson Space Center reports that subsequent discussions with an attitude
control specialist revealed that the ISS was in a free-drift mode that
resulted in some signal blockage for the single ARISS Phase 2 station
antenna.

"As fate would have it, the Amateur Radio antenna was not in the optimum
position as the ISS passed over Hawaii but instead was pointing spaceward,"
Ransom explained."

Fifteen Rains High School students, under the direction of science teacher
Deena Harper, participated in the ARISS event, which attracted some media
coverage. ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational
outreach program with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>AMBIENT, FCC FAILING TO ADDRESS NEW YORK BPL COMPLAINTS, ARRL CHARGES

The ARRL has charged BPL equipment maker Ambient Corporation and the FCC
with being unwilling or unable to effectively deal with harmful interference
stemming from a New York BPL pilot project. The League this week asked the
Commission for the third time to shut down Ambient's Briarcliff Manor
"non-compliant system without further delay" until Ambient addresses
interference complaints. Ambient operates the system under its WD2XEQ Part 5
Experimental license. The League's latest salvo in the Briarcliff Manor BPL
battle was in response to a February 10 letter from Bruce Franca, deputy
chief of the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET). Franca's letter
concluded that FCC measurements in response to Amateur Radio complaints of
harmful interference showed that no changes were required to the BPL system.

"The Commission's failure to conduct a thorough investigation of this
matter, and the tenor of your February 10, 2005, letter, lead to speculation
that the Commission is really not interested in finding the interference
that exists at Briarcliff Manor or at other BPL test sites or in enforcing
the Part 15 rules," the ARRL responded. "Ambient's apparent tactic of making
changes in the system after receiving interference complaints and then
denying that the interference problems complained of ever existed is not
helpful." Nor did it help, the League's filing continued, that Ambient's
engineer refused last December to participate with ARRL in a demonstration
of the interference. The League said it's no longer possible for the
Commission or Ambient "to deny the ongoing, serious interference problems at
Briarcliff Manor."

The League pointed out that a member of the FCC Enforcement Bureau's staff
personally witnessed the interference from the Briarcliff Manor system at
two locations that were the focus of complaints last December. At that time,
ARRL Laboratory staff members took measurements at various points in the
system to document problems.

While subsequent ARRL measurements did turn up a reduction of BPL emissions
in some areas, emissions that would "substantially preclude Amateur
communications" remain, the ARRL said, and along Dalmeny Road, interference
is still at levels essentially unchanged from those measured last December
and appear throughout the 20-meter band.

ARRL Laboratory staff members most recently visited Briarcliff Manor on
March 11, and the League's filing to the FCC and Ambient this week included
a summary of their measurements and observations. At one point, RF emission
levels from the BPL system exceeded the FCC's Part 15 permitted levels by up
to 20 dB, the League said.

The ARRL further faulted the FCC for not contacting the complainant,
Westchester County ARES Emergency Coordinator Alan Crosswell, N2YGK, who
routinely travels the roads in question and has experienced interference.
Crosswell, who's also Westchester County RACES Officer, has documented BPL
interference, complaints and related information on his "BPL in Briarcliff
Manor" Web site <http://www.columbia.edu/~alan/bpl/>.

The League said the FCC's continued refusal to shut down the Ambient
Corporation's BPL system in Briarcliff Manor "highlights the completely
arbitrary and baseless findings in the Commission's Report and Order in
Docket 04-37, adopted last October 14.

ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, shared a copy of the ARRL's latest complaint to
the FCC and Ambient with the New York State Emergency Research & Development
Authority (NYSERDA), which has provided public funding to the Briarcliff
Manor BPL project. Sumner reminded NYSERDA Director Gunnar Walmet of
Walmet's statement last summer that the project would require Con Edison to
"continually monitor possible radio interference" from the BPL
demonstration.

"I respectfully submit that Con Ed has failed to meet your requirement,"
Sumner told Walmet. "It has been almost nine months since I first brought
this situation to your attention. What is NYSERDA's response that I can
share with our 152,000 members?"

