From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Aug  2 19:56:25 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Aug  2 20:06:02 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD032 DX news
Message-ID: <200708022356.l72NuP1B020040@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD032
ARLD032 DX news

ZCZC AE32
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 32  ARLD032
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 2, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD032
ARLD032 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, YV4GMG, QRZ DX, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The
Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and
WA7BNM web sites.  Thanks to all.

CROATIA, 9A.  Leonardo, IW0QO is QRV as 9A/IW0QO from Losinj Island,
IOTA EU-136, until August 10.  Activity is holiday style on 80 to 10
meters.  QSL to home call.

AZORES, CU.  Jorge, CT1FMX, Mary, CT1YTS and CU3EQ are QRV as CU3F
from Terceira Island, IOTA EU-175, until August 9.  Activity is on
80 to 6 meters using CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31.  QSL via CT1FMX.

GUADELOUPE, FG.  David, F1JXQ will be QRV as FG/F1JXQ from August 4
to 10.  Activity will be on 10, 6 and 2 meters using SSB from 1000
to 1600z.  QSL direct.

ITALY, I.  Special event station IY6GM will be QRV from Monte
Cappuccini from August 5 to 9 to commemorate the 103rd anniversary
of experiments carried out from here by Marconi.  QSL via I6GFX.

SARDINIA, IS0.  Tano, IZ8GCB is QRV as IS0/IZ8GCB until August 19.
Activity is on 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL to
home call.

JAPAN, JA.  Special event station 8J1A is QRV until August 26 during
the Amateur Radio Festival 2007.  QSL via bureau.  In addition, the
Japanese foxhunters are QRV with special callsign 8J3ARDF until
October 21.  QSL via bureau.

ALAND ISLANDS, OH0.  Jurgen, DJ3KR will be QRV as OH0/DJ3KR from
August 7 to 12.  This includes an entry in the upcoming Worked All
Europe DX contest.  QSL to home call.

CRETE, SV9.  Marc, ON7SS will be QRV as SV9/OO9O/p from August 7 to
17 during his holidays.  QSL to home call.

UKRAINE, UR.  A group of operators are QRV as EM15B until August 31
to mark the 15th anniversary of the founding of the Ternopil Amateur
Radio Club.  They are also active as EM15B/A from various parts of
the Ternopil region.  QSL via operators' instructions.

CANADA, VE.  Members of the Amateur Radio Club of Central
Newfoundland are QRV as VO1GAM until August 31 to commemorate the
70th anniversary of the first transatlantic experimental commercial
flight between Botwood, Newfound, and Foynes, Ireland.  Activity is
on all bands.  QSL via VO1MX.

PITCAIRN ISLAND, VP6.  Tom is QRV as VP6TD and has been active on 20
meters SSB around 0300z and 20 meters PSK after 2300z.  He may soon
be active on 80 meters as well.  QSL via ZL2HGR.  In addition, look
for Al, ZL1UFB to be QRV as VP6AL for the next six weeks.  Of late,
he has been active on 20 meters using SSB.  QSL to home call.

BERMUDA, VP9.  Kyle, WA4PGM is QRV as VP9/WA4PGM until August 7.
Activity is on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL direct
to home call.

LAOS, XW.  Larry, XW1A has been active on 20 meters at various
times.  QSL via E21EIC.

VENEZUELA, YV.  Look for Hector, YV4GMG/5 to be QRV in the TARA Grid
Dip Shindig using PSK31.  QSL to home call.

OPERATION APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT.  The following operation is
approved for DXCC credit:  Guinea-Bissau, J5UAR, 2007 operation.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The ARRL UHF Contest, TARA Grid Dip
Shindig, The 10-10 International Summer SSB Contest, National
Lighthouse Weekend QSO Contest, European HF Championship, North
American CW QSO Party, RSGB RoPoCo 2 CW Contest and the SARL HF
Phone Contest will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  The
ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for August 7.  Please see August
QST, page 96 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Aug  3 19:04:42 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Aug  3 19:14:20 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP032 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200708032304.l73N4g1B023347@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP032
ARLP032 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP32
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 32  ARLP032
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  August 3, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP032
ARLP032 Propagation de K7RA

Average daily sunspot numbers rose very little this week, less than
6 points to 7.3.  There were no major geomagnetic upsets, only
slightly unsettled conditions on the first day of August.

We saw eight straight days of no sunspots, then a spot or two over
four days, then no spots on the first two days of August.  A week
from now, August 10, we may see the beginning of several days with a
few sunspots every day.  Expect unsettled geomagnetic conditions
centered on August 7 and again on August 10.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions August 3-5,
quiet to unsettled August 6, unsettled to active August 7, and back
to quiet August 8-9.

There were six and two meter reports this week.  On Sunday, July 29
Dick Bingham, W7WKR, who lives in the very remote mountain village
of Stehekin, Washington (reached by boat) reports that he began
hearing six meter beacons around 1800z, and until 2300z he worked 22
grids, including HR9BFS in EK66 (Honduras) as well as
WA/CA/ID/MT/CO/TX/UT.  Dick is blocked by a high ridge running
northwest to southeast, with takeoff elevations in excess of 25
degrees, so he doesn't hear the northeastern United States and
Canada.

WB4SLM reported interesting E-skip on 2 meters, and from EM82 he
worked EM14, EM15 and EM25, all around 2100z on Sunday.  He lives in
Georgia, and during a 30 meter QSO with his father, W9JNH in Texas,
around 2133-2135z he heard long delayed echoes on his CW signal.

Four days earlier on June 25, Roger Lapthorn, G3XBM reported his
best 6-meter DX ever when he worked K1TOL in Maine on CW.  Roger was
running just a few watts into a vertical mounted on the side of his
house.  Roger says the distance was over 5000 kilometers.

