From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Apr  1 17:51:37 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Apr  1 17:52:58 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD013 DX news
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050401145128.036ad060@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD013
ARLD013 DX news

ZCZC AE13
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 13  ARLD013
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 31, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD013
ARLD013 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
MM0BQI, NC1L, W4TXL, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX,
425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

MALAWI, 7Q.  Joe, G3MRC and Janet, M0JMP are now QRV from the lake
shore at Nkhotakota as 7Q7BP and 7Q7YL, respectively.  Activity is
on most HF bands.  QSL via operators' instructions.

BOTSWANA, A2.  Hans, DL7CM and Sid, DM1AYO will be QRV as
A25/homecalls from April 6 to 20.  Activity will be 160 to 6 meters
using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.  QSL to home calls.

BHUTAN, A5.  Stig, LA7JO will be QRV as A52JO from April 4 to 15.
QSL via operator's instructions.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6.  Ghis, ON5NT is QRV as A6/ON5NT and has
been active on 17 meters around 1430z.  QSL to home call.

BOLIVIA, CP.  Rene, DF9GR is QRV as CP6/homecall until April 15.
Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW, RTTY and PSK.  QSL to home
call.

SCOTLAND, GM.  Andre, GM3VLB plans to activate the Isle of May, IOTA
EU-123, from April 2 to 9.  QSL via operator's instructions.
Meanwhile, MM0BQI/p will be active from the Summer Isles, IOTA
EU-092, off the Northwest coast, from April 2 to 9.  Activity will
be on 80 to 10 meters, and possibly 60 meters, using CW, SSB and
RTTY.  QSL to home call.

SAUDI ARABIA, HZ.  Thomas, HZ1EX is here until the end of June.  He
is usually QRV on 40 meters using CW on most days.  QSL via SM0BYD.

ITALY, I.  Members of the MDXC will be QRV as IB0CW from Ventotene
Island, IOTA EU-045, from April 2 to 4.  Activity will be on 80 to 6
meters, using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK.  QSL via IK8RRY.

DENMARK, OZ.  In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the birth
of Hans Christian Andersen, special event station OZ5HCA is active
until April 30 from Odense, Fyn Island, IOTA EU-172.  QSL via
OZ3FYN.  Meanwhile, DJ4MG and DL1TM are QRV as OZ/homecalls from
Vendsyssel-Thy, IOTA EU-171, until April 14.  Activity is on 160 to
15 meters using SSB and PSK31.  QSL to home calls.

SOMALIA, T5.  Joe, VA6JWT, is QRV as 6O0JT from Galkayo.  He has
been active on 20 meters around 2015 to 2315z.  QSL to home call.

NETHERLAND ANTILLES, PJ2.  Andy, W9NJY will be QRV as PJ4/W9NJY from
Bonaire, IOTA SA-006, from April 2 to 12.  Activity will be on 40 to
10 meters using mostly CW with some SSB.  QSL via WD9DZV.

BELIZE, V3.  Bill, W4TXL will be QRV as V31WC from Placencia from
April 4 to 11.  Activity will be on 80 to 10 meters, including the
newer bands, using mostly SSB.  He may concentrate activity on 17
meters.  He is here on vacation, so his operating time varies.  QSL
direct to home call.

NORFOLK ISLAND, VK9N.  Jim, VK9NS has been QRV using RTTY on 15
meters around 0100z.  QSL direct.

SOUTH COOK ISLANDS, ZK1.  Rick, AI5P will be QRV as ZK1APX from
April 4 to 12.  Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using mostly CW.
QSL to home call.

OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR DXCC.  The following operations are approved
for DXCC credit: Chad, TT8M, current operation effective March 9,
2005 (this is a correction from the previous bulletin); Chad,
TT8AMO, current operation effective March 9, 2005.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The ARLHS Annual Spring Lites QSO Party,
Kids Roundup, SP DX Contest, EA RTTY Contest, Missouri QSO Party,
QCWA Spring QSO Party, Montana QSO Party, The RSGB RoPoCo 80-meter
CW contest and the 144 MHz Spring Sprint will certainly keep
contesters busy this weekend.  Please see April QST, page 99 and the
ARRL and WA7BNM contest websites for details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Apr  1 22:31:09 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Apr  1 22:32:35 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP013 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050401193101.038069d0@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP013
ARLP013 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP13
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 13  ARLP013
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  April 1, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP013
ARLP013 Propagation de K7RA

We saw a decline this week in average daily sunspot numbers and
solar flux. Average daily sunspot numbers were down over 10 points
to 34.1 when compared to the previous week, and average daily solar
flux declined almost 12 points to 80.2.

The short term prediction shows solar flux values rising slowly over
the next week, reaching 100 around April 8. The planetary A index
should rise over the next few days. The predicted planetary A index
for April 2-5 is 15, 25, 35 and 20.

Just completed is the first quarter of 2005. Now is a good time to
take some running averages of sunspot numbers and solar flux,
comparing this quarter to previous periods.

 >From the first quarter of 2003 through the first quarter of 2005,
the average daily sunspot numbers were 120.3, 107.3, 110.2, 99.2,
72.9, 71.3, 69.3, 61 and 46.1.

The average daily solar flux for the same period was 134.3, 124.2,
120.8, 137.4, 111.1, 99.5, 111, 104.8 and 96.4.

We see clearly that cycle 23 continues the fall toward solar
minimum, which is currently forecast roughly around October 2006 to
April 2007. Fortunately, the rise of a solar cycle is much more
rapid than its decline. But when comparing current smoothed sunspot
numbers to the predicted numbers once the next cycle turns up, the
predicted value for April 2005 is just slightly above the predicted
value for December 2007. So we shouldn't expect conditions to
improve beyond what we've had recently until early 2008, or a little
less than three years from now. Current sunspot numbers are lower
than they've been since 1997. The peak of the next cycle will
probably occur in 2010.

March 1965 was 40 years ago. I was still twelve years old, and when
riding the school bus home one day in that March, I saw that my mom
had hung her red sweater in the window. That was my signal. I
couldn't wait for the bus to drop me off so I could race back up the
hill. I ran into the house, grabbed the envelope from the FCC off
the dining room table, and ripped it open. Inside, there was my new
Novice call, WN7CSK. Hard to believe it's been 40 years.

If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at,
k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation
of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical
Information Service propagation page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.

Sunspot numbers for March 24 through 30 were 57, 65, 41, 35, 15, 15
and 11 with a mean of 34.1. 10.7 cm flux was 87.1, 82.1, 77.7, 78.4,
79.7, 78.8 and 77.6, with a mean of 80.2. Estimated planetary A
indices were 6, 18, 16, 13, 4, 5 and 9 with a mean of 10.1.
Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 15, 12, 8, 2, 3 and 6, with
a mean of 7.1.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Sat Apr  2 02:22:16 2005
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Sat Apr  2 02:23:39 2005
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 13
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050401232117.03728170@mail.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 13
April 1, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Utility pulls plug on Texas BPL pilot project
* +ARRL takes issue with BPL proponents' reconsideration petitions
* +ARISS school contacts to double in remaining weeks
* +Ham radio provides crucial communications in quake's wake
* +League says BPL equipment maker, FCC failing to address interference
* +FCC adopts "Smart Radio" rules
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
      This weekend on the radio
      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     +FCC to update third-party traffic list to include all UK stations
     +Supreme Court rules no attorneys' fees for California radio amateur
      ARRL VEs, number of sessions served now on League Web site
      Project OSCAR inaugurates newsletter column service
      DXCC Desk approves operations for DXCC credit

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
===========================================================

==>TEXAS BPL PILOT PROJECT SHUTS DOWN, LEAGUE WITHDRAWS COMPLAINT

An Irving, Texas, BPL pilot project that was the target of an ARRL complaint
has shut down and removed its equipment. In mid-March, the League called on
the FCC to shut down the system and issue fines for causing harmful
interference to Amateur Radio communications. The ARRL's March 15 filing to
the FCC's Enforcement Bureau, its Office of Engineering and Technology,
system operator TXU and equipment manufacturer Amperion supported a
complaint from ARRL member and North Texas Section BPL Task Force Chair Jory
McIntosh, KJ5RM, who regularly commutes through the BPL test zone in the
Dallas-Fort Worth area.

"I just got back from reviewing the site and can confirm that the BPL
installation in Irving, Texas, has been removed and is no longer operating,"
McIntosh told ARRL this week. "Things are so quiet you can hear a pin drop.
Definitely quite a change!" He said when the system was running,
interference in its vicinity was 20 dB over S9 or stronger on all amateur
bands from 40 through 6 meters.

The ARRL became involved after the FCC failed to respond to McIntosh's
formal complaint last fall. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, also
took measurements at the Texas site that verified McIntosh's observations.
ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, thanked McIntosh for his help in bringing the
situation to a head. "I hope your example inspires other amateurs facing
similar situations to get involved," Sumner added.

On the basis of McIntosh's report, the ARRL this week canceled its complaint
to the FCC. "ARRL therefore withdraws its complaint with respect to the
TXU/Amperion site and requests that the Commission turn its attention to the
remainder of the BPL sites which are actively causing interference to radio
amateurs, including Briarcliff Manor, New York," ARRL General Counsel Chris
Imlay, W3KD, wrote the Commission.

There's been no word from TXU as to its reasons for shutting down the system
and removing the equipment. The test report the League included with its
complaint pointed out that the interference was not confined to Amateur
Radio spectrum but included additional HF spectrum. The ARRL said the system
failed to protect many of the bands that the FCC's new BPL rules will
require to be notched by July 2006.

The Irving BPL test site is the third using Amperion BPL equipment to shut
down following complaints from Amateur Radio operators. In Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, last June, Alliant Energy cut short its BPL "evaluation system" after
the utility and Amperion were unable to resolve ongoing HF interference to
amateurs. In the Raleigh, North Carolina, area last October, Progress Energy
Corporation shut down Phase II of its BPL field trial after pronouncing the
test a success.

Despite an FCC inspection report to the contrary, local amateurs said
Progress and Amperion had only limited success in mitigating interference on
amateur frequencies in that trial. While initially saying it had no plans
for a large-scale commercial rollout of BPL in its service areas, Progress
later backed away from that statement, contained in a memorandum announcing
the shutdown.

The ARRL formally supported Amateur Radio complaints in Iowa and North
Carolina.

==>LEAGUE FILES OPPOSITION TO BPL RECONSIDERATION PETITIONS

The ARRL has filed an Opposition to three petitions for reconsideration in
the broadband over power line (BPL) proceeding, ET Docket 04-37. The League
targeted points raised in reconsideration petitions from Current
Technologies LLC, the United Power Line Council (UPLC) and Amperion Inc.
Each is seeking reconsideration of certain aspects of the Report and Order
(R&O) the FCC adopted last October 14 that spell out new Part 15 rules to
govern BPL deployment. In its Opposition, the ARRL says the FCC should not
eliminate a requirement that BPL providers give 30 days' advance notice of
service initiation, as Current, UPLC and Amperion have requested.

"Grant of the petitioners' request to eliminate the 30-day advance notice
requirement would not only be antithetical to the Commission's goal of
providing competitive, affordable and efficient broadband access;" the ARRL
said, "it would also eliminate even the most minimal means for Amateur Radio
licensees to be able to identify and contact the source of harmful BPL
interference when it occurs."

Current, UPLC and Amperion contended in their petitions that the 30-day rule
forces BPL providers to tip their hands to their competition. The League
charged that the petitioners were, in effect, asking the Commission "to
protect them by regulatory means from competition in broadband delivery."

Keeping the 30-day notification period in place, the ARRL argued, offers
radio amateurs a chance to determine baseline ambient noise levels ahead of
a BPL deployment and to be able to identify interference when it occurs and
the extent to which the HF and low-VHF operating environment is degraded.

The ARRL also took issue with requests by Current and UPLC either to extend
the transition period for certification of BPL equipment made, marketed or
installed on or after July 7, 2006, or to drop it altogether. Either
approach, the League contended, "is tantamount to an abdication of any
requirement to implement any of the admittedly inadequate interference
mitigation requirements in the Report and Order at all."

As the rule is written, the League's Opposition points out, "no BPL system
placed in operation ever has to come into compliance with the interference
requirements." The ARRL maintains that the FCC erred in its R&O by
permitting the installation and operation of non-compliant equipment after
the R&O's effective date.

"The rule, as it now stands, actually encourages the installation of systems
incorporating non-compliant equipment which creates harmful interference
over the next 18 months," the ARRL said. Based on actual interference cases,
the ARRL continued, "any reasonable analysis of BPL leads to the conclusion
that the rules adopted in the Report and Order are woefully inadequate in
terms of interference prevention."

Noting that Current's equipment already excludes all amateur allocations but
60 meters, the League said everyone would be better served if the FCC had
required BPL providers to avoid Amateur Radio spectrum altogether--or if
they would so voluntarily.

The ARRL also took the FCC to task with respect to how it's dealt with the
BPL initiative and the industry itself. "The extent to which
spectrum-polluting BPL systems have been accommodated by a Commission with
its collective head in the sand about interference is shameful and an
abdication of duty," the League's Opposition concludes. "To further
deregulate this ill-advised polluting technology would, in this context, be
unconscionable."

==>UPPING THE ARISS ANTE

International Space Station Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, has decided to
double up on the number of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) school group QSOs during his remaining two weeks of operation from
NA1SS. ARRL Field & Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, says
Chiao has enjoyed speaking via ham radio with students on Earth during his
ISS duty tour.

"Sparking youth interest in science and technology is quite high on the list
of what's important to astronauts and to NASA," she said, noting that NASA's
Education Office has been strongly supporting Amateur Radio in space for
more than a decade. Since Expedition 10 began last October, Chiao has logged
19 ARISS school group contacts. During a direct contact March 29 between
NA1SS and W5NGU, the astronaut spoke with youngsters at the Science
Discovery Center in Denton, Texas.

White said successfully putting together the many pieces of an ARISS
school-group QSO is tricky at the eleventh hour. To accommodate the change,
ARISS moved up a scheduled QSO for a school in Zurich whose volunteers are
well-prepared. For the second extra slot, ARISS scrambled to make
arrangements with a NASA Explorer School from which a teacher interested in
using ham radio in class had submitted an ARISS application. For this
QSO--with Flory Academy of Sciences and Technology, in Moorpark, California,
ARISS plans to employ a combination of Amateur Radio and teleconferencing
rather than attempt to set up a direct QSO.

Arriving later this month, the next crew increment, Expedition 11, will put
two hams aboard the ISS--US Astronaut John Phillips, KE5DRY, and Russian
cosmonaut Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR. Krikalev, who will be Expedition 11 crew
commander, will be doing his second tour of duty aboard the ISS. He served
as flight engineer on the very first ISS crew and served aboard the Russian
Mir space station in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach
with US support from ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>AMATEUR RADIO LINKS EARTHQUAKE-STRICKEN ISLAND WITH OUTSIDE WORLD

Working under harsh conditions, Indonesian Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES) volunteers this week established VHF links between
earthquake-stricken Nias Island and northern Sumatra. Nias Island was hit
March 28 by nearby magnitude 8.2 and 8.7 underwater earthquakes. More than
1000 people are reported to have died as a result of the earthquakes. The
tremors affected some of the same areas still recovering from the December
earthquake and tsunami. Although officials and residents remained on alert
for tsunamis this week, none occurred. A magnitude 6.3 aftershock occurred
in the vicinity March 30.

Organization of Amateur Radio for Indonesia (ORARI) headquarters in Jakarta
this week called on its members to be ready to assist. An ORARI team
deployed by air to Nias Island March 29 set up "zulu" (emergency) station
YB6ZAH in Gunung Sitoli, the island's largest city. YB6ZAH has been in
contact with the ORARI District 6 command post in Medan, North Sumatra. The
ORARI team already had experience supporting communication following the
December 2004 tsunami that claimed an estimated 300,000 lives in South Asia.

In the earthquake's immediate aftermath, ORARI ARES members reportedly were
on duty with little or no food to eat, although they did have drinking
water. At that point, many victims had not yet been evacuated, and some
remained trapped in the debris.

ORARI team members include Zulkarman Syafrin, YC6PLG, Herman Rangkuti,
YC6IQ, and Soejat Harto, YB6HB--a medical doctor. Syafrin reports that the
earthquake damaged the power, telecommunication and transportation
infrastructure or took them out altogether on Nias Island. Buildings in
Gunung Sitoli were reportedly flattened and roads severely damaged or
impassable.

In the early going, the team was using portable generators and had to
restrict operation to every two hours to conserve scarce fuel. TELKOM, the
Indonesian Department of Public Telecommunication, has since provided the
ORARI ARES team with a bigger generator, and the operation has relocated to
the TELKOM building, where fuel is no longer a problem. ORARI District 6
plans to supply more logistical and radio equipment, while Ady Susanto,
YB6VK, was preparing a set of solar cells for the ORARI ARES team's use in
Gunung Sitoli.

New Mexico radio amateur Earl Campbell, N8TV, now working with the
International Red Cross in Banda Aceh on post-tsunami relief, plans to set
up an emergency Amateur Radio station on Simeulue Island, which also was
affected by the earthquakes. Campbell's IT team reportedly is headed for
Nias Island to set up a satellite Internet connection and to support the
ARES team in Gunung Sitoli.

Updates on ham radio earthquake relief activity in Indonesia are available
on the AB2QV Web site <http://www.qsl.net/ab2qv/nias.htm>.--Wyn Purwinto,
AB2QV

==>AMBIENT, FCC FAILING TO ADDRESS NEW YORK BPL COMPLAINTS, ARRL CHARGES

The ARRL has charged BPL equipment maker Ambient Corporation and the FCC
with being unwilling or unable to effectively deal with harmful interference
stemming from a New York BPL pilot project. The League also asked the
Commission for the fourth time to shut down Ambient's Briarcliff Manor
"non-compliant system without further delay" until Ambient addresses
interference complaints. The League's latest salvo in the Briarcliff Manor
BPL battle was in response to a February 10 letter from Bruce Franca, deputy
chief of the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology (OET). Franca's letter
concluded that FCC measurements in response to Amateur Radio complaints of
harmful interference showed no changes were required to the BPL system.

"The Commission's failure to conduct a thorough investigation of this
matter, and the tenor of your February 10, 2005, letter, lead to speculation
that the Commission is really not interested in finding the interference
that exists at Briarcliff Manor or at other BPL test sites or in enforcing
the Part 15 rules," the ARRL responded. "Ambient's apparent tactic of making
changes in the system after receiving interference complaints and then
denying that the interference problems complained of ever existed is not
helpful." Nor did it help, the League's filing continued, that Ambient's
engineer refused last December to participate with ARRL in a demonstration
of the interference. The League said it's no longer possible for the
Commission or Ambient "to deny the ongoing, serious interference problems at
Briarcliff Manor."

The League pointed out that a member of the FCC Enforcement Bureau's staff
personally witnessed the interference from the Briarcliff Manor system at
two locations that were the focus of complaints last December. Franca's
February letter failed to acknowledge video documenting the visit and
uploaded to the League's Web site, even though the ARRL has provided him
with the URL <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/aud-vid.html>. At that
time, ARRL Laboratory staff members took measurements at various points in
the system to document problems.

While subsequent ARRL measurements did turn up a reduction of BPL emissions
in some areas, emissions that would "substantially preclude Amateur
communications" remain, the ARRL said, and along Dalmeny Road, interference
is still at levels essentially unchanged from those measured last December
and appear throughout the 20-meter band.

ARRL Laboratory staff members most recently visited Briarcliff Manor on
March 11, and the League's filing to the FCC and Ambient March 17 included a
summary of their measurements and observations. At one point, RF emission
levels from the BPL system exceeded the FCC's Part 15 permitted levels by up
to 20 dB, the League said.

Elsewhere, emissions along Dalmeny Road--which the FCC did not revisit
earlier this year--"continue to contribute 14 dB of degradation of ambient
noise" on 20 meters, the ARRL said. BPL interference also has been reported
on 80 meters. The ARRL further faulted the FCC for not contacting the
complainant, Westchester County ARES Emergency Coordinator Alan Crosswell,
N2YGK, who routinely travels the roads in question and has experienced
interference. Crosswell, who's also Westchester County RACES Officer, has
documented BPL interference, complaints and related information on his "BPL
in Briarcliff Manor" Web site <http://www.columbia.edu/~alan/bpl/>.

The League said the FCC's continued refusal to shut down the Ambient
Corporation's BPL system in Briarcliff Manor "highlights the completely
arbitrary and baseless findings in the Commission's Report and Order in
Docket 04-37, adopted last October 14."

In early January, the ARRL questioned Ambient's veracity and technical
competence and criticized the FCC for not shutting the system down. The
League requested then that the FCC rescind Ambient's WD2XEQ Part 5
Experimental license for the BPL pilot project.

The latest League filing is on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/files/BPL-BCM-Reply2Franca031705.pdf>

==>FCC ADOPTS RULE CHANGES FOR "SMART RADIOS"

The FCC has released a Report and Order (R&O) on cognitive or "smart radio"
systems. In its 42-page R&O, "Facilitating Opportunities for Flexible,
Efficient, and Reliable Spectrum Use Employing Cognitive Radio Technologies"
(ET Docket 03-108), the Commission declined to adopt any new regulations for
Amateur Radio transceivers or for digital-to-analog (D/A) converters "at
this time." The ARRL and the National Public Safety Telecommunications
Council had commented earlier on the impracticality of incorporating
hardware features to prevent out-of-band transmissions. The League, AMSAT-NA
and TAPR also opposed regulating the marketing of high-speed D/A converters
as burdensome, more costly to consumers and unnecessary because the devices
don't pose a risk of interference.

