*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 26, No. 11 March 16, 2007 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +WRC-07 preparations take a giant step forward * +Field Day 2007 planning already under way * +Food fights? In school QSO astronaut describes games in space * +Application avalanche continues in ARRL VEC * +Ham radio shut down in Iraq * +FCC begins posting ham radio enforcement actions on its site * +Army MARS updates its mission * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration +AMSAT and TAPR to hold joint Dayton Hamvention banquet CQ introduces HF Operator's Survival Guide Special events commemorate Jamestown's 400th anniversary Swain's Island is most-wanted DXCC entity on German list Cushcraft Corporation acquired by Laird Technologies +Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> =========================================================== ==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail <letter-dlvy@arrl.org> ==>Editorial questions or comments only: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, <n1rl@arrl.org> =========================================================== ==>AMATEUR RADIO-RELATED WRC-07 TEXT SURVIVES CONFERENCE PREPARATORY MEETING Technical report text on two World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07) agenda items of interest to Amateur Radio has survived the WRC-07 Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM-07). The nearly 600-page Conference Preparatory Meeting Report (CPM Report) contains "methods" that satisfy the International Amateur Radio Union's (IARU) desired options for allocations in the vicinity of 136 kHz, 5 MHz and 7 MHz, thanks to the efforts of the IARU delegation. "The IARU was successful in retaining these options in the official report," said IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, who headed the IARU delegation to CPM-07 February 19 until March 2. "Of course, it is a long step to actually get an allocation at the WRC." Ken Pulfer, VE3PU, also served on the IARU delegation. Sponsored by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CPM-07 drew to Geneva some 1100 delegates from more than 100 countries to finalize and adopt the massive technical report, in preparation over the past four years. The CPM Report will guide the work of delegates attending WRC-07 October 22 through November 16. It provides background information on each WRC-07 agenda item, various methods of addressing the agenda items and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Agenda Item (AI) 1.13 addresses the allocation of HF spectrum between 4 and 10 MHz, including the possibility of allocation changes in the 40 and 60 meter bands, while AI 1.15 opens the possibility of a secondary ham radio allocation in the vicinity of 136 kHz. IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, concedes that AI 1.13 is "one of the most complex and controversial items" on the WRC-07 agenda. "It's anyone's guess as to how the dust might settle come November," he commented. The CPM Report presents eight methods to satisfy specific parts of AI 1.13. Methods 6 and 7 are favorable to the Amateur Radio Service. Method 6 would provide a worldwide secondary amateur allocation of 5.260 to 5.410 MHz "to allow communications at times when propagation conditions do not permit the use of the presently allocated bands at 3.5 and 7 MHz." On the down side, the CPM Report said, such a 5 MHz amateur allocation could impact spectrum available for the Fixed and Mobile and the Broadcasting services. Method 7 provides a primary allocation at 7.200 to 7.300 MHz in Regions 1 and 3 "to globally harmonize the Amateur Service allocations." Among Method 7's disadvantages, the CPM Report said it could reduce spectrum now allocated to HF broadcasting in Regions 1 and 3 and "significantly complicates the problem of identifying" additional Broadcasting Service spectrum. Adoption of Method 7 at WRC-07 would achieve the IARU's goal of a worldwide, 300-kHz Amateur Radio allocation at 7 MHz, however. It essentially implements the second phase of the work begun at WRC-03, which expanded the Amateur Radio allocation at 7 MHz by 100 kHz (7.100 to 7.200 MHz) by March 2009. It would have no impact on the current 7.000 to 7.300 MHz 40-meter allocation in Region 2 (the Americas). AI 1.15 Method A would establish a secondary amateur allocation at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz in all three Regions "with footnotes ensuring protection of other services operating in the same band." One alternative footnote would set a maximum radiated power limit of 1 W EIRP and would require that stations not cause harmful interference to radionavigation stations in certain countries. A second alternative footnote doesn't include the 1 W EIRP power limit. Method B would make no changes to the allocations table. The CPM Report lists no "foreseen" disadvantages to Method A. The CPM Report notes that more than 20 countries have established either domestic amateur allocations or authorized experimental and amateur communication in the low-frequency range, including 135.7 to 137.8 kHz. "We were able to achieve at CPM-07 the methods that would result in the allocations we seek," Sumner explains. "However, it remains for administrations to propose them if they are to be considered this fall at WRC-07." Radio amateurs served on some national delegations to CPM-07. Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, and Walt Ireland, WB7CSL -- both of the ARRL's Technical Relations Office near Washington, DC -- represented the League on the US delegation to CPM-07. Jim Dean, VE3IQ, represented Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) on Canada's delegation, while Jay Oka, JA1TRC represented the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) on Japan's delegation. ==>FIELD DAY 2007 OFFERS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR HF NEWCOMERS Although Field Day 2007 is still more than three months away, many ham radio clubs and groups already have begun making plans for this year's event, Saturday and Sunday, June 23-24. Field Day has always been an ideal time for new hams to become more proficient operators and for prospective licensees to get "bitten by the Amateur Radio bug." That may be even more the case during Field Day 2007, as many radio amateurs gain new HF operating privileges because of the rule changes that went into effect February 23. "This is an opportunity to get new or upgraded licensees on the air for some active mentoring and active learning," says ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson, N1ND. "Field Day 2007 will be a chance to learn and grow, but above all, it will be a lot of fun -- and for many there is perhaps nothing more fun in ham radio than ARRL Field Day." The numbers support that claim. Last June, more than 32,500 operators took part in ARRL Field Day -- some as individuals but many more as part of a club or group. The League saw some 2200 Field Day log submissions for the 2006 event, during which nearly 1.24 million completed contacts went into the log -- not a record but up a little from the previous year. While no longer a licensing requirement, Morse code (CW) remains a very popular Field Day operating mode, perhaps because CW QSOs are worth twice as much as phone contacts. Last year some 56 percent of Field Day contacts took place on SSB, while nearly 42 percent were on CW (the rest were digital contacts). Henderson points out two small changes in the Field Day rules starting this year. First, participating stations may only complete one satellite contact for bonus points via a single-channel FM-mode spacecraft (Rule 7.3.7.1), and it must be an Earth-satellite-Earth contact. "This will allow more stations to access this very limited resource," he says. Second, an individual Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) station operators will earn 20 points for each 20 contacts, up to a maximum of 100 per GOTA operator. Henderson notes that no partial point credit is available, and GOTA operators may not "pool" contacts toward any 20-QSO GOTA station bonus. "Amateur Radio stands at a juncture where we can embrace both the old and new," Henderson says. He notes, too, that the variety of available operating modes -- traditional and experimental -- contributes toward Field Day's status as the most popular annual operating event. "Field Day is truly the time where we bring Amateur Radio to Main Street USA -- a great time for 'the Bug' to bite as many people as it can," Henderson says. "Use Field Day 2007 to open up Amateur Radio to the next generation of radio amateurs on your Main Street! It's up to us to make it happen." Complete information on Field Day 2007 packet is available on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/>. ==>GAMES ASTRONAUTS PLAY IN SPACE AMONG ISS HAM RADIO CONTACT TOPICS ISS Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Flight Engineer Suni Williams, KD5PLB, recently discussed their experiences in space with students at two schools. The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program arranged the direct VHF contacts with Boulder Hill Elementary School in Montgomery, Illinois, March 6, and with Mission Viejo High School, in Mission Viejo, California, March 9. Williams told the youngsters at Boulder Hill that the dress code in space is strictly informal. "People don't understand that up here it's just like being in your house," Williams explained, "so we can wear a T-shirt and shorts or a pair of pants if it gets a little bit cool." She pointed out that crew members need to wear pressure suits during launch and spacesuits when working outside the space station. Among activities the crew engages in for recreation involves something resembling a food fight in microgravity. Williams said crew members "throw food and see how long we can throw