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The ARRL Letter Vol. 26, No. 20 May 18, 2007 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +Repeater interference mitigation plan goes to Defense Department * +Emergency communication tops IARU Administrative Council agenda * +Scarborough Reef DXpedition logs now online * +Settlement means loss of amateur ticket for Indiana man * +Results mixed for Amateur Radio as FCC ends two proceedings * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration +ARRL reprising Dayton Hamvention blog +ITU okays Montenegro, Serbia call sign prefix agreement +AMSAT issues first call for Symposium papers KD5PLA to succeed KD5PLB aboard ISS QCWA, Newsline to collaborate in mentoring program "Strange Antenna Challenge," special event set We stand corrected +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 ==Editorial questions or comments only: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, ================================================== ========= ==ARRL SUBMITS PLAN TO MITIGATE REPEATER INTERFERENCE TO MILITARY RADARS The ARRL has submitted an interference mitigation plan to the US Department of Defense (DoD) as part of an effort to resolve reported interference from dozens of 70 cm amateur repeaters to US military radar systems on both coasts. Since Amateur Radio is secondary to government users from 420 to 450 MHz, hams must not interfere with primary users and, under the rules, can be forced to cease operation. Earlier this year, the US Air Force asked the FCC to order dozens of repeater systems to either eliminate interference to its "PAVE PAWS" missile and satellite detection and tracking radars in Massachusetts and California or shut down. "We are waiting the response of the DoD representative to the proposal and will continue to provide information as to its status when it becomes available," commented ARRL Regulatory Information Specialist Dan Henderson, N1ND. The interference mitigation plan has four primary steps. * All repeaters the DoD has identified as potential interference sources will immediately and temporarily reduce transmitter power output (TPO) to 5 W. * The ARRL will conduct Longley-Rice studies on each repeater system to determine what further mitigation techniques might apply to individual repeaters. These could include relocating the system, the use of directional antenna systems to create nulls towards the PAVE PAWS site, permanent power reductions or a combination of these techniques. * The DoD will review ARRL's studies to determine if the proposals will meet DoD's unspecified field strength requirements to mitigate the potential interference satisfactorily. * Once the DoD reviews and approves the proposals, the ARRL will provide the recommendations to respective repeater frequency coordinating groups and the FCC. The situation affects 15 repeaters within less than 100 miles of Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and more than 100 repeaters within some 140 miles of Beale Air Force Base near Sacramento, California. PAVE PAWS facilities occupy essentially the entire 70 cm band -- one factor that makes mitigation difficult. Feeding upward of 1800 active antenna elements, the broadband radar transmitters emit an average power output of more than 145 kW. Henderson says repeater owners and trustees ultimately would be responsible for implementing the mitigation proposals or for developing alternatives that protect the radar systems to the same extent. Cooperation will be the key to a successful resolution of the situation, Henderson says. "Although ARRL has no means to compel compliance with the mitigation strategies, each repeater is absolutely obligated not to interfere with these radars," he emphasized. "Failure to implement the mitigation strategy or otherwise eliminate interference attributed to an individual repeater will result in immediate FCC action." Henderson points out that the FCC is aware of and monitoring this situation and will act as necessary to protect the radars from interference. He stresses, however, that the US military is aware of the critical role Amateur Radio repeaters play in disasters and emergencies, and a wholesale shutdown of US 70 cm Amateur Radio activity is not under consideration. A US Air Force contractor identified the allegedly problematic repeater systems last summer, but the situation didn't become critical until the Air Force contacted the FCC in March. ARRL officials met with Defense Department representatives later that month to discuss alleged interference to the PAVE PAWS radar sites, and last month Henderson contacted Amateur Radio frequency coordinating organizations in both affected areas -- the Northern Amateur Relay Council of California (NARCC) and the New England Spectrum Management Council (NESMC). Contact Dan Henderson, N1ND ; (860-594-0236), with specific questions or issues associated with this situation. ==EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION LEADS IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL AGENDA The Administrative Council