[CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 14

ARRL Letter Mailing List [email protected]
Fri, 02 Apr 2004 17:41:02 -0800


***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 23, No. 14
April 2, 2004
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +FEMA backs away from its "grave concerns" about BPL
* +Spectrum Protection Act tops 90 House cosponsors
* +ARRL offers non-technical BPL handout
* +ZL, UA amateurs claim new LF QSO world record
* +Logbook of the World numbers continue to rise
* +W1AW/90 to mark League anniversary
* +Work continues on Hawaii ham antenna bills
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
      This weekend on the radio
      ARRL Emergency Communications course registration
      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
      Amateurs assisting Red Cross in Colorado fire
      Nominate a deserving PR volunteer for the McGan Award today!
      Wyoming gets new Section Manager
     +First call for AMSAT-NA Symposium papers
      Radio amateurs fill key NASA space flight positions
      Gary Gordon, K6KV, wins QST Cover Plaque Award

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================
NOTE: ARRL Headquarters will be closed Friday, April 9. The April 9 
editions of The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News will be distributed a day 
early. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions on 
April 9. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Monday, April 12, at 8 AM EDT. We 
wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend.

===========================================================

==>FEMA APPEARS TO BACKPEDAL IN BPL "CLARIFICATION" LETTER

After expressing "grave concerns" to the FCC last fall about the 
interference potential of Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems, the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now appears to be backing away 
from that strong stance. Now a part of the Department of Homeland Security, 
FEMA filed comments December 4 in response to the FCC's April 2003 Notice 
of Inquiry in ET Docket 03-104. Many have cited those remarks in their own 
comments opposing BPL deployment. In a January 8 letter that's now part of 
the BPL Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in ET Docket 04-37, Michael 
D. Brown, the US Department of Homeland Security's under secretary for 
emergency preparedness and response, told FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell 
that FEMA wanted to "clarify the record" to ensure that its filing was not 
"misunderstood or misconstrued."

"We have become aware that certain distinct approaches to BPL may have the 
potential to cause interference to FEMA's high frequency radio 
communications system," Brown said in his January letter. "However, we 
continue to study the BPL proceeding and have not concluded that there is a 
material interference problem or that all of the distinct technological 
approaches to BPL pose a risk of interference."

The FEMA official said his agency expects that there may be ways to provide 
BPL's benefits "without compromising the emergency communications 
capabilities available to FEMA."

The January letter stands in stark contrast to FEMA's predictions last 
December that "the introduction of unwanted interference from the 
implementation of BPL technology into the high frequency radio spectrum 
will result in significant detriment to the operation of FEMA radio 
systems." Saying such interference could "directly impair the safety of 
life and property," the agency also had recommended the FCC beef up its 
Part 15 rules to ensure no increase in interference levels to existing FCC 
or NTIA-licensed communication systems.

"The purported benefits of BPL in terms of expanded services in certain 
communications sectors do not appear to outweigh the benefit to the overall 
public of HF radio capability as presently used by government, broadcasting 
and public safety users," FEMA asserted last December in comments filed on 
the agency's behalf by Chief Information Officer Barry C. West.

BPL also could render such "essential communications services" as the Radio 
Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the Military Affiliate Radio 
System (MARS) and the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) useless, FEMA said. FEMA and 
ARRL are signatories to a Memorandum of Understanding that focuses on how 
Amateur Radio personnel may coordinate with the agency to support emergency 
communications functions. FEMA's December comments also referenced ARRL's 
"Interference to PLC systems from Amateur Radio Operation."

Brown's January letter conveys a much milder, conciliatory tone. "We know 
that the FCC shares our appreciation for the importance of reliable 
communications in the context of disaster recovery and are confident that 
the Office of Engineering and Technology's technical assessment, as well as 
the Commission's regulations implementing BPL, will be sensitive to this 
issue," he concluded. "FEMA stands ready to assist in any way the 
Commission might find helpful."