"No parties have provided any information that shows that software
programmable amateur transceivers or high-speed D/A converters present any
significantly greater risk of interference to authorized radio services than
hardware radios," the FCC concluded in its R&O. The Commission went on to
note that "certain unauthorized modifications of amateur transmitters are
unlawful" and that it may revisit the issues "if misuse of such devices
results in significant interference to authorized spectrum users."

In its December 2003 Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) leading up to
this month's R&O, the FCC had proposed exempting manufactured software
defined radios (SDRs) designed to operate solely in amateur bands from any
mandatory declaration and certification requirements, provided the equipment
incorporated hardware features to prevent operation outside of amateur
bands. The Commission also had sought comment on the need to restrict the
mass marketing of D/A converters "that could be diverted for use as radio
transmitters."

In its comments last May, the ARRL sympathized with the Commission's
concerns about out-of-band operation and expressed its appreciation for the
FCC's "sensitivity to the need to encourage, rather than discourage, amateur
experimentation and innovation." But, the League characterized the FCC's
fears as "overstated."

The Commission said its R&O, released March 11, is intended to "facilitate
continued growth in the deployment of radio equipment employing cognitive
radio technologies and make possible a full realization of their potential
benefits." The hope is that cognitive radios will allow more-efficient use
of the radio spectrum.

"Given their technical and operational flexibility, smart radios make
possible the improved use of vacant spectrum channels--that is, spectrum
that may be available in a specific frequency range at a particular
geographic location or during a particular period of time--spectrum that
would otherwise go unused," the FCC explained in a Public Notice. "Smart
radios have the technical capability to adapt their use of spectrum in
response to information external to the radio."

ARRL participates in international bodies that are currently working toward
establishing standards for SDRs and cognitive radios. These include
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Working Parties 8A (Land Mobile
Service, excluding IMT-2000; Amateur and Amateur-Satellite service) and 8F
(IMT-2000 and systems beyond IMT-2000).

The R&O is available on the FCC Web site
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-57A1.doc>

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Sun gazer Tad "Black Hole Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: We
saw a decline this week in average daily sunspot numbers and solar flux.
Average daily sunspot numbers were down more than 10 points to 34 as
compared to the previous week, and average daily solar flux declined almost
12 points to 80.2.

The short-term prediction shows solar flux values rising slowly over the
next week, reaching 100 around April 8. The planetary A index should rise
over the next few days. Predicted planetary A index for April 2-5 is 15, 25,
35 and 20.

Cycle 23 continues its fall toward solar minimum, which is currently
forecast to occur in the October 2006 to April 2007 time frame. We shouldn't
expect conditions to improve beyond what we've had recently until early
2008--a little less than three years from now. Current sunspot numbers are
lower than they've been since 1997. The peak of the next cycle will probably
occur in 2010.

Sunspot numbers for March 24 through 30 were 57, 65, 41, 35, 15, 15 and 11,
with a mean of 34.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 87.1, 82.1, 77.7, 78.4, 79.7, 78.8
and 77.6, with a mean of 80.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 18, 16,
13, 4, 5 and 9, with a mean of 10.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were
4, 15, 12, 8, 2, 3 and 6, with a mean of 7.1.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The SP DX Contest, the EA RTTY Contest, the
Missouri QSO Party, the QCWA Spring QSO Party, the AARC JR Kids Roundup
Contest and the RSGB RoPoCo are the weekend of April 2-3. The 144 MHz Spring
Sprint and the RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW) are April 4. The ARS
Spartan Sprint is April 5, the YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest (CW) is April 6-8
and the SARL 80-Meter QSO Party is April 7. JUST AHEAD: The JIDX CW Contest,
the ARCI Spring QSO Party, the EU Spring Sprint (SSB), the Georgia QSO
Party, the Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest, the UBA Spring Contest
(SSB) and the SARL Hamnet 40-Meter Simulated Emergency Contest are the
weekend of April 9-10. The 222 MHz Spring Sprint is April 12, the RSGB
80-Meter Club Championship (SSB), is April 13 and the YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL
Contest (SSB) is April 13-15. 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 for the ARRL RFI (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction
(EC-009) and Analog Electronics (EC-013) courses remains open through
Sunday, April 3. Classes begin Friday, April 15. Antenna Design and
Construction students will, among other things, learn about basic dipoles
and ground planes and how to assemble combinations of these into more
complex antennas. Students also learn about transmission lines, standing
wave ratio, phased arrays and Yagis. Students participating in the RFI
course will learn to identify various interference sources. Analog students
will learn about the use of instrumentation, Kirchhoff's laws, diodes,
rectifier circuits, bipolar and field effect transistors, various amplifier
configurations, filters, timers, op amps and voltage regulators. To learn
more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) Web page
or contact the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program
Department cce@arrl.org.

* FCC to update third-party traffic list to include all UK stations: The FCC
is expected to soon update its Web site listing of countries with which US
Amateur Radio Service licensees may exchange third-party traffic (ie,
messages on behalf of a party other than the control operator). The updated
list will include all amateur stations in the United Kingdom (the UK, the
Channel Islands, including Guernsey and Jersey, Great Britain, the Isle of
Man and Northern Ireland). The change is already effective. Section 97.115
of the FCC's Amateur Radio Service rules regulates communications from a
station's control operator (first party) to another amateur station's
control operator (second party) on behalf of another person (third party).
No FCC-regulated amateur station may transmit messages for a third party to
any amateur station located within the jurisdiction of any foreign
government not on the FCC list or whose administration has not made specific
arrangements with the US to allow amateur stations to transmit international
communications on behalf of third parties. The prohibition regarding
third-party traffic does not apply to messages for any third party who is
eligible to be the control operator of the station. The FCC list of
countries that have third-party agreements with the US is on the FCC Web
site <http://wireless.fcc.gov/services/amateur/about/intoperating.html>.

* Supreme Court rules no attorneys' fees for California radio amateur: In a
case involving a California radio amateur but not amateur antennas, the US
Supreme Court has ruled 9-0 to deny attorneys' fees and damages to ARRL Life
Member Mark J. Abrams, WA6DPB, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. The
justices demurred on an application of federal law that Abrams had argued
entitled him to recover legal fees and damages. The case, which the Supreme
Court agreed to hear last fall, originated after Abrams erected commercial
Land Mobile Radio Service antennas on his residential property, and the city
denied him a conditional use permit it said he needed for the commercial
application. The California Supreme Court subsequently ruled that Abrams
didn't need the permit in the first place. In the meantime, Abrams had filed
suit in US District Court asserting that the city's denial of the
conditional use permit violated the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Again,
Abrams prevailed, but the District Court turned down Abrams' request to
recover monetary damages and attorneys' fees. The US Court of Appeals for
the 9th Circuit reversed the US District Court, but the 3rd and 7th Circuits
ruled otherwise. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes then took the case to the
US Supreme Court on the issue of damages and attorneys fees, and the high
court agreed to hear the case because of the disparity in the Circuit Court
decisions. Some news accounts on the Supreme Court decision have reported
incorrectly that the case had involved Abrams' efforts to get permission to
erect an amateur antenna system. Abrams got the city's okay for an
approximately 50-foot Amateur Radio antenna support structure in 1989.

* ARRL VEs, number of sessions served now on League Web site: The ARRL Web
site now makes it possible to access a list of ARRL Volunteer Examiner
Coordinator (VEC) volunteer examiners (VEs) and the number of volunteer exam
sessions each has served. The listings via the "VE Session Counts
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/veparti.php>" page are in alphanumeric call
sign order according to VE location by state. Activity (count) is measured
by being present and ready to serve--or providing service--at an
ARRL/VEC-coordinated test session. "Celebrating 20 years of service, the VEC
system enjoys a reputation of high integrity and is a prime example of a
successful privatized licensing system," said ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke,
W9jj. "The VE Session Counts page serves to highlight the accomplishments of
the 25,000-plus current and actively accredited ARRL VEs."

* Project OSCAR inaugurates newsletter column service: Project OSCAR, the
oldest Amateur Radio club dedicated to amateur satellites, has inaugurated a
service aimed at encouraging satellite newcomers. "The Satellite Beacon" is
a monthly column produced by Project OSCAR members that Amateur Radio
newsletter editors may freely republish. Topics cover a wide range of
satellite topics geared to new or novice satellite users. Project OSCAR Vice
President and Beacon Editor Emily Clarke, W0EEC, says that by publishing
"The Satellite Beacon," Project OSCAR hopes to provide a reliable source of
information about amateur satellites at the local level and keep interest in
ham radio high as the solar minimum approaches. Newsletter editors may
subscribe to a monthly electronic distribution or download any of the
currently available articles directly from "The Satellite Beacon" Web page
<http://www.projectoscar.net/beacon.php>. For more information, visit the
Project OSCAR Web site <http://www.projectoscar.net>.

* DXCC Desk approves operations for DXCC credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has
approved these operations for DXCC credit: TT8AMO, Chad, current operation
effective March 9, 2005; 6O0X, Somalia, November 18-26, 2004. For more
information, visit the DXCC Web page. "DXCC Frequently Asked Questions"
<http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/faq/> can answer most questions about the
DXCC program. ARRL DX bulletins are available on the W1AW DX Bulletins page
<http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/>.

===========================================================
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.

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
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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.) 


From dick at twohams.com  Sat Apr  2 18:49:13 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Sat Apr  2 18:51:11 2005
Subject: [CVRC] High Wind Advisory for Carson City, NV
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050402154850.0370d648@mail.greatbasin.net>

High Wind Advisory
200 PM PST Sat Apr 2 2005

...Wind Advisory in effect from 10 am Sunday to 8 PM PDT Sunday...

The National Weather Service in Reno NV has issued a Wind Advisory.

Winds will increase Sunday morning...with wind speeds of 25 to 35 mph
and gusts to 50 mph possible by noon. Wind gusts to 60 mph are
possible in wind prone areas.  Winds will continue to be strong
throughout the day. Drivers of high profile vehicles...along
north-south routes such as Highway 395...are urged to exercise
caution due to strong cross winds. The winds should start to
decrease after sunset.

Expires:031200 gmt

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From dick at twohams.com  Sun Apr  3 00:54:45 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Sun Apr  3 01:30:54 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Week-Day Evening VE Session April 8th
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050402215130.03898400@mail.greatbasin.net>

There will be an ARRL-affiliated Volunteer Examination session this coming
Friday evening, April 8th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Carson Valley.

The session will be at the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center at the
Minden/Tahoe airport between Minden and Carson City.  The Sierra Front
complex is at the end of Firebrand Road, off Heybourne Road midway between
Johnson Lane and Airport Road.  A map can be found at
http://www.cvrc.net/images/SierraFrontMap.gif.

All amateur examination elements will be offered.  The examination fee will
be $14.  Examinees should bring one picture ID or two non-picture IDs.  The
original and a copy of any current licenses or CSCEs should also be brought.

For those who cannot make morning or weekend VE sessions, this is a good
opportunity to get your license or upgrade.  The examinations are sponsored
by the Carson Valley Radio Club (http://www.cvrc.net).

                   ** PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED **

To register or for additional information contact:

Dale Anderson KV7S
E-mail: kv7s@arrl.net
775-267-4218

73, Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From dick at twohams.com  Sun Apr  3 19:21:04 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Sun Apr  3 19:22:50 2005
Subject: [CVRC] High Wind Advisory for Carson City, NV
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050403162019.04106950@mail.greatbasin.net>

High Wind Advisory
241 PM PDT sun Apr 3 2005

...Wind Advisory remains in effect until 10 PM PDT this evening...

Southwest winds 20 to 35 mph with gusts to 55 mph will continue
through this evening...with local gusts above 60 mph possible in wind
prone areas east of the Carson Range. Travelers in high profile
vehicles along Interstate 80 and Highways 395...95...and 50 are urged
to exercise caution due to strong cross winds. Areas of blowing dust
will reduce visibilities as low as one half mile. The winds will
decrease later this evening as a cold front moves into the area.

Expires:040500 gmt
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From radioactiveham at yahoo.com  Mon Apr  4 07:36:07 2005
From: radioactiveham at yahoo.com (Tom - ki0pa)
Date: Mon Apr  4 10:55:48 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Looking for "Gin Pole" (  Borrow Or Rent )
Message-ID: <004401c5390a$7ec73d90$4301a8c0@NONAME>

Hello All:

 Does anyone on this list know where i could rent or borrow a "gin 
pole" =
in the Reno area  for removal of a Rohn 25-G  Tower??

  Thanks

 Tom     nevadaradio@gmx.net       673-2410   Sun Valley, NV.

From n.mckie at bendcable.com  Mon Apr  4 13:32:24 2005
From: n.mckie at bendcable.com (Neil McKie)
Date: Mon Apr  4 17:16:32 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Looking for "Gin Pole" (  Borrow Or Rent )
References: <004401c5390a$7ec73d90$4301a8c0@NONAME>
Message-ID: <42517A28.88767C63@bendcable.com>


  If not, I have one here ... near Bend OR ... 

  Neil - WA6KLA 

Tom - ki0pa wrote:
> 
> Hello All:
> 
>  Does anyone on this list know where i could rent or borrow a 
> "gin pole" = in the Reno area  for removal of a Rohn 25G Tower??
> 
>   Thanks
> 
>  Tom     nevadaradio@gmx.net       673-2410   Sun Valley, NV.
> 
> -----
> Visit the CVRC Web Site at http://www.cvrc.net

From dick at twohams.com  Thu Apr  7 00:07:05 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Thu Apr  7 00:09:21 2005
Subject: [CVRC] High Wind Advisory for Carson City, NV
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050406210633.042ef9d8@mail.greatbasin.net>

High Wind Advisory
858 PM PDT Wed Apr 6 2005

...Wind Advisory in effect from 4 am Thursday to 2 PM PDT Thursday...

The National Weather Service in Reno NV has issued a Wind Advisory.

South to southwest winds will increase to between 20 and 35 mph with
gusts up to 50 mph by early Thursday morning and continue through the
early afternoon. Wind prone areas along the Highway 395 corridor
between Reno and Minden may receive local gusts near 60 mph by late
Thursday morning. Areas of blowing dust may reduce visibility to less
than 2 miles at times in portions of west central Nevada...mainly
near the Carson Sink.

Expires:071300 gmt

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From dick at twohams.com  Thu Apr  7 01:49:42 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Thu Apr  7 02:21:06 2005
Subject: [CVRC] NV QSO-Party Notice
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050406224157.00c37390@mail.greatbasin.net>

Hi to all,

     This note is to remind all of you of the upcoming NV Qso Party on the 
weekend of May 7 & 8, info can be found at the web page listed below.  We 
have some open counties mostly up north or in the middle of the state that 
would be great if we can get operators in them.  Maybe some of the clubs or 
groups up north could look at their calendars and come up with something as 
club entry's or something.  Let me know by email which counties you can 
operate from so we can make up a listing for the web page.

     Last year we made up some nice trophies and plan to do the same this 
year to the 1st Place scoring in state entries for each of the normal entry 
categories.  All other in-state entries and out-of-state winners will 
receive paper certificates.  Hope to hear from you as we have only a month 
to go now.  See you in the pile-ups.

Area 51 Contest Club website : http://a51cc.com/
NV Qso Party web page :  http://www.a51cc.com/announce.htm

73
Pat Hess NK7C <nk7c@cox.net> 


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Apr  7 18:51:51 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Apr  7 18:54:11 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD014 DX news
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050407155141.04236858@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD014
ARLD014 DX news

ZCZC AE14
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 14  ARLD014
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 7, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD014
ARLD014 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
DF5WA, NC1L, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, DXNL, WA7BNM
and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

EAST MALAYSIA, 9M6.  Just, LA9DL will be QRV as 9M6/homecall from
IOTA OC-088 on April 9 and 10.  Activity will be on 20, 17 and 15
meters using SSB around the IOTA frequencies.  QSL to home call.

BOLIVIA, CP.  Rene, DF9GR is QRV as CP6/DF9GR until April 15.
Activity is on 80 to 10 meters, and possibly 30 and 17 meters, using
mostly CW, with also with some RTTY and PSK.  QSL to home call.

IRAN, EP.  Hamid, EP4HR has been QRV on 17 meters using SSB from
around 1430 to 1600z.  QSL via I2MQP.

MARTINIQUE, FM.  Berthold, DF5WA and Gunter, DF7GB are QRV as
homecalls/FM.  Activity is on all HF bands, and possibly 160 meters
if the location is suitable, using mostly CW, but also some SSB,
RTTY and PSK31.  QSL to home calls.

ITALY, I.  Nicola, IZ3EBA and Enrico, IZ3EAY will be QRV as
homecalls/p from Lido Island, IOTA EU-131, on April 9.  QSL to home
calls.

LEBANON, OD.  Francis, OD5PL has been QRV using RTTY or PSK31 on 15
meters around 1200z.

SUDAN, ST.  Nader, ST2NH can generally be found on 20 meters around
2200z.  QSL via EA7FTR.

GREECE, SV.  Ben, OZ5AAH is QRV as SV/OZ5IPA from Athens until April
13.  Activity is on all HF bands, including the newer bands, using
CW and SSB.  QSL direct to home call.

COTE d'IVOIRE, TU.  Gerard is QRV as TU2OJ and has been active using
PSK on 17 meters around 1000z and then around 1700z.  QSL via F5IPW.

MALI, TZ.  Members of the International Amateur Radio Volunteers,
IARV, are QRV as TZ6U until April 13.  Activity is on 160 to 10
meters using CW and SSB.  QSL via JA1UT.

BRUNEI, V8.  Ambran, V85SS has been QRV on 160 meters around 1000z.
He is also active on 80, 40 and 30 meters using CW.  QSL via
operator's instructions.

OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR DXCC.  The following operation is approved
for DXCC credit: Somalia, 6O0X, from November 18, 2004 to November
26, 2004.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL CW Contest, SARL
80-Meter SSB QSO Party, Japan International DX CW Contest, QRP ARCI
Spring CW QSO Party, EU Spring SSB Sprint, Georgia QSO Party, Yuri
Gagarin International DX CW Contest, UBA Spring SSB Contest, SARL
Hamnet 40-Meter Simulated Emergency SSB Contest and the 222 MHz
Spring Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  The
YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL SSB Contest is scheduled for April 13 to 15.
Please see April QST, page 99 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest
websites for details.
NNNN
/EX


From dick at twohams.com  Fri Apr  8 11:31:07 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Fri Apr  8 11:33:50 2005
Subject: [CVRC] High Wind Advisory for Carson City, NV
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050408083036.03c59670@mail.greatbasin.net>

High Wind Advisory
441 am PDT Fri Apr 8 2005

...Wind Advisory in effect until 4 PM PDT this afternoon...

The National Weather Service in Reno NV has issued a Wind Advisory.

Southwest to west winds will increase to 20-35 mph with gusts to 50
mph this morning. Wind prone areas along Highway 395 may receive
gusts near 60 mph.

Expires:081800 gmt

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Apr  8 11:45:46 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Apr  8 11:48:13 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP014 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050408084452.03b90d58@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP014
ARLP014 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP14
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 14  ARLP014
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  April 8, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP014
ARLP014 Propagation de K7RA

Sunspots, solar flux and geomagnetic numbers all averaged out to a
slight rise this past week over the previous period. Average daily
sunspot numbers rose over five points to 39.4, and average daily
solar flux was up over two points to 82.5.

The most active geomagnetic day was Tuesday, April 5, when the
planetary A index was 48 and the mid-latitude A index was 30. This
was triggered by a solar wind stream and a south-pointing
interplanetary magnetic field. The field pointing north, as it was
on April 3 offers some protection, but when it points south the
earth is vulnerable to the effects of flares and coronal holes.

Sunspot numbers and solar flux are expected to decline very slowly
for the rest of April. Sunday, April 10 looks like a day for
possibly unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions. Spring is a
great time of year for propagation, but we wish there were more
sunspots. Comparing the average daily sunspot number for the past
week with monthly averages for April in years past, this week was
34% below 2004, 66% below 2003, and 80% below 2002.

Tim Young, WB7UVH of Washougal, Washington wrote, "Some time ago I
used a graphing program that imported data from your reports to
graph flux values. Is that program still available?"

Yes, it is available, and the data file has just been updated. Tim
is remembering the WA4TTK Solar Data Plotting Utility, which has
worked in conjunction with this bulletin for nearly a dozen years.
It is freeware written generously by Scott Craig, and you can find
it on Scott's web site at http://www.craigcentral.com/. Just click
on the link, "Download Freeware Software I Have Written."

Scott updated the GRAPH.dat data file through April 6, 2005, and you
can find a link for this below the software download link. Scott has
programs working with all Windows versions beginning with 3.1, and
even one that works with MS-DOS. The program can update by
automatically grabbing the sunspot and solar flux data from a text
file version of this bulletin, or it can download the data from ARRL
servers over the net.

Andy Gudas, N7TP of Nevada, sent in this question. "On the packet
spotting nets they report SFI, A, K, and R. What is R?"

R is the sunspot number. It is calculated by multiplying the number
of visible sunspot groups by ten, then adding the number of
individual sunspots. So if four sunspot groups are observed, and
there are 29 individual sunspots visible, the sunspot number would
be 69. That is the simple explanation. What really happens is
observations are made from multiple sites, and then there is a K
factor, sort of a fudge factor, that the number is multiplied by.
That K factor is different for each observatory, and is used to make
the resulting numbers approximately equivalent. All of the results
are averaged to yield the daily sunspot number.

By the way, SFI is the Solar Flux Index, which is a measurement of
10.7 cm (about 2.8 GHz) energy with an antenna pointed at the sun.
We get our solar flux numbers from a Canadian observatory in
Penticton, British Columbia.

