***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 23, No. 47
December 3, 2004
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* +Truckstop firm faces fine for alleged illegal transceiver sales
* +FCC turns down proposal to standardize AM, SSB bandwidths
* +Astronaut breaks in new ham ticket during school group contact
* +Ham radio comes through in toy drive
* +ARES-RACES-MARS meeting explores enhanced cooperation
* +New SMs elected
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
Radio amateur's complaint leads to big fine for taxi company
+International Humanitarian Award deadline looms
+Senate confirms Adelstein for new FCC term
AOR donates digital voice/image units to W1AW
+Available on ARRL Audio News
===========================================================
==>ALLEGED ILLEGAL "AMATEUR" TRANSCEIVER MARKETING DRAWS HUGE FINE
The FCC has proposed fining Pilot Travel Centers LLC $125,000 for
allegedly marketing unauthorized RF devices--specifically, transceivers
labeled as Amateur Radio Service (ARS) equipment but intended for use on
both Citizens Band and amateur frequencies. CB transmitters must receive
FCC certification--formerly called "type acceptance." Amateur Radio
equipment does not require FCC certification. The Notice of Apparent
Liability (NAL) released November 22 asserts that Pilot continued to
market CB transceivers labeled as amateur gear despite multiple citations
and warnings.
"Commission field offices issued a total of nine citations to Pilot's
corporate headquarters and its retail outlets warning Pilot that future
violations would subject Pilot to penalties including civil monetary
forfeitures," the NAL said. The Commission alleges that from October 2002
until last July, Pilot, in 47 separate instances, offered for sale various
models of non-certificated Galaxy CB transceivers labeled as "amateur
radios" that easily could be modified for CB operation. The FCC says in
some instances, Pilot employees referred to the units as "CBs."
The ARRL expressed its full support for the FCC's enforcement action
against Pilot. "The marketing as 'Amateur Radio' equipment of transceivers
that are intended for other uses causes widespread interference to
licensed radio amateurs operating within their allocated frequency bands,"
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ said on the League's behalf. "We hope that the
Commission's long-awaited action will be followed by additional measures
taken against marketers who persist in similar violations."
Following up on complaints received between 2001 and 2003, FCC Enforcement
Bureau field agents visited 11 Pilot retail outlets in Texas, Oregon,
California and Nevada. "At these locations, the stores displayed and
offered for sale various models of non-certified CB transceivers marketed
as ARS transmitters," the NAL said. The FCC's Office of Engineering and
Technology (OET) already had determined that the units could be modified
easily for CB operation and were subject to FCC certification prior to
marketing.
Responding to the citations, Pilot told the FCC that all of the radios in
question were "marketed as amateur radios and, as sold, operate on the
10-meter amateur band." Pilot contended the units fell under Part 97 rules
and didn't require FCC certification. In January 2002, the FCC Dallas
Field Office advised Pilot that the devices referred to in the Citation
had built-in design features to facilitate CB operation and that the FCC
considered them CB transmitters that fall under Part 95 rules. The NAL
says the Dallas Field Office received no further response from Pilot.
The FCC pointed out that it requires a grant of certification for any
Amateur Radio Service transceiver designed to be easily user-modified to
extend its operating frequency range into the Citizens Band.
The FCC said that on three days last December, FCC agents purchased Galaxy
transceivers from different Pilot retail stores. The OET subsequently
determined that all were non-certificated CB transmitters under the FCC's
definition. Those sales provided the basis for the proposed fine.
Ultimately, the FCC alleged that Pilot offered non-certificated CB
transmitters for sale on 13 occasions in 2003 and 2004 "in apparent
willful and repeated violation" of the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC
rules.
Citing its concern with "the pattern of apparent violations" in the Pilot
case, the FCC actually adjusted the base forfeiture amount upward from
$91,000 to $125,000. "We are particularly troubled that Pilot continues to
violate these rules despite receiving nine citations for marketing
non-certified CB transmitters," the Commission said in the NAL. "Pilot's
continuing violations of the equipment authorization requirements evince a
pattern of intentional noncompliance with and apparent disregard for these
rules."
