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The ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 23 June 13, 2008 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * + Hams on Hand as Floods Sweep across Midwest US * + "We Do That" with Amateur Radio * + Look for the July Issue of QST in Your Mailbox * + Get Ready to Ride the Waves during the 2008 ARRL Field Day * + Spring Frequency Measuring Test (FMT) Results Announced * + FCC Enforcement Actions * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This Weekend on the Radio + Firedrake Jammer on the Loose Again in Asia + New Extra Class License Manual Now Shipping ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration Jim Veatch, WA2EUJ, Wins May QST Cover Plaque Award ARRL Announces New DeSoto Cup Winner +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: S. Khrystyne Keane, ================================================== ========= == HAMS ON HAND AS FLOODS SWEEP ACROSS MIDWEST US When severe thunderstorms started to threaten the Midwestern United States with tornadoes, hail, severe lightning and rain starting on June 4, state agencies were quick to call on Amateur Radio operators for assistance. The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) activated ARES members to help out with communication efforts, providing radios for those amateurs who offered to help. ARRL Indiana Section Emergency Coordinator Tony Langer, W9AL, said hams were instrumental in many ways, including assisting in Emergency Operations Centers, sand bagging, helping out in shelters and even aiding in rescue efforts. This storm brought 12 confirmed tornadoes to 11 Indiana counties, with some communities reporting up to 11 inches of water, Langer said; 20 counties were under a State of Emergency. On June 9, President Bush declared 29 counties in central Indiana a major disaster area, opening up the region to receive federal aid and FEMA assistance. Four people perished in the storms. In a call put out to Amateur Radio operators on June 8, IDHS said, "The flood waters have impacted several counties here in Indiana severely. Ham Radio operators have been operating continuously since activated and are growing weary. Some counties do not have a vast amount of active hams to relieve these tired operators." Specific areas needing amateur assistance were overnight relief operators at the Bartholomew County EOC, as well as the EOC and three shelters in Columbus County. Marion County (Indiana) Emergency Coordinator Mike Palmer, N9FEB, called on ARES members in his area to help out. "People might think, 'Why not just use telephones or cell phones?' Well, many phones are not working down there at this time. With the high waters, electric transformers are out all over; even those servicing cell towers are out. Even with today's technology, we find ourselves looking at ham radio to assist. If you can spare a few hours or an entire evening, please consider helping." Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels called in the United States Coast Guard to assist in evacuations and rescues. The Coast Guard responded by sending two helicopters to the state along with boats and personnel. The Indiana National Guard was called out to assist in evacuation and direct traffic and enforce road blocks on the many flooded roads. Torrents of rain also brought flooding to Wisconsin. On June 9, five counties had requested aid from Amateur Radio operators, ranging from backup communications to disaster assessment and flooding communications. One county called on ARES members to provide patrols of the flooded areas overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday. According to ARRL Wisconsin Section Emergency Coordinator Bill Niemuth, KB9ENO, approximately 90 ARES members responded to the call for assistance. "In Columbia County, ARES members provided dam monitoring communications early in the flooding. These communications gave critical information to public safety officials about two dams that were nearly compromised. Due to falling water levels, this activity has been discontinued, but hams remain on standby due to the threat of additional heavy rain," Niemuth said. Richland County ARES members remain activated, Niemuth said. "Hams are providing a variety of services, including fielding information calls in the County's Emergency Operations Center and providing specialized communications for disaster assessment by hover craft and airplane. These communications are in addition to providing traditional ham radio communication links between the EOC and evacuation shelters." On Thursday, June 12, more rains inundated the state and more counties requested aid from area Amateur Radio operators. Niemuth said Winnebago County ARES members are providing damage assessment assistance in the county and in the City of Oshkosh, while hams in Fond du Lac are helping out with shelter communications. ARES teams in Marquette and Outagamie are providing back-up communications and flooding reports to their respective Emergency