You can find the definition for R and many other terms in the
Glossary of Solar-Terrestrial Terms, hosted by the High Altitude
Observatory at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. Look it
up at, http://www.hao.ucar.edu/public/education/glossary.html.

The story in last week's Propagation Forecast Bulletin ARLP013 about
the Novice license and the red sweater provoked a huge email
response. Thanks to everyone who wrote.

If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at,
k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation
of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical
Information Service propagation page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.

Sunspot numbers for March 31 through April 6 were 22, 26, 30, 38,
54, 56 and 50 with a mean of 39.4. 10.7 cm flux was 76.7, 78.3,
80.2, 81.1, 84.8, 88.3 and 88, with a mean of 82.5. Estimated
planetary A indices were 9, 8, 4, 6, 17, 48 and 11 with a mean of
14.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 6, 1, 4, 11, 30 and
7, with a mean of 9.1.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Apr  8 23:47:48 2005
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri Apr  8 23:50:26 2005
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 14
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050408204603.03c597b0@mail.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 14
April 8, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Amateur Radio a hit in TOPOFF 3 homeland security drill
* +No balancing act for BPL, ARRL tells FCC
* +Texas kids log 170th ham radio school QSO with ISS
* +"Wireless literacy" is Big Project goal
* +SKYWARN springs into action in Central Mississippi
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
      This weekend on the radio
      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
     +FT5XO Kerguelen Island DXpedition logs nearly 68,000 contacts
     +Digital Communications Conference issues call for papers
     +Volunteers needed for endangered bat research
      Michael Heiler, KA0ZLG, wins March QST Cover Plaque Award
      Special event set for Visalia DX Convention

+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
===========================================================

==>AMATEUR RADIO EARNS KUDOS FOR TOPOFF 3 PERFORMANCE

The role of Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers in Connecticut
in this week's massive TOPOFF 3 exercise has drawn praise from the American
Red Cross, for which ARES provided virtually all radio communication.
Sponsored by the US Department of Homeland Security and intended as a
realistic test of the nation's homeland security system, TOPOFF 3's goal was
to push the system of first responders beyond its limits to find the weak
spots. American Red Cross emergency services director Mario J. Bruno
extolled ARES' performance.

"Operators were there when we needed them, and messages got to where they
were needed," he said in a note to ARRL Connecticut Section leadership. "We
have learned a lot about what ARES can really do when things get messy, and
TOPOFF 3 has been a clear example of how complicated a disaster can get."

Bruno said the Red Cross doesn't have to worry if today's fancy
telecommunications devices fail, because ARES will always be there to
provide the needed support. "Thank you ARES for helping us respond to the
largest disaster exercise in the history of the United States," Bruno
concluded. "We will not forget."

Connecticut's phase of TOPOFF 3 began April 4 with a bang--an explosion in
New London meant to simulate a terrorist attack. "Loud enough that the
organizers passed out earplugs for the media gathered on the bluffs above,"
recounted ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP--a
former Connecticut Section Emergency Coordinator and current ARES member.

Visual realism was very much a part of the $16 million exercise, and
prospective ARES volunteers were cautioned in advance. "As the mushroom
cloud of smoke drifted away," Pitts said, describing the explosion's
immediate aftermath, "hundreds of gory victims processed into the site to
assume positions of death and agony." Pitts says Amateur Radio's real work
only began in earnest after the media also drifted away, once the smoke and
simulated blood were gone.

After ARES stood down from the drill late on April 6, ARRL Connecticut
Section Manager Betsey Doane, K1EIC, and SEC Chuck Rexroad, AB1CR, said they
felt Amateur Radio acquitted itself very well during the drill.

"The energy, enthusiasm and absolute dedication of all the volunteers for
this event are a testament to the real dedication and teamwork in the
Connecticut Section," Doane said in a statement thanking all who took part.

Rexroad agreed. "It's just been amazing," he said. "People came into this
drill prepared and ready to stay. It was a very positive experience."

Under the National Disaster Plan, the Red Cross has primary responsibility
for mass care. ARES provided communication among all of the Red Cross
emergency response vehicles (ERVs), mobile canteens, kitchen, headquarters
and other sites the organization needed stay in touch with.

In all, as many as 40 of the 150 ARES volunteers from Connecticut and other
states in the Northeast were deployed to the field at any given time, and
everyone got to take part at some point. "Everybody had a job to do,"
Rexroad said. "Everyone had at least one shift when they were able to get on
the radio and provide communications support."

Doane also credited the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications courses
and other training with raising the overall level of operating skill--even
among newer operators.

"There were a few new people that were assigned to be observers, and before
the end of the drill ended up trained well enough to be an operator on an
ERV," she said. "I have to tell you, I was impressed."

TOPOFF 3 required participants to be ready for unexpected events, and the
ARES operation was no exception. "The only big curveball we got thrown was
when one of the judges decided they were going to take one of our repeaters
down," Rexroad explained. Connecticut ARES was able to promptly switch to a
backup. Ironically, a genuine repeater breakdown occurred just before the
exercise got under way.

Rexroad and Doane agreed that TOPOFF 3 not only was a success but a helpful
learning experience for ARES. "We learned a fair number of lessons, and most
of them were organizational, not technical, in nature," Rexroad remarked.

Rexroad says Connecticut ARES also prepared to assist the Connecticut Office
of Emergency Management and actually activated several of its stations to
show the state officials that it had the back-up coverage in case they
needed it.

A bioterrorism incident was the scenario in New Jersey--the only other
TOPOFF 3 site. Emergency officials there not only were key to the exercise,
they had real problems owing to flooding in the northern part of the state.
ARES teams in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania participated in the
flood emergency response and relief effort.

Brian Fernandez, K1BRF, a Connecticut Assistant SM and ARES liaison to the
Red Cross said Amateur Radio's performance in TOPOFF 3 did not go unnoticed
within the Department of Homeland Security. "Amateur Radio made a major
contribution to the nation," he said, "and those who contribute to making it
safer and stronger and folks in the right places know it."

==>BPL IS NO BALANCING ACT, ARRL SAYS IN FCC FILINGS

In filings before the FCC, the ARRL has again challenged some basic
assumptions made by BPL proponents and included in the FCC's Report and
Order (R&O) adopting new rules governing the deployment of broadband over
power line (BPL) systems. The League took particular issue with any notion
that a balancing test exists between BPL's purported public benefits and its
potential to interfere with licensed services.

"There is no balancing to be done in the case of compatibility between
unlicensed devices and licensed radio services," the ARRL asserted April 1
in its Reply to Oppositions from Ambient Corporation and the United Power
Line Council (UPLC). "Unlicensed devices are not entitled to operate if they
cause harmful interference to licensed radio services, and they cannot be
authorized at all . . . if they have, as does BPL, a significant
interference potential to licensed services." The League's remarks
reiterated a point it's made in other FCC proceedings pitting unlicensed
Part 15 devices against licensed services.

The Reply to Oppositions comments mark the last opportunity for BPL
stakeholders to comment in the FCC rule making proceeding that led to last
October's R&O. In separate replies, the ARRL zeroed in on oppositions to
petitions for reconsideration filed by Ambient, the UPLC, Current
Technologies, three utilities--Ameren Energy Communications, Virginia
Electric Power and Tucson Electric Power--Homeplug Power Line Alliance and
Intellon.

The ARRL targeted Ambient's stated assumption that the FCC's goal in the
proceeding should be to "ensure that its interference protection rules and
policies do not inadvertently hinder development and deployment" of BPL. The
League cited its own experiences with Ambient to make its point.

"Ambient's priorities and spectrum manners are evident not only in [its]
statement, but as well in its atrocious record of harmful interference and
unresponsiveness to verified interference complaints in its BPL test
operations," the ARRL said. It attached a copy of its latest interference
complaint involving Ambient's Briarcliff Manor, New York, BPL pilot project.
"The interference to Amateur Radio communications at that site has been
unresolved for a period of an entire year," the League emphasized.

Ambient's Opposition filing, the League said, suggests the company "believes
that the potential future benefit of BPL justifies whatever harmful
byproduct there is in terms of interference to licensed radio services." But
the Ambient pilot project, the ARRL continued, "form an obvious, empirical
rebuttal" to the FCC's assertion in the R&O that BPL has a low interference
potential, and that BPL providers have some incentive to remedy BPL
interference. "Both of these fundamental premises have proven false," the
ARRL said.

The ARRL also took issue with the UPLC's suggestion in its Opposition that
the FCC's R&O "struck the right balance between protecting against potential
interference and promoting the public interest in BPL deployment." The
League said previously stated FCC policy that radiated emission levels
sufficiently low to prevent interference to licensed services rather than
mitigating it after the fact have provided the basis for authorizing
unlicensed RF devices such as BPL.

Any "balancing test" with respect to BPL is improper, the ARRL concluded,
adding that any future public benefits of unlicensed BPL systems "are
irrelevant" under the Communications Act.

Beyond that, BPL operators have a greater incentive to deny the existence of
any interference, harmful or otherwise, the ARRL said, "and so far, the
Commission has given every indication that it will indulge them."

"BPL providers are the beneficiaries of the Report and Order." Amateur
licensees on the other hand, the ARRL said, "must bear the burden" the R&O
creates, despite the fact that Amateur Radio is a licensed service.

The ARRL says analyses by the National Telecommunications and Information
Agency (NTIA) and others have shown that if a large number of BPL emitters
is deployed, "they will raise the ambient levels of man-made noise
worldwide." The League countered assertions that BPL is a point-source
radiator for measurement purposes rather than a line-source radiator.

The ARRL also urged BPL providers to seriously rethink the idea of using BPL
to carry emergency communications and provide utility company management of
the power grid. "BPL is entitled to no protection from interference at all,
and it can neither expect nor claim any such protection," the ARRL said,
pointing to tests demonstrating that even low levels of RF can disrupt BPL
transmissions.

Copies of the League's Reply to Oppositions are on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/files/>.

==>TEXAS YOUNGSTERS LOG 170TH ARISS SCHOOL GROUP QSO

A group of elementary schoolers in Denton, Texas, used ham radio to quiz
International Space Station Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW,
about life in space March 29. The direct VHF contact between W5NGU at the
Science Discovery Center at Pecan Creek Elementary School and NA1SS was
arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program. It marked the 170th ARISS school group contact since the first crew
came aboard the ISS in 2000. Chiao told the pupils he believes the
development of human space travel will parallel the earlier development of
air travel.

"In the beginning of the airplane, there were only a few people that got to
fly in them, and now we've got air travel, it's pretty commonplace for
everyone," Chiao replied. "The same thing's going to happen with space. It's
just taking a little bit longer because it's a little harder and a little
more challenging to get up into space." Noting ventures under way to
privatize space travel, Chiao said he thinks that's the direction human
space flight will take in the future.

Among other things, Chiao also told the kids that education is very
important to becoming an astronaut. Most members of the NASA Astronaut
Corps, he said, have advanced degrees, and training in various aspects of
technology is ongoing. "We're always kind of in school," he remarked.

One youngster wanted to know if the ISS crew members log all the new things
they see or learn during their duty tours for later study. Chiao said that
some astronauts keep journals as part of one of the science experiments
aboard the ISS.

"I've been keeping a journal that I put in my thoughts maybe two or three
times a week, depending on how much time I have, and those will be used
later to study different social aspects of being on board a space station
for so long," he said. Chiao and his Expedition 10 crewmate, cosmonaut
Salizhan Sharipov of Russia, have been aboard the ISS since last October.
They're due to return to Earth later this month.

In all, the Pecan Creek students put 15 questions to Chiao before the ISS
went out of range. At one point during the contact, Chiao looked out the
window and observed that the spacecraft was passing directly over the Dallas
area. He commented that looking at Earth and taking photographs was a
favorite spare-time activity aboard the ISS.

Amateur satellite veteran Keith Pugh, W5IU, served as mentor for the ARISS
contact. Members of the Denton County Amateur Radio Club, W5NGU, set up the
ground station equipment and handled control operator duties. They also
arranged for other schools to view the contact live via amateur TV.

About 50 parents and guests along with members of the school faculty joined
some 300 of the participating pupils' schoolmates to witness the contact.
The Science Development Center contact got media coverage from two TV
stations and two newspapers.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach
with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>"WIRELESS LITERACY" IS ARRL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM GOAL

With some 130 schools now on board, the ARRL Education & Technology Program
(ETP)--also known as "the Big Project"--has set its sights on transforming
the teaching of wireless technology in the US. ETP Coordinator Mark Spencer,
WA8SME, acknowledges that incorporating what he calls "wireless literacy"
into the broader educational landscape is not something that will happen
overnight. Even so, he believes the ETP not only can have a role in
developing a favorable climate for wireless literacy and establishing it as
an educational mainstay but in ultimately setting academic standards.
Spencer says reaching teachers first is key.

"You've got to have a jazzed teacher," Spencer stresses, pointing out that
many teachers remain uncomfortable with wireless technology and are unaware
of the best ways to teach it. To address this problem, the ETP last summer
sponsored its first Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology, an intensive
weeklong, hands-on session aimed at getting the nine attendees up to speed
on wireless and electronics technology basics and how to teach them.

Expanding on the success of the inaugural institute, the ETP this year will
sponsor three sessions--two at ARRL Headquarters and one "on the road" in
Ohio in July. The institutes at ARRL Headquarters will immerse two dozen
educators from across the US in wireless technology--all expenses paid.
Spencer plans to augment the 2005 Teachers Institutes with more radio
operating experience, evening sessions and more hands-on and interactive
projects.

The ARRL Education & Technology Program recently kicked off its 2005
fund-raising effort, and ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH,
says subsidizing the expansion of the Teachers Institute initiative is one
facet of the current drive. She reports the ARRL Teachers Institute has
leadership funding for 2005 with gifts from the Brandenburg Life Foundation
and from ARRL Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, and her husband Carter,
N3AO.

"Those contributions will provide about one-half of the total funding needed
for the three Teachers Institute programs in 2005," Hobart notes. ARRL
corporate partner Parallax will contribute robotics kits for participating
teachers to build and program during this year's sessions.

Hobart says the ARRL has dedicated close to $470,000 in resources and member
contributions to make the ETP a success. In addition to subsidizing the
Teachers Institutes, the program's major expenses include station
equipment--some $2200 per school--and project and activity boards and kits,
which run between $20 and $100 apiece.

As of March, 134 schools are part of the Big Project, and the program has
provided turnkey Amateur Radio stations to 110 of them--up from 80 schools a
year earlier. In many instances teachers working with the ETP have
encouraged many of their students to become radio amateurs, although that's
not a primary program objective.

Beyond local schools and teachers, Spencer looks to Amateur Radio clubs in
the community to establish close relationships with participating schools,
sharing their expertise and providing assistance. "It really comes down to
the local community drives what gets taught in the local schools," he says.
"The teachers can be jazzed, but if they don't have any support from the
local ham community, they're just going to get themselves burned out."
Spencer says he's frequently on the stump asking amateurs to "walk the walk
as well as talk the talk."

Overall, Spencer feels the program is moving in the right direction,
although he said the progress is not easy to document. "Any real change in
the educational community takes at least 12 years to come to fruition,"
Spencer said. In many cases, he believes, the program plants a seed that
might flower down the road when a youngster exposed to wireless technology
and electronics via the ETP makes his or her academic plans and career
choices.

"We need to be patient," he cautions those who may feel that an enterprise
like the Big Project should yield more immediate, obvious results.
"Contributions that are given today don't necessarily turn into rubber on
the road today."

"We're really talking about changing the culture of the school," Spencer
concluded.

The 2005 Teachers Institute sessions at ARRL Headquarters will be June 13-17
and August 1-5. For more information, visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/TI-2005-announce.pdf> or contact Mark
Spencer, WA8SME, mspencer@arrl.org; 860-594-0396. To help support the ARRL
Education & Technology Program, visit the secure donation form on the ARRL
Web site
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/education/education.html>.

==>SKYWARN ENDURES DAYLONG SIEGE IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

Wednesday, April 6, in Central Mississippi began with tornadoes, severe hail
and flooding, prompting activation of local SKYWARN, Amateur Radio Emergency
Service (ARES) teams and Amateur Radio volunteers. Members of the Jackson
Amateur Radio Club (JARC) staffed the National Weather Service (NWS) Jackson
Forecast Office. Operations continued for more than 16 hours as a line of
severe storms marched across Mississippi. The club's station, WX5JAN,
handled a substantial number of warning statements, spotter and damage
reports.

"I think we did extremely well considering the length of the event and
everything else that occurred," said JARC SKYWARN Coordinator, Robert "Billy
Bob" Sekul, N5XXX. This week's event marked the eighth SKYWARN activation
since March 1.

Within an hour of activation, an F3 tornado struck the Monterey area in
Rankin County, injuring six residents, destroying 17 homes and damaging many
more. Smith County radio amateurs reported major damage in Mize after a
tornado struck the community's K-12 school as students took shelter.
Throughout the morning, reports of hail, funnel clouds and flooding streamed
into the station from counties across Central Mississippi.

As another wave of severe storms moved through these same areas in the
afternoon, operators continued to report funnel clouds, hail and flooding.
Several JARC ARES members responded to the Central Mississippi Chapter of
the American Red Cross to assist with damage assessment and other duties.
During this second wave of storms, a nearby lightning strike forced the
SKYWARN station off the air. Hurricane Watch Net Assistant Manager Bobby
Graves, KB5HAV, served temporarily as alternate net control while the
station recovered from the strike. Although the interruption was short
lived, warnings and reports continued unabated.

By late afternoon, a third round of storms moved through, hitting many of
the same areas. Again, reports of hail, funnel clouds and flooding continued
until operations ceased at 10:30 PM. SKYWARN is a voluntary program
developed by the NWS to improve its severe weather warning program.--Ben
Jones, AC5SU

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Solar swami Tad "SPF-15" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Sunspots,
solar flux and geomagnetic numbers all averaged out to a slight rise this
past week over the previous period. Average daily sunspot numbers rose more
than 5 points to 39.4, and average daily solar flux was up more than 2
points to 82.5.

Sunspot numbers and solar flux are expected to decline very slowly for the
rest of April. Sunday, April 10, looks like a day for possibly unsettled to
active geomagnetic conditions.

Sunspot numbers for March 31 through April 6 were 22, 26, 30, 38, 54, 56 and
50, with a mean of 39.4. The 10.7 cm flux was 76.7, 78.3, 80.2, 81.1, 84.8,
88.3 and 88, with a mean of 82.5. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 8,
4, 6, 17, 48 and 11, with a mean of 14.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 5, 6, 1, 4, 11, 30 and 7, with a mean of 9.1.

A more detailed edition of Solar Update appears Fridays on the ARRL Web
site.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The JIDX CW Contest, the ARCI Spring QSO Party,
the EU Spring Sprint (SSB), the Georgia QSO Party, the Yuri Gagarin
International DX Contest, the UBA Spring Contest (SSB) and the SARL Hamnet
40-Meter Simulated Emergency Contest are the weekend of April 9-10. The 222
MHz Spring Sprint is April 12, the RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (SSB), is
April 13 and the YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest (SSB) is April 13-15. JUST
AHEAD: The Holyland DX Contest, the TARA Skirmish Digital Prefix Contest,
the ES Open HF Championship, the EU Spring Sprint (CW), the Michigan and
Ontario QSO parties, and the YU DX Contest are the April 16-17 weekend. The
NAQCC Weeknight 40/80-Meter Sprint and the 432 MHz Spring Sprint are April
20. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (Data) is April 21. 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 for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open
through Sunday, April 10. Classes begin Friday, April 22. 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 II on-line course
(EC-002) opens Monday, April 11, at 1201 AM EST and will remain open until
all available seats have been filled or through the April 16-17
weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, April 29. 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. Act
now! This is the final year of the grant-subsidized classes! Radio amateurs
age 55 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. 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.

* FT5XO Kerguelen Island DXpedition logs nearly 68,000 contacts: The recent
FT5XO Kerguelen Island DXpedition racked up 67,954 QSOs during its 11-plus
days of operation in late March. Located in the subantarctic region of the
Indian Ocean, Kerguelen (IOTA AF-048)--also known as "Desolation Island"--is
ranked as the 13th most-wanted DXCC entity worldwide and the 10th
most-wanted in the US. The multinational Microlite Penguins DXpedition
Team--AG9A, GI0NWG, HB9ASZ, M0DXR, N6MZ, N0TT, SP5XVY, VE3EJ, VK6DXI, W3WL,
W7EW and 9V1YC--reports that 68 percent of the contacts were made on
CW--many of them on 40 and 30 meters--while 29 percent were on SSB and 3
percent on RTTY. European DXers were the primary beneficiaries, accounting
for slightly more than one-half of the FT5XO contacts made. Japan followed
with 21 percent, and the US at 17 percent. The DXpedition was organized and
sponsored by the Northern California DX Foundation. QSL FT5XO via
VE3XN.--George Fremin III, K5TR

* Digital Communications Conference issues call for papers: The 24th annual
ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference is soliciting technical
papers for presentation at the conference and for publication in the
conference Proceedings. The event will be held September 23-25 in Santa Ana,
California. Presentation at the conference is not required for publication.
Submit papers by August 9 to Maty Weinberg, KB1EIB, ARRL 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111 or via e-mail to maty@arrl.org. Additional conference
information is on the DCC Web site <http://www.tapr.org/dcc/>.