Pilot was given 30 days to respond by paying or appealing the fine.
==>FCC DENIES AM, SSB BANDWIDTH PETITION
The FCC has turned down a Petition for Rule Making that sought to
establish specific bandwidth standards for full-carrier AM and SSB Amateur
Radio emissions. Michael Lonneke, W0YR, and Melvin Ladisky, W6FDR, filed
the petition, designated RM-10740, on May 27, 2003. The FCC said a
majority of the approximately 160 members of the amateur community who
commented on the petition opposed the concept.
"We conclude that petitioners' request for an amendment of our rules is
inconsistent with the Commission's objective of encouraging the
experimental aspects of the Amateur Radio service," wrote Public Safety
and Critical Infrastructure Division Chief Michael J. Wilhelm, WS6BR. The
FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau released the Order November 24.
"The petition also fails to demonstrate that a deviation from the
Commission's longstanding practice of allowing operating flexibility
within the Amateur Service community is either warranted or necessary."
Lonneke and Ladisky had asked the FCC to "remove the ambiguity" in Part
97--specifically §97.307(a) and (b)--and they referenced Enforcement
Bureau letters sent to amateurs alleging overly wide SSB
signals--sometimes called "Enhanced Single Sideband." Additionally, they
said, some contesters purposely adjust their transmitters to exceed what
they called "the de facto SSB signal width of approximately 3 kHz" to gain
"elbow room" during contests.
On HF frequencies below 28.8 MHz, the petition recommended a maximum 2.8
kHz bandwidth SSB (J3E) emissions and a maximum 5.6 kHz bandwidth for AM
(A3E) emissions.
Asserting that most radio amateurs "operate in a manner consistent with
the basic purpose of the Amateur Service," the FCC said its existing rules
are "adequate to address any noncompliant practices by amateur operators."
Current FCC rules require that amateur transmissions not occupy "more
bandwidth than necessary for the information rate and emission type being
transmitted, in accordance with good amateur practice," and that emissions
outside the necessary bandwidth not interfere with operations on adjacent
frequencies. The FCC also said the petitioners failed to show that there
is "a particular problem" with stations using AM.
The Order said the FCC's Enforcement Bureau will continue to monitor
through its complaint process "nonconforming activities" of operators who
fail to abide by its rules. "In instances of willful and malicious
interference, the Enforcement Bureau will not hesitate to take appropriate
action," Wilhelm pledged.
==>ISS EXPEDITION 10 COMMANDER BREAKS IN NEW TICKET FROM SPACE
Astronaut Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, used his recently minted ham radio license
for the first time November 19 to speak with students in southeastern
Italy from NA1SS aboard the International Space Station. Arranged by the
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, the QSO
also kicked off a series of educational contacts for the Expedition 10
crew, which arrived aboard the ISS in October.
"It's a great pleasure to be addressing you from the International Space
Station," Chiao told the youngsters as the contact got under way. "This is
my first ham radio contact, so I'm honored to be sharing this experience
with you." Chiao got his license in June while training for his ISS
mission.
Posing questions from Earth were youngsters from two elementary schools
and a comprehensive school in Polignano-a-Mare, ranging in age from 6 to
14. Members of a local Amateur Radio Club set up a satellite Earth station
at one elementary school and a backup station at the other elementary
school. They also established audio and video links from the station to
monitors in the other two schools' auditoriums. Michele Mallardi, IZ7EVR,
was the control operator.
Responding to a question about the crew's exercise regimen, Chiao stressed
how important it is that he and Expedition 10 Flight Engineer and
cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov exercise daily during their six-month duty
tour. "We have two hours of exercise scheduled every day," he said. The
space travelers work out using either a treadmill or stationary bicycle,
Chiao explained. There's also a piece of equipment that "mimics the
effects of weightlifting," he said.
One youngster asked the now-standard "food question," and Chiao managed to
regionalize his answer. "We have a variety of items we can choose from,
including some Italian dishes," he said. "Some of my favorites include
classics like spaghetti and also tortellini."