The deadline to file comments in response to the FCC BPL NPRM is Monday, 
May 3. Reply comments are due Tuesday, June 1. Interested individuals and 
organizations may file comments via the Internet using the FCC's Electronic 
Comment Filing System (ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. The FCC asks 
that anyone filing comments do so "only in the newly established ET Docket 
No 04-37."

==>BPL SPECTER LENDS ADDITIONAL SIGNIFICANCE TO SPECTRUM PROTECTION ACT

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says the specter of interference to 
Amateur Radio bands from Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems--if and 
when they are widely deployed--serves as a reminder of the importance of 
the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003. While the legislation 
would not grant added protection from BPL beyond what present and proposed 
FCC regulations would provide, Haynie said the challenge of BPL underscores 
the value of Amateur Radio's spectrum allocations and the degree to which 
amateur access deserves protection. Identical House and Senate versions of 
the measure, an ARRL initiative, are on their third try in Congress. The 
cosponsor count on the House bill, HR 713, this week rose to 94--more than 
double the number six months ago. The Senate version, S 537, has eight 
cosponsors.

"With BPL on the horizon, it becomes even more important that we all get 
behind these bills and get them enacted," Haynie said this week. He 
reiterated his call for more League members to take the effort to write, 
call or e-mail their representatives and senators to explain the bills' 
importance and encourage them to consider cosponsoring the measures. "They 
cover all of our spectrum, not just a little," he added.

The Spectrum Protection Act bills would require the FCC to provide 
"equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio if the Commission were 
to reallocate primary amateur frequencies, reduce any secondary amateur 
allocations, or make additional allocations within such bands that would 
substantially reduce their utility to amateurs.

The two bills do not directly address BPL interference. FCC rules already 
provide regulatory mechanisms in Part 15 and in proposed amendments to Part 
15 that are specifically aimed at BPL "interference mitigation."

Among the latest House cosponsors to sign aboard HR 713 are Representatives 
John Conyers (D-MI), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Susan Davis (R-CA), Charlie 
Norwood (R-GA), Norm Dicks (D-WA), Gene Taylor (D-MS), Tim Holden (D-PA), 
Danny Davis (D-IL), Gene Green (D-TX) and Jeff Miller (R-FL).

Haynie says letters from constituents are a crucial factor in getting the 
spectrum bills through Congress. "We can't get them into law without 
membership support," he said.

He urged members to contact their senators and representatives through 
their Washington or district offices. A sample letter on ARRL's The Amateur 
Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 Web page 
<http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html> cites Amateur Radio's role in 
public service activities, but Haynie invites members to personalize their 
own correspondence as they see fit.

The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 Web page also contains 
information on how to identify and contact individual members of Congress 
as well as links to the Thomas Web site <http://thomas.loc.gov/>. Among 
other things, the Thomas Web site includes links to the bills' text and a 
list of cosponsors. Those writing their lawmakers on behalf of the Spectrum 
Protection Act are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via 
e-mail <[email protected]>.

Florida Republican Michael Bilirakis filed HR 713 in February 2003, and it 
has been referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the 
Internet. Introduced by Idaho Republican Michael Crapo, S 537 has been 
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.

==>BPL HANDOUT AVAILABLE FROM ARRL

ARRL has posted a two-page document 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/BPL-leave-behind.pdf> that discusses 
Broadband over Power Line (BPL) in lay terms. "Broadband over Power Line: 
Why Amateur Radio is Concerned about its Deployment" is available for 
reprinting and use as a handout when, for example, dealing with members of 
Congress, municipal officials, power utilities and the news media.

While emphasizing that hams do not oppose broadband services per se and 
tend to be "early adopters" of new technology, the information sheet 
outlines Amateur Radio's concern about BPL's potential to create 
interference. Other broadband delivery methods "do not pollute the radio 
spectrum as BPL does," the paper states.