With July over, we can spin some numbers and look for trends.

Monthly averages of daily sunspot numbers for April 2006 through
July 2007 were 55.2, 39.6, 24.4, 22.6, 22.8, 25.2, 14.7, 31.5, 22.2,
28.2, 17.3, 9.8, 6.9, 19.8, 20.7 and 15.6.  Monthly averages of
daily solar flux for the same period were 88.9, 80.9, 76.5, 75.8,
79, 77.8, 74.3, 86.3, 84.4, 83.5, 77.7, 72.2, 72.4, 74.4, 73.7 and
71.6.

Looking at 3-month smoothed sunspot numbers, now the July numbers we
can add to May and June to show the three-month average centered on
June.  These numbers are based on data from the past 21 months,
November 2005 through July 2007:

Dec 05 40.6
Jan 06 32.4
Feb 06 18.1
Mar 06 27.7
Apr 06 38.5
May 06 39.7
Jun 06 28.9
Jul 06 23.3
Aug 06 23.5
Sep 06 21.2
Oct 06 24.1
Nov 06 23.1
Dec 06 27.3
Jan 07 22.7
Feb 07 18.5
Mar 07 11.2
Apr 07 12.2
May 07 15.8
Jun 07 18.7

These numbers are calculated like this:  April 1 through June 30 is
91 days.  Add all the daily sunspot numbers over those three months,
then divide by 91, and the result is approximately 15.8, centered on
May, the middle month.  Likewise, May 1 through July 31 has 92 days,
and the sum of daily sunspot numbers over that period divided by 92
is 18.7.

If the average of daily sunspot numbers for the 31 days of August
turns out to be more than 20 (meaning the sum of all the sunspot
numbers for the month exceeds 620), we should see the three-month
average centered on July rise above the June average.  We will see
that result in ARLP037, on September 7.

This 3-month moving average of sunspot numbers is turning out to be
a nice indicator of cycle trends, with the average smoothly
declining from December through March, and increasing since.  We'll
know some day, perhaps in a year or two, if the low number in March
is a good indicator of cycle minimum or not.  Users of Scott Craig's
Solar Data Plotting Utility (available free from
http://www.craigcentral.com/sol.asp) may have noticed that this
cycle minimum so far doesn't look as long as the previous minimum
around 1995-1997.  But of course, if we are at the minimum or just
passed it, then we are only looking at probably half of its eventual
length on the graph.  I hope the upturn comes soon, and is dramatic.

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

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service at
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.  For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html .  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.  Monthly
propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas
locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Sunspot numbers for July 26 through August 1 were 0, 0, 13, 14, 13,
11 and 0 with a mean of 7.3.  10.7 cm flux was 68.4, 68.7, 69.9, 69,
68.9, 68, and 68.8, with a mean of 68.8.  Estimated planetary A
indices were 9, 8, 4, 14, 10, 6 and 17 with a mean of 9.7.
Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 6, 6, 3, 11, 10, 4 and 15,
with a mean of 7.9.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Aug  3 19:16:36 2007
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri Aug  3 19:26:15 2007
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 26, No 31 (Friday, August 3, 2007)
Message-ID: <200708032316.l73NGb1B000823@pop0.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 31
August 3, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL Files Federal Court of Appeals Reply Brief over BPL
* + ARRL Passport to be Featured at 2007 ARRL National Convention
* + ARRL Files Objection to Ambient's BPL Experimental Authorization
Renewal Request
* + ARRL Welcomes New Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager
* + ARRL in Action - July 2007: What Have We Been Up to Lately?
* + FCC Enforcement Bureau Actions
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Weekend on the Radio
       ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
     + 2007 ARRL Teachers Institute Is in Full Swing!!
     + New Jersey Radio Club Makes Scholarship Donation to ARRL
Foundation
       September Is National Preparedness Month
       Morse Code Study in Pennsylvania
       ARRL DXCC Desk Approves J5UAR Operation
       FAR Scholarship Winners Announced
       Let Us Know

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>
===========================================================

==> ARRL Files Federal Court of Appeals Reply Brief over BPL

On July 31, the ARRL filed its reply brief at the US Court of Appeals
for the District of Columbia Circuit. This brief follows the FCC's brief
that attempted to rebut the ARRL's challenge to the FCC's Broadband over
Power Line (BPL) rules enacted in late 2004 and affirmed by the agency
in 2006. According to ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, "The FCC's
brief does not accurately describe ARRL's arguments concerning harmful
interference." The ARRL, in its reply brief, accuses the FCC of,
"engaging in misdirection -- rebutting hyperbolic arguments ARRL never
made, refusing to address the precedents ARRL cited and attempting to
rewrite the Orders as if they made factual rather than legal
determinations."

The League's reply brief, according to Imlay, "focuses largely on the
FCC's unprecedented failure to protect mobile stations from interference
if the BPL operator reduces its radiated emissions by 20 dB below the
Part 15 maxima, even if harmful interference persists thereafter. The
reply brief also addresses the inapplicability of the 40 dB per decade
of distance extrapolation factor applied to BPL system measurements in
the high frequency bands."

The ARRL's reply brief looked at four main points:
* The FCC's failure to reconcile the Orders with the FCC's decades-old
interpretation of Section 301.
* The FCC's failure to justify its nondisclosures of portions of the
studies on which the Orders were expressly based.
* The FCC's failure to justify its refusal to consider contrary
evidence, as well as a proposed alternative to its extrapolation factor
for measuring interference.
* The FCC's failure to justify its summary dismissal of an alternative
that could have accommodated BPL without causing the same harmful
interference.