* Volunteers needed for endangered bat research: ARRL Amateur Radio
Direction Finding Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, is asking radio amateurs in
the Northeast to assist in a wildlife radio-tracking project from mid-April
to early May. "The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
is placing tiny VHF radio transmitters on Indiana bats--an endangered
species--as they leave their winter homes in two caves," Moell says. "The
goal is to track them to determine their summer habitat." According to
wildlife technician Carl Herzog, AB2SI, 40 bats will be trapped, tagged and
released as they emerge from caves in the Watertown and Kingston areas.
Possible destinations are in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania,
Connecticut, Ontario and Quebec. Initial tracking will be by aircraft. When
breeding locations are determined, the bats' activity will be monitored from
the ground. The tiny transmitters are on six spot frequencies between 150
and 151 MHz. Herzog expects the bats to emerge around April 15, but he notes
that the exact date will depend on the weather--and especially the
temperature. Moell says a receiver with SSB/CW capability will give optimum
range. "Volunteers with high fixed antennas and computer logging equipment
in their homes may be able to detect flyover and roosting," he said.Visit
Moell's Homing In Web site <http://www.homingin.com/> for project updates
and additional information on biological radio tags and the best equipment
to monitor them.

* Michael Heiler, KA0ZLG, wins March QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of
the QST Cover Plaque Award for March is Michael Heiler, KA0LZG, for his
article "A Backpacker's Delight--The Folding J-Pole." Congratulations,
Michael! 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 April issue by April 30.

* Special event set for Visalia DX Convention: Special event station N6V
will be on the air April 15-16, 1600-0200 UTC, from the 56th annual
International DX Convention in Visalia, California. Convention attendees are
invited to operate the station. Operation will be on 14.190-14.240 MHz days
and 7.175-7.250 MHz evenings. QSL via operator's instructions, and include
an SASE with all QSL requests. Contact K6AER for more information.

===========================================================
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.

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"
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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
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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
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==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384

==>How to Get The ARRL Letter

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From dick at twohams.com  Tue Apr 12 18:09:40 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Tue Apr 12 18:12:59 2005
Subject: [CVRC] High Wind Advisory for Carson City, NV
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050412150920.030bbcc0@mail.greatbasin.net>

High Wind Advisory
300 PM PDT Tue Apr 12 2005

...Wind Advisory in effect from 6 PM this evening to 6 am PDT
Wednesday...

The National Weather Service in Reno NV has issued a Wind Advisory.

Southwest winds will increase to 20-35 mph this evening
with gusts to 55 mph overnight in the wind prone areas along
Highway 395. Winds are expected to remain strong until early
Wednesday morning when the cold front moves through the aera.

A Wind Advisory is issued when sustained winds are forecast to be 31
to 39 mph or gusts will range between 46 and 57 mph. Winds of these
magnitudes may cause minor property damage without extra precautions.
Motorists in high profile vehicles should use caution until the winds
subside.

Expires:130504 gmt

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From washer at trlp.com  Tue Apr 12 23:53:36 2005
From: washer at trlp.com (James Washer)
Date: Wed Apr 13 00:10:44 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Looking for recommendations for a voice keyer.
Message-ID: <20050412205336.3193c28b.washer@trlp.com>

Anyone have any recommendations for a voice keyer? Anyone have a voice keyer for sale? Need something for FD this year, as last year I lost my voice about 1am.

 - jim
From dick at twohams.com  Wed Apr 13 22:38:11 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Wed Apr 13 23:01:12 2005
Subject: [CVRC] IRLP / ECHOLINK ARES NET
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050413175650.02aeded0@mail.greatbasin.net>

IRLP / ECHOLINK ARES NET

In an effort to bring the Nevada Section closer together, we have created 
the IRLP-ECHOLINK NEVADA ARES NET.  This net meets twice monthly, on the 
2nd and 4th Saturdays at 0830 a.m.  The net can be accessed on your local 
IRLP repeater by accessing the Western Reflector Channel 8 (Node 9258); or 
via Echolink using Node 152566.  If you are unsure as to how to gain 
access, just ask your DEC or check with our Section Technical Coordinator, 
Kent Johnson W7AOR in Las Vegas at w7aor@narri.org.

We would like to have as many as possible cabinet member appointees as well 
as all DECs and ECs from around the state check in to this net.  Our 
purpose and goal for creating this net is to allow those who cannot or are 
unable to check into the weekly Saturday morning HF Net (3965 at 0800) the 
opportunity to participate and discuss ideas, concerns and training.

This net is the perfect forum to present ideas to each other, voice 
concerns over mutual aid possibilities, exercise our skills and learn one 
to another.  Each of us has unique qualities and skills that we can teach 
others.  This is the perfect forum to do just that and be a team 
together.  What it takes is participation!  If you will set aside the time, 
I know you will be rewarded with some great discussions, as we draw closer 
to and from each other as The Nevada Section ARES Team.  Please accept this 
invitation and join us and pass this information on to other members of 
your local teams so that they might benefit, too.  Remember that we get out 
of these opportunities what we are willing to put into them.

Thanks and 73

Don Carlson KQ6FM
Section Emergency Coordinator
kq6fm@arrl.net


From w6sxx at gbis.com  Thu Apr 14 11:39:49 2005
From: w6sxx at gbis.com (Roger Carl)
Date: Thu Apr 14 15:59:33 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Antenna Repair
Message-ID: <000601c54108$9fa28820$2017e4cf@roger030u9qypw>

I am still in need to hire someone with climbing gear or a lift, soldering equipment, and know how, to climb my  55 Ft. stepped power pole and resolder the 450 ohm ribbon feeder line to my full size 160 meter inverted V antenna.  Looking at it through a scope, one side of the feeder has opened up at the top.  I have the necessary power cord and a climbing belt if needed. At age 78, I no longer climb.

If interested respond by E-mail or phone 775-265-2553.

 
From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Apr 14 20:02:29 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Apr 14 20:06:03 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD015 DX news
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050414170219.02aabec8@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD015
ARLD015 DX news

ZCZC AE15
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 15  ARLD015
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 14, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD015
ARLD015 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, DXNL, WA7BNM and Contest
Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

MAURITIUS, 3B8.  Mart, DL6UAA will be QRV as 3B8MM until May 10.
QSL direct to home call.

ISRAEL, 4X.  Dov, 4Z4DX will be QRV as 4Z4DX/LH from the Jaffa
Lighthouse, ARLHS SR-005, April 16 and 17.  QSL direct to home call.
Meanwhile, Jac, 4X/PA3AJW and Ron, 4X/PA3BMQ are QRV from the Golan
Heights, northern Israel, until April 21.  Activity is on all HF
bands using CW and SSB.  They will be QRV as 4X2C from the town of
Ramot during the Holyland DX Contest.  QSL via operators'
instructions.

BHUTAN, A5.  Look for activity from new club station stations A50E
at the Shingkhar Primary School in Shingkhar, and A50F at the Bardo
Primary School in Bardo.  QSL via operators' instructions.

THE GAMBIA, C5.  Gerben is QRV as C56M and has been active on 30
meters around 2130z.  QSL via PG5M.

PHILIPPINES, DU.  Carl, DU2/K7QN is QRV until the end of April.  He
is active on 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL to home
call.

SCOTLAND, GM.  Members of the South Cheshire ARS will be QRV as
GM6TW from the Isle of Jura, IOTA EU-088, from April 16 to 23.
Activity will be on 160 to 10 meters, including the newer bands,
using CW and SSB.  QSL via G0UZP.

LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0.  Stations HA5MA, HA5OJ, HA5BWW and HA7PC are QRV
as HB0/homecalls until April 21 from the Chalet Wanni.  Activity is
on 160 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW and SSB.
They may try some WSJT on 2-meters.  QSL to home calls.

US VIRGIN ISLANDS, KP2.  John, K3CT and his wife Susan, N3DVF will
be QRV as KP2/K3CT and KP2/N3DVF while vacationing from St. Croix
from April 19 to 26.  They will operate on all bands using CW and
SSB.  QSL both callsigns via K3CT.

NETHERLANDS, PA.  Alfons, ON4AWT, Hugo, ON4CF, Geoffrey, ON6JK and
Stefan, ON4OSA are QRV as PA/homecalls from Texel Island until April
17.  Activity is on 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using SSB, with
some digital modes. The Texel/Eierland lighthouse will also be
activated.  QSL to home calls.

BRAZIL, PY.  Look for ZW6FSM to be QRV from Fort Sao Marcos from
April 17 to 18, and then April 20 to 21, using CW and SSB.  Activity
will be on 80, 40 and 20 meters.  QSL via PY6KW.

SUDAN, ST.  Dane, S57CQ is QRV as ST2T and will be here until at
least June.  He will be active primarily during the contests as
these are the only times he can get on the air.  QSL via S57DX.

CRETE, SV9.  Rosel, SV9/DL3KWR and Hardy, SV9/DL3KWF will be QRV
from April 16 to 29.  Most of their activity will be on the newer
bands, plus 80-meters, and mostly CW, in their evening times.  QSL
to home calls.

EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA.  Alex, RX3AJL is active until April 22 from
some islands in the Kara sea.  QSL to home call.

MACAO, XX9.  Hirotada is QRV as XX9TSC and has been active using
SSTV on 20 meters just prior to 1230z.  QSL via JA0SC.

ANTARCTICA.  Ed, ZL5KX is QRV from Scott Base on Ross Island.  He is
usually QRV on 20 meters around 0800 to 0900z.  QSL via operator's
instructions.

CHATHAM ISLAND, ZL7.  Rick, AI5P is QRV as ZL7/AI5P and will be here
probably through April 26.  Activity is on 30 and 17 meters using
CW.  QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The Holyland DX Contest, EU EME Contest,
TARA Skirmish-Digital Prefix Contest, ES Open HF Championship, EU CW
Spring Sprint, Michigan QSO Party, EA-QRP CW Contest, Ontario QSO
Party and the YU DX Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this
weekend.  Please see April QST, page 100 and the ARRL and WA7BNM
contest websites for details.
NNNN
/EX


From dick at twohams.com  Thu Apr 14 20:08:54 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Thu Apr 14 20:12:26 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Antenna Repair
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050414170845.02a7f8a8@mail.greatbasin.net>

At 08:39 AM 4/14/2005, Roger Carl wrote:
 >I am still in need to hire someone with climbing gear or a lift, soldering
 >equipment, and know how, to climb my  55 Ft. stepped power pole and resolder
 >the 450 ohm ribbon feeder line to my full size 160 meter inverted V antenna.
 > Looking at it through a scope, one side of the feeder has opened up at the
 >top.  I have the necessary power cord and a climbing belt if needed. At age
 >78, I no longer climb.
 >
 >If interested respond by E-mail or phone 775-265-2553.

Roger lives in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

73, Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Apr 15 16:07:43 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Apr 15 16:11:30 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP015 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050415130733.034b7dc0@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP015
ARLP015 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP15
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 15  ARLP015
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  April 15, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP015
ARLP015 Propagation de K7RA

This week there was an insignificant rise in average daily sunspot
numbers and solar flux compared to the previous week. Average daily
sunspot numbers were up a little over one point to 40.6, and average
daily solar flux rose over four points to 86.9.

There was a rise in geomagnetic activity due to a solar wind stream
from a coronal hole. The planetary A index for April 12-14 was 30,
26 and 19. We have moved out of the solar wind, and the prediction
is for quieter conditions. The predicted planetary A index for April
15-18 is 12, 10, 8 and 5. Sunspot counts and daily solar flux
numbers are expected to stay about the same, perhaps declining
slightly after April 19.

I noticed on the web site for the Western Washington DX Club
(http://www.wwdxc.org) a number of links to presentations from past
club meetings, either on technical topics or DXpeditions. One of
interest to readers is a PDF of the K9LA talk on 160-meter
propagation at last summer's Northwest DX Convention. (It is on the
main www.wwdxc.org page, and if you don't know how to open a PDF,
send me an email). This is a very interesting tutorial on several
aspects of 160-meter propagation, and examines the notion that this
band is better during the sunspot minimum.

If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at,
k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation
of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical
Information Service propagation page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.

Sunspot numbers for April 7 through 13 were 49, 56, 43, 42, 17, 32
and 45 with a mean of 40.6. 10.7 cm flux was 87.8, 87.7, 88.4, 88.3,
87.5, 84.9 and 83.5, with a mean of 86.9. Estimated planetary A
indices were 8, 4, 4, 4, 10, 30 and 26 with a mean of 12.3.
Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 2, 2, 2, 6, 23 and 18, with
a mean of 8.1.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Apr 15 18:28:48 2005
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri Apr 15 18:32:34 2005
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 15
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050415152838.02c38e20@mail.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 15
April 15, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +ARRL Executive Committee spells out bandwidth proposals
* +Public funding questionable for New York BPL pilot project
* +School, students, local hams make space QSO a success
* +Science teachers' convention provides visibility for ham radio
* +South Carolina ARES trailer to have "the works"
* +Nominations for McGan Award due May 20
* +World Amateur Radio Day is April 18
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
      This weekend on the radio
      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
     +ARES-RACES teams activate in wake of flooding
      ARRL Headquarters boasting five new Extras

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
===========================================================

==>ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE READIES BANDWIDTH RECOMMENDATIONS

Acting on the premise that the amateur bands must flexibly and comfortably
accommodate present and future operating modes and technologies over the
long haul, the ARRL Executive Committee has reached consensus on
recommendations to the ARRL Board of Directors for a regulation-by-bandwidth
proposal. The recommendations the panel adopted April 9 in Denver will form
the basis of a draft ARRL petition to the FCC seeking to govern the usage of
amateur spectrum by emission bandwidth rather than by mode. The proposals
remain only EC recommendations at this point, and the League will file
nothing with the FCC until the ARRL Board gives its go-ahead. Five of the 15
voting Directors sit on the EC. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says a key
principle underlying the League initiative is that the amateur community
must shoulder the responsibility for resolving conflicts among potentially
conflicting modes and not expect--or wait for--the FCC to impose its own
solutions.

"We are in the early stages of a dramatic shift in amateur HF operating
patterns, and it's impossible to predict where this shift may lead," Sumner
said. "The FCC rules should not stand in the way of where technology takes
us in our fulfillment of the bases and purposes of Amateur Radio." The
bandwidth initiative is aimed in part at encouraging new digital modes, but
the primary emphasis is to avoid having to write a new rule every time a new
mode bursts onto the scene. The League's proposals will establish a
framework that creates an environment for change over the next decade--and
perhaps longer, Sumner concluded. The Board will consider the draft
petition, now on the drawing board, at its July meeting.

The EC recommendations abandon efforts to have the FCC segregate digital and
analog emissions by rule. As the EC sees it, the FCC rules should simply set
out band segments in which amateurs may employ bandwidths of up to 3 kHz,
with any further subdivision left up to amateur band planning. The EC
acknowledged a need to improve band planning mechanisms for this approach to
work well, however.

"Certainly there have to be mechanisms to minimize interference between
analog and digital stations, since they cannot compatibly share the same
frequency," Sumner explained. But, he says, using FCC rules to subdivide the
HF bands is the wrong approach, in part because they're too static and too
difficult to change.

Resolving two issues that have been hanging fire, the EC's proposals would
permit semi-automatic control (ie, with a control operator at the querying
station) throughout the amateur HF bands. Sumner says that while this
carries some risk of interference, the EC believes the amateur community can
manage it more effectively through a combination of technology and
respectful operating practices. Additionally, automatic control would
continue to be permitted at bandwidths of up to 3 kHz in narrow segments of
some HF bands.

The EC made no change to its earlier recommendation that the rules continue
to permit double-sideband, full-carrier AM and independent sideband (ISB) as
specific exceptions to the 3 kHz bandwidth limit--with restrictions of 9 kHz
and 6 kHz respectively--on all bands now allowing 'phone transmissions. (In
ISB, or independent sideband, each sideband of a double-sideband signal
carries information or data independent of the other.)

FCC rules now permit RTTY and data emissions throughout the HF CW subbands.
"It is only through compliance with 'gentlemen's agreements' that RTTY and
data signals are not heard in the parts of the band that are generally used
for CW," Sumner notes. The ARRL would propose limiting bandwidth in the "CW
subbands" to 200 Hz, which also will accommodate data modes such as PSK31.
In addition, the League's proposal would set bandwidth limits of either 500
Hz or 3 kHz in the rest of the bands below 29 MHz. The proposals would not
affect 60 or 160 meters.

"The objective is not to expand the phone bands to let robot stations run
roughshod over the phone bands, or to effect any other immediate change in
amateur operating practices," Sumner emphasized. For example, while the
3-kHz bandwidth segment of the 30-meter band theoretically could accommodate
voice, this is prohibited by international band plan agreements because the
band is so narrow. Additionally, the Amateur Service is secondary on 30
meters and must protect the primary fixed service from interference.

Sumner pointed out that there now is no effective bandwidth limit on HF
digital operation. The existing 500 Hz bandwidth limit applies only to
automatically controlled stations in semi-automatic operation. Band segments
limited to 200 Hz and 500 Hz respectively provide greater protection for
narrowband operations than exists today, Sumner stressed.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the EC recommendations are available on
the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/bandwidth/bw-faq.html>. Direct
comments on these proposals via e-mail to <bandwidth@arrl.org>.

==>PUBLIC FUNDING IN LIMBO FOR NEW YORK BPL PROJECT

Responding to a recent ARRL inquiry, the New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority (NYSERDA) says it has not yet agreed to provide public
funds to promote the Briarcliff Manor, New York, BPL project. Under the
belief that NYSERDA was already providing money for the project, the League
copied the Authority on its fourth and latest request to the FCC to shut
down the BPL pilot operated by utility Consolidated Edison and BPL developer
Ambient Corporation. Gunnar Walmet, NYSERDA's director of industry research
and buildings, said March 28 that NYSERDA has been unable to reach a
contract agreement on the Briarcliff Manor BPL project and has no status in
it at this point.

"On the other hand, no public money has been spent yet either," Walmet
continued. "It is still our hope to reach agreement, but this length of
unsuccessful negotiation is not particularly encouraging."

Last June, Con Ed and Ambient announced a funding award, pending final
contract negotiations, to enhance the BPL project. The ARRL promptly wrote
NYSERDA asserting that acknowledged interference from the Briarcliff Manor
installation violates the Communications Act of 1934 and questioning the
propriety of a public grant. According to the announcement, NYSERDA planned
to provide up to $200,000 of the project's $480,000 cost. Walmet said March
28 that NYSERDA's involvement, if any, would be limited to funding "aspects
of the project and monitoring the results."

"Our hope continues to be that solutions can be found for technical problems
with the use of PLC [BPL] and that innovative energy benefits can accrue to
New York utility customers," Walmet told ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. "The
proposed project would illuminate and evaluate these potential benefits and
the critically important issue of whether PLC as practiced by Con Ed in
Briarcliff can be made fully FCC compliant."

In a reply April 1, Sumner reiterated that the reason for his original
letter last June was "to raise the question of whether a project that was in
willful violation of the Communications Act was deserving of public
funding." Sumner told Walmet that not only does the original question
remain, it's now joined by another: "whether corporations that make such
misrepresentations are qualified to receive public funding."

The ARRL has charged Ambient and the FCC with being unwilling or unable to
effectively deal with harmful interference stemming from the Briarcliff
Manor BPL pilot project. It's asked the Commission pull the plug on the
system until Ambient addresses interference complaints. Sumner assured
Walmet that the ARRL will continue to call ongoing violations in Briarcliff
Manor to the FCC's attention until the agency takes corrective action.

==>SCHOOL COMMUNITY COOPERATION, STUDENT ACTIVITIES ENHANCE SPACE QSO
EXPERIENCE

Even before a dozen third, fourth and fifth graders got to speak via ham
radio April 8 with the International Space Station, Flory Academy of
Sciences and Technology in Moorpark, California, was a beehive of activity
and excitement. Flory science teacher Pat Bachamp says everyone pitched in
beforehand to help make the QSO a memorable educational experience, and more
than 700 turned out at the school to witness the event.

"All of our students have been quite busy planning for this event," Bachamp
noted with just about two minutes to go until the ISS came into radio range
of ground station NN1SS in Greenbelt, Maryland. She described students
wearing NASA flight gear, holding models of shuttles, rockets and the ISS.
Adorning the stage was huge banner reading, "Beam us up, NASA!" Other
activities included space news, humor and even poetry, broadcast on the
school's low-power FM station, KFLR.

Responding to one youngster's question, "Why do we want to explore space,
and why not leave some mysteries stay mysteries?" Expedition 10 Commander
Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, said it's human nature to be curious.

"And so we always want to know what's on the other side of that mountain,
and that's what drives us, that's what sets us apart as a species," Chiao
said. "We can explore space, and I don't think we'll ever fully understand
it, so I don't think we'll have any problem still having some mysteries."

Replying to other questions, Chiao said that although his and crewmate
Salizhan Sharipov's duty tour is winding down, the crew is still involved in
some scientific research aboard the ISS, including a telemedicine
experiment. The ISS crew has been using an ultrasound device in space as
part of an effort to enable physicians on Earth to diagnose health problems
that might arise during long-term space ventures. Chiao also has been
serving as NASA ISS Science Officer during Expedition 10. In all, the
youngsters managed to get in 15 questions before the ISS went out of range
of NN1SS.

Handling ground station duties at NN1SS was Dave Taylor, W8AAS, while ARISS
Program Manager Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, moderated the event. The contact was
arranged by ARISS with assistance at the school from Ota Lutz, KD5UQZ, of
NASA's Aerospace Education Services Program, Flory Principal Pam Hill and
Bachamp.

Providing onsite engineering and other assistance were members of the Conejo
Valley Amateur Radio Club, the Ventura County Amateur Radio Society and the
Simi Settlers Amateur Radio Club. MCI donated a teleconferencing link to
provide two-way audio between NN1SS and the school.