The League's latest filing is on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/files/BPL-BCM-Reply2Franca031705.pdf>
.

==>LEAGUE SEEKS TEXAS BPL PILOT PROJECT SHUTDOWN, FINES

The ARRL has requested that the FCC immediately shut down an Irving, Texas,
BPL pilot project and fine its operator for causing extensive harmful
interference to Amateur Radio communications. The League's March 15 filing
to the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, the FCC Office of Engineering and
Technology and the system's operator comes in the wake of--and supports--a
complaint from ARRL member Jory McIntosh, KJ5RM, of Hastlet, Texas, who
regularly commutes through the BPL test zone in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The FCC has yet to respond to a formal complaint he filed last fall.

"The results of tests conducted by ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare are that
this facility, which has been the subject of an unresolved interference
complaint dating back to November, 2004, is still regularly causing harmful
interference to Amateur Radio stations and must be required to cease
operation immediately," said the League's complaint, signed by ARRL General
Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD. Hare visited the Texas site last October.

The ARRL said the levels of interfering BPL signals Hare measured and
documented "are sufficient to obscure virtually all Amateur Radio received
signals and preclude Amateur Radio communications in the areas and on the
bands identified in the report."

McIntosh personally documented some two dozen instances of harmful
interference from the BPL test stand on 11 days between July and October
2004, the ARRL complaint noted. He logged serious interference on 40, 20,
17, 15, 10 and 6 meters. McIntosh says he's experienced interference "so bad
that even with full filtering and digital signal processing engaged, I am
unable to continue my communications until I am one mile away from the
system."

This week's ARRL filing, which included a summary of Hare's measurements,
recounted McIntosh's complaints last summer to utility TXU and BPL equipment
provider Amperion. TXU and Amperion representatives accompanied McIntosh on
interference demonstrations and made some unspecified adjustments. But, the
League notes in its complaint, "Nothing has changed since the complaint was
first lodged." As of March 9, 2005, the ARRL said, the system was producing
the same amounts of interference within and outside the amateur bands that
McIntosh already had reported. 

Test results attached to the complaint "are sufficient to demonstrate that
this BPL test site should be shut down immediately," the League said. The
ARRL also called on the FCC to impose monetary forfeitures on Amperion.

The ARRL's test report points out that the interference is not confined to
Amateur Radio spectrum but covers a wide swath of HF as well as low-VHF and
"various aeronautical, commercial and government spectrum." The report noted
that many of the bands the FCC's new BPL will require to be notched are not
now protected.

A copy of the League's filing is on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/files/BPL-IrvingComplaintAsFiled0305.
pdf>.

==>FCC TELLS VERMONT HAM THAT FINE IS NEXT STEP

The FCC has warned David J. Tolassi, WA1BHV (ex-KB1EVE), of Barre, Vermont,
that he's risking a substantial fine if he continues to violate the
conditions of his 2004 license renewal. After a series of "enforcement
issues" relating to the operation of KB1EVE, the FCC renewed Tolassi's
General class ticket in January 2004 on the condition that he refrain from
20-meter voice operation for three years. Following up on allegations that
Tolassi had violated the prohibition, FCC Special Counsel Riley
Hollingsworth wrote the licensee February 23.

"Information before the Commission indicates that you have violated the
condition of your license by operating voice on the 20-meter amateur band,"
Hollingsworth said. "Please be advised that if the condition is violated
again, you will be issued a monetary forfeiture (fine)." Hollingsworth noted
that fines for such unauthorized operation typically range from $4000 to
$7000.

In late 2003, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) referred
Tolassi's renewal application to the Enforcement Bureau for review as a
result of the "enforcement issues," which, Hollingsworth says, involved
inappropriate on-the-air behavior. To resolve the situation, Tolassi agreed
to stay off 20-meter phone until February 1, 2007, in exchange for having
the FCC renew his license.

In 1999, Tolassi, formerly KC1ZQ, failed to pass the Advanced class
examination after being summoned by the FCC for retesting, and his license
class was downgraded to General. The FCC issued KB1EVE, a call sign
appropriate for a General class licensee in March 2000. Tolassi obtained
WA1BHV last May through the vanity call sign program.