it through one part of the module to the next without hitting anything." Throwing in microgravity is interesting, she said, because the tendency is to throw slightly upward "because you're used to gravity." As a result, she added, "you usually hit the ceiling." As for the food, beyond its recreational value, Williams -- after a moment's hesitation -- rated it as merely "okay," adding that the space cuisine "sort of just gets old after a while because I've been up here three months, and the menu is starting to repeat." The Boulder Hill contact was Williams' 12th ARISS event. As NA1SS and the school's club station W9BHB established communication, Williams surprised teacher Maureen Jorgensen, greeting the soon-to-be retiree by name. W9BHB control operator John Spasojevich, K9COE, said it marked the high point in Jorgensen's 35-year career. "Our retiring teacher is still in orbit," he remarked afterward. With between 600 and 700 parents, teachers and fellow pupils looking on, each of the 23 participating youngsters got to ask a question during the pass. At least one newspaper reported on the contact the following day. Assisting Spasojevich with Earth station duties were members of the Fox River Radio League (FRRL). Spasojevich and Greg Braun, N9CHA, mentored the youngsters in the school's ham radio club for the past year and a half. Commented School Superintendent David Behlow in a note to Spasojevich after the event: "What a great day for our kids, Boulder Hill, the radio club, parents and the community!" On March 9, Lopez-Alegria took questions from students at his alma mater, Mission Viejo High School. After an abortive attempt to complete the contact between NA1SS and K6UCI at the school a day earlier, ARISS was able to reschedule it promptly. Lopez-Alegria answered 13 questions during the approximately eight-minute pass, along the way offering some thoughts on how he became an astronaut. "Y'know, I was a guy who was not really good at anything, but pretty good at a lot of things, and I think that's what an astronaut is . . . is a generalist," Lopez-Alegria said. "And I feel I wasn't going to make my mark in the world by inventing a cure for cancer or becoming a professional athlete or anything that took a lot of talent, but I thought I could parlay some of my talents into something good, along with having a lot of fun. So that's what kind of did it for me." Lopez-Alegria told the high schoolers, "Space is better than I thought it would be," and he said he'd do it all over again if he had the opportunity. The contact marked his fourth ARISS event, which was mentored by Kerry Banke, N6IZW. Members of the South Orange Amateur Radio Association (SOARA) and the University of California -- Irvine Amateur Radio Club (K6UCI) handled Earth station duties for the Mission Viejo QSO. Matt Bennett, KF6RTB, was the K6UCI control operator. A model United Nations School, Mission Viejo High School used its ARISS QSO to help teach a module on negotiation, communication and conflict resolution with others around the world. ARISS is an international educational outreach, with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>ARRL VEC STILL "BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!" The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) reports business continues to be brisk following the FCC's deletion of Morse code as a ham radio licensing requirement. "Busy, busy, busy!" is how ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, described the situation in her department. She says nearly 800 exam sessions are on the schedule for March with another 600 for April, "and it doesn't look like test session activity will be slowing down any time soon," she added. ARRL VEC hosts 450 exam sessions in a typical month. Despite the hectic pace, Somma says personnel have been able to process most test session paperwork promptly. "The majority of our VE teams are returning the sessions in good order and with all the needed forms," she noted. "Thank you!" While new call signs or upgrades typically appear in the FCC's ULS database within 15 days, processing times are down a bit, and for a variety of reasons, it may take longer than that. Somma advises applicants to allow 15 days from the testing date before checking on application status. To follow up, first use the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS) <http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/> "Search Licenses" tab, or check the ARRL Web license search engine <http://www.arrl.org/fcc/fcclook.php3>. To contact the FCC, call toll-free during business hours 888-225-5322. Anyone who tested at an ARRL VEC session and whose application has not been granted within 15 days may call ARRL VEC, 860-594-0300 (this is not a toll-free number). As of week's end, there were approximately 320,000 Technician licensees in the US -- still more than any other license class but dipping a bit as the number of Generals rises