The Flory ARISS school group contact attracted media attention from at least
three TV stations and two newspapers from the Los Angeles area.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach,
with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>ARRL REPRESENTS AMATEUR RADIO AT SCIENCE TEACHERS' CONVENTION

ARRL Education and Technology Program (ETP) Coordinator Mark Spencer,
WA8SME, represented Amateur Radio during the recent National Science
Teachers Association (NSTA) convention in Dallas, Texas. Some 14,000
teachers from across the US attended the gathering March 31-April 4.
Staffing a booth within the NASA area, Spencer did presentations on the
ETP--"the Big Project"--as well as on the Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) program in which ARRL, NASA and AMSAT are US partners.
Spencer says the underlying theme and concern among the teachers he spoke
with was educational standards.

"Even more so than in the past, teachers are overwhelmingly concerned about
teaching to the standards, and if material isn't specifically addressed in
the standards--word-for-word, concept-for-concept--they were not
particularly interested," he said. "This is an issue that we, as well as
NASA, will have to aggressively address if the wireless technology literacy
and space literacy curricular suggestions are going to have any hope of
gaining a foothold." Spencer said many teachers told him that all routine
instruction at their schools comes to a halt at this point in the school
year so students can focus on prepping for standardized tests.

The annual NSTA convention presents a valuable opportunity to encourage
teachers to attend one of the Big Project teachers institutes the League
sponsors, Spencer said. The League this summer will offer two weeklong
teachers institutes, which teach educators the basics of wireless technology
and electronics, at virtually no cost to attendees beyond their time and
effort.

Spencer took advantage of his stay in Texas to visit with an ETP
school--Lyndon Baines Johnson High School (LBJ) in Austin--to see a Big
Project program in action. Lead teacher Ronny Risinger, KC5EES, and his
students at LBJ have developed a model program, Spencer reports.

Spencer said LBJ students he met talked of pursuing technical careers and
said participation in the Big Project had helped them to formulate their
goals. "Good things are happening at LBJ," he concluded, "because of the
teacher, the students, the local ham community and the resources provided by
the ETP grants."

==>HOMELAND SECURITY GRANT FUNDS ARES TRAILER IN SOUTH CAROLINA

The Aiken County, South Carolina, Office of Emergency Management has
received a $100,000 grant to fund a new Amateur Radio Emergency Service
(ARES) trailer. The US Department of Homeland Security grant was distributed
via the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division's Office of Homeland
Security Grants Administration. The project will provide a state-of-the-art
communications vehicle for ARES members to assist served agencies. ARRL
South Carolina Section Manager Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, says the project was the
brainchild of several radio amateurs, including ARRL members and Section
leadership.

"Bob Besley, K4NJN, wrote the grant after participating in a statewide
homeland security drill in August 2004 and seeing a need for amateurs to
have equipment that becomes useful in the event of a large-scale disaster,"
he said. "This trailer is exclusively for Amateur Radio."

The grant will enable the purchase of a new 28-foot air-conditioned
communications trailer loaded with HF, VHF and UHF radio gear as well as
packet capability, GPS, wireless Internet, live National Weather Service
reports, satellite TV and more. Boehner and Besley believe the grant marks
the first time the Department of Homeland Security has provided funding of
this magnitude for an Amateur Radio communications facility.

"A portable 2-meter repeater has been secured and will be available to
provide on-scene communications as needed," Boehner said. In addition, the
vehicle will be equipped with Winlink 2000 to enable Internet and e-mail via
HF. The State Emergency Operations Center also will have Winlink 2000
capability.

Complementing the onboard TV facilities will be an innovative 3x4-foot
two-way projection screen at the rear of the vehicle. It will not only be
viewable inside from the six-person conference table but from outside to aid
in group briefings and video presentations. Separate 17-inch LCD screens
throughout the unit will have VCR/DVD capability.

Powering the unit will be a 10 kW generator with an onboard diesel tank to
allow continuous operation for more than 24 hours before refueling. A
30-foot mast controllable from inside the trailer will provide antenna
support.

Satellite communication, including high-speed Internet connections, will be
via an automatic roof-mounted dish antenna. A local area computer network
and router will complement several laptops at work stations.

While the trailer will primarily be deployed within Aiken County, emergency
officials in neighboring counties may request its use as needed. "It is
intended to be a resource for the South Carolina Section, upon request of
the respective county or state Emergency Management Department and the
District Emergency Coordinator in that area," Boehner said.

The trailer is now on order and set for delivery in early July, although
Boehner says it could arrive in time for ARRL Field Day June 25-26. Local
radio amateurs plan to cover the costs of the van's upkeep through swapfests
and other fundraisers.

==>ARRL SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR 2005 MCGAN MEMORIAL SILVER ANTENNA AWARD

Nominations are due May 20 for the 2005 ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver
Antenna Award <http://www.arrl.org/pio/mcgan/2005/mcgan-nom-2005.html>. This
annual League award recognizes and honors achieved success in public
relations on behalf of Amateur Radio at the local, state or national level.
ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, encourages and
invites nominations for this year's McGan Award of candidates who reflect
the high standard of achievement the award's namesake epitomized.

"Throughout the year ARRL Public Information Coordinators, Public
Information Officers and other public relations volunteers strive to keep
Amateur Radio visible in their communities by publicizing special events,
writing press releases and maintaining good relations with local
media--among many other valuable activities," Pitts says. "Their efforts
benefit us all."

The award's namesake, journalist Philip J. McGan, WA2MBQ (SK), served as the
first chairman of the ARRL's Public Relations Committee, which helped
reinvigorate the League's commitment to public relations. Unfortunately,
McGan never got to see the fruits of his efforts, but the award bearing his
name was established as a lasting tribute to his important contributions.

"The 2005 McGan award will go to a ham who has demonstrated success in
Amateur Radio public relations and who best exemplifies the volunteer spirit
of Phil McGan," Pitts said.

The McGan award is given only to an individual, and a candidate must be a
full ARRL member in good standing at the time of nomination. The nominee may
not be compensated for any public relations work involving Amateur
Radio--including payment for articles--and may not be a current officer,
director, vice director, paid staff member or member of the current
selection committee.

Pitts notes that some confusion persists between what constitutes public
relations as opposed to public service. "Public relations activities for
which the McGan Award is given include efforts specifically directed at
bringing Amateur Radio to the public's attention in a positive light,
typically via the news media--TV, radio or print publications," Pitts
explains. "This may include traditional methods like news releases or
less-traditional methods that could include such activities as hosting a
radio show or being an active public speaker."

Pitts points out that public service contributions such as emergency
communications, net leadership and other activities--while valuable--don't
fit the definition of public relations.

Anyone may make a nomination. Nominations must be on an official entry form,
available from the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/mcgan/2005/Nom-form-05.pdf> or via mail from League
Headquarters from Allen Pitts, W1AGP, apitts@arrl.org; 860-594-0328.

A committee of PR-savvy Amateur Radio operators will screen eligible
nominations and forward its recommendation to the Volunteer Resources
Committee of the ARRL Board of Directors. The Board makes a final
determination at its July meeting.

Send the completed entry form and supporting materials to: Philip J. McGan
Memorial Silver Antenna Award, c/o Allen Pitts, W1AGP, ARRL, 225 Main St,
Newington, CT 06111. Nominations must be received at ARRL HQ in Newington by
5 PM on Friday, May 20, 2005. Nominations arriving after the deadline or
without an entry form cannot be considered.

==>WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY 2005 IS MONDAY, APRIL 18

The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and its member-societies
representing more than 150 countries around the globe celebrate World
Amateur Radio Day each year on April 18 to mark the anniversary of the
IARU's founding in 1925. The theme for this year's 80th anniversary
celebration is "Expanding the World of Wireless Communications."

Amateur Radio operators have been the leaders in developing many of today's
electronic and communication marvels. The pioneering work in radio and
electronic technologies early amateurs first explored provided the
groundwork for the nearly ubiquitous "wireless" devices and digital
technology we often take for granted. Many leading electrical engineers have
drawn from their practical experience as Amateur Radio operators in
contributing to the development of modern radio and television technology,
two-way radios, adaptive antennas and many other innovations.

That trend continue as today's radio amateurs explore new frontiers. Amateur
Radio experimenters are finding new ways to use frequencies at the fringes
of the radio spectrum, to merge radio and Internet technology and to
experiment with ultra-high-speed digital communication. Although they're not
compensated, ham radio operators are "amateurs" in name only, because their
skills and contributions to the world have been--and continue to be--of the
highest order.

Since its inception, the IARU has been instrumental in coordinating and
representing Amateur Radio activities around the world. Learn more by
visiting the IARU Web site <http://www.iaru.org>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Sol man Tad "I'll Follow the Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports:
This week saw an insignificant rise in average daily sunspot numbers and
solar flux compared to the previous week. Average daily sunspot numbers were
up by a little more 1 point to 40.6. Average daily solar flux rose by more
than 5 points to 86.9.

There was a rise in geomagnetic activity due to a solar wind stream from a
coronal hole. The planetary A index numbers for April 12, 13 and 14 were 30,
26 and 19. We have moved out of the solar wind, and the prediction is for
quieter conditions. The predicted planetary A index for April 15, 16, 17 and
18 is 12, 10, 8 and 5. Sunspot counts and daily solar flux numbers are
expected to stay about the same--perhaps declining slightly after April 19.

Sunspot numbers for April 7 through 13 were 49, 56, 43, 42, 17, 32 and 45,
with a mean of 40.6. The 10.7 cm flux was 87.8, 87.7, 88.4, 88.3, 87.5, 84.9
and 83.5, with a mean of 86.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 4, 4,
4, 10, 30 and 26, with a mean of 12.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were
4, 2, 2, 2, 6, 23 and 18, with a mean of 8.1.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The Holyland DX Contest, the TARA Skirmish
Digital Prefix Contest, the ES Open HF Championship, the EU Spring Sprint
(CW), the Michigan and Ontario QSO parties, and the YU DX Contest are the
April 16-17 weekend. JUST AHEAD: The NAQCC Weeknight 40/80-Meter Sprint and
the 432 MHz Spring Sprint are April 20. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship
(Data) is April 21. The DX Colombia International Contest, the SP DX RTTY
Contest, the Helvetia Contest, and the Florida and Nebraska QSO parties are
the weekend of April 23-24. 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 for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) and Radio Propagation
(EC-011) on-line courses remains open through Sunday, April 17. Classes
begin Friday April 29. For EC-004, computer-modeling expert and noted author
L.B. Cebik, W4RNL, has combined the expertise of his long career as a
college professor with his love and antennas and antenna modeling to offer a
comprehensive, yet practical, course of study of antenna modeling.
Propagation students will study the science of RF propagation, including the
properties of electromagnetic waves, the atmosphere and the ionosphere, the
sun and sunspots, ground waves and sky waves, and various propagation
modes--including aurora and meteor scatter. 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 III on-line course
(EC-003) opens Monday, April 18, at 1201 AM EDT and will remain open until
all available seats have been filled or through the April 23-24
weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, May 6. 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. ACT
NOW! THIS IS THE FINAL YEAR OF THE GRANT-SUBSIDIZED CLASSES! Radio amateurs
age 55 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. 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.

* ARES-RACES teams activate in wake of flooding: ARES-RACES teams in
Pennsylvania and New York were among those activating after torrential
rainfall over the April 2-3 weekend caused rivers to overflow their banks.
In the Matamoras, Pennsylvania, area the Delaware River crested at nearly
4.5 feet above flood stage, reports Pike County Emergency Coordinator Tom
Olver, W2TAO, who lives just across the river in New York. He said nearly
200 houses were damaged, deemed uninhabitable or destroyed altogether. The
flooding also closed roads and even washed out some of them. ARES members
provided communication support at Red Cross shelters in Pike County,
Pennsylvania, and Orange County, New York. Not far away in Port Jervis and
Goshen, New York, Pike County ARES members assisted at emergency operation
centers. One radio amateur not affiliated with ARES who set up to provide
communication from a Red Cross shelter in Port Jervis earned praise from a
shelter worker for helping to keep the evacuees informed. Upward of two
dozen radio amateurs volunteered, reports Orange County EC Steve
Fleckenstein, N2UBP. In Columbia County in Central Pennsylvania, EC and
RACES Radio Officer Randy Kishbaugh, N3JPV, reports an ARES-RACES net was
activated when the Susquehanna and other rivers flooded. ARES provided Red
Cross shelter communications and reported river levels and road closures to
state and local emergency management agencies. "This was a truly great
effort by everyone," Kishbaugh said. He reported 20 net check-ins during
nine hours of operation. Members of the Endless Mountains Amateur Radio Club
in Wyoming County got some complimentary ink in the Wyoming County Press
Examiner after county Emergency Management Director Gene Dziak commended the
radio amateurs for helping to facilitate communication among various
agencies responding to the flooding.

* ARRL Headquarters boasting five new Extras: Shouts of joy and celebration
in the halls of ARRL Headquarters culminated an intense two months of
classes and studying and no small amount of blood, sweat and tears for five
ARRL Headquarters staff members who reached the top rung on the Amateur
Radio licensing ladder. Penny Harts, N1NAG; Rose Anne Lawrence, KB1DMW,
Carole Dimock, N1NAM, Debra Johnson, KB1LMT, and Mary Hobart, K1MMH, all
successfully passed Element 4 April 7 to upgrade to Amateur Extra. ARRL
Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME,
volunteered to conduct an after-hours class for the all-YL group. Class
members all agreed that Spencer did an extraordinary job, not only in his
thorough and patient approach to covering the material but in tailoring his
instruction to meet differing learning styles within the group. During a
reception, ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, addressed the new Extras by
speakerphone. "Congratulations to each and everyone of you," he said. "And
congratulations to Mark Spencer. I know you all put in a lot of hard work."

===========================================================
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.

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
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address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent
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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.) 


From dick at twohams.com  Sun Apr 17 15:31:45 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Sun Apr 17 15:35:57 2005
Subject: [CVRC] DCART Meeting
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050417122932.0328e8f0@mail.greatbasin.net>

Training will be held this Monday night at 1830, as usual we will meet at 
the Sierra Front Training room.

This will be a communications drill replay of the flood of 1994.  Stage at 
the Sierra Front parking lot at 1830 and also bring your "GO kit" and radios.

If you need more information please call at 265-5987 or my cell 721-7987.

Dick KJ7UK


From jabrott at tele-net.net  Mon Apr 18 20:00:34 2005
From: jabrott at tele-net.net (John E. Abrott)
Date: Mon Apr 18 21:35:04 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Re: [SIERA] DCART Meeting
References: <5.2.1.1.2.20050417122932.0328e8f0@mail.greatbasin.net>
Message-ID: <001401c54472$cfa896a0$65010a0a@etower>

Was looking forward to the meeting...Got the phone msg from Dick to 
CXL....Next Month I hope...
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dick Flanagan" <dick@twohams.com>
To: "CVRC Reflector" <cvrc@mailman.qth.net>; "SIERA Reflector" 
<siera@mailman.qth.net>; "DCART" <dcart@mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, April 17, 2005 12:31 PM
Subject: [SIERA] DCART Meeting


> Training will be held this Monday night at 1830, as usual we will meet at 
> the Sierra Front Training room.
>
> This will be a communications drill replay of the flood of 1994.  Stage at 
> the Sierra Front parking lot at 1830 and also bring your "GO kit" and 
> radios.
>
> If you need more information please call at 265-5987 or my cell 721-7987.
>
> Dick KJ7UK
>
>
> visit the SIERA website at www.siera-amateur-radio.org
>
>
>
> -- 
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.308 / Virus Database: 266.9.16 - Release Date: 4/18/2005
>
> 

From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Apr 22 11:19:12 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Apr 22 11:24:12 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD016 DX news
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050422081902.02913950@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD016
ARLD016 DX news

ZCZC AE16
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 16  ARLD016
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 21, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD016
ARLD016 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL, WA7BNM and
Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

MONGOLIA, JT.  Nicola, I0SNY, is expected to be active again as JT1Y
until May 10.  He also expects to operate as JT1Y/4 from the Gobi
Desert.   QSL via his home call sign, direct or by the bureau.

SEYCHELLES, S79.  Frederic, HB9CQK, will be active as S79QK from
April 27 to May 8.  His activity will include the activation of
Denis Island (AF-024) and Alphonse Island (AF-033).  Operations will
be on the 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meter SSB on the IOTA frequencies.
The log will be uploaded to LoTW.  QSL via HB9CQK, direct or by the
bureau.

DODECANESE, SV5.  Tomas, LY1DF, will be active as SV5/LY1DF from
April 28 to May 4.  Activity will be on 80, 30, 20 and 17 meters.
QSL via LY1DF, by the bureau or direct.

CRETE, SV9.  DL3KWR and DL3KWF will be active as SV9/DL3KWR and
SV9/DL3KWF, respectively, through April 29.  Activity will be mostly
on the newer bands, 80 meters and on CW during their evenings.  QSL
via home call signs.

CHATHAM ISLANDS, ZL7.  Rick, AI5P, is now active as ZL7/AI5P until
April 26.  Activity will be mainly on CW on 40 to 10 meters.
Activity over the past week has been on 30 and 20 meters CW.  There
has been some 17 meters CW and 20 meters SSB.  QSL via AI5P.

VATICAN, HV.  Francesco, IK0FVC, is QRV as HV0A in celebration of
the election of the new Pope and has been active on 20 meter SSB.

BAHAMAS, C6.  Dave, G4WFQ, will sign C6AWF from Treasure Cay, Abaco
Island (NA-080) until April 29.  He plans to work mainly in CW and
RTTY, but also SSB, on 80 through 10 meters, including the newer
bands.  QSL via G3SWH.

MAURITIUS, 3B8.  DL6UAA will be QRV again as 3B8MM until May 10.
QSL via home call, buro ok.

FIJI, 3D2.  Look for JK1FNL to be active as 3D2NA from Mana Island
(OC-121), April 24 to 28.  Activity will be on 40 through 6 meters
CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL via his home call sign, direct or by the
bureau.

TAIWAN, BX3.  Juergen, DJ3KR, is now active as BX3/DJ3KR until June
5.  He was spotted this past week on 30 and 17 meter CW.  Watch
these bands between 1100 and 1700z.  QSL via DJ3KR.

KYRGYZSTAN, EX.  Look for Jaak, ES1FB, to be active as EX/ES1FB
until 29.  Also, look for Oleg, ES1RA, to be active as EX/ES1RA
until May 17.  QSL EX/ES1FB direct to: Jaak Meier, Box 2907, 13102,
Tallinn, Estonia.  QSL EX/ES1RA direct to: Oleg Mir, Box 806, 11702,
Tallinn, Estonia.

LIECHTENSTEIN, HB0.  Look for IZ1DSH, IK1WEG and IZ1GDB to be active
as HB0/home call, April 22 to 26.  Activity will be on 80, 40, 30
and 20 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL via their home call signs,
direct or via the ARI bureau.

THAILAND, HS0.  K4VUD will be active as HS0ZCW from April 28 to May
14.

SAUDI ARABIA, HZ.  Thomas, HZ1EX, has been very active on 40 and 17
meters CW.  Check 40 meters around 7002 kHz, between 2130 and 0200z
and 17 meters around 18075 to 18085 kHz, between 1330 and 1730z.  He
will be here until June.  QSL via SM0BYD.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The Florida QSO Party, Nebraska QSO
Party, Helvetia Contest, DX Columbia International Contest and the
FISTS/EU CW QRS Contest are all on tap for this weekend.  Please see
April 2005 QST, page 100 for details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Apr 22 16:23:14 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Apr 22 16:28:30 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP016 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050422132254.02913950@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP016
ARLP016 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP16
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 16  ARLP016
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  April 22, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP016
ARLP016 Propagation de K7RA

Little changed in sunspots and solar flux this week, but it was one
of those periods were average daily sunspot numbers were up
slightly, and average daily solar flux was down a little.  Average
daily sunspot numbers were up over ten points to 50.9, and average
daily solar flux was down five points to 81.9.

Geomagnetic conditions were calmer and quieter, with no really
stormy days at all.  The most unsettled days saw planetary A index
of 19 for April 14, while the mid-latitude A index was 14.  On April
20 the planetary A index was 21 and the mid-latitude A index was 12.

No large sunspots are detected on the sun's far side, and the
projection for the next week is for more of the same in terms of
solar flux and sunspot numbers.  April 25-28 could see a slight rise
in sunspot count.  April 22-23 could produce some unsettled
geomagnetic conditions if the interplanetary magnetic field turns
south.  Currently as this bulletin is written early Friday, the
field points north, tending to deflect any solar wind.  While there
isn't much in the way of sunspots, at least conditions are quiet and
there is more sunlight for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere.

Randy Crews, W7TJ of Spokane, Washington sent a note in response to
last week's bulletin mentioning 160 meter propagation.  He writes,
''Here is one of the best articles on 160M Propagation I have read.''
The article appeared in CQ Magazine in 1998.  Read it at
http://solar.spacew.com/cq/cqmar98.pdf.  Thanks to Randy for sharing
it with us.

If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at,
k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation
of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical
Information Service propagation page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.  An archive of past
bulletins is found at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

Sunspot numbers for April 14 through 20 were 63, 61, 52, 54, 44, 43
and 39 with a mean of 50.9. 10.7 cm flux was 85.4, 84.9, 82.9, 83.6,
81.3, 78.2 and 77, with a mean of 81.9. Estimated planetary A
indices were 19, 13, 7, 5, 8, 8 and 21 with a mean of 11.6.
Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 14, 7, 4, 4, 5, 6 and 12, with
a mean of 7.4.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Apr 22 22:34:30 2005
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri Apr 22 22:56:30 2005
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 16
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050422192917.03933000@mail.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 16
April 22, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +ARRL Executive Committee reviews legal, legislative issues
* +New Mexico's high court says amateur's antennas can stay
* +Two-ham crew takes charge of ISS in formal change of command
* +New Hampshire school logs state's first ARISS QSO
* +Amateur applications referred for hearings
* +Ham-radio-in-space pioneer will be ARRL 2005 Convention special guest
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
      This weekend on the radio
      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
      ARRL Executive Committee bandwidth proposals unchanged for VHF/UHF
     +Dayton HamventionR to fete award winners
     +First 47-GHz moonbounce QSOs announced
      ARRL Field Day 2005 publicity information available

+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
===========================================================

==>EXPERIMENTAL LICENSE, BPL COURT CHALLENGE ON EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AGENDA

The ARRL has applied to the FCC for a Part 5 Experimental license on behalf
of a group of amateurs interested in operating in the vicinity of 500 kHz.
ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, announced the filing during a
meeting of the ARRL Executive Committee April 9 in Denver. The experimental
application was among several items the EC dealt with in addition to its
recommendations <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/13/1/>
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/13/1/> to the ARRL Board of
Directors regarding a planned regulation-by-bandwidth petition.