Others wanted to know if the crew sometimes felt alone, how they talked to
their families, what they did when they were not working and whether it
was easy to acclimate to weightlessness. In all, Chiao managed 18
questions during the approximately eight-minute contact. Just before the
ISS went out of range, Mallardi aired the students' farewells and the
audience's applause.
Onlookers at the Earth station included not only pupils and teachers but
several high-level local, regional and national government officials as
well as representatives of the military. The event generated news accounts
via several radio and TV outlets and attracted reporting teams from print
media that included the Amateur Radio publications Radio Rivista and Radio
Kit Elettronica.
ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an educational outreach with US
participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
==>HAM RADIO DELIVERS THE TOYS
With time still to spare and with the help of key "relay" service by local
radio amateurs the ARRL holiday toy drive has collected truckloads of
toys--1650 and counting. The drive, which is folding into the United Way's
White Doves Holiday Project <http://www.martinvolunteers.org/whitedoves/>,
aims to brighten the holidays for children displaced or left homeless by
the hurricanes that ravaged Florida earlier this year.
"The toy drive has snowballed and taken on a life of its own," says ARRL
Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, who spearheaded the
ham radio effort. "Hundreds of groups, clubs and individuals have
responded with such energy and cheer that it’s already a great holiday
season. People just kept going past Thanksgiving and provided more help
for the kids than initially imagined for such a simple enterprise." Pitts
says the effort generated a lot of goodwill for the Amateur Radio
community as well.
Boxes full of toys from radio amateurs nationwide have been pouring in to
the United Way of Martin County office in Stuart, Florida. As of November
23, more than 190 clubs, groups and individuals had contributed either
toys or checks. Cash donations total nearly $5000, and even more toys and
contributions continue arriving daily.
Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
Service (RACES) members have helped transport toys from the United Way
office to a storage area at the Martin County Fairgrounds. There,
volunteers will sort the toys for distribution to needy families on
December 20 and 21.
"We continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity of the ham radio
operators," said Carol Hodnett, director of the United Way Volunteer &
Community Resource Center, which coordinates the White Doves Holiday
Project. "We cannot thank ARRL and its members enough for choosing to
support White Doves and the children it serves."
Bill and Nancy Deacon, KD4HST and KD4HSS, are not only ham radio operators
but longtime White Doves Holiday Project volunteers and, this year,
hurricane victims as well. The Deacons will help to sort toys and assist
families on distribution days. Bill Deacon also will hand out turkeys and
hams (the White Doves Project also has collected some 20,000 pounds of
food). The Deacons' house was flooded during the storms, and they have
been living in a FEMA-provided mobile home while repairs are made.
==>ENHANCED COOPERATION FOCUS OF ARES-RACES-MARS MEETING
Enhancing cooperation among Amateur Radio's emergency service
organizations was the subject of a groundbreaking conference November 20
in Castle Point, New York. On hand were Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) and Army, Air Force
and Navy-Marine Corps Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) leaders.
While informal cooperation is nothing new to ARES, RACES and MARS
members--many of whom participate in all three organizations--the focus of
the Castle Point gathering was on launching more formal regional and
national collaboration. ARRL Field Organization/Public Service Team Leader
Steve Ewald, WV1X, said he was pleased to be able to participate.
"I thought it was an excellent meeting, and it should lay a foundation for
further cooperation between ARRL and our Field Organization and MARS," he
said afterward. Ewald also used the occasion to call attention to the ARRL
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses and the tuition grants
available for radio amateurs completing them. Joining him under the League
banner were ARRL Field Organization appointees Pete Cecere, N2YJZ, the
Eastern New York Section Manager, and Tom Carrubba, KA2D, the New York
City-Long Island Section Emergency Coordinator.
Newly designated New York Army MARS-ARRL Liaison Officer Richard
Meirowitz, WA2ELE, organized the session, and New York MARS Director Steve
Pertgen, W2FXJ, chaired the meeting at the Castle Point Veterans
Administration Medical Center.
