***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 26
June 30, 2006
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* +Ham radio volunteers ready as floods hit Eastern US
* +Montenegro becomes the 336th DXCC entity
* +Space campers in Belgium query ISS crew member via ham radio
* +FCC levies fine for marketing non-certificated CBs as ham radio gear
* +Fires keeping Southwestern ham radio volunteers on alert
* +Contest Soapbox ready for your Field Day writeups, photos
* +NCJ to offer WRTC-2006 blogs
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+ARRL, IARU HQ mults will be on the air for IARU HF World Championship
WRTC-2006 requests IARU HF World Championship logs
ARRL "DXCC Dialog" blog debuts
Field Day at W1AW slide show available
Educator astronaut gets on the air for Kids Day
New IRC available July 1
Correction regarding Director/Vice Director eligibility
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
===========================================================
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
===========================================================
NOTE: ARRL Headquarters will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for the Independence
Day holiday. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions
that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Wednesday, July 5, at 8 AM EDT. We
wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!
===========================================================
==>ARES/RACES TEAMS HANDLE FLOOD DUTY IN MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES
Amateur Radio volunteers this week supported communication or remained on
alert to assist relief organizations and local emergency managers in
flood-stricken regions of the Eastern US. Widespread flooding in several
states claimed at least a dozen lives. ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania PIO Bob
Josuweit, WA3PZO, says ham radio volunteers in 10 counties in his Section
actively aided local law enforcement, emergency management agencies and the
Red Cross, which set up about a dozen evacuation centers.
"Hams in some areas may be on duty for several days as river levels slowly
drop below flood stage," Josuweit told ARRL June 29. The Delaware River --
which separates New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- crested June 29, and the
Susquehanna River a day earlier.
A mandatory evacuation order affecting some 200,000 residents of the Wilkes
Barre area in Luzerne County was lifted June 29. Josuweit reports that the
Susquehanna crested at nearly 34 feet, 12 feet above flood stage for that
area. "In areas where the water has already receded, many utilities are
still out of service and local officials are advising residents to stay away
from the their homes until at least Saturday [July 1]," Josuweit said.
Despite flooding in the area, Josuweit says the Wilkes Barre hamfest
<http://www.qsl.net/k3ytl> sponsored by the Murgas Amateur Radio Club will
go on as scheduled Sunday, July 2, at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds, Route
118, Lake Lehman.
ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Emergency Coordinator Al Rabenau, W3AHR,
reported the Schuylkill River receding as of June 29. He said Bucks County
ARES had been on alert status since June 28. Members established a VHF
repeater net and have been staffing several EOCs and shelters. Bucks County
EC Harris Stein, NY3H, says ARES/RACES was trimming down some operations at
week's end but will continue Red Cross support through the holiday weekend.
He anticipates needing operators to assist with damage assessment July 1 and
to replace shelter operators.
Due to topography, flooding along the Delaware typically is worst in Bucks
County and in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. ARRL Hunterdon County District
Emergency Coordinator David Kanitra, WB2AZE, this week placed Hunterdon ARES
on a Level 1 alert for possible deployment to assist RACES.
In Mercer County, New Jersey, Emergency Coordinator Kip Burnett, KB2EGI,
reported his ARES/RACES team was on standby and no longer staffing the EOC,
which remains active. "We may be needed later to assist with water
deployment or some other situation," he said. ARES/RACES personnel at the
EOC this week monitored river levels.
Burnett called the flooding "basically a repeat of the October 2004 and
April 2005 floods," and said officials evacuated the same locations -- an
area called "The Island" -- in Trenton as well as parts of Titusville.
Conventional communication systems remained intact.
In Binghamton, New York, and surrounding Broome County authorities ordered
the evacuation of some 15,000 residents as the Susquehanna and Chenango
rivers overflowed their banks, putting some neighborhoods under several feet
of water. Parts of Interstates 81 and 88 as well as State Route 17 were
closed.
In Delaware last weekend, Justin Kates, KB3JUV, says ARES volunteers
diverted their attention from Field Day and prepared to support
communication in the wake of flooding in Sussex County, which received 15
inches of rain in some areas. "Emergency management had a difficult time
providing road and medical crews to the affected areas due to the high
water," Kates told ARRL. The weather event also disrupted conventional
communication systems.