The ARRL's brief states that this case "is about an unlicensed
operator's legal duty to cease harmful interference once it arises, not
the standard for authorizing unlicensed transmissions."

For decades, the FCC has interpreted Section 301 to mandate two
restrictions on unlicensed operators: The proposed operations will not
have a significant potential for causing harmful interference, and; if
harmful interference does occur, the unlicensed operations are to cease
immediately. For the first time ever, the FCC excluded mobile operators
from the second part of the mandate.

The FCC suggests in its brief that BPL emissions (that are reduced by
the 10 or 20 dB that are the minimum notching requirements in the rules)
will "never cause harmful interference to licensed mobile users, but
there is no evidence to support this," the ARRL's brief states. The ARRL
contends the FCC's brief "ignore[s] the express acknowledgement in the
Reconsideration Order that 'harmful interference...may occur' even when
BPL systems meet the FCC's technical standards and that when it occurs
'we will not provide further protection to mobile operations.'"

The FCC goes on to say, according to the ARRL's brief, that licensed
mobile users "do not need the protection of the cease-operations rule
because mobile users suffering from interference can move elsewhere."
The ARRL contends that the FCC "has never before put the burden on the
license-holder to move away from an unlicensed interferor, to the
contrary, its rules require the interferor to cease interfering
immediately. A BPL system deploys radiation-emitting devices
ubiquitously throughout a service area, making it difficult to avoid
harmful interference and impossible to conclude that harmful
interference will 'never' occur."

The ARRL's brief states that "the FCC cites nothing to defend the
Reconsideration Order's ruling that Section 301 is inapplicable to
'unintentional radiators.'" The ARRL's brief points out that the FCC's
brief "fails to defend the Reconsideration Order's holding that
unintentional radiators like BPL devices 'as such' are outside the scope
of Section 301's license requirement. The brief actually admits the
contrary -- that unintentional radiators are within Section 301." The
FCC's brief mentions "but fails to acknowledge Section 302, which
extended the FCC's authority to cover the manufacture and sale of
interfering devices, is irrelevant to the scope of Section 301."

In its brief, the FCC failed to justify its "nondisclosure of
significant portions of the technical studies on which the Orders rely."
Instead, the ARRL said the FCC "attacks a straw man, suggesting that
ARRL is after 'every internal document in its entirety that the agency's
staff prepares in relating to a rule making proceeding."

The ARRL's brief states that the League only sought the full texts of
the studies that the FCC "identified and cited as the basis for its
conclusions. An agency may not cherry-pick the pages of the studies on
which it relies, disclosing the ones that support its conclusions and
redacting the others."

The FCC's brief requests that the Court defer to its "technical judgment
in adopting an extrapolation factor to measure interference." The ARRL
contends that the FCC "is not entitled to deference where it refuses to
consider substantial evidence submitted to it -- in this instance, at
the agency's invitation -- and fails to consider a responsible
alternative proposal."

The ARRL points out three studies conducted by OFCOM, the UK-equivalent
to the FCC. Each study reached a conclusion opposite that of the FCC and
"plainly were significant to warrant consideration," the League's brief
said. "ARRL's proposed sliding-scale extrapolation factor was an
alternative entitled to consideration and a reasoned explanation for its
rejection."

The ARRL makes the argument in its brief that it proposed a "win-win"
solution: Authorize BPL, but "confine it to a generous frequency band
that does not present these interference problems." It makes note of the
fact that the largest BPL operator has designed its systems this way,
and suggests that other operators could follow suit.

Yet the FCC in its brief brushed off these suggestions with a terse, two
word sentence: "The other proposed 'solution' -- complete avoidance of
all HF frequencies -- would needlessly restrict BPL design and reduce
system capacity, without regard to whether there are amateurs that need
protection from a particular BPL installation. This would result in a
grossly inefficient utilization of Access BPL capacity, reducing the
potential benefits of BPL and increasing its costs to the public,
without a corresponding benefit or need."

ARRL, therefore, asked the Court in its brief "to enforce the FCC's
'duty to consider responsible alternatives to its chosen policy and to
give a reasoned explanation for its rejection of such alternatives.'"

Pointing out the "multiple legal errors in the Orders," the ARRL stated
in the brief that the FCC "require[d] a remand. When the Court remands
the Orders, it should direct the FCC to give this alternative the
careful consideration required by law."

The ARRL's reply brief can be read in its entirety on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/Court_Appeal_ReplyBrief2007july31
.pdf>.

==> ARRL Passport to be Featured at 2007 ARRL National Convention

One of the exciting activities at this month's ARRL National Convention
is the ARRL Passport, the ultimate hamfest scavenger hunt. Pick up your
Passport at the ARRL EXPO area and collect different ARRL Passport codes
at participating exhibits and activities at the Huntsville Hamfest.
"There are only 2500 ARRL Passports available, so pick them up early
while you can," said ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen,
NQ1R. "Turn in your completed entry form at ARRL EXPO by Sunday at 12
noon and you could be a winner."

Prizes include two terrific all-mode mobile transceivers: the Icom
IC-7000 and the Yaesu FT-857D.

Charlie Emerson, N4OKL, Vice-President of the Huntsville Hamfest
Association, said that convention attendance will likely reach
unprecedented levels. "The hamfest is getting into the 'unreal'
category. We have reports of people coming in from everywhere." Both
official hotels, the Embassy Suites (connected to the all
air-conditioned Von Braun Center, site of the Convention and Hamfest)
and the Holiday Inn (across the street) have sold out. There is
availability at the nearby Marriott Hotel, just a short distance away by
car. More lodging options are available at the Huntsville/Madison County
Convention and Visitors Bureau Web site <http://www.huntsville.org>.