It also defines BPL, outlines its current deployment status, discusses FCC 
regulations already in place and explains that BPL's interference potential 
is real, not just theoretical. Finally, it lists "Others at risk," 
including short-wave listeners, public safety agencies and federal 
government radio systems.

==>NEW AMATEUR RADIO LF WORLD RECORD CLAIMED

Amateur stations in New Zealand and Asiatic Russia are laying claim to a 
new low-frequency world distance QSO record. Bob Vernall, ZL2CA, told ARRL 
this week that ZM2E, near Wellington, New Zealand, and UA0LE, near 
Vladivostok, Russia, completed a two-way contact during the night of March 
20 on 137.70 kHz.

"The path length is estimated to be 10,311 km (6,392 miles), which is 
claimed as a new world record between amateur stations on LF bands," 
Vernall said. "For several hours signals received at ZM2E were so strong 
that they could be decoded 'by ear,' despite high peaks of QRN." By noting 
tone-on and tone-off times and checking them against a highly-accurate 
digital clock, the ZM2E operators at one point were able to decode the very 
slow-speed (QRSS) CW without resorting to Argo DSP software signal detection.

The Wellington Amateur Radio Club station at Quartz Hill uses the special 
ZM2E call sign for work in the 136-kHz band. A DXpedition station, UA0LE 
obtained permission to support its LF antennas from a 90-meter (295.3 feet) 
broadcast mast.

Vernall said UA0LE set up for a slow-speed CW beacon transmission on 
137.7895 kHz using 60-second dits--known as QRSS60. "They used the 
shortened form of 'UATLE' to save time in sending," he explained. Because 
they need to be succinct, Vernall said, LF DX signal reports use the same 
"O," "M" and "T" signal reports 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/pdf/78518.pdf> developed for moonbounce and 
other weak-signal communication.

On the big day, ZM2E started calling UA0LE at 0930 UTC--sunset in 
Vladivostok. The first good UA0LE signals showed up on the computer screen 
at 1030 UTC, Vernall said.

The defining moment came when UA0LE confirmed reception of the "O" report 
from ZM2E. "At 1650 UTC, we received 'ZM RO E,' and by acknowledging our 
report to them it satisfied the minimum requirements for claiming a two-way 
contact," Vernall said. The two stations continued to "tie the ribbons" on 
the QSO for another hour or so.

Vernall and Andrew Corney, ZL2BBJ, were the operators at ZM2E. The 
operators in Vladivostok were Vlad Burakov, UA0LE; Vic Bondarev, UA9OC; 
Andy Rodichev, RA0LGH, and Ed Lesnichy, RU6LA.

==>NUMBER OF LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD USERS CLIMBS

Logbook of The World (LoTW), ARRL's electronic awards credit system, is 
closing in on 40 million separate Amateur Radio contacts in its secure 
database, said ARRL Special Assistant to the CEO David Patton, NN1N.

"Right now there are 39.6 million QSOs entered into Logbook, with 1.18 
million matched contacts," he said. There are 7000 distinct registered 
users of the system, holding 9000 authenticated certificates, Patton added. 
Users may have more than one registered certificate, reflecting operation 
from home, changing call signs, operations during DXpeditions, or portable 
station operation each sporting a separate call sign.

Patton, who helped create the concept for LoTW, noted that the number of 
LoTW users continues to swell. Some 600 US hams have begun the registration 
process, along with an additional 600 amateurs in other countries, from 
whom ARRL is awaiting authentication documents. "The learning curve for 
getting on the system has remained pretty steady," he said. "It's pretty 
straightforward after you've been using it a while. The key is taking your 
time and following the instructions."

One reason numbers are continuing to grow is that more and more computer 
logging programs are incorporating various levels of support for LoTW. 
"Most of the major logging programs have it, with more developers working 
to integrate support," Patton said. "These software developers have worked 
really hard to make this happen."