Keynote speaker was Army MARS Eastern Area Coordinator Robert Hollister,
AAA9E/N7INK, from Ft Huachuca, Arizona (and the author of "A Portable NVIS
Antenna," which will appear in the January 2005 QST). He expressed the
hope that MARS management and ARRL would join forces to pursue the goal of
interoperability. To jump start that initiative, Hollister provided an
overview of the US Department of Defense (DoD) MARS program and its
emphasis on providing emergency communication support to a wide variety of
military and government response agencies.
In September, Hollister asked MARS stations and nets to coordinate with
ARES/RACES and local ham radio operators to assist in handling
hurricane-related health-and-welfare traffic. Amateur Radio and the
military already collaborate informally each May during the Armed Forces
Day communications tests, when hams and military stations engage in
crossband contacts. Several pilot operations also have employed ARES/RACES
members in past Army Reserve exercises at the local level.
Among proposals was a suggestion to seek FCC permission to conduct
year-round interoperability training and emergency operation. It also was
proposed that the amateur community assist MARS in providing early warning
notification of emergency situations--so-called "Essential Elements of
Information" messages--for relay to the DoD and the Department of Homeland
Security.
Following Hollister's briefing, MARS Eastern Area Emergency Operations
Chief John Scoggin, W3JKS, of Wilmington, Delaware, discussed last
summer's nationwide Grecian Firebolt 2004 (GF-04) Army Signal
communication exercise--the biggest MARS drill ever. At Pertgen's
suggestion, Meirowitz tested the feasibility of MARS-ARES-RACES
collaboration during GF-04, and ARES volunteers from eastern New York took
part in the exercise, which involved a homeland defense/homeland security
scenario. Meirowitz called it "a small but successful joint effort." Ewald
noted that the Grecian Firebolt exercises were similar in nature to the
ARRL's Simulated Emergency Test each fall.
Hollister suggested that ARES/RACES participation in the next annual Army
Signal exercise be worked out on a state-by-state basis. Also proposed was
the designation of additional MARS-ARRL liaison officers at the state
level.--Bill Sexton N1IN
==>NEBRASKA, WEST CENTRAL FLORIDA ELECT NEW SECTION MANAGERS
In the only three contested races in the current Section Manager (SM)
election cycle, the ARRL Nebraska and West Central Florida Sections have
elected new section leaders. New York City-Long Island Section members
re-elected their incumbent SM.
In Nebraska, Matthew Anderson, KA0BOJ, outpolled Dan Steinhoff, W7UP, 270
to 80, to become SM there. From Ashland, Anderson has been licensed for 28
years and is ARRL Emergency Coordinator for Saunders County. He will
succeed Bill McCollum, KE0XQ, the SM for the past decade, who decided not
to seek another term.
In West Central Florida, Gerald "Dee" Turner, N4GD, of Pinellas Park, was
the winner over John Townsley, AE4GB, 495 to 224. Licensed since 1991,
Turner is vice president of the St Petersburg Amateur Radio Club where he
has taught Amateur Radio classes and serves as an ARRL volunteer examiner.
He'll take over from Dave Armbrust, AE4MR, West Central Florida's SM since
the section’s establishment in 2000, who did not seek a new term.
Incumbent New York City-Long Island SM George Tranos, N2GA, of Bellport,
overcame a challenge from Steve Barreres, K2CX, 534 to 351 votes. Tranos
has served as SM since 1998.
In Eastern Massachusetts, Mike Neilsen, W1MPN, was unopposed in his bid to
become the new SM. He'll take over from Phil Temples, K9HI, who didn't run
for another term.
Incumbent SMs in six other ARRL Sections ran unopposed and were declared
elected for new two-year terms. They include Dale Bagley, K0KY, Missouri;
Rich Beaver, N3SRJ, Western Pennsylvania; Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, South
Carolina; Tom Dick, KF2GC, Northern New York; Jean Priestley, KA2YKN,
Southern New Jersey; Dale Williams, WA8EFK, Michigan.