due to upgrading under the new rules. ==>AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY SHUT DOWN IN IRAQ Iraq Amateur Radio Society (IARS) President Diya Sayah, YI1DZ, has informed ARRL that all Amateur Radio activity in Iraq has been suspended until the security situation there improves. The ham radio blackout began this week. Sayah says the suspension affects both Iraqi citizens as well as any foreigners, including military personnel and contractors -- who have been on the air from Iraq identifying with YI9-prefix call signs. It does not affect the operation of Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) stations, however, since they operate on military frequencies, not amateur frequencies. The IARS is informing its member to stay off the air, although some Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) modes like IRLP and EchoLink still are okay to use, as long as they don't involve transmitting a signal over the air. The request to halt all ham radio activity and the issuance of licenses in Iraq originated with a letter from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as part of the new Baghdad security plan, Sayah said. He received subsequent confirmation via the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research to shut down ham radio activity, although he allows for a possible misunderstanding on the part of government officials as to the nature and purpose of Amateur Radio. "I'm waiting an answer from the Office of Prime Minister, because I requested a meeting with him through e-mail," Sayah told the League. He said the government expressed concerns over the difficulty of identifying "enemy" as opposed to "friendly" radio traffic, the potential for revealing military movements via radio and eavesdropping. Sayah said the government also wanted radio amateurs in Iraq to send all ham radio equipment to the IARS until the security situation improved, but he's advising hams in Iraq to hang onto their gear. "Because we had the security plan going, no one can carry his equipment, and all checkpoints belongs to the Ministry of Defense," he said. "Besides, the location of our Society is not safe to keep members' equipment in one place." Sayah also has reached out to the worldwide Amateur Radio community to use its influence to reverse the Iraqi government policy. ==>FCC NOW POSTING AMATEUR RADIO ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence -- with some exceptions -- now is available to the public on the FCC's "Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions" Web site <http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html>. The listing will be cumulative, and Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth anticipates updating it every 7 to 10 days. The site will not be a comprehensive listing of enforcement correspondence. For example, it will not include letters requiring retesting pursuant to §97.519(d) of the FCC's rules, letters regarding radio frequency interference to amateur licensees and letters requesting an initial response to a complaint. As a result of irregularities detected by ARRL VEC in examination sessions in Clinton, South Carolina, in June and July 2006, Hollingsworth has issued retest orders to Technician licensees in Simpsonville, Greenwood, and Clinton, South Carolina, to an Amateur Extra licensee in Joanna, South Carolina (Elements 3 and 4), and to a General licensee in Laurens, South Carolina (Element 3). He also wrote to Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Azle, Texas; Northfork Electric Cooperative, Sayre, Oklahoma; Bit-by-Bit Horse Farms, Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, and to a resident of Gallipolis, Ohio, requesting they work with Amateur Radio licensees regarding RF interference generated by power line hardware and other devices. Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions Web postings via e-mail only to Riley Hollingsworth in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division <fccham@fcc.gov>. ==>KATRINA LESSONS LEARNED DRIVING UPDATED ARMY MARS MISSION Following an 18-month analysis of its performance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the US Army Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) <http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/> is reshaping its mission. Army MARS Chief Stuart S. "Stu" Carter has told the MARS membership of some 2600 Amateur Radio volunteers that priorities and procedures have been reshuffled. Retraining and the building of tighter bonds with the federal and state agencies MARS supports in emergencies are getting special attention. "The challenges we face are new and more demanding than those we've prepared for in the past," Carter told MARS members. "We need to know that all of our members are well trained, ready, capable and willing to meet those challenges." Voicing his intent to make the organization relevant to the 21st Century, Carter