The 2007 ARRL National Convention is August 18-19 in Huntsville, Alabama
and is held in conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest. For more
information on the ARRL EXPO, National Convention and the Huntsville
Hamfest, check out the National Convention Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/expo>.

==> ARRL Files Objection to Ambient's BPL Experimental Authorization
Renewal Request

On July 25, the ARRL filed an Informal Objection to Ambient
Corporation's request for a renewal of their nationwide experimental
authorization that allows them to operate broadband over power line
(BPL) operations anywhere in the country they choose. Ambient has been
operating its BPL equipment under experimental authorizations for more
than five years, an unusual amount of time for an experimental
authorization. An Informal Objection is the procedure dictated by the
FCC's Part 5 rules protesting the renewal of an experimental
authorization. Currently, Ambient operates a BPL system in Briarcliff
Manor in Westchester County, New York. Other installations have
apparently been shut down by Ambient.

Ambient has been using experimental authorization WD2XEQ, issued in
2005, and its predecessor WB9XQT, issued on June 24, 2002. WB9XQT
covered the BPL operation in Briarcliff Manor. It was replaced by WD2XEQ
on July 28, 2003, a two-year authorization that was twice extended, most
recently through August 1, 2007.

The ARRL states in its Objection that "since the issuance of the first
experimental authorization, rules have been enacted for the regular Part
15 operation of BPL systems and there is nothing that has been filed by
Ambient which could justify the continuation of experimental operation
of this system rather than operation pursuant to the Commission's rules
governing virtually all other BPL systems."

The ARRL filed complaints against Ambient and its BPL operation in
Briarcliff Manor on October 12, 2004; December 17, 2004; January 7,
2005; March 17, 2005; January 6, 2006; March 29, 2006 and May 31, 2007.
The Objection said that each complaint reported "ongoing, harmful
interference caused by the unlawful operation of Ambient's BPL project
at Briarcliff Manor in violation of the terms of the experimental
authorization." These complaints, supported both by documentation by
amateurs as well as tests made by ARRL staff, concluded that "this
facility was, and now still is, causing harmful interference to Amateur
Radio stations. As such, it is in violation of the terms of the
experimental authorization."

The terms of Ambient's experimental authorization require that if "any
interference" results from its operation, the holder of the
authorization will be subject to immediate shutdown. The ARRL stipulates
that harmful interference has repeatedly occurred, and such interference
has even been witnessed and verified by a member of the FCC's
Enforcement Bureau staff, yet the FCC has failed to take any action
against Ambient in response to any of these complaints. The ARRL
continued: "[i]t would be unconscionable for the Commission to further
renew this experimental authorization in the face of these unresolved
complaints of interference."

The ARRL does praise the FCC in the Objection, however, for "finally,
after years of inaction, commencing an enforcement proceeding" against
Ambient's operation in New York (Enforcement Bureau file number
EB-06-SE-083). This proceeding is still under investigation, "making
renewal of this experimental authorization completely inappropriate."

The Objection further states that the FCC's rules provide that "an
experimental authorization will not be granted for a period longer than
that which is required for completion of the experimental project."
There is nothing offered in Ambient's pending renewal application that
would justify the extension of the experimental authorization beyond the
five years that it has been authorized to operate. Ambient's extension
application offers "no justification whatsoever" for a sixth or seventh
year of experimental BPL operation.

By mandating that Ambient operate in accordance with the with the
"long-ago-enacted BPL rules rather than allowing it to hide behind an
experimental authorization," Ambient would at least be subject to the
FCC's regulatory plan for BPL, "however inadequate that plan is in terms
of interference avoidance," the ARRL said in its Objection. If forced to
comply with the Part 15 rules, as other BPL systems must do, "perhaps at
least some of the abundance of unresolved and unaddressed interference
problems caused by Ambient would be reduced."

ARRL's Objection included a copy of a July 13, 2007 letter from the
Chairman of the Public Safety and Security Committee of the Westchester
County Board of Legislators, William E. Burton. In the letter, Burton
identifies a number of ongoing concerns related to the interference
potential of the Briarcliff Manor BPL system. He goes on to say he is
concerned...to have recently learned that Ambient may be planning to
request a renewal of its experimental program without making vitally
important improvements in its technology...[and] there is no assurance
that Ambient may not 'turn up the power' and again exceed emissions
levels causing interference again after a license renewal."

Burton noted that at a committee meeting held March 5, 2007, "the
representative from [Ambient BPL system sponsor] Consolidated Edison
agreed to work with the ARRL to resolve the communications interference
problems. That cooperation has yet to take place."

Burton's letter continued: "I am thus requesting that the FCC not renew
the experimental Briarcliff Manor BPL license until my concerns about
harmful interference are adequately addressed....The Commission should
require that Consolidated Edison and Ambient cooperate with the ARRL and
its BPL technical experts forthwith....By not renewing the Ambient
experimental license until all these concerns are addressed, the FCC can
make it clear that complaints concerning harmful interference are taken
seriously."

The ARRL summed up the Objection by "respectfully requesting that the
Commission deny or dismiss" Ambient's pending application for renewal or
extension of its experimental authorization for Briarcliff Manor "and in
other locations in the United States where it may be operating BPL
systems."

The ARRL's Informal Objection can be read in its entirety on the ARRL
Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/Ambient_Informal_Objection2007jul
y25.pdf>

==> Dennis Dura, K2DCD, Joins ARRL Staff as Emergency Preparedness and
Response Manager

The ARRL is pleased to welcome Emergency Preparedness and Response
Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD, to the Headquarters staff in Newington.
Dura's major responsibilities include addressing the development and
implementation of an organizational disaster response plan as well as a
continuity operations plan, complete with supporting procedures and
training. Integral to these plans are the recommendations of the
National Emergency Response Planning Committee (NERPC) report. Dura also
will play an integral part in the management of ARES, and in future
negotiations with served agencies with whom ARRL shares or creates
Memoranda of Understanding.