Ballots were counted and verified November 23 at ARRL Headquarters. Terms
of office for successful candidates begin January 1, 2005.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Propagation maven Tad "I Live for the Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
Washington, reports: Sunspot numbers and geomagnetic activity were both up
slightly over the past week. Average daily sunspot numbers were low,
rising over the past week from 50 to 55.1. Average daily solar flux rose
from 103.8 to 110.9 over the same period. During November the average
daily sunspot numbers were 70.5. This is slightly lower than the 77.9
average for October. Geomagnetic indices were unsettled over the past
week, with daily A indices for both mid-latitude and high latitude in the
mid to high teens.
Over the next few days, solar flux should decline. Predicted daily solar
flux for Friday, December 3, through Monday, December 6, is predicted to
be 105, 100, 100 and 95. Solar flux should reach a near-term low of 90
around December 8-9. Geomagnetic conditions should remain quiet until
December 6, when the predicted planetary A index is 20. This may be far
enough off to have good quiet conditions for the ARRL 160-Meter Contest
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2004/160-Meters.html> this weekend.
Sunspot numbers for November 18 through 24 were 77, 61, 40, 27, 28, 45 and
72, with a mean of 50. The 10.7 cm flux was 104, 102.2, 99.3, 100.9,
106.3, 106.9 and 107.3, with a mean of 103.8. Estimated planetary A
indices were 3, 4, 18, 16, 10, 5 and 6, with a mean of 8.9. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 4, 3, 12, 9, 6, 4 and 7, with a mean of 6.4.
Sunspot numbers for November 25 through December 1 were 61, 61, 64, 66,
40, 42 and 52, with a mean of 55.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 109.4, 111.1,
110.3, 112.8, 111.4, 110.6 and 111, with a mean of 110.9. Estimated
planetary A indices were 20, 13, 10, 14, 15, 15 and 13 with a mean of
14.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 19, 16, 10, 16, 20, 16 and 11,
with a mean of 15.4.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The ARRL 160-Meter Contest, the TARA RTTY
Melee, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, the CIS DX Contest (CW), and the ARCI
Holiday Spirits Homebrew Sprint are the weekend of December 4-5. The ARS
Spartan Sprint is December 7. JUST AHEAD: The ARRL 10-Meter Contest, the
Fall NA Meteor Scatter Rally and the Great Colorado Snowshoe Run are the
weekend of December 11-12. The Russian 160-Meter Contest is December 17.
See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the
WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more
info.
* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open
through Sunday, December 12. Classes begin Friday, December 24. With the
assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know
to pass the FCC Technician class license examination. To learn more, visit
the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL Certification and
Continuing Education Program Department, cce@arrl.org.
* Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I on-line course
(EC-001) opens Monday, December 6, at 1201 AM EST and will remain open
through the December 11-12 weekend or until all available seats have been
filled. Class begins Friday, December 24. Radio amateurs 55 and up are
strongly encouraged to participate. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the
Corporation for National and Community Service and the United Technologies
Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be
reimbursed after successful completion of the course. During this
registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a
first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>.
For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
Miller, K3UFG, cce@arrl.org; 860-594-0340.
* Radio amateur's complaint leads to big fine for taxi company: A radio
amateur's complaint of interference in the 70 cm band has prompted the FCC
to fine a Portland, Oregon, taxi company $12,000. The FCC Forfeiture Order
(NOF) released November 18 said the violations involved Portland Taxicab's
operation on 452.250 and 457.250 MHz without valid FCC authorization,
transmission of spurious emissions resulting in harmful interference to an
Amateur Radio station and failure to properly identify. In March 2003,
John N. Stein, AB7F, complained to the FCC's Portland Office of
interference in the vicinity of 440.700 to 440.780 MHz. An FCC agent
traced the interfering signal to an apparently unauthorized repeater
station operating on 452.250/457.250 MHz. The agent also measured spurious
emissions falling within the 70 cm amateur band at approximately 55 dB
below the repeater's 452.250 MHz transmitter. The FCC traced the
repeater's control point to Portland Taxicab and issued oral warnings to
the companies office manager, who told the FCC the station, WPRJ576, would
change to its authorized frequencies and fix its transmitter. When the
problems continued, however, the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent
Liability. In response, the taxi company did not dispute the violations
but said it had dismissed the office manager and resolved the interference
problem. The company also asked the FCC to cancel or reduce the proposed
fine, but the FCC determined the forfeiture should stand. "The improper
actions by an employee cannot save Portland Taxicab from responsibility
for its violations," the FCC concluded. It also said the company failed to
submit acceptable documentation of its inability to pay. The taxi company
was given 30 days to pay the fine.