Operations Centers. -- Information provided by ARRL Indiana Section Emergency Coordinator Tony Langer, W9AL, and ARRL Wisconsin Section Manager Don Michalski, W9IXG == "WE DO THAT" WITH AMATEUR RADIO The third ARRL Public Relations campaign -- "We Do That - with Amateur Radio" -- celebrates the technology side of ham radio http://www.hello-radio.org/wedothat/. According to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Amateur Radio means many things to many people. "What is it about Amateur Radio that arouses the interest of people?" Pitts asked. "You have the fun, friendship and hobby side. We showcased this side in 2006 with our 'Hello' campaign http://www.hello-radio.org/hello/. You have the emergency service side. We brought this valuable part of Amateur Radio to the public's eye in 2007 with 'Emergency Radio -- Getting the Message through for Your Family and Community' http://emergency-radio.org/. And now you have the technology and creative side. In 2008, we are capitalizing on this third prong, getting word out to the public that there is tons of stuff you can do with Amateur Radio." Unveiled at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention this past May, this new coordinated public relations effort shows the world the technological activities and creative imaginations that Amateur Radio's people love. Like the previous public relations campaigns, Pitts said, this is a campaign with several interlocking parts. * Public Service Announcements There are Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that commercial radio stations can utilize, getting word out to the public about the benefits that ham radio operators can provide. Check these out on the ARRL Public Information Officer Web site http://www.arrl.org/pio/; more will be coming out as the year unfolds. These mp3 files are easily downloaded and can be taken to local radio stations. "Many radio stations have a public service obligation they need to fulfill, and these PSAs are a great way for them to do so, while showcasing the neat things we do as hams," Pitts said. * Brochures ARRL has created an attractive brochure that celebrates ham technology http://www.arrl.org/brochures/. This brochure shows hams doing many exciting activities, from Green Radio -- Amateur Radio using renewable energy sources -- to the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) through time and space itself. These brochures, in packs of 25, are available at no cost except for a small shipping fee. * WeDoThat-Radio.org A new special Web site has been created just for this campaign. "Maximizing the strong points of the Hello-Radio and Emergency-Radio Web sites before it, WeDoThat-Radio.org http://www.wedothat-radio.org/ uses some of the newer technologies similar to the blog format, allowing for easy topic additions and changes, even providing a place for visitors to ask questions," Pitts said. * Stickers Let's admit it, hams and kids like free things and stickers are fun. So we made up a bunch to share. If you happen to have a presentation to students, it's a nice touch. These are "free while the supply lasts," Pitts said. * "Talk on a Disk" What began as an experiment in 2007 has since become a major success. The ARRL's "Talk on a Disk" was quickly snatched up and used by people making presentations to groups. This CD contains all the materials you need to make a good PowerPoint presentation before a non-ham group, including slides and supportive audio and video. "For 2008, we created a brand new 'Talk on a Disk' highlighting the technology campaign and coordinated with the brochures. It can make almost anyone look good in front of a group. Just follow the script! Or, you can modify it to meet local needs," said Pitts. If you have a presentation to make and want to talk about the technology of ham radio, please e-mail Pitts about it . * "Swiss Army Knife for PIOs" The 2008 "Knife," Pitts said, is actually a CD with all the basic forms and information a Public Information Officer (PIO) should need -- all in one place. "Last year, we produced more than 1000 of these and they were all snatched up," Pitts said. With audio and video files, documents in computer forms that PIOs can modify to meet local needs, as well as hundreds of pointers and ideas, the "Swiss Army Knife for PIOs" has become a mainstay for public relations work. Disks are available for PIOs by sending Pitts an e-mail . * Every Ham is a PIO "There is a saying," Pitts said, "that all news is local -- and it is true. If there is not a local or personal 'hook' to a story, it does not make it into the news. Because of this, the Public Information Officers in your area are critical to the local perception of Amateur Radio." When PIOs take these materials and modify them for local use, it affects everything from antenna regulations to club membership levels. But it is not just up to the PIOs to achieve positive publicity for hams, Pitts said. "There is another saying, 'Every ham is a PIO.' When people become curious about Amateur