While formal activation was unnecessary, Amateur Radio volunteers remained
poised to supply any needed communication assistance. A SKYWARN activated,
however, and volunteers relayed rainfall reports as well as road and highway
reports.
==>UN MAKES IT OFFICIAL: MONTENEGRO NOW NUMBER 336 ON THE CURRENT DXCC LIST
A new ARRL DXCC entity came into being this week! As expected, the United
Nations admitted the Republic of Montenegro as its 192nd member June 28, and
that action automatically makes the tiny Balkan nation the 336th current
DXCC entity.
"According to the ARRL DXCC List criteria, entities on the UN list of
member-states qualify as political entities," said ARRL Membership Services
Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG. "Therefore, effective June 28, 2006 (UTC), ARRL
has added The Republic of Montenegro to the DXCC List. Claims for DXCC
credit will be accepted immediately."
The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> this week quoted Ranko Boca, YT6A,
that current Montengrin radio amateurs may use their current
Serbia-Montenegro call signs until the International Telecommunication Union
(ITU) designates a call sign block for the new country.
In anticipation of Montengro's new nation status, International DX Festival
Montenegro <http://www.yu6scg.cg.yu/international-dx-festival.html> has been
set for July 20 until August 12. That's when several international operators
— with Boca as DXpedition leader and well-known DXer Martti Laine, OH2BH, as
radio operations leader — will join forces with Montenegrin Amateur Radio
operators from at least three different stations using a common call sign in
an effort to meet the DX community's need to work the newest DXCC Entity.
Festival organizers have set the ambitious goal of 200,000 contacts for the
event, which will use all HF bands.
The event also will include several basic courses on ham radio operating and
CEPT license examinations aimed at new and less-experienced radio amateurs.
Another goal is to establish an Amateur Radio Club of Montenegro
Others scheduled to take part in the DX Festival include ARRL CEO David
Sumner, K1ZZ, and XYL Linda, KA1ZD; 3Y0X team member Bob Grimmick, N6OX;
IARU Region 1 Executive Committee member Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T;
Carsten Esch, DL6LAU, and Vladan Kecman, YT3T/YU1AO.
Montenegro declared its independence on June 3 following a national
referendum May 21.--The Daily DX; ARRL DXCC Desk
==>EUROPEAN SPACE CAMPERS QUIZ ASTRONAUT ON SPACE LIFE, RESEARCH
A group of British space campers at the Euro Space Center (ESC) in Belgium
went right to the source via ham radio and teleconference to get answers to
their questions about life and work aboard the International Space Station.
The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program
arranged the June 13 contact with US Astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, at
NA1SS. One camper wanted to know whether a human space flight to Mars would
be possible by 2020, as has been projected.
"Oh, I think it's realistic," Williams replied. "It depends upon the
countries that are involved and how committed they are to the programs to
make them happen by 2020."
Answering another space camper, Williams outlined some potentially practical
benefits of the scientific research occurring onboard the ISS.
"You never know when you're doing research what the benefits are going to be
until way off in the future," Williams qualified. "We are working on
research to prevent kidney stones -- renal stones. That's very important for
us in a weightless environment, and that will have direct application to
those on the ground."
Williams said he and Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, also
are conducting studies on bone density. Experience has shown that the
weightless environment appears to affect bone density of astronauts and
cosmonauts on long-term duty in space.
As other ISS crew members before him have said, viewing Earth from the ISS
is awe inspiring. "It definitely changes your vision of the world. It's a
very humbling experience to see the earth from this vantage point," Williams
responded. "The earth is a beautiful planet from above, and it definitely
makes you more aware of what we've been given in our world and that we need
to be good stewards of it."
One questioner wanted to know if Williams saw the flashes of light in his
eyes -- believed due to cosmic rays -- that other space travelers have
reported. Williams said he does see them, especially when he closes his eyes
to sleep, but they're not very bothersome. "It's just a very quick flash out
of the corner of your eye," he explained.
Serving as the Earth station for the contact with NA1SS was W6SRJ at Santa
Rosa Junior College in California. Verizon Conferencing donated a
teleconference link to handle two-way audio between the ESC and California.
Contact audio was distributed worldwide via EchoLink and IRLP.
Some 60 teenaged students and their teachers from Gillingham School, Dorset,
England, were at the ESC Space Camp the week the contact took place.