Also hard at work is ARRL Web and Software Development Manager Jon Bloom, 
KE3Z, who is working on programming the much-anticipated "DXCC awards 
module" for the QSO matching system. No rollout date had been set for the 
DXCC module, Patton said, but it is currently being tested.

The DXCC module will offer the user the ability to incorporate his/her DXCC 
records straight from the DXCC desk into an LoTW account. LoTW will be able 
to find needed credits automatically by comparing what's in the database 
against the DXCC records on hand at ARRL.

"This application for DXCC is what we envisioned for LoTW years ago," 
Patton said. "It will be really worth the users' wait and the time and 
effort that Jon has put into the system."

==>W1AW/90 OPERATES THROUGH 2004

Hiram Maxim Memorial Station W1AW at ARRL Headquarters will identify using 
a "/90" designator through the end of 2004. The W1AW/90 call sign reflects 
the 90th anniversary of the League's founding by Maxim and Clarence Tuska 
in 1914. Operation as W1AW/90 begins April 3. W1AW Station Manager Joe 
Carcia, NJ1Q, said he'll encourage guest operators to use as many modes as 
possible, including RTTY, PSK31, satellite and even Hellschreiber.

"Plus, we're going to try for SSTV Worked All States (WAS)," he added. 
"It'll be tough, but we can do it." A special 90th anniversary QSL cards 
will be available for W1AW/90 contacts.

Self-addressed, stamped return envelopes should accompany all QSL requests. 
In addition, all contacts with W1AW/90 will also be uploaded to Logbook of 
The World <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>. For more information on W1AW, visit 
the W1AW Web page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html>.

==>HAWAII AMATEUR ANTENNA BILLS UNDERGOING REVISION

ARRL Pacific Section Manager Kevin Bogan, AH6QO, reports revisions are 
under way on two bills in Hawaii, HB 2773 and HB 2774, that would allow 
Amateur Radio antennas in restricted condominium regimes and in 
subdivisions subject to homeowners' association covenants, conditions and 
restrictions (CC&Rs) in that state. Bogan says the amendments and revisions 
will enhance the bills' chances of passage.

"After listening to the thoughts and sentiments of the legislature, the 
Amateur Radio community and their neighbors," Bogan said, "the group of 
volunteer Amateur Radio operators that has been instrumental in propelling 
the bills first through the Hawaii State House of Representatives and now 
into the Hawaii State Senate has developed amended bills that may see passage."

Now in the Hawaii Senate, the measures await a hearing date before the 
Consumer Protection and Housing Committee. Bogan says many Hawaii hams have 
contacted the committee's chair to request that a hearing be scheduled. 
Bogan says that he hopes the revisions "will satisfy many of the salient 
concerns made by Amateur Radio operators and others." The proposed 
amendments would allow antennas in previously restricted areas sufficient 
to perform necessary communication and allow amateurs to negotiate better 
antenna accommodations, Bogan said.

"While no compromise makes all parties content," he said, "it is hoped that 
the proposed amended bills will allow antennas sufficient for necessary 
communication and allow the associations to retain their aesthetic look."

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Sol man Tad "Staring at the Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: 
The third week of spring begins this weekend. HF conditions have been good 
with moderate geomagnetic conditions prevailing. Average daily sunspot 
numbers for the past week, March 25-31, were up more than 31 points to 
123.9 compared to the previous week. Average daily solar flux rose 11 points.

On March 29, the sun showed several spots pointed earthward, including one 
large spot, 582. The sunspot number that day was 169, the highest since 
November 30, when it was 178. Geomagnetic conditions weren't bad on March 
29, with the planetary A index at 12 and mid-latitude A index at 9.

Over the next five days solar flux values should stay between 110-115. 
Planetary A index for April 2-6 is predicted to be 8, 8, 20, 20 and 35. The 
predicted rise in geomagnetic activity is because of a possible solar wind 
for Sunday, April 4. Today, April 2, there is a slight chance of Earth's 
magnetic field being hit by a coronal mass ejection (CME).