of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) http://www.iaru.org held its annual meeting May 14-15 in Boston, Massachusetts. Topping the agenda was the IARU's upcoming participation in the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference, GAREC-07. The international gathering will take place in Huntsville, Alabama, in mid-August -- just prior to the ARRL National Convention there http://www.arrl.org/announce/nc/2007/huntsville.html. The Administrative Council's primary goal is to enhance the coordination and promotion of Amateur Radio's worldwide disaster response capabilities. During the Boston gathering, the Council received a draft strategy paper from IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP. The body will seek additional information from member-societies on the national regulatory position of the Amateur Service in preparing for and providing emergency communications, with an eye toward identifying problem areas and developing solutions. The Administrative Council meeting took place earlier in the year than usual in order to complete the review of preparations for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) in Geneva this fall. The Council also received reports of the other IARU international coordinators and advisers: International Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings, AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV; Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY, and Interim Monitoring System International Coordinator Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG. Coordinators and advisers were reappointed for three-year terms. A further progress report was received from an ad hoc committee investigating the IARU's future role and structure. The Council resolved that the work to date represents an appropriate direction for planning, and it requested that the committee continue its work to address remaining open issues, including consultation with member-societies. The Council recognized a need for greater international coordination on EMC matters, and it adopted conclusions and recommendations arising from a study of how to accomplish this objective. Continuing the strategic planning initiative begun in 2003, the Council reviewed and renewed progress on a three-year plan for the development of support for Amateur Radio frequency allocations for 2008 through 2011. Some details are pending until after WRC-07. The Council identified ITU meetings that will require IARU representation over the coming year, and it reviewed plans for representation. The principal focus continues to be on WRC-07 preparations. A report on the status of the IARU member-society in Bosnia and Herzegovina was received from the Region 1 representatives. The Council determined that it requires additional information to clarify whether the member-society is able to adequately represent the interests of all radio amateurs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the IARU. The Council reviewed the budget for 2008-2010 as presented by the International Secretariat (ARRL). The budget includes provision for financial contributions from the three regional organizations to defray a portion of the expenses, in accordance with previously adopted policy. A working document describing the requirements for radio spectrum allocations to the amateur and amateur-satellite services was reviewed. Council members will take a comprehensive look at the document following WRC-07. In other business, the IARU Administrative Council: * reviewed and endorsed a plan to revitalize the IARU Worked All Continents (WAC) award program. * selected "Amateur Radio: A Foundation for Technical Knowledge" as the theme for the next World Amateur Radio Day, April 18, 2008. * received and discussed reports from each of the three IARU regional organizations. The next regional conference will be Region 2's in Brasilia in mid-September. The next scheduled Administrative Council meeting will be in Germany in June 2008. Attending the Boston meeting were IARU President Larry Price, W4RA; Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; regional representatives Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, Don Beattie, G3BJ, Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH, Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA, Michael Owen, VK3KI, Joong-Geun Rhee, HL1AQQ, ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, on behalf of the International Secretariat, and recording secretary Paul Rinaldo, W4RI. ==BS7H SCARBOROUGH REEF DXPEDITION LOGS AVAILABLE ONLINE The BS7H Scarborough Reef DXpedition team reports it logged 45,830 QSOs during its weeklong stay on the South Pacific rocks. All BS7H logs now are available online http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srlog.html. The DXpedition to the world's most-wanted DXCC entity, which got under way April 29 and concluded May 5, has been approved for DXCC credit. The Daily DX http://www.dailydx.com says if you don't find your call sign in the online log search but are confident you had a solid QSO, send a QSL card to Steve Wheatley, KU9C, PO