==>DEADLINE NEARS FOR 2004 HPM AWARD NOMINATIONS

Nominations for the 2004 ARRL Hiram Percy Maxim Memorial Award are due by
Thursday, March 31. The League's top youth honor, the HPM Award goes
annually to a radio amateur under the age of 21 whose accomplishments and
contributions to both the community of Amateur Radio and the local community
are exemplary. 

An ideal nominee may be involved in recruiting new hams through
demonstrations as well as by example to his or her peers; on the air and/or
public service activities; employing technical ingenuity to further Amateur
Radio; public relations activities; and organizations on a local, state or
national level. 

The HPM Award winner receives an engraved plaque and a check for $1500.
Those nominating HPM Award candidates should include contact information and
forward the form to their ARRL Section Manager
<http://www.arrl.org/sections/>. Section managers also may nominate young
hams for this award. 

All supplementary information must be received at ARRL on or before April
15. There is no limit to the number of nominations an individual or club may
submit to the ARRL Section Manager. 

Details are on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/awards/hpm.html>. For additional
information, contact Mark Spencer, WA8SME <mspencer@arrl.org>;; 860-594-0396.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Propagation prognosticator Tad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Cook, K7RA,
Seattle, Washington, reports: During this reporting week, sunspot counts
were higher, while geomagnetic indices were lower--a nice combination for HF
operators. Average daily sunspot counts rose nearly 25 points to 60.7, and
average daily solar flux increased nearly 22 points to 107.8.

The outlook for the very near term is for sunspots and solar flux to decline
very gradually from current values until March 26-29, then rise back to
current activity around April 6-11. Geomagnetic conditions should be
slightly unsettled for March 18-19, but otherwise quiet after that.

Sunspot numbers for March 10 through 16 were 70, 59, 67, 77, 49, 58 and 45
with, a mean of 60.7. The 10.7 cm flux was 101.6, 104.9, 110.1, 113.8,
111.5, 108.2 and 104.6, with a mean of 107.8. Estimated planetary A indices
were 13, 6, 4, 6, 21, 4 and 6, with a mean of 8.6. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 10, 3, 2, 4, 12, 3 and 4, with a mean of 5.4.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The 10-10 International Mobile Contest, the
BARTG HF RTTY Contest, the SARL VHF/UHF Contest, the Russian DX Contest, the
CLARA and Family HF Contest, the Virginia QSO Party, the UBA Spring Contest
(6 meters) and the 9K Contest Club 15-Meter Contest are the weekend of March
19-20. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (SSB) is March 24. JUST AHEAD:
the CQ WW WPX Contest (SSB), the UBA Spring Contest (2 meters), the Spring
QRP Homebrewer Sprint, the Low Power Spring Sprint are the weekend of March
26-27. The Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society (ARLHS) Annual Spring Lites QSO
Party runs from March 26 to Apr 3. 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 ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) and Radio Propagation
(EC-011) on-line courses remains open through Sunday, March 20. Classes
begin Friday, April 1. The Antenna Modeling course is an excellent way to
learn the ins and outs of antenna modeling. Expert and noted author L.B.
Cebik, W4RNL, has combined the expertise of his long career as a college
professor with his love and antennas and antenna modeling to offer a
comprehensive, yet practical, course of study. Propagation students will
study the science of RF propagation, including the properties of
electromagnetic waves, the atmosphere and the ionosphere, the sun and
sunspots, ground waves and sky waves, and various propagation
modes--including aurora and meteor scatter. To learn more, visit the ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/>
or e-mail 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 III on-line course
(EC-003) opens Monday, March 21, at 1201 AM EST and will remain open until
all available seats have been filled or through the March 26-27
weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, April 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. ACT
NOW! THESE ARE THE FINAL MONTHS OF THE GRANT-SUBSIDIZED CLASSES! Radio
amateurs age 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.