Radio they turn to the first ham operator they find and that conversation is crucial to the future. All the brochures, TV ads, radio and news stories are of no benefit if that initial conversation with a potential recruit is not positive. PIOs can only 'bring the fish to the boat.' It is up to every ham to be ready to bring them in by taking the time and effort to make the initial one-on-one contact a positive experience. In the end, 'It takes a ham to make a ham.'" * Need Help? There is a wealth of materials available on the ARRL PIO Web site for anyone to use http://www.arrl.org/pio/. Here you can find background information handouts for media, as well as all sorts of helpful files and tips. Each month, Pitts puts out "CONTACT!," an e-zine for ARRL PIOs that contains ideas, information and timely materials. The ARRL Public Relations Committee is also able to aid groups facing unusual problems or situations. These PR veterans have a wealth of knowledge you can draw upon. There is a public relations email reflector where PIOs from around the country share their problems, ideas and successes with other PIOs. * It's Up to You The energies that your club -- and you as an individual -- put into positive PR work will pay off for your radio future in many ways, Pitts said. "Go show the world that 'It's not just your grandfather's radio anymore.'" == LOOK FOR THE JULY ISSUE OF QST IN YOUR MAILBOX The July issue of QST is jam-packed with all sorts of things today's Amateur Radio operator needs. From product reviews to experiments to contesting, the upcoming issue of QST has something for just about everyone. John Stanley, K4ERO, discusses how looking at signals can improve our ability to listen to them in the second of his two-part article "The Beauty of Spectrum Analysis -- Part 2." Jack Morgan, KF6T, takes a look at a two element 15 meter Yagi that works great in the field. ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, gives her impression on the sights, sounds and smells of the 2008 Dayton Hamvention in her article "Dayton Hamvention 2008: Wow, What a Show!" Former ARRL Senior News Editor Rick Lindquist, WW3DE (ex-N1RL), reviews FlexRadio System's FLEX-5000A HF/50 MHz transceiver. According to Lindquist, "The FLEX-5000A builds on the success of the SDR-1000, retaining the top-shelf radio performance and adding features. The package is far less complicated, shedding the many wires, cables, boxes and connectors that characterized the SDR-1000. Be prepared to experiment with the software and settings to get the most from this radio." If it's July, it must be time for the IARU HF World Championships http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2008/iaru.html. This is a great opportunity to contact many stations all over the world, especially the headquarters station of IARU Member Societies, including W1AW. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, takes a look at what you can do in the "contest off-season" to spruce up your shack and get those antennas and feed lines ready for the fall in "This Month in Contesting." The results of the 2007 ARRL 10 Meter Contest, the 2008 ARRL RTTY Roundup and the 2008 ARRL January VHF Sweepstakes are in. Did you top your score from last year? How did your closest rival do? Also, find out about upcoming contests in Contest Corral. Of course, there are the usual columns you know and love in July QST: Hints & Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX, Old Radio, Technical Correspondence, Hamspeak and more. Look for your July issue in your mailbox. QST is the official journal of ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of ARRL membership. To join or renew your ARRL membership, please see the ARRL Web page http://www.arrl.org/join. == GET READY TO RIDE THE WAVES AT THE 2008 ARRL FIELD DAY The 2008 ARRL Field Day http://www.arrl.org/fieldday will be here before you know it, so now is the time to grab your rig, hang ten (a dipole or two will do) and plan to Ride the Waves June 28-29. Field Day packets can be downloaded from the ARRL Field Day Web site http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2008-packet.pdf. ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, reminds clubs and groups that the deadline to order exhibit kits is drawing near. "We need to have all orders for kits and brochures no later than Tuesday, June 17. If we have your order by then, we will be able to package your order and get it to you in time for Field Day. Any orders received after June 17 will be fulfilled and may make it to recipients before Field Day," he warned. Exhibit kits can be ordered online http://www.arrl.org/brochures/ at no cost; there is a small shipping and handling fee. If you are looking for a Field Day site to attend, or are looking to publicize your Field Day site, be sure to check out the Field Day Site Locator http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php. For more information on this new service, please check out the Locator Site Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Web page http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/06/03/10021/?nc=1. "More than 1100 Field Day sites have registered their sites on the Locator, with more being added every day," Henderson said. ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air operating event in Amateur Radio. On the fourth full weekend in June, tens of thousands of Amateur Radio operators gather for a public demonstration of our service. Field Day is part educational event, part operating event, part public relations event -- and all about fun! Amateur Radio is about knowledge and growth. It is a hobby and service that truly offers "something for everyone." Amateur Radio embraces both the old and new. While CW may no longer be a testing element, it is still a strong and favorite operating mode for many. Many operators are embracing digital technologies -- from RTTY, to newer digital modes like PSK31 and Olivia. Phone operation also has new frontiers to be explored with digitized voice, VoIP and IRLP. And this is why Field Day -- the largest annual on-the-air operating event -- is so exciting. It gives all -- the old timer and the newcomer, the brass-pounder and the computer-assisted operator -- the chance to share and teach the broad range of modes and technologies we find in Amateur Radio. Field Day is truly the time in which we bring Amateur Radio to Main Street USA http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2006/03/01/1/. By setting up in parking lots, malls, Emergency Operations Centers, parks and even at home, Amateur Radio operators learn skills that will allow them to better serve their communities. Setting up in these public venues gives added public relations value -- their friends and neighbors can see and experience the fun and public service capability that their "ham radio" neighbors bring to the community. == SPRING FREQUENCY MEASURING TEST (FMT) RESULTS ANNOUNCED The results for the W1AW Frequency Measuring Test (FMT) http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt/ held on May 21, 2008 are in http://www.b4h.net/fmt/fmtresults200805.php. Announced and reported completely online http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/29/10071/?nc=1, the spring version of the exercise attracted 81 participants. The object was to measure the frequency of an audio tone, given the frequency of the transmitted signal's carrier. Since digital modes based on frequency-shift keying (FSK) require precise tuning, being able to measure frequency is an important skill. The actual frequency of the tone was 1240.3 Hz for all of the W1AW transmissions. The majority of the participants reported frequencies within 1-5 Hz of the exact value, a 0.08 to 0.4 percent error. Participants could use a variety of measurement techniques, some of which are described in the November 2004 QST article announcing an FMT with a similar focus http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/fmt/2004/04fmtsilver.pdf. The online results include detailed descriptions from many stations of the methods and equipment used to make the measurements. W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q, plans to run additional FMT exercises on a regular basis, so watch the ARRL Web Site http://www.arrl.org for future announcements. If possible, a West Coast station will be added to future FMTs, improving signal quality for participating stations in that region, particularly on the lower frequency bands. Automated results collection and reporting will be supported for all future FMT events. == FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS On March 1, Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth sent a Warning Notice to Fredrick C. Severa, AH8I, of Pago Pago, American Samoa, concerning Severa's out-of-band operation. In the letter, Hollingsworth said he tried contacting Severa at his Pago Pago address (his address of record) about the matter, but the letter was returned unclaimed, as were other letters sent to him at an address listed for the American Samoa DX Society in California; Severa is listed as trustee for the organization. Hollingsworth said that the Commission tried reaching Severa at another address for the American Samoa DX Society in California -- this one in Juneau, Alaska -- but to no avail. Finally, on March 27, Hollingsworth sent Severa a letter to a Chico, California address. Severa replied to the letter, stating "that [Severa] had operated out of band because it was 'dark in the vehicle and apparently I experienced a problem with improper VFO selection of the transceiver that I was using which caused me to transmit out of band.'" Severa's letter failed to mention, Hollingsworth said, why Severa "failed to respond to mail sent to your address of record." Hollingsworth advised Severa "that future instances of out of band operation will result in enforcement action against your license. Additionally, you are requested to update your license records within 10 days indicating the address at which you will receive Commission mail. Failure to respond to Commission mail sent to your address of record is a separate violation of Commission rules." Hollingsworth also sent a letter to residential owners in Phoenix, Arizona, regarding Part 15 devices in their home causing RFI to a licensed Amateur Radio operator. 