Box 31, Morristown, NJ 07963-0031 (or via the QSL Bureau). Attach a brief explanatory note. KU9C will search the logs to see if an error occurred, Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, says. Do not e-mail KU9C. The BS7H logs have not yet been uploaded to ARRL's Logbook of the World. As might be expected, 20 meters was the bread-and-butter band, with 21,858 contacts on CW, SSB and RTTY completed. BS7H logged just 54 contacts on 160 meters and 334 on 80 meters, since weather conditions prevented deploying a weather balloon-supported wire until the last few hours. The team netted 3548 QSOs on 40 meters, 3374 on 30 meters, 6774 on 17 meters, 6057 on 15 meters, 876 on 12 meters and 1565 on 10 meters. In all, 19,319 BS7H contacts occurred on SSB, 24,799 on CW and 322 on RTTY. Complete statistics are available on the BS7H Web page http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srstats.html. The DXpedition operators worked long shifts from stations set up on tiny platforms that rose just above each of the four Scarborough Reef rocks that are exposed during high tide. Once they shut down, the BS7H DXpedition team rapidly dismantled the gear and platforms and soon were en route by ship back to Hong Kong. Team member Mike Mraz, N6MZ, will be at Dayton Hamvention http://www.hamvention.org and will deliver a presentation on the BS7H DXpedition during the DX Forum Saturday afternoon. No QSL cards are expected to be available at Hamvention, however. The Daily DX reports that team member James Brooks, 9V1YC, will be producing a video on the DXpedition, available later this year. QSL BS7H via KU9C. US stations are reminded to include 41 cents first class postage on the return envelope. To expedite your BS7H card, include separate SASEs when requesting cards from other DX stations that KU9C manages. Scarborough Reef's status as the top most-wanted DXCC entity prompted some ops to go to extremes, such as erecting new antennas, just to work the DXpedition. The Daily DX says Frank Letton, W6JTI, "qualifies as a true-blue DXer" by going the extra mile, as it were. As things turned out, he'd already finalized plans for a three-week trip to visit his mother in San Antonio, Texas, during the period the DXpedition was to be on the air. Undeterred, Letton shipped a transceiver, accessories and a two-element 20-meter Yagi ahead. Once there, he erected the Yagi on a 35-foot TV mast he purchased locally, and strung up a dipole beneath the beam. The Daily DX reports W6JTI snagged BS7H on both 40 and 20 CW. According to The Daily DX, W6JTI needs four more entities: Palestine, Montenegro, Yemen and North Korea. He's worked 333 current entities while running just 100 W. Additional photos of the DXpedition are available on the BS7H Web site http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srphotos.html. ==LOSS OF AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE IS PART OF SETTLEMENT WITH FCC An Indiana radio amateur will have to surrender his General ticket under the terms of a Settlement Agreement reached with the FCC stemming from alleged corporate and personal misdeeds. In addition, Timothy M. Doty, WB9MCD, of W Terre Haute, will have to yield his General Radiotelephone Operator License, and Commercial Radio Service (CRS) Inc, in which he's an equal partner with his brother, Gary, will have to surrender its Land Mobile Service licenses. In a Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) http://www.fcc.gov/eb/revocations/files/FCC-07M-12.pdf in EB Docket 06-168, released April 26, the FCC said the settlement spares all parties from a lengthy legal proceeding, although according to its terms, neither the Dotys nor CRS admit to any violation of the Communications Act of 1934 or FCC rules. "Suffice it to say, approval of the Agreement will obviate the need for a protracted hearing, thereby conserving the resources of the Commission and the private parties," the FCC said in its MO&O. "In addition, approval of the Agreement will provide for a fair and equitable resolution of this proceeding." The agreement stipulates that neither Doty will be able to apply for or hold "any attributable interest in any Commission license or authorization" for five years. CRS and the Dotys also will make a "voluntary donation" of $10,000 to the US Treasury. If the matter had gone to hearing, CRS could have been liable for fines approaching $100,000. In an Order to Show Cause last August, the FCC ordered Timothy Doty and CRS to show cause why their respective Commission licenses should not be revoked. The FCC cited information it had received suggesting that CRS may not have properly disclosed information about Timothy Doty's felony convictions in applications the company filed with the Commission. In several proceedings in recent years, the FCC has considered a licensee's or applicant's character among factors it takes into account when determining whether an individual possesses the requisite qualifications to be a Commission licensee. As the agreement recites, in 1991 Doty was convicted in federal court of a felony that involved