According to ARISS-Europe's Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, youngsters from many
European countries visit the space camp, which includes a permanent Space
Expo and an Amateur Radio club station, ON4ESC.
Twenty questions were asked and answered, and there was time left over for
Bertels to express thanks on behalf of the students, and the youngsters gave
a resounding applause. Williams signed off by encouraging the students to
make the most of their space camp experience and suggested that some of them
might contribute to space exploration in the future.
Also visiting on the day of the event were 50 French schoolchildren. A
teacher translated the questions and the answers into French for their
benefit.
After the contact, an ARISS member conducted a half-hour question-and-answer
session with the students. Six of their questions focused on ARISS
activities.
ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is a nine-nation international educational
outreach, with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
==>FCC AFFIRMS FINE FOR MARKETING NON-CERTIFICATED CBs AS HAM TRANSCEIVERS
The FCC has affirmed a $7000 fine it proposed to levy on TravelCenters of
America in Troutdale, Oregon, for marketing uncertificated Citizens Band
(CB) transceivers as 10-meter Amateur Radio transceivers. In a Forfeiture
Order (NoF) released June 29
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1334A1.pdf>, the
FCC turned away TravelCenters' argument that the transceivers in question
were not CB transceivers, which require FCC certification, but Amateur Radio
transceivers, which do not. The Commission says its Office of Engineering
and Technology (OET) determined that the radios in question -- manufactured
by Galaxy -- could be easily modified to operate on CB channels.
"TravelCenters provides no evidence to show that the Galaxy models it
offered for sale were not easily modified," the FCC said in its NoF.
"Therefore, we find that the subject Galaxy models were CB transmitters
pursuant to Section 95.603(c), regardless of the signs TravelCenters placed
near the point of purchase." The signs advised that the units were Amateur
Radio transceivers, not CB radios, and a license was required.
In May, an FCC Order concluded a similar case in which the Commission had
imposed $125,000 in fines on Pilot Travel Centers LLC for continuing to
market CB transceivers labeled as Amateur Radio gear but intended for use on
both CB and amateur frequencies. Under the terms of a consent decree, Pilot
agreed to make "a voluntary contribution" of $90,000 to the US Treasury
"without further protest or recourse," but did not admit to any wrongdoing.
Pilot further agreed to refrain from marketing as "Amateur Radio" gear any
transmitting devices with built-in features to facilitate CB operation.
The FCC required Pilot to remove from sale Galaxy transceiver models
DX33HML, DX66V and DX99V. Those units also were among the radios the FCC
cited in the TravelCenters proceeding. Some of the Galaxy transceivers at
issue in the TravelCenters' case have only CB-like channel knobs and
indicators for tuning, although the more expensive models sport a digital
frequency readout. Most of the units transmit only in AM and FM mode.
In affirming the $7000 fine, the FCC cited a 1999 letter from the FCC's
Office of General Counsel (OGC) on the importation and marketing of ham
radio transceivers. The OGC's letter clarified that transmitters having "a
built-in capacity to operate on CB frequencies and can easily be altered to
activate that capacity, such as by moving or removing a jumper plug or
cutting a single wire" fall within the definition of a CB transmitter and
must obtain FCC certification prior to importation or marketing.
The FCC also turned away TravelCenters' argument that Commission efforts 10
years ago to clarify the definition of a CB transceiver in an OET Public
Notice violated the Administrative Procedures Act. The FCC countered that it
had relied on the OGC's letter and its interpretation of §95.603(c) as well
as the OET's recent determination regarding the specific transceiver models
in question. The Commission further noted that §95.655(a) of its rules
states that no transmitter will be certificated for CB use if "equipped with
a frequency capability" not listed in Part 95 as CB transmitter channel
frequencies.
The TravelCenters case dates back to the fall of 2001, when an FCC agent
visited the TravelCenters' retail store in Troutdale and observed six models
of "CB transceivers" that had not received FCC certification. The FCC's
Portland, Oregon, Field Office issued a Citation to TravelCenters' Troutdale
store later that fall for selling non-certificated CB transceivers. It
warned TravelCenters that future violations could lead to fines and seizure
of equipment.
In July 2005 the FCC's Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Apparent
Liability (NAL) proposing the $7000 fine for "apparently willfully and
repeatedly" violating §302(b) of the Communications Act and §2.803(a)(1) of
its rules "by offering for sale a non-certified CB transceiver."