If granted, the two-year Part 5 license would permit experimentation and
research between 495 and 510 kHz using CW and PSK31 at power levels of up to
20 W effective radiated power. ARRL Member Fred Raab, W1FR, of Burlington,
Vermont, would manage the project, which calls for 23 discrete fixed sites
from New England to California and Minnesota to Louisiana.

In other business, Imlay noted that the pleading cycle on petitions for
reconsideration of the FCC's October 14, 2004, Report and Order (R&O) on
Broadband over Power Line (BPL) has closed. He also reminded the panel that
the FCC has yet to take effective enforcement action in a single case of
ongoing BPL interference.

Imlay informed the EC that he sees at least two strong procedural bases to
challenge the BPL R&O in the US Court of Appeals. After some discussion, the
committee instructed Imlay to develop a recommendation for outside counsel
to assist with such an appeal. In March, ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said
the League did not expect the FCC to make any substantive changes to the R&O
in response to various petitions for reconsideration and that the BPL
proceeding ultimately would wind up in court.

On other legal and legislative matters, Imlay indicated that the FCC R&O in
another proceeding, "Nationwide Programmatic Agreement for Review Under the
National Historic Preservation Act of 1966," WT Docket 03-128, has
implications for radio amateurs who might want to install antennas near
historic sites. Required procedures could be cumbersome and expensive, he
told the EC. The committee asked ARRL staff to begin discussions with FCC
staff to come up with the best way to minimize the burden on both Amateur
Radio licensees and the Commission.

The EC reviewed the status of enforcement action against an unlicensed
individual in Southern California and agreed that the process has been
unacceptably slow. The result has been continued and ongoing interference to
repeaters in the Los Angeles area.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, reported to the EC on recent informal
discussions with National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA) personnel regarding the possibility of increasing amateur privileges
in the 60-meter band. Haynie cited the favorable experience to date sharing
five discrete channels with federal government stations. A possible
presentation to federal government spectrum managers could be the next step.

Haynie also reported briefly on his February visit to Central America to
promote Amateur Radio as an educational tool. Haynie expressed appreciation
for the help of ARRL Technical Relations Office staff member John Siverling,
WB3ERA, and noted that the ARRL delegation was warmly received.

Minutes of the April 9 Executive Committee meeting are on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/ec_minutes_476.html>.

==>NEW MEXICO AMATEUR WINS ANTENNA CASE IN STATE SUPREME COURT

Two 130-foot antenna support structures on the property of New Mexico radio
amateur Gerry Smith, W6TER, will remain, now that arguments to permit them
have prevailed in the state Supreme Court. This month's opinion reversed New
Mexico Court of Appeals and District Court decisions that had ruled against
allowing Smith to continue constructing the towers on his rural Bernalillo
County property. In July 1999, the county issued Smith a building permit but
in December of that year ordered him to halt the project claiming it had
erred in issuing the permit. New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard
C. Bosson recounted events a bit differently in the unanimous opinion.

"After neighbors complained, the county changed its mind, tried
unsuccessfully to stop the construction and devised new reasons why
Plaintiff's [Smith's] radio towers should not be allowed," Bosson wrote.

Smith bought his property in July 1999 after extensively researching deed
covenants, conditions and restrictions, receiving assurances from county
officials and submitting a detailed, professionally prepared site plan.
After Smith got his building permit and began work on the tower project,
Bernalillo County attempted to shut it down, citing June 1999 amendments to
its zoning ordinance that, the county asserted, had removed Amateur Radio
antennas as an "incidental use" in the A-2 (rural agricultural) zone.

Smith took his case to District Court, which agreed with the county's
rationale and added another reason of its own to prohibit the structures.
The case then went to the Appeals Court. In 2002, New Mexico became the 14th
state to adopt an Amateur Radio antenna bill, based on the limited federal
preemption known as PRB-1, which requires municipalities to "reasonably
accommodate" Amateur Radio communication. Paraphrasing the language of
PRB-1, the Appeals Court agreed that the District Court had acted properly
in denying Smith's petition because the two 130-foot towers were
"unreasonable" as a customarily incidental use.

The New Mexico Supreme Court applied three standards of review and agreed
with Smith on all counts. The high court said that the plain terms of the
county ordinance indicate that Amateur Radio towers are exempt from height
restrictions, that the county had previously interpreted ham radio antennas
as customarily incidental, and that the county had failed to adopt a
specific standard to preserve scenic value.

"The results of this case may be unfortunate for the neighbors who
understandably regard Plaintiff's radio towers as an eyesore," Bosson wrote
for the court. "But Plaintiff fairly relied on the express language of the
ordinance and the assurances of the county zoning officials in buying his
property." The Supreme Court said that if the county had wanted to prevent
towers like Smith's, it could have expressly amended its zoning ordinance to
include specific height limitations.

"The County cannot after the fact come up with a new legal rationale to
block an unpopular activity, which was previously permitted, to the
detriment of a property owner who did everything in his power to follow the
rules," Bosson concluded in reversing the Court of Appeals affirmation of
the District Court decision.

Regarding his neighbors--the nearest of which is some 1500 feet away--Smith
said their main concern was not that the towers were an eyesore. "It is
depreciation of property value," he told ARRL. "In fact, over the course of
this litigation, their property values have substantially escalated, in tune
with other areas around where I live."

The League actively participated in Smith's case from the start, and ARRL
General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, filed a friend-of-the-court (amicus
curiae) brief with the Court of Appeals in support of Smith's appeal. The
League also filed three extensive briefs in the case, most recently with the
New Mexico Supreme Court, said Imlay, who called the decision "a great
precedent" for similar cases and a "shot in the arm for tower planning."

"Most importantly, the case holds that Amateur Radio antennas--even large
ones not specifically regulated by ordinance--can be constructed without an
unlegislated 'reasonableness' factor," Imlay commented.

Smith credited Albuquerque attorney Ed Ricco, N5LI, an ARRL Volunteer
Counsel, for the successful outcome. "It was Ed's masterful briefs and oral
argument that won this case," he said.

==>NEW TWO-HAM TEAM TAKES OVER ABOARD ISS

International Space Station Expedition 10 crew members Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW,
and Salizhan Sharipov have formally handed over command of the station to
the Expedition 11 crew of Commander Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and US Astronaut
and ISS Science Officer and Flight Engineer John Phillips, KE5DRY. A formal
change-of-command ceremony was held aboard the ISS today.

"We are at the end of our mission," said Chiao, who headed the Expedition 10
crew. "Salizhan Shapirovich Shapirov and I look back with pride at our
mission and accomplishments. We are proud to have represented the
international partnership in space and to have moved us forward in our
collective efforts to further our reach into the cosmos."

Chiao then handed the microphone over to Krikalev. "John Phillips and I are
ready to accept the responsibility of operating and maintaining the ISS,"
the new commander said. "We will take good care of her and continue the
forward push in our international efforts of space exploration." Chiao then
formally passed command of the ISS to Krikalev, which he accepted.

Accompanying Krikalev and Phillips on the April 15 Soyuz "taxi flight" was
European Space Agency (ESA) Astronaut Roberto Vittori, IZ6ERU, of Italy.
Over the past week, the five space travelers have been involved in various
crew handover duties and briefings. And while the newcomers have been
settling in, Chiao and Sharipov--who have been aboard the space outpost
since last October--have been gathering up their gear, understandably eager
to go home.

Krikalev, 46, and Phillips, 54, both have been aboard the ISS before. Now
returning as the crew commander, Krikalev was a member of the very first
crew to occupy the ISS in November 2000. By the time his Expedition 11 stay
is over, Krikalev will have spent more time in space than any other human.
Phillips was a member of the shuttle Endeavour STS-100 crew and coordinated
two spacewalks at the ISS to install Canadarm2. He's been wanting to return
ever since.

During his brief visit, Vittori conducted experiments aboard the station
under a commercial agreement between ESA and the Russian space agency. He
also put in a little radio time, talking to youngsters back on Earth during
three Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS
<http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> ) contacts.

On April 18, he conducted ARISS school group QSOs with two technical
schools. One of the schools was named for wireless pioneer Guglielmo
Marconi, and his daughter, Princess Elettra Marconi, assisted in the event
and extended greetings to Vittori, at one point saying her father "would
have been proud of you for your marvelous mission."

On April 20, Vittori answered questions from youngsters gathered at the
European Space Research Institute (ESRIN) in Frascati, Italy. The ESA had
invited more than 120 pupils from primary schools in the region to the
event. All of Vittori's school group contacts were conducted in Italian.
Special event station II0ESA will be on the air on HF from Rome until May 15
to celebrate the Vittori's flight.

The departing crew and Vittori will leave the ISS Sunday, April 24, aboard
the Soyuz transporter that carried Expedition 10 into space last fall.
They're scheduled to land that evening in Kazakhstan.

Although he made few casual Amateur Radio contacts, Chiao set an ARISS
record during his duty tour by racking up a total of 23 ARISS school group
contacts. The first Expedition 11 ARISS school group contact is scheduled
for May 4.

==>SECOND TIME'S THE CHARM FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE SCHOOL SPACE CONTACT

Youngsters at Maple Avenue Elementary School in Goffstown, New Hampshire,
had to wait an extra week, but on April 13, they were able to talk directly
via Amateur Radio with Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, at the controls of NA1SS on the
International Space Station. Technical problems cropped up on the originally
scheduled date of April 5. The Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) program was able to reschedule the contact for April 13.
Chiao told one youngster that while there's no weather per se in space, the
ISS can view Earth's weather. The external environment of space does come
into play, however, in developing suits for spacewalks, he said.

"We really don't run into any kind of environmental weather or anything like
that," Chiao explained. "Of course, outside in space it's a vacuum and it's
very cold or very hot depending on whether you're in the sun or in the
shade. And so those are factors that we consider when we design the
spacesuits."

During the approximately 10-minute direct VHF contact, the 20 Maple Avenue
kids ran smoothly through a list of 20 questions, and Chiao was almost
through answering the last when the ISS got out of range of ground station
W1SSC, the call sign of Spaceflight Systems Corporation Amateur Radio Club
in Nashua.

Students taking part in the ARISS contact were in Georgia Paris' fourth
grade class, who spoke with NA1SS using Amateur Radio equipment set up at
the school specifically for the contact with NA1SS.

Responding to another question, Chiao elaborated on experiments that have
been under way during his Expedition 10 duty tour. Chiao said the space
station's goal is to be a worldwide laboratory.

"We've done some interesting experiments on board," Chiao said. "We've done
one experiment in particular--something called 'Telemed'--and we use an
ultrasound machine to image each other's internal organs and bones and teeth
and things like that, taking directions from a doctor on the ground."

Chiao has explained in past ARISS school contacts that the Telemed
experiment is aimed in part at coming up with ways to monitor the health of
space travelers and diagnose problems that might arise during long-term
space ventures. The two-man crew, which includes Russian cosmonaut Salizhan
Sharipov, also has been growing some pea pods, Chiao said.

The Maple Avenue Elementary QSO marked the first Amateur Radio school group
contact with a New Hampshire school. An audience of 200 students, teachers,
parents, local dignitaries and news media was on hand for the event. Jim
Heedles, WW1Y, who served as the Earth station control operator for the
contact, thanked all who were involved in helping to make "lifelong
memories" for the fourth graders.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an educational outreach with US
participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>FCC ENFORCEMENT BUREAU REFERS TWO AMATEUR APPLICATIONS FOR HEARINGS

The FCC Enforcement Bureau has referred two Amateur Radio Service
applications to the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) for hearings
because of enforcement-related issues. If they agree to go forward with the
formal proceedings, Yuriy Ryabinin, W3MMM (ex-KC2LLM)/UR5DEM, of Brooklyn,
New York, and Thomas A. Lynch Jr, K6COL, of Los Altos, California, would
have to appear in separate sessions before an administrative law judge (ALJ)
in Washington, DC. The ALJ would rely on hearing testimony in determining
how the FCC should dispose of the respective pending applications. Ryabinin
has applied to upgrade from Tech Plus to General, while Lynch is seeking to
renew his General ticket.

"It is apparent that you either do not have a sufficient understanding of
Commission rules or are disregarding Commission rules," FCC Special Counsel
for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth told Ryabinin and Lynch in separate
letters March 11 and March 16, respectively.

Issues involving Ryabinin's amateur operation in the US attracted the FCC's
attention in 2003, when the Commission notified him regarding his alleged
operation during contests on frequencies not available to him as a
Technician class licensee. The FCC accepted Ryabinin's November 2003
explanation that he was confused about the privileges available to him in
the US under his Ukraine licensee. Because Ryabinin is a US citizen and
already holds an FCC Amateur Service license, the Commission reminded him in
January 2004, he does not enjoy reciprocal operating privileges in the US
and must operate under the privileges his US licenses allows.

Ryabinin passed the General examination in March 2004 and submitted an
upgrade application. The FCC last June notified him that it was reviewing
his application as a result of information that Ryabinin had submitted logs
showing he'd operated outside of his Tech Plus privileges five times during
the 2003 ARRL 10-Meter Contest.

Responding last July to the FCC inquiry, Ryabinin again pleaded a mistaken
understanding of the rules and "fatigue during competition," and said he
would not repeat the errors. Hollingsworth said Ryabinin's explanations of
the rule violations were "not acceptable," however.

Hollingsworth further noted that the ARRL last October disqualified
Ryabinin's single-operator, low-power entry for the ARRL International DX
Contest (CW), in which Ryabinin operated as KF0R, then issued to the DX
Venture Club of New York City. Whether or not Ryabinin operated under the
direction of a qualified control operator, Hollingsworth said, he apparently
violated FCC Amateur Service rules either way.

In Lynch's case, Hollingsworth noted complaints dating back about a year
regarding alleged interference, as well as at least one instance of
operating outside his General class privileges. "Your responses have been
inadequate," Hollingsworth said, adding that monitoring information
"continues to show your apparently deliberate interference" on 40-meter SSB,
including complaints as recent as February 2005.

Lynch's license expired March 28, 2005. Since he filed a timely renewal
application, he will be permitted to continue operating until the FCC makes
a decision on whether to grant his application.

At some point, the WTB is expected to issue a Hearing Designation Order to
each licensee. Hollingsworth noted that the burden of proof in such hearings
is on the applicant, not the FCC. In the meantime, Hollingsworth warned both
licensees that fines for any violations such as out-of-band operation or
deliberate interference normally range from $4000 to $7500.

==>HAM-RADIO-IN-SPACE PIONEER TONY ENGLAND, W0ORE, TO BE ARRL EXPO GUEST

Tony England, W0ORE, the second US astronaut to ever use Amateur Radio in
space, will be a special guest of the League's at ARRL EXPO 2005
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/nc/2005/> at Dayton Hamvention
<http://www.hamvention.org>.

Present plans call for England to be at the ARRL EXPO 2005 area in the
Ballarena of the Hara Arena complex Friday, May 20, from 9:30 until 10 AM,
and at the ARRL youth activities area from 10 until 10:30 AM. Visitors may
want to have England autograph their Dayton Hamvention programs or ARRL
Passports.

During his NASA career, England served on the support staff for the Apollo
13 and 16 flights. In 1985, England flew the Space Amateur Radio EXperiment
(SAREX) during the STS-51F Spacelab-2 mission. He retired from NASA in 1988
after logging 188 hours in space.

England, 62, now is Associate Dean for Academic Affairs for the University
of Michigan College of Engineering as well as a professor of electrical
engineering and computer science and professor of atmospheric, oceanic and
space sciences.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Propagation maven Tad "Hey, Mister Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: Little changed in terms of sunspots and solar flux this week, but
it was one of those periods were average daily sunspot numbers were up
slightly and average daily solar flux was down a little. Average daily
sunspot numbers were up more than 10 points to 50.9, and average daily solar
flux was down 5 points to 81.9.

Geomagnetic conditions were calmer and quieter, with no really stormy days
at all. As for the most unsettled days, the planetary A index was 19 on
April 14, while the mid-latitude A index was 14. On April 20, the planetary
A index was 21, and the mid-latitude A index was 12.

No large sunspots are detected on the sun's far side, and the projection for
the next week is for more of the same in terms of solar flux and sunspot
numbers. April 25-28 could see a slight rise in sunspot count. April 22-23
could produce some unsettled geomagnetic conditions if the interplanetary
magnetic field turns south. Currently, the field points north.

Sunspot numbers for April 14 through 20 were 63, 61, 52, 54, 44, 43 and 39,
with a mean of 50.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 85.4, 84.9, 82.9, 83.6, 81.3, 78.2
and 77, with a mean of 81.9. Estimated planetary A indices were 19, 13, 7,
5, 8, 8 and 21, with a mean of 11.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were
14, 7, 4, 4, 5, 6 and 12, with a mean of 7.4.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The DX Colombia International Contest, the SP
DX RTTY Contest, the Helvetia Contest, and the Florida and Nebraska QSO
parties are the weekend of April 23-24. JUST AHEAD: the EUCW/FISTS QRS Party
runs from April 24 until April 30. The SBMS 2 GHz and Up WW Club Contest is
the weekend of April 30-May 1. The May CW Sprint and the AGCW QRP/QRP Party
are May 1. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (SSB) is May 2. 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 for the ARRL HF Digital Communication (EC-005) and ARRL
VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) courses remains open through Sunday,
April 24. Classes begin Friday, May 6. Students participating in
VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) will enjoy exploring some of the
lesser-used and more intriguing aspects of VHF/UHF operation. HF Digital
Communication students will learn to use a variety of HF digital modes. To
learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL C-CE Department
<cce@arrl.org>.

* Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level III on-line course
(EC-003) opens Monday, April 18, 1201 AM EDT, and will remain open until all
available seats have been filled or through the April 23-24
weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, May 6. 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. Act
now! This is the final year of the grant-subsidized classes! Radio amateurs
age 55 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. 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.

* ARRL Executive Committee bandwidth proposals unchanged for VHF/UHF: The
ARRL Executive Committee's bandwidth recommendations for VHF and UHF bands
have not changed since the Committee's recommendations of last August.
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/bandwidth.html>. They are repeated here. 6 and
2 meters: The proposal preserves the lower 300 kHz in each band for
narrowband, weak-signal modes reflecting established practice, but opens the
rest of these bands for bandwidths up to 100 kHz. This is intended to permit
new modes, particularly multimedia. 1.25 meters: Both segments of this band
already permit up to 100 kHz bandwidth for data. The ARRL requested in
RM-10413 that spread spectrum emissions be authorized in the 222-225 MHz
segment. 70 cm through 1 mm: Present rules permit 100 kHz for data but allow
wider bandwidth for TV, generally regarded as up to 6 MHz for vestigial
sideband AM in bands below 1240 MHz, noting that FM TV is used in bands
above 1240 MHz. In these bands, the rules should minimize regulation of
bandwidth to permit maximum flexibility in Amateur operation. The only
limitation should be to keep the occupied bandwidth of the emission in the
allocated in the band and utilize normal band-sharing protocols. As reported
in The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 15, the ARRL EC has somewhat altered its
recommendations for the HF bands. Visit the ARRL Web site for details
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/13/1/>.

* Dayton HamventionR to fete award winners: Dayton Hamvention will honor
this year's award recipients at an invitation-only dinner Saturday, May 21.
The event will not be open to the general public because of space
limitations, but it will be videotaped for later presentation. The 2005
Dayton Hamvention award winners are Alan Kaul, W6RCL, Radio Amateur of the
Year; Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, Special Achievement Award, and Jerry Sevick,
W2FMI, Technical Excellence Award. The Hamvention Awards Committee will host
the gala, which will feature a banquet and awards ceremony. A formal award
presentation will be held Sunday, May 22, during the Hamvention 2005 closing
ceremonies just prior to the grand prize drawing. Dayton Hamvention will
host the ARRL 2005 National Convention May 20-22
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/nc/2005/>.

* First 47-GHz moonbounce QSOs announced: The team of Al Ward, W5LUA, Barry
Malowanchuk, VE4MA, Gary Lauterbach, AD6FP, and Sergei Joutiaev, RW3BP, have
announced the completion of the first 47-GHz Earth-Moon-Earth (EME)
contacts. RW3BP copied the first lunar echoes on 47 GHz in August 2004. That
same month, he was heard by AD6FP, W5LUA, VE4MA and VE7CLD. Since the
receipt of the first 47-GHz echoes via the moon, numerous tests between
RW3BP and AD6FP led to improvements by Joutiaev allowing him to copy calls
in January from Lauterbach's lower-power signal. As of April 16, AD6FP,
W5LUA and VE4MA have each completed a CW QSO via the moon with RW3BP. "Since
Doppler shift can be as much as 100+ kHz at 47 GHz, one must continuously
adjust the receive frequency to keep the station centered in the passband,"
Ward explained. Ward says the operators used various techniques to keep the
Doppler-shifted frequency in the receivers' passbands.