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The Kids Roundup, the SP DX Contest, the EA 
RTTY Contest, the Montana and Missouri QSO parties, the QCWA QSO Party and 
the RSGB RoPoCo 1 are the weekend of April 3-4. The 144 MHz Spring Sprint 
and the RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW) are April 5. The ARS Spartan 
Sprint is April 6. The DX YL to North American YL Contest (CW) is April 
7-9, and the Lighthouse Spring Lites QSO Party (all modes) is April 10-18. 
JUST AHEAD: The ARCI Spring QSO Party, the EU Spring Sprint (SSB), the 
Georgia QSO Party, the Japan International DX Contest (CW), the CIS DX 
Contest (SSB), the UBA Spring Contest (SSB) and the SARL Hamnet 40-Meter 
Simulated Emergency Contest are the weekend of April 10-11. The Low Power 
Spring Sprint is April 12, the 222 MHz Spring Sprint is April 13, the RSGB 
80-Meter Club Championship (SSB) is April 14 and the DX YL to North 
American YL Contest (SSB) is April 14-16. 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 Emergency Communications course registration: Registration opens 
Monday, April 5, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0401 UTC), for the on-line 
Level I Emergency Communications course (EC-001). Registration remains open 
through the April 10-11 weekend or until all available seats have been 
filled--whichever comes first. Class begins Tuesday, April 20. 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, approximately 175 seats are being offered 
to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. Senior amateurs are 
strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity. To learn more, 
visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page 
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/> and the C-CE Links found there. For more 
information, contact Emergency Communications Co!
urse Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, <[email protected]>; 860-594-0340.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: 
Registration for five technical courses is now open. Classes will begin on 
April 13 for the ARRL RFI (EC-006) and ARRL Antenna Design and Construction 
(EC-009) courses. Students participating in the RFI class will learn to 
identify sources of interference. Antenna Design and Construction students 
will become acquainted with antenna design and construction techniques. 
Registration for Technician Licensing (EC-010) will remains open through 
Sunday, April 11, and classes begin Tuesday, April 20. With the assistance 
of a mentor, students will learn everything they need to learn to pass the 
FCC Technician license class test. To learn more, visit the ARRL 
Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> 
Web page or contact the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program 
Department <[email protected]>.

* Amateurs assisting Red Cross in Colorado fire: At week's end, Amateur 
Radio Emergency Service (ARES) members were supporting American Red Cross 
shelter operations in northern Colorado, where a wildfire had prompted 
voluntary evacuations of residents in a threatened subdivision. ARRL 
Colorado Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Roller, N7LV, says the latest 
word he has is that between six and eight amateurs per shift are supporting 
the shelters. It's anticipated they'll continue that coverage through the 
weekend and possibly longer. As of April 2, the 3500-acre-and-growing Fort 
Collins Picnic Rock Fire in the mountains some 15 miles northwest of Fort 
Collins was only 15 percent contained, according to the National 
Interagency Fire Center <http://www.nifc.gov/>. "The fire season is 
starting very early this year," said Roller. "March and April are normally 
our snowiest months, but instead we have conditions that haven't been this 
dry in over 90 years." The Picnic Rock Fire got !
its start March 30 when a residential yard fire went out of control, and 
winds gusting to 35 MPH have helped spread the flames through the 
timber-pocked brush and grassland area. More than 200 firefighters, air 
tankers and helicopters were battling the flames, but no homes or 
structures had been lost.