manufacture and possession of unauthorized satellite TV descrambling devices. He received three years' probation and a $2000 fine. In 2001, Doty was found guilty in state court on a felony count of possessing a controlled substance and sentenced to 18 months incarceration with all but 30 days suspended. "It appears, therefore, that the concerns raised by the Commission in its order designating this case for hearing will have been resolved," the FCC concluded. The Settlement Agreement is on the FCC's Web site http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/r...f=pdf&id_docum ent=6519409544. ==FCC'S TERMINATION OF PROCEEDINGS A MIXED BLESSING FOR HAM RADIO The FCC's recent termination of two aging proceedings has some favorable and less-than-favorable implications for Amateur Radio. As part of a recent effort to clear the decks of languishing proceedings, the FCC closed out a Notice of Inquiry and Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NOI and NPRM) in ET Docket 03-237 http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-237/, aimed at establishing an "interference temperature metric" as a model for managing interference and "to expand available unlicensed operation" in certain bands. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, referred to the interference temperature model as "a flawed concept" and said the May 4 termination Order http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-78A1.pdf is good news. The FCC appeared to agree. "Commenting parties generally argued that the interference temperature approach is not a workable concept and would result in increased interference in the frequency bands where it would be used," the Commission said in its termination Order. "While there was some support in the record for adopting an interference temperature approach, no parties provided information on specific technical rules that we could adopt to implement it." The Commission further conceded that "with the passage of time" the November 2003 NOI and NPRM and the record in the proceeding "have become outdated." The termination was "without prejudice," suggesting the Commission could resurrect the concept later. The FCC asserted four years ago that the new metric "could represent a fundamental paradigm shift" in its spectrum management approach by using a standard that takes into account "the cumulative effects of all undesired RF energy" at a given instant. It initially wanted to implement the concept in two microwave bands, suggesting that it the interference temperature limit for a band "would serve as an upper bound or 'cap' on the potential RF energy that could be introduced into the band." When the ARRL filed comments http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-237/ in the proceeding in 2004, it called the interference temperature concept "highly premature" and said it should not go forward. The ARRL contended that the FCC didn't have enough information to put such a model into place, and it should not try to take a shortcut, as it did in the broadband over power line proceeding. In a second Order http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-07-79A1.pdf released May 4, the FCC also terminated its inquiry, in ET Docket 03-65, into whether it should "incorporate receiver interference immunity performance specifications into spectrum policy decisions on a broad basis." Sumner commented that immunity standards for consumer electronics devices, including receivers, have long been an ARRL objective. The Commission again asserted that "the passage of time" had rendered out of date its Notice of Inquiry http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-03-54A6.doc and record in the proceeding. "Further, to the extent receiver interference immunity performance specifications are desirable, they may be addressed in proceedings that are frequency band or service specific," the Commission remarked in the Order. The FCC also left the door open to consider the issue again down the road. In its July 2003 comments http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-65/ARRL-ET-03-65-cmts.pdf in ET Docket 03-65, the ARRL told the FCC that improved interference standards for consumer electronic devices is the most-pressing need as the Commission considers the interference immunity performance of receivers. While recommending "either mandatory receiver immunity standards or at least guidelines" in most other services, the ARRL said no receiver immunity standards are necessary or practical in the "essentially experimental" Amateur Service. "With the current explosion of consumer electronics and unlicensed devices," the League said, "the Commission must establish interference rejection standards for unlicensed home electronic equipment and systems." ==SOLAR UPDATE Ra the Sun god Tad "Sunshine, Sunset" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: This week saw a rise in sunspot numbers, with the average daily value up by more than 11 points to 29.3. On May 16, the daily sunspot number was 56, the highest daily reading since last December 5, when it was 59. This