* ARRL Field Day 2005 publicity information available: Field Day 2005 is the
weekend of Saturday and Sunday, June 25-26. Per rule 7.3.2, 100 bonus points
are available to FD stations in all classes for bona fide efforts to obtain
publicity for your Field Day operation from local media. ARRL Field Day 2005
publicity information now is available on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/contact/2005/04/fddocs> for public information
officers and clubs. The page includes sample news releases and information
on publicizing your participation in Field Day 2005. It also reviews
publicity information for "National Take your HT to Work Day" June 21, when
hams are encouraged to clip their handheld transceivers on their belts or
place them on their desks to raise awareness and prompt inquiries about
Amateur Radio from co-workers. Amateur Radio Week 2005 is June 19-26.

===========================================================
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.

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
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address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent
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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.) 


From dick at twohams.com  Mon Apr 25 01:45:13 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Mon Apr 25 01:50:38 2005
Subject: [CVRC] EMCOMMWEST 2005 May 14-15, Reno
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050424224422.0480f230@mail.greatbasin.net>

-----------------------------------------------------
EMCOMMWEST 2005
May 14th & 15, 2005 - Reno Holiday Inn, Downtown Reno
<http://emcommwest.org>http://emcommwest.org

Join us for this year's EMCOMMWEST convention being held in Reno May 14th & 
15th, 2005.  Registration is only $10.00 for the Convention and will 
feature many sessions regarding emergency communications.  ($15.00 at the 
door, Online Registration closes May 10th)

Saturday Morning is Reno's only ham swap starting at 6:00 a.m.  All are 
welcome to swap their ham radio gear.  This will be held in the parking lot 
of the Holiday Inn.  The swap is free for swappers and attendees.

There will also be vendors on hand in the Holiday Convention Room, again 
this is free.  The scheduled vendors are:  Books, etc; Ventenna; Anderson 
Power Products; Starfire Tech; QRZed; and others.

This year's event will also feature a banquet with our guest speaker, 
Gordon West WB6NOA.  The banquet is $30.00 and will be held at the Holiday 
Inn Sky Room over looking downtown Reno.  This year's banquet theme is 
Western, serving a western-style Bar-B-Q.  So join us and wear your western 
wears...  there will be raffle for Banquet attendees only!  The raffle 
prize will be a SGC 211 Antenna Tuner.  (Register soon as space is limited!)

Lastly, there will again be a grand prize raffle at the end of the 
convention on Sunday Morning.  This year's raffle prize will be a Yaesu FT 
857.  Raffle tickers are only $1.00.

If you have any questions about the event please email Tony N7ACM at 
<mailto:n7acm@wadg.org>n7acm@wadg.org

73 and hope to see you at this year's EMCOMMWEST!

Tony, N7ACM

---- THE Red Cross ECRV will be at the event, come and see one of the 
latest in mobile communications ----

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From dick at twohams.com  Mon Apr 25 23:13:38 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Mon Apr 25 23:19:14 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Satellite Demo at EMCOMMWEST
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050425200646.026830e8@mail.greatbasin.net>

Can anyone give Frank a hand putting together a satellite demo at 
EMCOMMWEST?  If so, please contact Frank directly at <frank@kostelac.com>.

Thanks for any who can help.

73, Dick

 >
 >From: "Frank Kostelac" <frank@kostelac.com>
 >To: "Dick Flanagan" <dick@twohams.com>
 >Subject: Re: [SONARES] EMCOMMWEST 2005 May 14-15, Reno
 >Date: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 19:23:30 -0700
 >
 >Dick
 >I'm still on the hunt for any satellite hams who might be willing to work a
 >sat as a demo at the EMCOMMWEST show.
 >
 >Frank/ N7ZEV
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org

From TOMK5RC at aol.com  Tue Apr 26 10:59:44 2005
From: TOMK5RC at aol.com (TOMK5RC@aol.com)
Date: Tue Apr 26 13:02:25 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Looking for VHF/UHF Beams
Message-ID: <1e1.3b3ba3af.2f9fb160@aol.com>

Looking for 6, 2 and 440 yagis in good  condition. What have you?

I have a Kenwood TM 231A (2M FM 25W mobile) and  an Alinco DJ-180T (2M 
handheld) for trading material or ?

Tom Taormina,  K5RC
Contesting from the Comstock
W7RN - K7RC
www.consultpr.com  

From n7btw at juno.com  Wed Apr 27 16:03:02 2005
From: n7btw at juno.com (Larry Stout N7BTW)
Date: Wed Apr 27 16:15:12 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Telemarketing
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050427125539.03e4e590@mail.greatbasin.net>

As of May 1, 2005 telemarketers can call people on their cell phones.

If you do not want them to call your cell phone, call 1-888-382-1222 with 
your cell phone or go to https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx.  Either of 
these will put your phone number on a list maintained by the FTC of numbers 
that are not to called by telemarketers.

For more information go to http://www.ftc.gov/donotcall/

Larry


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Apr 28 21:27:56 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Apr 28 21:33:57 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD017 DX news
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050428182730.03e62c68@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD017
ARLD017 DX news

ZCZC AE17
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 17  ARLD017
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  April 28, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD017
ARLD017 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
HA0HW, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, The Daily DX, 425DXnews, DXNL,
WA7BNM and Contest Corral from QST.  Thanks to all.

ALGERIA, 7X.  A group of amateurs will be QRV as 7V2SI from the
Sandja Islands, a new IOTA, from May 1 to 5.  Activity will be on
all HF bands and modes, including the V/UHF bands and possibly ATV.
QSL via operators' instructions.

GHANA, 9G.  Sigi is QRV as 9G5SP and has been active on 15 meters
from around 1100 to 1200z.  QSL via DL7DF.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, A6.  Abdullah, A61Q has been QRV on 6 meters
around 0700 to 1800z at various times.  QSL via EA7FTR.

CHINA, BY.  Fan, BA1RB/2 will be QRV from Ju Hua Island, IOTA
AS-151, from May 1 to 4.  QSL via EA7FTR.

TURKMENISTAN, EZ.  Members of club station EZ7V in Turkmenabat are
QRV as EZ60V until May 15 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the
end of World War II.  QSL via RW6HS.

FRANCE, F.  Special event station TM380 is QRV until May 9 to
celebrate the take-off of Airbus A380.  Activity is on 80 to 10
meters, including 30 meters, using CW and SSB, and possibly the
active satellites as well.  QSL via F5GNY.

ECUADOR, HC.  Rick, NE8Z is QRV from various locations as HC1MD/HC1,
HC6 and HC7, from Mt. Pichincha, Banos and Sierrazul, respectively,
until May 11.  QSL via K8LJG.

BULGARIA, LZ.  Special event station LZ8IARU is active until
December 31 on all bands to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the
International Amateur Radio Union.  QSL via LZ1BJ.

SEYCHELLES, S7.  Guenter, DL2AWG will be QRV as S79GG from April 30
to May 14.  Activity will be on 40 to 10 meters using SSB, RTTY and
PSK.  QSL to home call.  Meanwhile, Frederic, HB9CQK is QRV as S79QK
until May 8.  Activity is on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters.  He
intends to activate the Denis and Alphonse Islands, IOTA AF-024 and
AF-033, respectively.  QSL to home call.

SUDAN, ST.  Fernando is QRV as ST2BF.  He is active only on 20, 15
and 10 meters.  QSL via W3HNK.

MOUNT ATHOS, SV/A.  Monk Apollo, SV2ASP/A has been QRV on the DX net
on 14251 kHz between 2100 and 2200z.  QSL direct.

INDIA, VU.  Bob, W3YY is in Bangalore until May 5.  He may be QRV
from the QTH of Miku, VU2WAP.  This is not a DXpedition, and his
operating time may be limited to the availability of the station.
QSL via operator's instructions.

ALBANIA, ZA.  Alfredo, IK7JWX will be QRV as ZA2/IK7JWX/p from the
Fier and Cape Durres Lighthouse, from May 1 to 4.  Activity will be
on all HF bands, including the newer bands, using SSB, RTTY and
PSK31.  QSL to home call.

NIUE, ZK2.  Aki, JA1KAJ is QRV as ZK2QQ until May 8.  He has usually
been active on 40 meters from 1745 to 1900z.  QSL to home call.

BULLETIN CORRECTION.  As reported in DX Bulletin ARLD015, a few
members of the Radio Club Tivadar Puskas will be QRV as
HB0/homecalls from May 14 to 21 from the Chalet Wanni.  Activity
will be on 160 to 10 meters, including the newer bands, using CW and
SSB.  They may try some WSJT on 2 meters.  QSL to home calls.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The 2 GHz and Up World Wide Club
Contest, The EUCW/FISTS CW QRS Party, May CW Sprint and the AGCW
QRP/QRP CW Party are all scheduled for this weekend.  Please see
April 2005 QST, page 100 and May QST, page 98 for details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Apr 29 11:49:11 2005
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Apr 29 11:55:18 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP017 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050429084903.02788880@mail.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP017
ARLP017 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP17
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 17  ARLP017
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  April 29, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP017
ARLP017 Propagation de K7RA

Solar flux and sunspot numbers continue their lull, although again
this week their relative positions see-sawed. For last week's
bulletin of April 22 (ARLP016), we reported average daily sunspot
numbers up a little, and average daily solar flux down a bit. This
change was noted when the numbers were compared to the data in the
April 15 bulletin (ARLP015). This week the daily sunspot number on
average dropped 25 points to 25.9, and the average daily solar flux
increased a little over two points to 84. Nothing significant about
any of this, which is common behavior as the solar cycle continues
to decline.

This week on Sunday, April 24 the earth-facing sun was spotless, and
the sunspot number was 0. But the next day a new sunspot appeared,
number 756, and it is a big one. The spot is growing quickly, and
the resulting sunspot numbers for April 26-28 were 20, 45 and 71.
Solar flux is heading toward 100. Predicted solar flux values for
this weekend, April 29-May 1 are 103 on all days. Flux values should
rise above 105 by Monday, May 2.

Geomagnetic conditions have been nice and quiet, but this could
change over the next week. The predicted planetary A index for April
29 through May 3 is 8, 8, 20, 40 and 15. A planetary A index of 40
indicates a major geomagnetic storm, which is expected from the
reappearance of a recurring coronal hole and associated high
velocity wind stream.

The predicted smoothed sunspot number drops in May from 22 to 19.
It will continue to decline, with the predicted smoothed sunspot
number at 10 for the end of 2005 and 5 for the end of 2006, the
predicted bottom of the solar cycle. In 2007 solar activity should
rebound, and around the end of that year the smoothed sunspot number
should be back to where it is now, 18 for November and 21 for
December 2007. In 2008, based on the behavior of past solar cycles,
sunspots should make a strong return. That's only three years from
now.

Robert Wilson, AL7KK wrote to say he worked for Voice of America and
planned medium wave AM broadcasts that were around the 160 meter
wavelength. He said that in 1989 he was using some propagation
software that worked fine on 160 meters outside of the auroral zone.
I've asked him to give us more detail, as the propagation programs
I've used don't work below 3 MHz. I hope to have more information
soon.

David Moore sent us a fascinating article from SpaceRef.com about
the structure of coronal holes and the associated solar wind. The
article talks about observations published in the April 22 edition
of Science. You can read the SpaceRef article at
http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16721 .

If you would like to comment or have a tip, email the author at,
k7ra@arrl.net.

For more information concerning radio propagation and an explanation
of the numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical
Information Service propagation page at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. An archive of past
bulletins is found at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .

Sunspot numbers for April 21 through 27 were 22, 34, 35, 0, 25, 20
and 45 with a mean of 25.9. 10.7 cm flux was 77.1, 77.2, 79.3, 82.3,
86, 90.9 and 95.3, with a mean of 84. Estimated planetary A indices
were 4, 9, 6, 10, 11, 5 and 4 with a mean of 7. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 2, 7, 5, 5, 9, 2 and 1, with a mean of
4.4.
NNNN
/EX


From dick at twohams.com  Fri Apr 29 13:09:13 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Fri Apr 29 13:15:17 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Meeting Postponement
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050429100508.02821008@mail.greatbasin.net>

Yesterday I had the pleasure of being diagnosed with pneumonia, so I'm 
afraid I need to cancel the CVRC meeting tomorrow.

I have contacted the Plaza Hotel and they will be crediting us the cost of 
the meeting room, so we will not suffer any financial loss.

I apologize for any inconvenience, but this wasn't my idea.  :)

73, Dick
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org


From washer at trlp.com  Fri Apr 29 16:09:33 2005
From: washer at trlp.com (James Washer)
Date: Fri Apr 29 17:04:43 2005
Subject: [CVRC] Meeting Postponement
In-Reply-To: <5.2.1.1.2.20050429100508.02821008@mail.greatbasin.net>
References: <5.2.1.1.2.20050429100508.02821008@mail.greatbasin.net>
Message-ID: <20050429130933.02fb6b47.washer@trlp.com>

Take care and get well soon.

On Fri, 29 Apr 2005 10:09:13 -0700
Dick Flanagan <dick@twohams.com> wrote:

> Yesterday I had the pleasure of being diagnosed with pneumonia, so I'm 
> afraid I need to cancel the CVRC meeting tomorrow.
> 
> I have contacted the Plaza Hotel and they will be crediting us the cost of 
> the meeting room, so we will not suffer any financial loss.
> 
> I apologize for any inconvenience, but this wasn't my idea.  :)
> 
> 73, Dick
> --
> Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
> E-mail: k7vc@arrl.org
> 
> 
> -----
> Visit the CVRC Web Site at http://www.cvrc.net
> 
From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Sat Apr 30 00:28:13 2005
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Sat Apr 30 00:34:43 2005
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 17
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050429212302.00c37530@mail.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 24, No. 17
April 29, 2005
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Ham-congressman wants FCC to evaluate BPL's interference potential
* +Texas lawmakers ignore ham radio's BPL bill concerns, ARRL SM says
* +New school QSO record set during Expedition 10
* +Ham-astronaut describes ISS experience for Senate subcommittee
* +FCC chairman queried during hearing on Amateur Radio's BPL fears
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
      This weekend on the radio
      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
     +FCC adopts digital broadcasting standard
     +Dr William W. McGrannahan, N0ZL (ex-K0ORB), SK
     +Philip Morrison, ex-W8FIS, SK
     +ARRL accepts Horace Mann "Friend of Education" Award
      California RACES ATV demonstration gets high marks from fire officials
      "Enigma machine" special event, reactivation set
      CQ announces annual "DX Marathon"
      Final WRTC 2006 rules now available

+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
===========================================================

==>US HOUSE RESOLUTION CALLS ON FCC TO EVALUATE BPL INTERFERENCE, REVIEW
RULES

Rep Michael Ross, WD5DVR, of Arkansas, has introduced a resolution in the US
House of Representatives calling on the FCC to "conduct a full and complete
analysis" of radio interference from broadband over power line (BPL). The
resolution, H. Res 230, says the Commission should comprehensively evaluate
BPL's interference potential incorporating "extensive public review and
comment," and--in light of that analysis--to "reconsider and review" its new
BPL rules, adopted last October. If approved by the full House, the
non-binding resolution, introduced April 21, would express the requests as
"the sense of the House of Representatives."

"We are grateful to Congressman Ross and his staff for taking a leadership
position in recognizing that the BPL interference issue deserves more
careful consideration than the FCC was willing to give it under former
Chairman Powell," said ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ. The resolution has been
referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, on which Ross
serves.

The resolution's prime focus is on BPL's potential to disrupt critical
public safety radiocommunication. It cites National Telecommunications and
Information Administration (NTIA) studies that "have determined that
broadband over power line creates a 'high risk' of radio wave interference,
and that harmful interference to public safety mobile radio receivers can be
expected at distances of 75 meters from the power line where broadband over
power line is in operation, and at distances of up to 460 meters from fixed
stations, such as VHF police or fire dispatch communications facilities."

The resolution notes that the same NTIA study determined that BPL
interference to aeronautical and airline travel communications "could be
expected at distances up to 40 kilometers from the center of the broadband
over power line system, and that interference to outer marker beacons for
airline instrument landing systems could be expected at great distances as
well."

Many public safety agencies and support services, including emergency
medical services, fire, and law enforcement, utilize Low-Band VHF (30-50
MHz), the resolution points out. According to the resolution, at least 13
states--California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi,
Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia
and Wyoming--use the band for state police operations. It's the primary
public safety radio band in nine states.

The resolution further notes that the Association of Public Safety
Communications Officials Inc (APCO), and the National Public Safety
Telecommunications Council (NPSTC), urged the FCC to withhold final action
in the BPL proceeding for at least a year, pending a "conclusive
determination" of BPL's potential to interfere with public safety and other
licensed radio systems operating below 80 MHz. It also cites comments filed
by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, which uses a statewide radio system
with more than 1400 Low-Band VHF users. The Missouri State Highway Patrol
commented that the overall effect of BPL implementation would be "a
potentially significant increase in interference to the mission of critical
public safety communications," the resolution says.

The resolution recounts that the FCC has struggled for years to resolve
widespread harmful interference to the radiocommunications of first
responders on 800 MHz and "should not have proceeded with introduction of a
technology which appears to have substantial potential to cause destructive
interference to police, fire, emergency medical services, and other public
safety radio systems" without first conducting a comprehensive evaluation.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, has urged ARRL members to contact their US
representatives to support the resolution. A sample letter is available on
the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/filings/hres230/HRes230-SampleLtr.doc>. 
Members are encouraged to express their support in their own words. If
you're not sure who represents your congressional district, visit the United
States House of Representatives Web site <http://www.house.gov/>.

To expedite delivery, send all correspondence bound for Members of
Congress--preferably as an attachment--to <hres230@arrl.org> or fax it to
703-684-7594. The ARRL will bundle correspondence addressed to each Member
of Congress for hand delivery.

A copy of HRes 230 is available on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/filings/hres230/HRes230.pdf>.

==>TEXAS LAWMAKERS IGNORING AMATEUR RADIO CONCERNS IN BPL BILL, ARRL SM SAYS

A bill aimed at amending the Texas utilities code to "encourage the
deployment of BPL" by electric utilities could soon be up for a vote by the
Texas Senate. The measure, SB 1748, recently received unanimous approval
from the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. Sen Troy Fraser, the
sponsor of the measure, also chairs the panel. After reporting the bill out
of committee following an April 21 hearing, the panel voted to put it on the
"consent agenda" to expedite its passage in the Senate. ARRL North Texas
Section Manager Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, says the BPL bill was added to the
committee's hearing agenda at the last minute "so we would have the minimum
amount of time to submit input." At the hearing itself, "everything was well
scripted in advance," he said, and radio amateurs' concerns about the
measure have fallen on deaf ears.

"Those who opposed this and made phone calls, sent letters or e-mail or who
made personal visits to the staff members or senators themselves were
summarily ignored," Blackwell said. He suggests that his constituents would
make better use of their time at this point by contacting members of the
Texas House--the bill's next stop.

"I know there are amateurs who want their views considered on this bill,"
Blackwell said. "Amateurs deserve respectful treatment and consideration
from these elected officials who will decide the outcome of these issues."

One radio amateur showed up prepared to testify on the originally scheduled
hearing date of April 5. Fraser then announced that the committee would not
be accepting testimony on the bill that day, and the hearing subsequently
was rescheduled.

As drafted, the bill establishes a state regulatory framework for electric
utilities, municipally owned utilities and electric cooperatives to develop
and deploy BPL systems in Texas. It would allow utilities to lease their
power lines to other concerns to operate BPL systems. The measure also would
authorize a utility to recover its BPL investment from ratepayers. A utility
offering BPL would only have to consider 40 percent of its BPL revenues as
income in rate proceedings.

Fraser asserts that his measure, introduced March 11, will prove "especially
important to rural Texas, where high-speed Internet service is not readily
available." But he conceded in a statement issued after the bill's favorable
committee report that BPL "is still in the early stages of development." His
bill also makes BPL secondary to the delivery of electric power and requires
that BPL not affect the reliability of power delivery.

An Irving, Texas, BPL pilot project that was the target of an ARRL complaint
shut down in March and removed its equipment. There's been no word from TXU
as to why it shut down the system and removed its equipment, but the League
has withdrawn its complaint.

==>EXPEDITION 10 COMMANDER RACKS UP SCHOOL QSO RECORD

As he wrapped up his last successful Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) school group contact before heading home, Expedition
10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, also set a new ARISS record. Chiao's
contact April 19 with youngsters at Schulhaus Feld 1 in Richterswil,
Switzerland, marked his 23rd ARISS school group contact. That tops the
previous record of 22 QSOs set by Expedition 3 Crew Commander Frank
Culbertson, KD5OPQ, in 2001-2002. Chiao safely returned to Earth with
crewmate Salizhan Sharipov and ESA Astronaut Roberto Vittorio, IZ6ERU, on
April 24. During the contact between NA1SS and HB9IRM, Chiao told the eight,
nine and ten-year-old youngsters that the ISS is still growing.

"There will be a few more modules added to the ISS. As soon as the shuttle
starts flying again, we'll resume major construction," Chiao explained.
"There will be a European module, the Columbus, of course, and also the
Japanese module, the JEM module, and a few other smaller ones." NASA
announced this week that it's postponed the space shuttle "return to flight"
mission to a date no earlier than mid-July.

The last ARISS school group contact of Chiao's duty tour was the first for
Switzerland. Chiao told the youngsters that he had a nice view of the Swiss
Alps and the Zurich region from his vantage point some 350 km above Earth.
Before the ISS went out of range, Chiao was able to answer all 20 questions
the Richterswil pupils had prepared. As he went over the horizon, he wished
the students "all the very best of luck," and--as he'd urged other school
groups in previous contacts--told them to "reach for the stars and keep on
dreaming." At least two newspapers published reports of the Richterswil
contact.