* Nominate a deserving PR volunteer for the McGan Award today! The deadline 
is May 21 to submit nominations for the 2004 Philip J. McGan Memorial 
Silver Antenna Award. This award recognizes significant contributions in 
the area of volunteer public relations on behalf of Amateur Radio. The 
League's Public Relations Committee will review the nominations, and the 
ARRL Board of Directors will vote on the committee's recommendation during 
its July meeting. Those planning to nominate someone for the 2004 McGan 
Award are encouraged to read "Announcing the 13th Annual McGan Award" 
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/mcgan/2004/hagy.pdf> from February 2004 QST. The 
article highlights the significant differences between public relations and 
public service including rules for nomination. A nomination form 
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/mcgan/2004/McGan-Nom-Form04.pdf> is available on 
the ARRL Web site. Return completed entry forms and supporting materials to 
Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Awar!
d, c/o Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. 
Nominations must be received at ARRL Headquarters by 5 PM Eastern Daylight 
Time on May 21, 2004.

* Wyoming gets new Section Manager: Bill Edwards, WU7Y, of Gillette, 
Wyoming, has been appointed as ARRL Wyoming Section Manager, effective 
April 1, to complete the term of Jay Ostrem, W7CW, who has moved out of the 
section. The present term expires March 31, 2005. Field and Educational 
Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, made the appointment in consultation 
Rocky Mountain Division Director Walt Stinson, W0CP, and Vice Director Rev 
Morton, WS7W. Edwards is an ARRL Volunteer Examiner and recently has been 
working to reactivate the local Amateur Radio club. He was first licensed 
in 1957 but let his license lapse due to school and family priorities. 
Relicensed in 1988, Edwards soon upgraded to Amateur Extra. He puts a lot 
of importance on Amateur Radio emergency communication. "It's why we have 
our ham privileges," he says.

* First call for AMSAT-NA Symposium papers: AMSAT-NA has issued its first 
call for papers for presentation during the 2004 AMSAT Space Symposium and 
Annual Meeting this fall. The gathering will be held October 8-10 in 
Arlington, Virginia, in conjunction with the ARISS International meeting, 
October 10-13. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations, and poster 
presentations are invited on any topic of interest to amateur satellite 
enthusiasts. This year's focus is AMSAT's educational outreach. In 
particular, AMSAT-NA seeks papers on these topics: Students and education, 
the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, Echo, 
Eagle and other satellite-related topics. One-page abstracts are due by 
June 1, and final papers (hard copy or electronic) are due by August 1 for 
inclusion in the printed symposium Proceedings. Send abstracts and papers 
to Daniel Schultz, N8FGV, 14612 Dowling Dr, Burtonsville, MD 20866 or via 
e-mail <[email protected]>.

* Radio amateurs fill key NASA space flight positions: Two veteran 
astronauts and Amateur Radio licensees have been named to key space flight 
posts at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston. Bob Cabana, KC5HBV, 
who has flown on four shuttle flights, has been named JSC Deputy Director. 
Ken Bowersox, KD5JBP, will replace Cabana as director of flight crew 
operations. Cabana succeeds Brock "Randy" Stone, who is retiring after 36 
years with NASA that included work on the Apollo lunar missions, Skylab, 
the space shuttle, and the International Space Station. "These two 
appointments really enhance the strong team we have leading us into the 
space shuttle's return to flight and continuing space station operations," 
said NASA Associate Administrator for Space Flight William Readdy. JSC 
Director Jefferson D. Howell Jr said Cabana and Bowersox "bring a wealth of 
experience in human space flight and an understanding of the importance of 
space exploration. Their leadership will help!
  us as we move forward in our journey of discovery." Cabana has logged 
more than 1000 hours in space. Bowersox has flown on five space missions 
and spent more than five months aboard the ISS as commander of Expedition 
6, where he participated from NA1SS during Amateur Radio on the 
International Space Station (ARISS) school group and casual contacts.

* Gary Gordon, K6KV, wins QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST 
Cover Plaque Award for March is Gary Gordon, K6KV, for his article "Build a 
Puff-and-Sip Keyer." Congratulations, Gary! 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. Voting takes place each 
month 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 April issue of QST. Voting ends April 30.

===========================================================
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>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.

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