week's average sunspot number was the highest since the January 4-10, 2007, reporting week. Keep in mind that a tremendous day-to-day variation in sunspot numbers is normal, so this should not be viewed as an indicator that sunspot trends have turned around, and we’re already into Cycle 24. Of course, increased activity may follow; this just isn't an indicator that higher sunspot numbers are due in the very near term. The bottom of the cycle, late last year predicted for the past couple of months, has moved out as far as a year in the most recent general consensus of the scientific community. With predictions revised so often, it would be useful to keep an eye on each week's release of the Preliminary Report of Solar and Geophysical Data http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/. For the near term, we’ll probably see sunspot numbers higher than the recent periods when it was 0 or 12, but declining a bit, with the next probable peak around May 25-30. Unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions are forecast for the beginning of that period, and we may see some mildly unsettled activity around May 20. Sunspot numbers for May 10 through 16 were 20, 24, 21, 18, 29, 37 and 56, with a mean of 29.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 71.2, 71.5, 71.4, 73.5, 72.9, 76.9, and 77.1, with a mean of 73.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 6 and 4, with a mean of 3.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 2, 2, 2, 1, 4 and 3, with a mean of 2.3. 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 US Counties QSO Party (SSB), His Majesty the King of Spain Contest (CW), the EU PSK DX Contest, the Manchester Mineira All America Contest and the Baltic Contest are the May 19-20 weekend. JUST AHEAD: The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is May 21. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW) is May 24. The CQ World Wide WPX Contest (CW) is May 26-27 weekend. 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, June 3, for these ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses beginning Friday, June 15: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002), Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2), Antenna Modeling (EC-004), HF Digital Communications (EC-005), VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). These courses will also open for registration Friday, June 1, for classes beginning Friday July 20. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html or contact the CCE Department . * ARRL reprising Dayton Hamvention blog: The ARRL again has a Dayton Hamvention blog http://www.arrl.org/blog/Dayton%20and%20ARRL%20Expo. ARRL Publications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, says his "ramblings" for the 2007 Dayton and ARRL Expo Weblog begin where last year's ended. The 2006 blog, which remains on the site, was extremely successful, he said. "We had more than 6000 individuals reading the blog throughout the event," Ford noted. "This year's effort will be much the same, possibly with a new wrinkle or two." The League's Dayton and ARRL Expo Weblog, part of an effort to add personal touch to the Hamvention experience, will chronicle news and impressions of Dayton Hamvention and ARRL EXPO 2007. Hamvention annually attracts upward of 25,000 visitors. * ITU okays Montenegro, Serbia call sign prefix agreement: Although it became a country -- and a DXCC entity -- in its own right last June, Montenegro has not had an Amateur Radio call sign block to call its own until this month. According to The Daily DX, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) did not want to give Montenegro an entirely new prefix, so it required the states of Montenegro and Serbia to agree upon one or two prefixes from the five (4N, 4O, YT, YU and YZ) assigned to the former Serbia-Montenegro. An agreement was reached May 11, and the ITU now lists 4O (that's "four Oscar") as Montenegro's prefix. This means Montenegro stations may use 4O0 through 4O9, while Serbia stations will continue to use YT and YU prefixes for all call districts, 0 through 9. The ITU has taken back the former 4N and YZ prefixes for future reassignment. The ITU reportedly wants the two nations to complete the transition to new call sign blocks as soon as possible. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, recommends that DXers update their logging software carefully to reflect the changes. * AMSAT issues first call for Symposium papers: AMSAT has announced its first call for papers for the 2007 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting, October 25-28 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/2007/index.php. The organization solicits proposals for papers, symposium presentations and poster presentations on any topic of interest to the Amateur Satellite community. An emphasis this year is an educational outreach to middle and high school students. In particular, papers are sought on students and education, the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, AO-51, Phase 3E, the Eagle project and