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. ==SOLAR UPDATE Tad "I swayed my leaves and flowers in the Sun" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: Sunspot 998 emerged this week, another old Solar Cycle 23 sunspot near the Sun's equator. Daily sunspot numbers for June 10-12 were 14, 11 and 13. Last Sunday, June 8, had the lowest 10.7 cm solar flux value I've ever seen -- 64.9 -- at the observatory in Penticton. The noon reading is the official daily sunspot number; the value observed that morning at 1700 UTC was actually a tiny bit lower at 64.8. The only value this low I have in my records was almost a dozen years ago near the last solar minimum, July 19, 1996. The 10.7 cm solar flux is a measurement of energy at 2.8 GHz gathered by an antenna in British Columbia. The facility is the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory (DRAO) that sits 168 miles northeast of my Seattle location at approximately 49.322 degrees north latitude, 119.621 degrees west longitude. The solar flux value is a general indicator of solar activity, but not as useful as sunspot numbers for predicting propagation. Geophysical Institute Prague expects quiet conditions for June 13, quiet to unsettled June 14, unsettled June 15-18 and quiet to unsettled June 19. Sunspot numbers for June 5-11 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 14 and 11 with a mean of 3.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 66.4, 65.9, 65.6, 64.9, 66, 66.2, and 65.7 with a mean of 65.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 2, 8, 12, 7, 5, 4 and 4 with a mean of 6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 7, 10, 5, 2, 1 and 3, with a mean of 4.4. NASA predicts more of the same quiet conditions, with slight possible unsettled conditions on June 18, with a planetary A index of 12. They expect solar flux to stay below 70 until mid-July. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/. __________________________________ ==IN BRIEF: * This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend is the ARRL June VHF QSO Party on June 14-16. Look for the NCCC Sprint Ladder and the Digital Pentathlon on June 13. The Portugal Day Contest and Asia-Pacific Sprint (SSB) are June 14. Look for the ANARTS WW RTTY Contest, the GACW WWSA CW DX Contest, the REF DDFM 6 Meter Contest and the West Virginia QSO Party on June 14-15. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is June 16, and the RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (SSB) is June 19. Next weekend, look for the Digital Pentathlon on June 20. The Feld Hell Sprint and the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest are June 22. The All Asian DX Contest (CW) and the SMIRK Contest are June 21-22. On June 25, be sure to check out the SKCC Sprint and the BCC QSO Party. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page http://www.arrl.org/contests/, the ARRL Contest Update http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/ and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html for more info. * Firedrake Jammer on the Loose Again in Asia: Amateur Radio operators throughout the United States have reported hearing an intruder signal -- dubbed Firedrake -- on 20 meters. ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, said he has received reports from Intruder Watch monitors in Texas, Montana, West Virginia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington, Nevada and Pennsylvania hearing the jammer on 14.010 and 14.070 MHz. Hams in IARU Region 1 have heard the jammer on 14.000, 14.005, 14.010, 14.030, 14.050, 14.050 and 14.090; Uli Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, Assistant Monitoring Coordinator for Region 1 (IARUMS) http://www.iarums-r1.org/ said he has had reports of hearing the jammer on three frequencies at the same time. Skolaut said he heard it on 14.070 at 1500 EDT on June 6 from ARRL HQ, but has not confirmed Firedrake on any other frequencies. "We have reported the jammer to the FCC's High Frequency Direction Finding (HFDF) facility in Columbia, Maryland. They have also heard the jammer and have sent a harmful interference report to the Chinese government," Skolaut said. The FCC has no authority to make intruder stations outside the US stop transmitting on Amateur Radio frequencies; such situations typically are dealt with through diplomatic channels. "All three IARU regions are coordinating efforts to collect observations and forward them to the proper authorities to follow up on this," Skolaut said. "As you probably remember, this jamming occurred almost two years ago http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/08/17/2/ and was primarily heard on 14.260 and 18.160 