* "Oppositions" to BPL petitions for reconsideration due by March 23:
Opposition comments ("oppositions") to the various petitions for
reconsideration of the FCC's October 14, 2004, Report and Order (R&O)
adopting new Part 15 rules governing BPL must be filed by Wednesday, March
23, in the two BPL-related proceedings--ET Docket 03-104 and ET Docket
04-37. A 10-day period to file replies to oppositions will follow. Petitions
for reconsideration have been filed by BPL industry groups and proponents as
well as by the ARRL and other organizations and individuals concerned about
BPL's interference potential. All petitions for reconsideration are
available for viewing via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. Those wishing to file oppositions to
specific petitions may use the ECFS to do so, but comments supporting one
petition or another are not welcome, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD,
has pointed out. He says radio amateurs may file oppositions on any petition
with which they have specific issues, but commenters should support their
points with facts and statements. "All statements should be specific to one
or more arguments in a reconsideration petition with which the person filing
an opposition disagrees," Imlay explained. "They should not simply say, 'I
oppose this petition.'"

* ARRL seeks information on 60-meter experiences: The ARRL is gathering
information regarding Amateur Radio operating experience on the 60-meter
band authorized in 2003. The League specifically is looking for responses to
these questions: 1) Did you have any problem getting your
transmitter/transceiver properly set up on one or more of the 60-meter
center-frequency channels--5332, 5348, 5368, 5373 and 5405 kHz? 2) How much
or how often have you used these frequencies? 3) What type of traffic have
you transmitted? In particular, have you handled any emergency traffic? 4)
Have you found 60 meters to be better than 80 or 40 meters for certain times
or distances? 5) Have you encountered any interference to or from government
stations that are assigned these channels on a primary basis? If so, how was
it resolved? Respondents are invited to share additional information that
might help the ARRL to assess operation on 60 meters to date as well as its
use in the future. Please reply by Monday, March 29, to ARRL Chief
Technology Officer, Paul Rinaldo, W4RI <w4ri@arrl.org>;.

* Anthony Monteiro, AA2TX, wins February QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner
of the QST Cover Plaque Award for February is Anthony Monteiro, AA2TX, for
his article "A Panel-Reflector Antenna for 70 cm." Congratulations, Anthony!
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 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 March issue by Thursday, March 31. 

* DXCC Honor Roll list deadline just ahead: The submission deadline to
appear in the next DXCC Honor Roll list is March 31. Submissions must be
postmarked by that date for your submission to qualify for this listing. The
DXCC Honor Roll list will appear in the August QST. There are 335 entities
on the DXCC list, and you must be within the numerical top 10 DXCC entities
to qualify for Honor Roll. The current minimum requirement for Honor Roll is
326 current entities.

=========================================================== 
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

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The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly summary of essential news of interest to active amateurs that is available in advance of publication in QST, our official journal. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise and readable.

Much of the ARRL Letter content is also available in audio form in ARRL Audio News.

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.

Back issues published since 2000 are available on this page. If you wish to subscribe via e-mail, simply log on to the ARRL Web site, click on Edit Your Profile at the top, then click on Edit Email Subscriptions. Check the box next to The ARRL email newsletter, the ARRL Letter and you will receive each weekly issue in HTML format. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org

Editorial questions or comments: John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, at news@arrl.org.

Plain-Text

The ARRL E-Letter e-mail is also available in plain-text version:

Outlook Express

1. From the Inbox view, select the Tools menu and the Options selection.

2. Click the Read tab

3. Check the Read All Messages In Plain Text box.  When you open the e-mail, it will be in plain text without images. Other e-mail programs may be able to make a Mail Rule for e-mail received from the address memberlist@www.arrl.org so that the plain-text-only display is selected automatically.

Outlook 2007

Use the same procedure as for Outlook Express, although the global option is under "Tools/Trust Center/E-mail Security".

Thunderbird

Use the menu item "View/Message Body As/Plain Text" or "View/Message Source" options.

OS X Mail (Mac)

Use the "View/Message/Plain Text Alternative" menu item.

GMail

Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...

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