"By instituting these base components for the organization, the
emergency communications resources of Amateur Radio and the League will
become truly disaster resilient on all fronts," Dura said. "Emergency
communications cannot stand alone. As an organization, we must have
disaster plans in place and know what we must do to continue operations
when they are impacted. Without this, our support to the field will be
lacking."

Dura comes to the ARRL with more than 26 years of experience in the
emergency management field. He started as a volunteer coordinator in his
home township's emergency management program and turned this experience
and training into a consulting career, working on off-site emergency
plans for nuclear power plants and the jurisdictions where they are
sited around the country. At the same time, he joined the American Red
Cross as a volunteer Disaster Consultant in New Jersey, leading to paid
positions as Manager of Disaster Services in St Louis, Director of
Disaster Preparedness in Chicago and a Disaster Preparedness Specialist
in New Jersey.

After some years working in the non-governmental organization side of
the field, he joined the New Jersey State Police, Office of Emergency
Management (NJOEM). Dura progressed through the ranks in NJOEM and
served in numerous positions such as Operations Officer and Hurricane
Preparedness Officer. As a Principal Planner, he was part of the group
to develop the first Terrorism Plan for New Jersey prior to 9/11,
specializing in human services issues, especially Mass Care. As part of
New Jersey's response to the 9/11 attack, he served on a specialized
inter-governmental team to establish the Family Assistance Center at
Liberty State Park.

He left NJOEM in 2003 to become the Deputy State Emergency Coordinator
for the New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS), the position he
held prior joining the League. Dura's focus in NJDHS was spread across
several areas such as Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Mass
Care and Business/Continuity of Operations.

During his time at the NJOEM, Dura was the Assistant State RACES
Officer. He was also the liaison to the National Weather Service (NWS)
for NJOEM and became involved in the SKYWARN program. Through a
successful grant submission, he was able to secure two National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) All-Hazards Radio transmitters for
unserved areas of New Jersey. His work on this project resulted in the
Mark Trail Award in 2002. The Chairman of the Mt Holly NWS Forecast
Office SKYWARN Advisory Committee for many years, Dennis has also been a
member of his county ARES program.

Dura said he is excited to be working at ARRL Headquarters. "It is a
tremendous opportunity to take my many years of emergency management
experience and apply all of it to the ARRL. It wasn't a hard move [to
the ARRL] at all -- take the disaster experiences and meld them with a
tremendous hobby...that ends up serving the nation and the world."

Dura holds a BS in criminal justice from The College of New Jersey and
is currently completing graduate level work in homeland security and
emergency management. He is a Certified Business Resilience Manager and
is a member of numerous professional emergency management organizations.


Dura can be reached via e-mail <k2dcd@arrl.org>.

==> ARRL in Action - July 2007: What Have We Been Up to Lately?

The ARRL Board of Directors held its second 2007 meeting in Windsor,
Connecticut. It was the final meeting for ARRL Southeastern Division
Director Frank Butler, W4RH, who is retiring from the Board after 50
years of volunteer service to the ARRL. Just before the Board meeting,
President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, and Chief
Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, led the dedication of the
Diamond Terrace at ARRL Headquarters.

CEO David Sumner responded by fax to congressional testimony by FCC
Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein that included support for the expansion
of broadband over power lines (BPL).

Dennis Dura, K2DCD, joined the ARRL Headquarters staff as Emergency
Preparedness and Response Manager. Senior Assistant Technical Editor
Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, has been named Editor of QEX.

The September issue of QST, our first Emergency Communications special
issue, was released to the printer. Preparations for the ARRL 2007
National Convention, to be held in conjunction with the Huntsville
Hamfest, are in full swing. Web Development staff worked with several
departments to update and improve the online membership application.

The ARRL has two Public Relations campaigns for 2007. One concerns ARES
and Public Relations, and the other Emergency Communications. Media and
Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, reports a significant
increase in the number and quality of Field Day media coverage.

ARES members assisted in two emergencies: the Zaca Fire in Los Padres
National Forest northwest of Los Angeles, and flooding in Oklahoma.
Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, discussed several
issues involved with the PAVE PAWS radar situation with US Department of
Defense officials in a teleconference call.

Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, made contact at W1AW with
special event station VE2XPO in Montreal, Quebec, in commemoration of a
similar contact made 40 years earlier from the Amateur Radio station at
Expo 67, the Montreal World's Fair. Roland Masse, VE2PX, was at the mic
in Montreal, as he had been for the original 1967 contact with W1AW.

Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, attended the
Arizona State Convention in Williams. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma,
AB1FM; ARRL Assistant VEC Manager Perry Green, WY1O, and Regulatory
Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, attended the annual conference
of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. ARRL Lab
Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, took part in a meeting of the IEEE EMC Society
Symposium in Honolulu.

==> FCC Enforcement Actions

On July 25, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau released new Amateur Radio
enforcement actions. John C. Kimbrough, WR3S, of Murfreesboro,
Tennessee, received notification from the FCC's Atlanta District
Director that his automatic control privileges had been removed. This
followed up on a letter sent by Riley Hollingsworth that listed various
and numerous complaints about Kimbrough concerning "apparent violations
of the Commission's rules, including inadequate station control,
interference and failure to properly identify." The Letter went on to
say that Kimbrough may not resume automatic control until notified by
the Atlanta office. "If WR3S is operated under automatic control prior
to notification from this office, enforcement action will be taken
against your Amateur operator and station licenses for WR3S. This action
may include designation of those licenses for a revocation and
suspension hearing, and a monetary forfeiture."