other satellite-related topics. A one-page abstract is due by June 1. Camera-ready copy on paper or in electronic form is due by September 1 for inclusion in the symposium Proceedings. Send abstracts and papers to Daniel Schultz, N8FGV . * KD5PLA to succeed KD5PLB aboard ISS: NASA has announced that US astronaut Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, will succeed Suni Williams, KD5PLB, as International Space Station Expedition 15 Flight Engineer later this spring. Anderson will arrive aboard the ISS aboard the shuttle Atlantis, set to launch June 8. The same shuttle mission, STS-117, will carry Williams back to Earth after several months aboard the space outpost. NASA originally planned the astro-swap for the STS-118 shuttle mission, first set to fly in June but now targeted for an August launch. Unexpected hail damage to Atlantis' external fuel tank forced the change in plans, and NASA managers approved the revised crew rotation April 26, after determining that it would have no impact on space station operations or future shuttle mission objectives. A Massachusetts native, Williams has been in space since early December. During her ISS stay, she's set a record for spacewalks by a female astronaut, conducting four excursions for a total of 29 hours, 17 minutes. Upon her return, she will have accumulated more time in space than any other woman. She's also logged 20 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school contacts so far. Anderson, a Nebraska native, is making his first spaceflight. He'll return home next October. * QCWA, Newsline to collaborate in mentoring program: The Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) http://www.qcwa.org and Amateur Radio Newsline (ARNewsline) http://www.arnewsline.org have joined forces in cosponsoring the Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring Program. ARNewsline launched the post-licensing educational service in 2004. It's designed to pair newcomers with veteran radio amateurs who can share their skill and experience. "Amateur Radio is a tremendously complex arena", says Newsline Executive Producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. "We have hams who are truly experts in numerous fields [and] we want to take advantage of that talent pool to help educate the next generation of operators and generations to follow." The collaboration with QCWA makes thousands of veteran radio amateurs available as potential mentors -- each with at least 25 years of experience in the hobby. QCWA President John B. Johnston, W3BE, called the arrangement "a good deal for all of Amateur Radio." A retired FCC employee and Dayton Radio Amateur of the Year, Johnston says he believes that it is important to keep ham radio traditions alive. ARNewsline and the QCWA are now seeking both new radio amateurs and potential QCWA mentors -- or Elmers. E-mail your name, call sign, address with ZIP code, telephone number and a convenient time to call. * "Strange Antenna Challenge," special event set: Operation over Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28, by special event station K0S will highlight the 2007 Strange Antenna Challenge. Sponsors say K0S will employ out-of-the-ordinary antennas to promote Amateur Radio and making do with what might be available during an emergency. Individuals and clubs may participate as "satellite stations" by using anything but wire or pipe for a radiating element and adding "/K0S" to their call signs. Details are on the KØS, Strange Antenna Challenge Web site http://www.n0ew.org/k0s/. Strange antennas used in past events, dating back to 2002, have included folding chairs, paint easels, ladders, tape measures, dog kennels, fences, cots and chicken wire (photo) with a trampoline as an apparent ground plane. "More people share in the fun each year," says Erik Weaver, N0EW, a Strange Antenna Challenge founder. "I hope you give me a call this year with your very own strange antenna. Now let's play radio!" * We stand corrected: A paragraph in the story "Ham Radio Instrumental in Pacific Maritime Rescue," in The ARRL Letter, Vol 26, No 19, contained incorrect information. It should have said: "Another report credits MMSN Net Controller Rooney Polack, 6Y5RP, in Jamaica with intercepting the Mayday and assisting via intermittent radio contacts and relays during the first few hours of the event to get information to the Coast Guard. (Polack is the Amateur Radio Emergency Coordinator for Jamaica and works closely with both emergency management and the weather service there.) ================================================== ========= 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. 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/American Radio Relay League. ==Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): ==Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, ==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 http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list. (NOTE: The ARRL cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.) |
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