Chiao, who said he enjoyed getting to answer questions about life in space
posed by students on Earth, shifted into an accelerated schedule of ARISS
school contacts as his duty tour drew to a close. His penultimate school QSO
occurred April 15 with students at Fort Ross Elementary School in Cazadero,
California, some 90 miles north of San Francisco. The school has an
enrollment of just 50 students in kindergarten through grade 8.

Apparently the forest of tall redwoods surrounding the small school blocked
signals, causing a slight delay in the start of the Fort Ross event as the
ISS came over the horizon. Once contact was established, however, signals
were reported to be excellent, and seventh and eighth graders at Fort Ross
managed to get 15 of their 20 questions asked and answered. During the
direct VHF contact between NA1SS and WA6M, students wanted to know--among
other things--how small an object Chiao could view from the ISS, how high
the spacecraft was flying and how many space walks he's done.

Bob Dickson, WA6M, served as the Earth station control operator, with
assistance from David Horvitz, KD6BPS, and John Sperry, KE6IRX. The ARISS
contact received news coverage in the Independent Coast Observer.

Chiao and Sharipov will spend several weeks in Star City, Russia--near
Moscow--for debriefings and medical examinations. Now aboard the ISS is the
Expedition 11 crew of Commander Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, and NASA ISS Science
Officer John Phillips, KE5DRY. The ARISS school group schedule is on hiatus
until May 4 while the new team settles in.

ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation by
ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>HAM-ASTRONAUT SAYS SMALLER ISS CREWS WORKING HARDER, SMARTER

International Space Station Expedition 9 crew member Mike Fincke, KE5AIT,
told a US Senate subcommittee last week that two-person ISS crews such as
his have been able to accomplish a lot. NASA cut back the ISS crew
complement from three to two after it was forced to ground the space shuttle
fleet following the 2003 Columbia disaster. Testifying April 20 before the
US Senate Commerce Committee's Science and Space Subcommittee hearing on
International Space Station research benefits, Fincke recounted his more
than six months in space with Russian cosmonaut and crew commander Gennady
Padalka, RN3DT.

"With only two people, it was kinda tough," Fincke told the panel, chaired
by Texas Sen Kay Bailey Hutchison. "We had to maintain the space station,
they threw in a couple of extra spacewalks for us and, even so, we were
able--with ingenuity, with working together--to get a lot of work done."
That included maintaining a strong science program aboard the space station,
he added, despite being one person short. Fincke, who served as NASA ISS
Science Officer while in space, said the experience made the Expedition 9
team more self-sufficient.

"We learned how to fix things--like our spacesuits, our oxygen generator,"
explained Fincke, who wore a NASA flight suit for his Senate appearance. "We
need to know how to do those things for the moon." Many of the questions
subcommittee members put to Fincke and others in the NASA delegation dealt
with the Bush administration's stated goal of reaching the moon, Mars and
beyond in the coming decades.

Responding to another line of questioning, Fincke credited the Expedition 9
crew's rigorous and regular exercise program onboard the ISS for his minimal
bone loss and generally good physical shape at the end of his mission.

"Because I exercised, I came back strong, I came back feeling healthy and
with minimum--but still some--bone loss," he remarked. Fincke said he and
Padalka worked out for two and a half hours a day using resistive and
cardiovascular exercise. Determining the physiological mechanisms for bone
loss in space, Fincke said, is critical to the success of long-term space
ventures such as to the moon and Mars.

"I felt, even though we were in space for more than 187 days, that I could
have walked off the Soyuz spacecraft," Fincke said referring to his return
to Earth last fall. "I was feeling very good, very strong." The only problem
he experienced was a slight loss of balance, he said. Since NASA grounded
the shuttle fleet, ISS crews have been relying on the Russian Soyuz vehicle
to transport crews to and from the ISS, and on Russian Progress rockets to
supply food, supplies, oxygen and water.

During his duty tour, Fincke conducted 14 Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) school group contacts from NA1SS and also achieved
Worked All Continents.

Presiding over her first subcommittee hearing as chair, Hutchison expressed
her view that "this important, impressive facility"--the ISS--"cannot be
allowed to be used simply as a tool for moon and Mars exploration-related
research." She is promoting the idea to pursue a national laboratory
designation for the ISS.

==>CONGRESSMAN QUERIES FCC CHAIR ON AMATEUR RADIO'S BPL CONCERNS

Following the prepared testimony of FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin before the
US House Appropriations Committee April 26, Rep Rodney Alexander of
Louisiana raised the topic of broadband over power line (BPL) and how it was
hurting the Amateur Radio community. Again acknowledging the concerns of
radio amateurs regarding BPL's interference potential, Martin responded that
the Commission is aware of the good work that radio amateurs do and that the
FCC would attempt to strike a balance with the amateur community with
respect to its BPL concerns.

When the FCC unanimously adopted new BPL rules last October, Martin also
took note of Amateur Radio's concerns, said he would take them seriously,
and expressed confidence that the Commission would take the necessary steps
to address interference.

Martin succeeded Michael K. Powell as FCC chairman in March. His
Appropriations Committee appearance--his first as FCC chairman--was to
discuss the Commission's fiscal year 2006 budget request.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Astral aficionado Tad "Who can make the sun shine, on a cloudy day?" Cook,
K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar flux and sunspot numbers continue
their lull. This week the daily sunspot number on average dropped 25 points
to 25.9, and the average daily solar flux increased a little more than 2
points to 84.

A new sunspot appeared--number 756--appeared April 25 and is growing
quickly. The resulting sunspot numbers for April 26-28 were 20, 45 and 71.
Predicted solar flux values for this weekend, April 29-May 1, are 103 on all
days. Flux values should rise above 105 by Monday, May 2.

Predicted planetary A index for April 29 through May 3 is 8, 8, 20, 40 and
15. A planetary A index of 40 indicates a major geomagnetic storm, which is
expected from the reappearance of a recurring coronal hole and associated
high-velocity wind stream.

Sunspot numbers for April 21 through 27 were 22, 34, 35, 0, 25, 20 and 45,
with a mean of 25.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 77.1, 77.2, 79.3, 82.3, 86, 90.9
and 95.3, with a mean of 84. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 9, 6, 10,
11, 5 and 4, with a mean of 7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 2, 7,
5, 5, 9, 2 and 1, with a mean of 4.4.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The SBMS 2 GHz and Up WW Club Contest is the
weekend of April 30-May 1. The May CW Sprint and the AGCW QRP/QRP Party are
May 1. The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (SSB) is May 2. JUST AHEAD: The
New England, Nevada, Indiana and Oregon QSO parties, the MARAC County Hunter
Contest (CW), the US IPARC Annual Contest (CW). the 10-10 International
Spring Contest (CW), the Microwave Spring Sprint, the ARI International DX
Contest and the US IPARC Annual Contest (SSB), are the weekend of May 7-8.
The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (Data) is May 11. 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 for the ARRL RFI (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction
(EC-009) and Analog Electronics (EC-013) courses remains open through
Sunday, May 1. Classes begin Friday, May 13. Antenna Design and Construction
students will, among other things, learn about basic dipoles and ground
planes, and how to assemble combinations of these into more complex
antennas. Students also learn about transmission lines, standing wave ratio,
phased arrays and Yagis. Students participating in the RFI course will learn
to identify various interference sources. Analog students will learn about
the use of instrumentation, Kirchhoff's laws, diodes, rectifier circuits,
bipolar and field effect transistors, various amplifier configurations,
filters, timers, op-amps, and voltage regulators. To learn more, visit the
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) Web page 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, May 2, 2005, 1201 AM EST, and will remain open until
all available seats have been filled or through the May 7-8
weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, May 20. Thanks to our
grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and
United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon
enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course.
***ACT NOW! THIS IS THE FINAL YEAR OF THE GRANT-SUBSIDIZED CLASSES!*** Radio
amateurs age 55 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. 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.

* FCC adopts digital broadcasting standard: The FCC has adopted the Digital
Radio Mondiale (DRM) standard for US HF Broadcasting Service (HFBC) digital
transmission. DRM is capable of providing near-FM quality sound within
current AM emission bandwidths. Adoption of the DRM standard was among
several actions the FCC took in a wide-ranging Report and Order (R&O) in
response to World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03)--ET Docket
04-139. The FCC authorized both digital audio broadcasting and datacasting.
It said channels using digitally modulated emissions may share the same
spectrum or be interleaved with analog emissions in the same HFBC band,
provided the protection afforded to the analog emissions is at least as
great as that currently in place for analog-to-analog protection. The
Commission authorized double-sideband (DSB), single-sideband (SSB), and
digital transmissions in HF bands between 5900 and 26,100 kHz, and it set
minimum HFBC power levels of 50 kW PEP for SSB. In the same proceeding the
FCC also reallocated the 7100-7200 kHz band to the Amateur Service on a
co-primary basis and reallocated the 7350-7400 kHz band to the HFBC Service
on a co-primary basis with the fixed service until March 29, 2009, after
which it will be allocated exclusively for broadcasting.

* Dr William W. McGrannahan, N0ZL (ex-K0ORB), SK: Past ARRL Midwest Division
Vice Director and Director Bill McGrannahan, N0ZL (ex-K0ORB), of Kansas
City, Missouri, died April 24. He was 83. A Charter Life Member of the ARRL,
McGrannahan was serving as vice director of the Midwest Division when
Director Paul Grauer, W0FIR, resign for health reasons in 1993. McGrannahan
assumed the directorship for the next six months, but that fall he lost a
close election for a full term as director. McGrannahan also served on the
Quarter Century Wireless Association Board of Directors. A dental surgeon,
he retired in 1986. Survivors include his wife Virginia and their daughter
and son. There will be no formal service. The family requests memorial
donations to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
<http://www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/> or to Children's Mercy Hospital
<http://www.childrens-mercy.org/>.

* Philip Morrison, ex-W8FIS, SK: Philip Morrison, ex-W8FIS, a world-famous
physicist who helped develop the atomic bomb and later became an outspoken
critic of nuclear war and arms proliferation, died April 22. He was 89. SETI
League Inc Executive Director Paul Shuch, N6TX, says he best remembers
Morrison as a friend and mentor who co-authored the world's first serious
scientific paper on SETI--the search for extraterrestrial intelligence--a
1959 paper "Searching for Interstellar Communications" in the British
science journal Nature. Shuch called Morrison "a pioneer in the search for
extraterrestrial intelligence through radio communication" who also chaired
NASA's early study groups on SETI. According to Shuch, Morrison's boyhood
interest in Amateur Radio motivated his interest in exploring the
feasibility of microwaves for interstellar communication. In addition to
being a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Morrison was
a prolific author of books and articles and well as a TV producer and
lecturer. He also authored the jacket blurb for Shuch's ARRL hypertext book
Tune In The Universe!.

* ARRL accepts Horace Mann "Friend of Education" Award: ARRL Midwest
Division Director Wade Walstrom, W0EJ, has accepted the Missouri National
Education Association's (MNEA) Horace Mann Award in the category of
"Contribution to Public Education in the Field of Civic Organizational
Achievement" on behalf of the League. The presentation took place April 23
in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri, during the MNEA's Spring Representative
Assembly. More than 300 Missouri educators attended. "These teachers are now
more aware of the League's Field and Educational Services department and the
'Big Project!'" said Midwest Division Assistant Director Ron Ochu, KO0Z, who
was on hand for the occasion. Making the presentation to Walstrom was MNEA
President Greg Jung.

* California RACES ATV demonstration gets high marks from fire officials:
Huntington Beach, California, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES)
communications volunteers recently demonstrated an amateur television (ATV)
system newly installed in the city fire department's hazardous materials
(HAZMAT) unit. The ATV system enables live, real-time video images for
"visual reconnaissance" to supplement voice-mode communications and accident
scene descriptions. For the April 5 demo, RACES communications volunteers
were stationed in the HAZMAT vehicle and in a Huntington Beach Police
Department (HBPD) helicopter to operate the ATV equipment. HAZMAT personnel
interfaced with the police helicopter via a radio link to direct and request
images from the airborne ATV system. Said Huntington Beach City Fire
Battalion Chief Bill Reardon, "Our RACES team is really showing the fire
department how valuable they are to the city with this new and exciting
technology." The RACES volunteers used local a repeater system to ensure
reliable communication during the demonstration. The Huntington Beach Fire
Department Emergency Services Office administers the RACES team, one of 18
in Orange County, California.

* "Enigma machine" special event, reactivation set: As a tribute to the work
of England's voluntary interceptors (VIs) during World War II, the
Scarborough Special Events Group (SSEG) will operate special event station
GB2HQ from GCHQ--Government Communications Headquarters--in Scarborough. VIs
intercepted encrypted Enigma messages transmitted in Morse code; these were
passed to code breakers at Bletchley Park who were attempting to crack the
German Enigma code. The GB2HQ special event will take place over the May 7-8
weekend, with activity on SSB, PSK and CW (around 3515 or 7015 kHz). A
souvenir QSL card showing an Enigma cipher machine and an HRO receiver will
commemorate the occasion. GCHQ has provided a working Enigma machine for use
by the SSEG, and Ofcom--the UK telecommunication regulator--has authorized
transmission of an enciphered Enigma message in Morse code on the amateur
bands for this event only. The Enigma message will be transmitted Saturday,
May 7, 1100 UTC (repeated at 1300 and 1900 UTC), at a speed of 15 WPM.
Listeners are invited to submit a copy of the Enigma message, and
certificates are available for those achieving 100-percent copy. Entries and
QSLs go to G0OOO, Scarborough Special Events Group, 9 Green Island, Irton,
Scarborough YO12 4RN UK. Further details are on the SSEG Web site
<http://www.sseg.co.uk/>.

* CQ announces annual "DX Marathon": CQ magazine has announced the revival
of its long-dormant CQ DX Marathon, which last ran in 1948. The new CQ DX
Marathon will essentially be a year-long DX contest, with stations competing
to contact as many different countries ("entities") and CQ Zones of the
World as possible over a full year, then starting again at zero at the
beginning of the next year. The first running of the event will be in 2006.
The new CQ DX Marathon is aimed at reinvigorating DXing. CQ outlined the
program April 16 at the International DX Convention in Visalia, California.
Scoring will consist of the total number of DXCC entities and CQ zones
contacted over the course of a year. There will be no multipliers, and each
country/entity and zone counts only once. Rules for the new CQ DX Marathon
will be on the CQ Web site <http://www.cq-amateur-radio.com/> and in the May
issue of CQ magazine.

* Final WRTC 2006 rules now available: Atilano de Oms, PY5EG, reports final
rules for World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2006 participants are
now available on the WRTC 2006 Web site
<http://www.wrtc2006.com/ingles/ruleswrtc2006Vfinal.pdf>. WRTC 2006 will
take place July 7-10, 2006, in Southern Brazil. The Liga de Amadores de
Radio Emiss?o (LABRE) and the Arauc?ria DX Group (GADX) are sponsoring the
event. WRTC 2006 will bring the world's top operators together in a single
geographical area to showcase Amateur Radio competition at its highest
level. The on-the-air portion of the event is held in conjunction with the
International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship. WRTC
stations all run 100 W and have comparably modest antenna systems.
Two-person teams from all over the globe will compete for gold, silver and
bronze medals. The contesting duo of Jeff Steinman, N5TJ, and Dan Street,
K1TO, took home the WRTC gold for the third time in the 2002 event in
Finland. Teams for the 2006 event have not yet been announced.

===========================================================
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.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest
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From radioactiveham at yahoo.com  Sat Apr 30 18:30:38 2005
From: radioactiveham at yahoo.com (Tom - ki0pa)
Date: Sat Apr 30 18:48:13 2005
Subject: [CVRC] 144mhz-220mhz-440mhz items F/S or F/T
Message-ID: <01af01c54dd4$43114d20$4501a8c0@NONAME>

 Hello All:

 I have the following items for sale or trade:

 First the antennas


 M2 ( m-squared ) model  2M5WL  Its a 5 wavelength design.  It has 17 
elements on a 32 ft
boom.  Its designed for weak signal 2
meter SSB/CW. But can operate most of the 144-148mhz section. Its
optimal at  144.200mhz  $ 100.00 obo

 The other 2 meter Yagi i have is a  KLM  CP for Satellite work, but
can be set up
 to work as a  dual polarity ( V/H ) if you want.  The KLM model # is
2M  22C

Its 22 elements  - 11 V  11 H  on about a 17 foot boom. I have the
paperwork on it somewhere in my stuff.  I use to use it to work both
SSB  and FM on 2 meters. I never used it for Satelitte work.  $ 85.00 
obo

 For the 220mhz band i have the following:

 CC model  315  220-225mhz  FM or SSB coverage. 15 element on a 11 
foot boom  $ 75.00 obo

 Now for the  430-450mhz  yagi's i have.

 I have 2 ( TWO )  KLM  model  430-30lbx's.  These are for 432mhz weak
signal  SSB/CW

 Each yagi has  30 elements on a  22 foot boom.  $ 75.00 each pr 
135.00 for the pair. obo

 And i have another Satelitte  430-450mhz  CP   KLM model  436-40C

 It also can be set up for dual  V/H use if needed.   Its 40 elements
20 V  20 H  on a 15 foot boom. And cover the whole 430-450mhz range  $ 
100.00 obo

 Now the radio and transverter

 Kenwood Model  TW-4000 FM mobile/base  Dualband  144-148mhz and 
440-450mhz
 Very good radio for high RF areas.ie intermod areas ect ect   $ 
100.00 obo

  Yaesu FTV-901 R   50,144,430mhz transverter. Currently has the 
144-148mhz module installed.
  This unit use a HF rig as the IF to operate it.  10 meter band. Can 
be adapted to most HF radio's.
 I have it on a Yaesu FT-902DM at this time.  $ 125.00  obo

 All items are PICK-UP only.  ( Sun Valley, Nv. )   775-673-2410 
nevadaradio@gmx.net

 Thank You

  Tom


From radioactiveham at yahoo.com  Sat Apr 30 22:18:49 2005
From: radioactiveham at yahoo.com (Tom - ki0pa)
Date: Sat Apr 30 22:40:59 2005
Subject: [CVRC] UPDATE 144mhz-220mhz-440mhz items F/S or F/T
Message-ID: <01e801c54df4$1f4d3640$4501a8c0@NONAME>

 I forgot to add one item

 I also have a US Tower 40 ft crank up tower. Model  MA-40  Includes 
the MRB 40 free standing mount.  $ 300.00 obo

 Thanks again   Tom


: Hello All:
:
: I have the following items for sale or trade:
:
: First the antennas
:
:
: M2 ( m-squared ) model  2M5WL  Its a 5 wavelength design.  It has 17
: elements on a 32 ft
: boom.  Its designed for weak signal 2
: meter SSB/CW. But can operate most of the 144-148mhz section. Its
: optimal at  144.200mhz  $ 100.00 obo
:
: The other 2 meter Yagi i have is a  KLM  CP for Satellite work, but
: can be set up
: to work as a  dual polarity ( V/H ) if you want.  The KLM model # is
: 2M  22C
:
: Its 22 elements  - 11 V  11 H  on about a 17 foot boom. I have the
: paperwork on it somewhere in my stuff.  I use to use it to work both
: SSB  and FM on 2 meters. I never used it for Satelitte work.  $ 
85.00
: obo
:
: For the 220mhz band i have the following:
:
: CC model  315  220-225mhz  FM or SSB coverage. 15 element on a 11
: foot boom  $ 75.00 obo
:
: Now for the  430-450mhz  yagi's i have.
:
: I have 2 ( TWO )  KLM  model  430-30lbx's.  These are for 432mhz 
weak
: signal  SSB/CW
:
: Each yagi has  30 elements on a  22 foot boom.  $ 75.00 each pr
: 135.00 for the pair. obo
:
: And i have another Satelitte  430-450mhz  CP   KLM model  436-40C
:
: It also can be set up for dual  V/H use if needed.   Its 40 elements
: 20 V  20 H  on a 15 foot boom. And cover the whole 430-450mhz range 
$
: 100.00 obo
:
: Now the radio and transverter
:
: Kenwood Model  TW-4000 FM mobile/base  Dualband  144-148mhz and
: 440-450mhz
: Very good radio for high RF areas.ie intermod areas ect ect   $
: 100.00 obo
:
:  Yaesu FTV-901 R   50,144,430mhz transverter. Currently has the
: 144-148mhz module installed.
:  This unit use a HF rig as the IF to operate it.  10 meter band. Can
: be adapted to most HF radio's.
: I have it on a Yaesu FT-902DM at this time.  $ 125.00  obo
:
: All items are PICK-UP only.  ( Sun Valley, Nv. )   775-673-2410
: nevadaradio@gmx.net
:
: Thank You
:
:  Tom
:
:
: 

From dick at twohams.com  Sat Apr 30 22:57:25 2005
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Sat Apr 30 23:36:32 2005
Subject: [CVRC] ARECC Level I Course Opens
Message-ID: <5.2.1.1.2.20050430194924.03664f70@mail.greatbasin.net>

The following is from this week's ARRL Letter.  Please pass this around
and get the word out so that we can hopefully get a few folks into this
while we still have the chance to get reimbursed upon completion. The
end of grant funding is getting closer!

* Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I on-line course
(EC-001) opens Monday, May 2, 2005, 1201 AM EST, and will remain open until
all available seats have been filled or through the May 7-8
weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, May 20. Thanks to our
grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and
United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon
enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course.

***ACT NOW! THIS IS THE FINAL YEAR OF THE GRANT-SUBSIDIZED CLASSES!*** Radio
amateurs age 55 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. 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.


Don Carlson - KQ6FM
NV. Section Emergency Coord.
NV. Section Pub.Information Coord.
kq6fm@charter.net - kq6fm@arrl.net