==>ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO ARES TEAMS KEEP CLOSE EYE ON WILDFIRES
As firefighters gained the upper hand with the Brins Fire near Sedona,
Arizona, and some evacuation orders have been lifted, Amateur Radio
Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers were in a holding pattern at week's end.
The fire burned more than 4300 acres and was 90 percent contained by
midweek.
"We are essentially just in a standby mode if something should change," ARRL
Arizona SEC Rick Aldom, W7STS, told ARRL Headquarters. Two Red Cross
evacuation centers closed over the June 24-25 weekend.
Evacuations for some Oak Creek Canyon residents remained in effect at
midweek, impacting nearly 600 homes and 40 businesses. State Rte 89A
remained closed to the general public, but authorities reopened the highway
to residents, business owners, service providers and emergency vehicles June
27. Individuals entering the area must provide identification.
Officials believe the Brins Fire, some two miles north of Sedona in the
Coconino National Forest, resulted from an escaped campfire. "The
firefighters who responded to this fire have done an incredible job of
saving not only one of the more scenic areas of Arizona, but nearly 500
structures that were threatened," Aldom commented. "Had this fire jumped the
fire lines, it would have become really ugly, really fast."
In New Mexico, Sandoval County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (SCARES) was
well into its Field Day exercise on Saturday, June 24, when Sandoval
County's emergency manager notified District Emergency Coordinator Mike
Scales, K5SCA, of a forest fire north of Cuba, near Gallina, in the Santa Fe
National Forest. The SCARES Field Day ended abruptly, and members went on
standby until Scales could assess the needs at the Bear Paw fire scene.
By 7 PM, Scales and Vance Loen, WV5L, were in Sandoval County's Emergency
Communication Vehicle — "Command 7" — en route to assist with any
evacuations and to coordinate communication among Sandoval and Rio Arriba
counties and the US Forest Service. Until then Command 7 had been used for
Field Day.
By June 28, the Bear Paw Fire had consumed 3200 acres in sage and ponderosa
and full containment was expected by June 29. A downed power line apparently
caused the fire, but the circumstances remain under investigation. At one
point, the fire threatened the communities of Gallina Plaza and Bear Paw,
prompting a mandatory evacuation order for Gallina Plaza and a voluntary
evacuation advisory for Bear Paw. State Road 96 was closed, and an
evacuation shelter was set up in Cuba.
SCARES members remained on stand-by at the scene in Command 7, while Bill
Kauffman, W5YEJ, and Marlin Allison, K5MHA, kept an ear on the SCARES
repeater on Pajarito Peak from Rio Rancho.
At week's end, no ARES/RACES personnel were on active fire duty in New
Mexico. "Fire season is not over," New Mexico SEC Rick Sohl, K5RIC, has
reminded all ARES members nonetheless. Although several of the state's
forest and range fires have been doused with rains over the past week, new
ones continue to break out.—Charlie Christman, K5CEC; National Fire
Information Center
==>POST YOUR FIELD DAY 2006 PHOTOS AND EXPERIENCES ON THE CONTEST SOAPBOX
ARRL invites participants in ARRL Field Day 2006 to post photos and
narratives to its Contest Soapbox <http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/>
for all to see. It's not only fun and easy, but your photos and writeup
could become part of the annual Field Day summary that appears in December
QST.
Several participants have already taken the opportunity to tell their Field
Day tales on the ARRL Contest Soapbox, which is open to ARRL members and
non-members alike. Narratives should focus on your or your club's or group's
involvement in Field Day.
The League reserves the right to edit or even to decline postings it
considers inappropriate for this forum. The potential audience for your post
is broad, so good taste is a must. Responsibility for all posted material
rests solely with the author, and the ARRL staff assumes no responsibility
for errors, omissions or accuracy of items appearing in the Contest Soapbox.
Direct any questions and comments on to the author of the post. If you have
questions or comments about using Contest Soapbox, contact the ARRL Contest
Branch <contests@arrl.org>;.
==>FOLLOW WRTC-2006 VIA THE NCJ WEB SITE BLOGS
The year's premier global contesting event, World Radiosport Team
Championship 2006 (WRTC-2006) <http://www.wrtc2006.com/site/home.asp>, takes
place July 8-9 in conjunction with the IARU HF World Championship
<http://www.iaru.org/contest.html>.