Robert J. Langston, W2ENY, of Cornwall on Hudson, New York, received a
request for information concerning "allege[d] transmission of
recordings, including recordings of the radio transmissions of other
operators, and false identification of transmissions," and called into
account "serious questions regarding your ability to retain an Amateur
license." The FCC gave Langston 20 days to respond to the allegations
and include a signed and dated affidavit or declaration under penalty of
perjury, verifying the truth and accuracy of the information submitted
in your response."

Robert A. DiMezza, W2GGI, of Delray Beach, Florida, received a request
for information concerning complaints that allege "among other things,
poor signal quality and refusal to make corrections," and was given 20
days to respond to these complaints.

Frank Richards, of Mooers, New York, received a Memorandum Opinion and
Order from the FCC regarding his apparent attempted 1995 hijack of an
Amateur Radio license from Frank C. Richards, KB4VU, of Ft Meyers,
Florida. The New York Richards was initially successful, and the FCC
granted him KG2IC, but after the Florida Richards contacted the FCC to
say he'd never moved nor modified his license, the FCC directed the New
York Richards to explain. In June 2004, the New York Richards turned in
his license. While the FCC did not pursue further enforcement action
the, it did tell the New York Richards that the circumstances of the
apparent abuse of the license system could become a factor if he ever
applied for an Amateur Radio ticket in the future. The New York Richards
applied for a Technician license June 28, 2006 and accompanied his
application with a letter. The FCC Enforcement Bureau said it was unable
to determine whether the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau should grant
the application, however, so it now has been designated for a hearing.
The FCC's Enforcement Bureau's Motion to Dismiss Application with
Prejudice and Terminate Hearing, filed June 25, had a deadline of July
10 for any opposition to be filed. As of July 18, no written appearance
had been filed by, or on behalf of, Richards, and no one attended or
entered an appearance on Richards' behalf at a prehearing conference
July 10. As such, Richards' Amateur Radio license application was
dismissed with prejudice.

Frederick C. Severa, AH8I, of Folsom, California, received a warning
notice claiming "that Commission monitoring information indicates that
on February 12, 2007 at 0221 UTC, you operated in the SSB mode on 7.055
MHz from a location near Reading [sic], CA. That mode is not authorized
to you on that frequency under Commission rules." The FCC sent Severa a
letter notifying him of this; it was returned as undeliverable. Saying
that "Such operation may reflect adversely on your qualifications to
retain an Amateur Radio license," The FCC gave him 30 days to respond
and to verify his current address.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Ain't No Sun(spots) When He's Gone" Cook, K7RA, this week reports:
Average daily sunspot numbers rose very little this week, less than 6
points to 7.3. There were no major geomagnetic upsets, only slightly
unsettled conditions on the first day of August. We saw eight straight
days of no sunspots, then a spot or two over four days, then no spots on
the first two days of August. A week from now, August 10, we may see the
beginning of several days with a few sunspots every day. Expect
unsettled geomagnetic conditions centered on August 7 and again on
August 10. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions August
3-5, quiet to unsettled August 6, unsettled to active August 7, and back
to quiet August 8-9. Sunspot numbers for July 26 through August 1 were
0, 0, 13, 14, 13, 11 and 0 with a mean of 7.3. The 10.7 cm flux was
68.4, 68.7, 69.9, 69, 68.9, 68 and 68.8, with a mean of 68.8. Estimated
planetary A indices were 9, 8, 4, 14, 10, 6 and 17 with a mean of 9.7.
Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 6, 6, 3, 11, 10, 4 and 15, with a
mean of 7.9. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit
the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: This weekend, check out the ARRL UHF
Contest, 1800 UTC Saturday, August 4-1800 UTC Sunday, August 5. The TARA
Grid Dip Shindig and the European HF Championship are August 4, while
the 10-10 International Summer Contest (SSB), the National Lighthouse
Weekend QSO Contest and the North American QSO Party (CW) are August
4-5. The RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are August 5. The
ARS Spartan Sprint is scheduled for August 7. Next weekend, the WAE DX
Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are on the air August 11-12.
The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint takes place August 15. See the ARRL
Contest Branch page http://www.arrl.org/contests/, the ARRL Contester's
Rate Sheet <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM
Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for
more info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday August 19, for these on-line
courses beginning on Friday September 7: Technician License Course
(EC-010); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, Level 1 (EC-001);
Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006); Antenna Design and Construction
(EC-009); Analog Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013).
To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>.

* 2007 ARRL Teacher Institute Is in Full Swing: Forty-eight teachers
from around the country signed up for the ARRL Teachers Institute. The
first Institutes, held in Rocklin, California and Spokane, Washington
are already completed, as is the first of two institutes at ARRL
Headquarters in Newington. Each class of 12, ranging from pre-school
teachers to college professors, gets the opportunity to explore and
experience firsthand wireless technology basics, how to teach basic
electronics concepts integral to microcontrollers and robots, as well as
how to bring space technology into the classroom. The four day course
culminates with building and programming a robot. While the emphasis of
the course is not Amateur Radio and teachers need not be hams to attend
the all-expenses paid sessions, some do go ahead and take the Technician
license exam. Six have received their Technician license so far and one
has upgraded to General. Education and Technology Program Coordinator
and Director of the ARRL Teachers Institute Mark Spencer, WA8SME, said,
"About 80 percent of the non-ham teachers have gone on to get their
Amateur Radio license. They get really 'jazzed up' about ham radio while
they are here." To find out more about the ARRL Teachers Institute,
please see the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.orgFandES/tbp/ti.html>.