MHz." According to Bihlmayer, the jammer (whom Region 1 monitors have dubbed Firedrake) plays oriental-type music (click here to hear what Firedrake sounds like - http://www.arrl.org/news/files/firedrake.mp3) and originates from the Chinese government in an attempt to block out the Sound of Hope short wave broadcasts http://sohnews.com/shortwave-broadcasts/. The Sound of Hope refers to itself as "a Chinese language media network providing an alternative to China's state controlled media with news and cultural programming. Radio Free China (RFC) is Sound of Hope's project to reach listeners in Mainland China with programming beyond the control of China's omnipresent blockade of free information." Information on the Intruder Watch program can be found in the June 2007 issue of QST. * New Extra Class License Manual Now Shipping: The "ARRL Extra Class License Manual" http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1352#top and "ARRL's Extra Q&A" http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1379 are your tickets to every privilege granted to Amateur Radio operators. Expert instruction leads you through all of the knowledge you need to pass the exam, including rules, specific operating skills and more advanced electronics theory. Everything you need to know to pass the 50 question Extra class exam is right at your fingertips -- both books contain the latest Extra class question pool and answer key. Study the "ARRL Extra Class License Manual" to understand the theory and applications needed to upgrade your license. With more than 700 questions included in the question pool -- valid from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2012 -- reading the "ARRL's Extra Q&A" is the best way to review for the exam with confidence. The Extra class license is the highest of all three US Amateur Radio licenses. To upgrade to Extra class you must already hold a General class license (or have recently passed all of the exams required for a General class license). Upgrading to an Extra license only requires passing a written examination. As an Extra class licensee, you will have full privileges on all frequencies authorized by the FCC for Amateur Radio. * ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains open through Sunday, June 22, 2008 for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, July 4, 2008: Technician 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). Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator . * Jim Veatch, WA2EUJ, Wins May QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for May is Jim Veatch, WA2EUJ, for his article "The TAK-40 SSB CW Transceiver." Congratulations, Jim! 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 June issue by Monday, June 30. * ARRL Announces New DeSoto Cup Winner: The ARRL's DXCC Desk announced June 3 that Fausto Minardi, I4EAT, is the winner of the 2007 DXCC Challenge DeSoto Cup http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/DeSoto-Trophy-lrg.jpg. According to ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, Minardi achieved this honor with 3129 band points. Bob Eshleman, W4DR, placed second with 3124 band points; Leif Ottosen, OZ1LO, holds the third place spot with 3119. The DeSoto Cup was first presented in 2000 to Eshleman; he has received the award each year since. The 2007 race saw the closest point spread -- five points -- since the DeSoto Cup's inception in 2000. Moore said that in 2006, Eshleman was leading the race, but Minardi briefly pulled ahead; Eshleman recovered the lead in time to take the Cup for 2006. He continued: "In 2007, the same thing happened with Eshleman leading the pack, but Minardi pulled ahead again and kept the lead and took the title away from Eshleman for the first time ever. I wonder who will take the Cup in 2008." It looks to be another race this year, Moore said. "Showing no mercy, Minardi recently increased his lead even more by achieving a new level of 3139! Fifteen band points now separate the number 1 and number 2 spots!" The DeSoto Cup is presented to the DXCC Challenge leader as of December 31 each year http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2001/05/08/3/. The DeSoto Cup is named for Clinton B. DeSoto, whose definitive article in October 1935 QST forms the basis of the DXCC award. Only one cup will be awarded to any single individual. A medal will be presented to a repeat winner in subsequent years. Medals will also be awarded to the second and third place winners each year. The DXCC Challenge Award is given for working and confirming at least 1000 DXCC band-entities made after November 15, 1945 on any of the amateur bands, 160 through 6 meters (except 60 meters). ================================================== ========= 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: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, ==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.) Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved |
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