Via Web logs (blogs), the National Contest Journal (NCJ) is giving you a
front-row seat as top-notch contesters in two-person teams from around the
world compete on HF from Brazil on as level a playing field as possible. The
contest period is 1200 UTC Saturday, July 8, until 1200 UTC Sunday, July 9.
Winners will be announced Monday, July 10, at the awards dinner.
The NCJ WRTC-2006 blogs will include the musings and general comments of
WRTC-2006 competitors, referees and log checkers. We invite NCJ readers to
post their comments as well.
Access the blogs from the NCJ home page <http://www.ncjweb.com/> or from the
WRTC-2006 coverage section <http://www.ncjweb.com/wrtc2006blogs.php>.
Postings have already begun and will continue -- on a time-available basis,
since the contributors do have WRTC-2006 responsibilities -- until WRTC-2006
wraps up.
Blog contributors are: Doug Grant, K1DG; Randy Thompson, K5ZD; Jeff Briggs,
K1ZM; Ann Santos, WA1S; Tim Duffy, K3LR; Eric Scace, K3NA; Glenn Johnson,
W0GJ; Ward Silver, N0AX; Dean Straw, N6BV; Tree Tyree, N6TR; Rusty Epps,
W6OAT, and Dale Green, VE7SV.
The National Contest Journal thanks these contributors for being willing to
share their personal WRTC-2006 experiences with the Amateur Radio community.
Also, thanks to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, for suggesting this blog and putting it
on the NCJ Web site, and to the ARRL for shipping 300 copies of the special
WRTC-2006 July/August NCJ issue to Brazil.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Solar swami "You Are My Sunshine" Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: There were no sunspots for Field Day weekend, but a big new sunspot
(897) rotated into view this week. Followed by sunspot 898, it looks like a
moderately rising solar flux and sunspot number will be with us through July
6.
A solar wind stream caused elevated geomagnetic numbers on June 28 and 29,
and this may happen again around July 3-5. Geophysical Institute Prague
predicts quiet conditions over June 30 to July 3, quiet to unsettled on July
4, unsettled to active on July 5, and unsettled on July 6.
For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the
numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service
Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.
Sunspot numbers for June 22 through 28 were 0, 0, 0, 13, 14, 33 and 38, with
a mean of 14. The 10.7 cm flux was 72.1, 71.8, 73.6, 74, 76.4, 78.5, and
83.5, with a mean of 75.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 2, 4, 5, 3,
6 and 18, with a mean of 6.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 6, 1, 2,
3, 1, 7 and 12, with a mean of 4.6.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The RAC Canada Day Contest is July 1. The
Venezuelan Independence Day Contest, the DL-DX RTTY Contest, the Original
QRP Contest, the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of July 1-2.
The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW) is July 3. The ARS Spartan Sprint
is July 4. The MI QRP July 4th CW Sprint is July 4-5. JUST AHEAD: The
VK/Trans-Tasman 160-Meter Contest (phone) is July 8. The IARU HF World
Championship, the FISTS Summer Sprint, the Six Club Contest and the ARCI
Summer Homebrew Sprint are the weekend of July 8-9. The RSGB 80-Meter Club
Championship (SSB) is July 12. The Thursday NCCC Sprint Ladder is July 14.
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 Friday July 7, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) program on-line courses:
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) Classes begin Friday, July 21. To
learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department
<cce@arrl.org>;.
* ARRL, IARU HQ mults will be on the air for IARU HF World Championship:
During the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship
Contest July 8-9, W1AW/4 will provide the ARRL Headquarters multiplier from
Tennessee, with the Tennessee Contest Group hosting the operation. Supplying
the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HQ multiplier will be NU1AW/8,
operating from sites in Michigan and Ohio, hosted by Dave Pruett, K8CC, and
friends from the Mad River Radio Club and the North Coast Contesters. The
World Radiosport Team Championship 2006 (WRTC 2006) in Brazil takes place
concurrently with the IARU HF World Championship, although WRTC rules differ
in some respects from those of the IARU event, and scoring is separate. IARU
HF World Championship Contest rules are on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/iaru.html>.