* New Jersey Radio Club Makes Scholarship Donation to ARRL Foundation:
ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, attended the Sussex
Hamfest in July where the Morris Radio Club (New Jersey) donated more
than $31,000 to the ARRL Foundation. This money is earmarked for an
annual Morris Radio Club Scholarship to go to a deserving area high
school senior who is an Amateur Radio operator. Ron Levy, K2CO, former
W2 QSL Manager, long time New Jersey DX Association (NJDXA) officer and
MRC trustee, led the club contingent in presenting the check. Also on
hand at the ceremony were ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon,
N2FF, and Vice Director Joyce Birmingham, KA2ANF. If you or your club is
interested in doing something of a similar nature, contact Mary Hobart,
K1MMH <k1mmh@arrl.org>, at the ARRL Development Office
<http://www.arrl.org/development>.

* September Is National Preparedness Month: September is National
Preparedness Month and Amateur Radio operators are joining a wide
variety of national, state and local organizations, including the US
Department of Homeland Security, in educating the public about preparing
for emergencies. When unexpected natural or man-made emergencies occur,
our greatest individual defense is preparedness. Getting an emergency
supply kit, making an emergency plan, and identifying preparedness and
response resources within our communities are several things we can do
to prepare ourselves. This nationwide effort is to encourage individuals
and families to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their
homes, businesses and schools. Free preparedness resources are just a
click away in English <http://www.ready.gov> and Spanish
<http://www.listo.gov>.

* Morse Code Study in Pennsylvania: A psychology professor at the
University of Pittsburgh is conducting a study involving short-term
memory and how it correlates to Morse code. Julie Fiez, the study's
principal investigator, said she got the idea of using Morse code in her
studies from a family member who is an Amateur Radio operator. She said
she liked the idea of using CW in her experiments to see how people
process audio tones. "Our interest is in verbal working memory," she
said, "which is the ability to keep 'on-line' for a short time,
information you can access later." Part 1 of the experiment is an
assessment of the participant's Morse proficiency. First, participants
will be asked to accurately copy sentences as they are presented in
Morse at three different rates (16, 19, and 25 words per minute). Then
they will be asked to listen to the entire Morse sentence and recall the
sentence from memory. Part two asks participants to recall lists of
letters from memory. The letters will either be in English or in Morse.
Participants will either hear the letters through headphones or see them
on a computer screen. The study will look for differences in memory
performance between Morse lists and English lists. The research study is
expected to continue through the fall. If you would like to participate,
please contact the research team via e-mail <morsestudy@hotmail.com>.
Thanks to Tom Mitchell, WY3H, and the Leader Times, part of the
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review family of newspapers, for some information

* ARRL DXCC Desk Approves J5UAR Operation: ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore,
NC1L, said that the 2007 J5UAR DXpedition to Guinea-Bissau has been
approved for DXCC credit. "If you had cards rejected for this operation,
please send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk <dxcc@arrl.org> and you will
be placed on the list for update," Moore said.

* FAR Scholarship Winners Announced: The Foundation for Amateur Radio
(FAR) has announced the 2007 winners of 56 scholarships it administers.
The scholarships were open to all licensed radio amateurs who met the
qualification and residence requirements of the various sponsors. A
non-profit organization incorporated in the District of Columbia, FAR
represents more than 50 Amateur Radio clubs in Maryland, the District of
Columbia, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. It is devoted
exclusively to the scientific, literary and educational pursuits that
advance the purposes of the Amateur Radio Service. For a complete list
of recipients, please see the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/07/25/100/?nc=1>. For more
information, contact FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20783,
or visit their Web site <http://www.amateurradio-far.org>.

* Let Us Know: What's your favorite part of The ARRL Letter? What kind
of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would you prefer the
Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your chance to let
your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL News Editor S.
Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, at k1sfa@arrl.org, with the subject line "ARRL
Letter Suggestions." All messages will be read and discussed, and we
look forward to implementing positive suggestions into the ARRL Letter.


===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers
informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
podcast from our Web site.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be
given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.

==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
k1sfa@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
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ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
<http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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* 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  Wed Aug  8 11:33:59 2007
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Wed Aug  8 11:44:06 2007
Subject: [CVRC] Seventh USA Championships of A R Direction Finding
Message-ID: <200708081534.l78FY01B008076@pop0.greatbasin.net>

USA ARDF Championships near Lake Tahoe in September

Here's an opportunity to spend a weekend in the mountains of California
and immerse yourself in international-rules on-foot transmitter
hunting.  Registration is now open for the Seventh USA Championships of
Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF), which take place September 14 -
16, 2007 near South Lake Tahoe on the California/Nevada border.  The
best radio-orienteers in the USA will be there, but the courses will
also be open to anyone at any radio foxhunting
skill level, with or without a ham radio license.

The competition courses for this event will be in the same forests
where the United States Orienteering Federation held its 2003 national
championships of classic orienteering.  The maps are excellent.  The
forest area is open again
after the June wildfire, and our course areas appear to be undamaged.

South Lake Tahoe is 35 miles from Carson City, Nevada, 64 miles from
Reno, Nevada and 117 miles from Sacramento, California.

The championships get under way on Friday with practice and equipment
testing sessions, followed by a meeting for orientation and rules
review.  The two-meter foxhunting contest will take place on Saturday,
after which all will
gather for a banquet in the evening.  Sunday's schedule includes the
80-meter contest and an awards ceremony, timed to end in mid-afternoon
to accommodate those who must hurry home.

Event headquarters will be at Camp Concord in the El Dorado National
Forest, near Mount Tallac.  An inexpensive package including two nights
of lodging in the rustic cabins and five group meals is being offered
to event registrants.
Camp Concord is fully accredited by the American Camping Association,
but for those who would prefer more amenities, several motels are
available within three to five miles.