* International Humanitarian Award deadline looms: Nominations close
December 31 for the 2004 ARRL International Humanitarian Award
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/awards/humanitarian.html>. The award is
conferred upon an amateur or amateurs who demonstrate devotion to human
welfare, peace and international understanding through Amateur Radio. The
League established the annual prize to recognize Amateur Radio operators
who have used ham radio to provide extraordinary service to others in
times of crisis or disaster. A committee appointed by the League's
President recommends the award recipient(s) to the ARRL Board, which makes
the final decision. The committee is now accepting nominations from
Amateur Radio, governmental or other organizations that have benefited
from extraordinary service rendered by an Amateur Radio operator or group.
Amateur Radio is one of the few telecommunication services that allow
people throughout the world from all walks of life to meet and talk with
each other, thereby spreading goodwill across political boundaries.
Nominations should include a summary of the nominee's actions that qualify
the individual (or individuals) for this award, plus verifying statements
from at least two people having first-hand knowledge of the events
warranting the nomination as well as names and addresses of all
references. Nominations and supporting materials must be submitted in
writing in English to ARRL International Humanitarian Award, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111 USA by December 31, 2004. The winner of the ARRL
International Humanitarian Award receives an engraved plaque and a profile
in QST and other ARRL venues.
* Senate confirms Adelstein for new FCC term: The US Senate has confirmed
the White House nomination of FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein to
remain on the FCC until June 30, 2008. Adelstein said he was gratified to
have the opportunity to continue to serve. "The issues before us are
critical to our economy and touch people in deeply personal ways," he said
in a statement following his November 20 confirmation. "I will continue to
promote the interests of the American public in having access to the best
possible communications opportunities in the world." ARRL CEO David
Sumner, K1ZZ, wrote Adelstein this week to congratulate him on his
appointment and confirmation. "It is good to know that you will continue
to be in a position to ensure that the legitimate concerns of radio
amateurs and other users of the radio spectrum are reflected in the
Commission's decisions," Sumner said. One of two Democrats on the
five-member FCC, Adelstein joined the FCC in November 2002. A protégé of
and former aide to US Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD), Adelstein
is the first South Dakotan ever to serve on the FCC. The term of the FCC's
other Democrat, Commissioner Michael J. Copps, does not expire until next
year.
* AOR donates digital voice/image units to W1AW: AOR USA has donated two
ARD9800 <http://www.aorusa.com/ard9800.html> digital voice/image units to
Maxim Memorial Station W1AW. The ARD9800 Fast Radio Modem adds digital SSB
voice capability to any HF transceiver without having to modify the radio.
With the addition of an optional memory module, the unit also enables
transmission of high-quality digital images. AOR USA Executive Vice
President Taka Nakayama, KW6I, visited W1AW and ARRL Headquarters November
15 to present the ARD9800 units. "AOR is proud to bring digital HF voice
communications to W1AW," Nakayama said. "We believe Hiram Percy Maxim
would be genuinely excited at this leap in technology." Accepting on
behalf of ARRL was W1AW Station Manager Joe Carcia, NJ1Q. "We thank AOR
USA very much for these units, which are installed as part of the
equipment complement in two of our operating studios," Carcia said. "The
ARD9800 enhances W1AW's efforts to keep up with current technology and
will provide visiting operators a chance to experiment with digital audio
on HF." Nakayama said thousands of hams in Japan and Europe already are
enjoying high-quality digital audio with ARD9800 units and DX contacts are
not unusual. With the ARD9800's digital audio, he pointed out, background
static and noise are eliminated and audio quality improved. Several
independent Web sites have been set up to arrange digital QSOs with other
ARD9800 users, and links to some of these sites are available on the AOR
Web site <http://www.aorusa.com/>.
===========================================================
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