assumed leadership of Army MARS last December, succeeding Kathy Harrison. In addition to his role as chief of Army MARS, Carter continues as deputy director of current operations for the US Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM), headquartered at Ft Huachuca, Arizona. As MARS chief, he inherits the post's AAA9A call sign. Among other initiatives, Carter has ratcheted up MARS training requirements to include National Incident Management System (NIMS) <http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm> training courses. He's also directed a doubling of the on-air drill requirement in regional and state HF radio nets. Beyond that, he also plans an aggressive informational campaign to make MARS better known within the federal establishment as an emergency/disaster resource. He also reiterated that Army MARS will seek a "defined relationship" with the ARRL. "We need to know each other better," said Carter, a retired US Air Force lieutenant colonel with 30 years' service in communications and information technology. "The objective would be to enhance the amateur community's overall emergency readiness while minimizing duplication of effort." MARS sees its own regional and national HF capability as a natural fit with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES). The updated MARS program builds on the emergency readiness mission begun during the 16-year tenure of former Army MARS Chief Bob Sutton, N7UZY. Army MARS already has been realigned so regional boundaries coincide with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) districts. Carter has appointed 10 volunteer regional directors to facilitate responses to multi-state emergencies. Under Carter's leadership, MARS also is moving away from a paradigm where members mostly just relay emergency traffic from fixed stations. Under a more mobile MARS model, a few specially-trained volunteers also will be available to deploy to disaster areas along with the US Army and federal agencies, such as FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration. In addition, Army MARS has replaced its longstanding digital message network with a Winlink 2000 system that combines radio and Internet links to ensure swift and dependable message delivery. Army MARS also will continue to emphasize collaboration among the Air Force and Navy-Marine Corps MARS organization. Carter has tapped Lawrence Hays, WB6OTS, to fill the new post of chief of operations, with responsibility for planning, emergency activations liaison with external agencies and training materials development. He's named fellow NETCOM headquarters staffer James Banks as director of regional operations. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Sun Dude Tad "SPF 15" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: We just had more zero-sunspot days, followed by the brief emergence of small spots, then more days with no sunspots. The average daily sunspot number for the past week was down nearly 70 percent from the previous week, to 5.9. A solar wind hit Earth Tuesday, March 13, resulting in a rise in geomagnetic indices. The planetary A index went up to 26, while the A index measured at Fairbanks, Alaska -- the college A index -- rose to 50. The next period of higher geomagnetic activity is predicted for March 27, then April 9 and April 23. The vernal equinox is coming up in a few days. On Wednesday, March 21, at 0007 UTC (Tuesday, March 20 in North America) the sunlight hitting the northern and southern hemispheres will be equal. With an equal measure of sunlight striking both hemispheres, the equinox is a good time for HF propagation, with the possible exception that we have very low sunspot activity. Sunspot numbers for March 8 through 14 were 0, 0, 16, 14, 11, 0 and 0, with a mean of 5.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 72.5, 71.6, 71.2, 71, 71.2, 71.4, and 70, with a mean of 71.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 2, 4, 8, 9, 26 and 8, with a mean of 8.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 1, 2, 6, 7, 18 and 9, with a mean of 6.6. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The 10-10 International Mobile Contest, the BARTG Spring RTTY Contest, the Russian DX Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, the Virginia QSO, the UBA Spring Contest (6 meters), the ARCI HF Grid Square Sprint, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest are the weekend of March 17-18. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint and the RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (SSB) are March 22. JUST AHEAD: The CQ World Wide WPX Contest (SSB), and the QRP Homebrewer Spring are the weekend of March 24-25. 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 remains open through Sunday, March 25, for these ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses beginning on Friday, April 6: The ARRL Ham Radio License Course (EC-010), Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). These courses will also open for registration Friday, March 23, for classes beginning Friday, May 4. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department <cce@arrl.org>. * AMSAT and TAPR to hold joint Dayton Hamvention banquet: TAPR and AMSAT are teaming up to sponsor a joint banquet in conjunction with Dayton Hamvention 2007. "Dinner Under the Wings" will take place Friday, May 18, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force. Doors open at 6 PM in the Air Power Gallery (World War II). A buffet dinner will be served at 7 PM in the Cold War area. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse the museum. Reservations *are* required. Tickets are $35 per person and will be available until May 14. Tickets will *not* be sold at the TAPR booth at Hamvention. To order tickets and for additional information, visit the AMSAT Web site <http://www.amsat-na.com/item.php?id=100133>. * CQ introduces HF Operator's Survival Guide: In response to recent changes in licensing rules and operating privileges for all hams, the editors of CQ Amateur Radio magazine have prepared an HF Operator's Survival Guide, a 16-page getting-started guide for newcomers to high-frequency (shortwave) Amateur Radio communications. Written by CQ Contesting Editor John Dorr, K1AR, Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, and CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, the booklet is a practical, hands-on guide to success in HF ham radio. "Starting out on HF can be pretty intimidating, especially now, at the bottom of the sunspot cycle, when DX opportunities are harder to find," said Moseson, who also oversaw the guide's overall production. "This practical guide will help the new HF operator, regardless of license class, hit the air running." Among other topics, the book discusses the characteristics of each HF ham band and explains which is best and when, basic HF operating practices, choosing your first HF transceiver, antenna basics, and various HF modes and operating activities. There's also an HF band chart. The HF Operator's Survival Guide is $2 (plus shipping), with discounts available for bulk purchases. To order, or for more information, contact CQ Communications Inc, 800-853-9797 (toll-free) weekdays 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time. * Special events commemorate Jamestown's 400th anniversary: Special event stations W4V, K4V and N4V will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown Colony. On May 24, 1607, the Virginia Company of London established the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown Island, near present-day Jamestown, Virginia. The Central Virginia Contest Club (CVCC) says W4V will be on the air during the Virginia QSO Party <http://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/QSOParty.htm> March 17-18 and during the CQ World Wide WPX (SSB) Contest March 24-25 as well as May 12-27. CVCC members will use W4V at other times. QSLs for the March and May operations go to NW4V (US stations, include an SASE). WA4PGM will operate as K4V March 16-21, including the Virginia QSO Party (QSL to WA4PGM). N4V will also be on during the Virginia QSO Party, mostly on RTTY and PSK-31 (QSL via KT4U). These operations count toward The Virginia Quadricentennial Commemorative Amateur Radio Award <http://www.dxawards.com/inet2007.htm#Virginia>. -- The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> * Swain's Island is most-wanted DXCC entity on German list: Cited by more than 83 percent of survey respondents, Swain's Island (KH8/S) tops the German DX Foundation (GDXF) 2006 "mixed" list of most-wanted DXCC entities. Continuing down the Top 10: 2. Scarborough Reef (BS7H), 3. Navassa Island (KP1), 4. Bouvet Island (Y/B), 5. Lakshadweep Islands (VU7), 6. South Orkney Islands (VP8/O), 7. Kermadec Islands (ZL8), 8. Desecheo Island (KP5), 9. North Korea (P5) and 10. Marquesas Islands (FO/M). North Korea, Swain's and Scarborough were the top-three most wanted on the CW list. The GDXF conducted its poll <http://www.gdxf.de/mostwanted.html> in December. -- The Daily DX * Cushcraft Corporation acquired by Laird Technologies: Cushcraft Corporation, a manufacturer of antennas for Amateur Radio, commercial and industrial applications has been acquired by Laird Technologies. A February 26 announcement put the purchase price at $89.75 million. Headquartered in St Louis, Laird Technologies designs and manufactures antenna systems, electromagnetic interference shielding products and wireless systems, among other products. Cushcraft has design and manufacturing centers in New Hampshire, California and Utah. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association For Amateur Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President. The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a podcast from our Web site. 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