* WRTC-2006 requests IARU HF World Championship logs: World Radiosport Team
Championship 2006 (WRTC-2006) <http://www.wrtc2006.com/> officials want as
many logs as possible from IARU HF World Championship
<http://www.iaru.org/contest.html> participants within six hours of the
event's end. The WRTC-2006 competition among 47 top contesting teams from
around the globe takes place in Brazil July 8-9, coinciding with the IARU HF
World Championship event. Because WRTC-2006 winners will be announced on
July 10, event organizers want IARU contest logs enhance the accuracy of
WRTC-2006 log checking. WRTC-2006 is especially interested in logs from HQ
stations, since these serve as multipliers for both events. E-mail complete
IARU HF World Championship logs in Cabrillo format by 1800 UTC Sunday, July
9, to <logs@wrtc2006.com>;. WRTC-2006 has announced a lottery and prizes for
early receipt of IARU contest logs <http://www.wrtc2006.com/release52.html>.
Note that submission of IARU contest logs does not constitute an official
entry for the IARU HF World Championship. That is an entirely separate
entry, and the usual deadline and submission requirements apply.
[WRTC-2006-logo.jpg]
* ARRL "DXCC Dialog" blog debuts: The ARRL DXCC Desk has inaugurated the
"DXCC Dialog Weblog" <http://www.arrl.org/blog/DXCC%20Dialog> — containing
news and notes about the ARRL DXCC program. "This page will have up-to-date
information about the DXCC program," says ARRL Membership Services Manager
Wayne Mills, N7NG. "It does not provide for users to post responses, but
authors and e-mail addresses are listed." The blog will be updated as needed
to inform and update the DXing community regarding news of interest.
* Field Day at W1AW slide show available: A slide show, "Field Day at W1AW,"
now is available on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/FD2006-W1AW/>. Photographed and produced
during Field Day 2006 by ARRL Web/Software Development Manager Jon Bloom,
KE3Z, the 4-1/2 minute presentation "was created to give members a feel for
what happens at W1AW on Field Day," he says. It also provides a peek inside
W1AW for those who have never visited. "The slide show is presented using
Adobe Flash format. Adobe Flash Player 7 or later and a compatible Web
browser are needed to play the slide show," he notes, adding that most
computers already have a copy of Flash Player installed. If not, Flash
Player is a free for download from Adobe
<http://www.adobe.com/go/gntray_dl_getflashplayer>. The show can be played
directly from the Web site in either a large format — suitable for broadband
Web users — or in a smaller format more attuned to dial-up Internet
connections.
* Educator astronaut gets on the air for Kids Day: NASA Educator Astronaut
Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, KE5DAT, spent an hour or so on the air June 17
talking to youngsters around the US during ARRL Kids Day. She spoke with
about a dozen kids and ham radio operators from W5RRR at the Johnson Space
Center in Houston. Assisting her at the microphone was Kent Castle, W5OJ,
who spent several hours on 20 meters before and after KE5DAT's visit,
chatting with youngsters taking part in the twice-a-year activity.
Metcalf-Lindenburger joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in 2004.--Kenneth
Ransom, N5VHO
* New IRC available July 1: The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has announced
that a new International Reply Coupon (IRC) design
<http://www.dailydx.com/2007irc.jpg> has been selected. Radio amateurs often
enclose IRCs when QSLing DX stations directly to cover the cost of return
postage. The new design, known as "Beijing Model No. 2," was submitted by
Volodymyr Taran, a graphic artist from Ukraine. Chosen by a jury of 40 UPU
member countries, the coupon design was inspired by Michelangelo's painting
on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel -- two fingers about to touch framed in
a postage stamp, representing the notions of communication and exchange. The
new IRC will be valid until December 31, 2009. The current IRC is valid
through December 31, 2006. For more information on IRCs, see the June 1999
issue of QST (page 83).--The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>
Correction regarding Director/Vice Director eligibility: The July QST "It
Seems to Us . . ." editorial misstates the eligibility requirements to run
for ARRL Director and Vice Director. The membership/licensing requirements
are four years of continuous full membership and four years of continuous
holding of a valid authorization as a radio amateur in accordance with the
applicable laws and regulations of the United States immediately preceding
nomination.
===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
<http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest
to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise,
and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest news,
updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> offers
access to news, informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled from The ARRL Letter.
Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/>
==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384
==>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 Lists@QTH.Net
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.)