National ARDF Championships are for individuals only.  No teaming or
assistance on the course is permitted.  Participants are divided into
five age categories for males and four age categories for females in
accordance with standard IARU rules.  Medals for first, second and
third places will be awarded in each category on each band.

Even if you have never competed in an ARDF event before, you will be
welcomed at the USA Championships.  USA's best radio-orienteers are
expected to attend, and they are always helpful to newcomers.  To
provide even more learning
opportunities, there will be an ARDF training camp nearby on September
12 and 13.

The registration form and more information is at <www.homingin.com>
along with a photo page of Camp Concord.  Please pass this announcement
on to local transmitter hunters and ham clubs.  See you there!

Joe Moell K0OV
USA ARDF Coordinator
homingin@aol.com
www.homingin.com
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
k7vc@arrl.org


From dick at twohams.com  Wed Aug  8 21:47:51 2007
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan)
Date: Wed Aug  8 21:58:05 2007
Subject: [CVRC] AMI NORTH PARTY 2007
Message-ID: <200708090147.l791lq1B001482@pop0.greatbasin.net>

AMI NORTH PARTY 2007
See http://www.bta5f.org/
(775) 782-4464

PLEASE PASS THIS ALONG TO OTHER GROUPS AND OPERATORS

All are invited to the AMI north party September 8th and 9th at Brad 
Hollander's KB7FQR ranch in Minden Nevada (20 miles from So. Lake Tahoe)

AM, SSB, COLLECTORS, BROADCASTERS, and THEIR FAMILY'S

Please RSVP, Food, Radio Swap, tour of Virginia City Radio Museum and more.

RV's welcome on the ranch, lots of room.

BRING LOTS OF STUFF TO SWAP

See http://www.bta5f.org/

Brad Hollander KB7FQR
uvc1@verizon.net
(775) 782-4464


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Aug  9 22:25:43 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Aug  9 22:35:58 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD033 DX news
Message-ID: <200708100225.l7A2Ph1B028433@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD033
ARLD033 DX news

ZCZC AE33
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 33  ARLD033
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 9, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD033
ARLD033 DX news

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

CHINA, BY.  Operators BY1TT, BD1PTA, BA3CE and possibly others will
be active as home call/2 from Juhua Island (AS-151) between August
10 and 12.  QSL via BD1PTA.

AZORES, CU.  Falko, DG1WIM will activate the Island of Sao Miguel
(AZ-002 for the Portuguese Islands Award, WLOTA LH-2016) as
CU2/DG1WIM until August 14.  Operations will be holiday style.  QSL
via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau.

CRETE, SV9.  Look for Marc, ON7SS/OO9O to be active as SV9/OO9O/p
until August 17.  Bands and modes of activity were not provided.
QSL via ON7SS, direct or via the bureau.

MACEDONIA, Z3.  Look for members of the Radio Club ''Nikola Tesla'',
Z37M (ex.Z30M), to use the special callsign Z360M until the end of
the year.  Activity is to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the
Radio Club Nikola Tesla in Stip, Macedonia.

PHILIPPINES, DU.  Hans, DL5SDF will stay on Mindanao (DU9, OC-130)
from August 10 to 28.  He already has the confirmation to get a
license but does not know the callsign yet.  Hans works only in CW
with 100 watts and wires.  QSLs (preferably via bureau) via DL5SDF.

ALAND ISLANDS, OH0.  Juergen, OH0/DJ3KR, is QRV until August 12.  He
will then travel to Svalbard (EU-026) where he will be active as
JW/DJ3KR from August 15 to 26.  All QSLs via his home call.

MACAO, XX9.  Hide, JM1LJS plans another activity as XX9TJS, most
likely from August 10 to 13.  Hide likes CW and SSB on 80 through 10
meters and requests QSLs direct via JM1LJS.

MONTENEGRO, 4O.  Emir, 9A6AA plans to be active as 4O6AA from the
island Sveti Nikola (EU-163, LH 1097) from August 13 to 19.  QSLs
only direct via his home call.

BHUTAN, A5.  Akira, A52AM was reported on 7058 kHz from 1730 until
after 1900z.  QSL via JA0JHA.

VIETNAM, XV.  XV9TH has been heard using PSK on 14072 kHz.  QSL via
SK7AX.

SYRIA, 6C.  Look for Syrian hams to use the special prefix 6C60 to
celebrate the 60th anniversary of amateur radio in Syria from
October 15 to November 15 on all HF bands.

MARKET REEF, OJ.  The team of OH0RJ, OH2BH, OH2PM, SM0W and SM6U
will try a landing on August 11.  They plan to operate CW and SSB
with two stations until August 16.  QSL via OH2BH.  They will then
switch to a concentration on RTTY as OJ0MI and also participate in
the lighthouse activity August 18 and 19.  QSL via OH2HAN.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The Worked All Europe DX Contest and
Maryland-DC QSO Party are on tap for this weekend.  Please see
August QST, page 96 and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for
details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Aug 10 18:46:56 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Aug 10 18:57:16 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP033 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200708102246.l7AMku1B012008@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP033
ARLP033 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP33
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 33  ARLP033
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  August 10, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP033
ARLP033 Propagation de K7RA

Average daily sunspot numbers were up a little, rising over five
points to 12.4.  After a short period of no sunspots, we are back to
seeing a spot or two every day.  Expect these conditions to
continue, possibly falling back to zero spots again around August
16-20.

Today (August 10) expect some unsettled to active geomagnetic
conditions due to a solar wind stream.  Planetary A index predicted
for August 10-16 is 25, 15, 5, 5, 5, 5 and 10.  Geophysical Institute
Prague predicts unsettled to active conditions August 10, quiet to
unsettled August 11, quiet August 12-14, quiet to unsettled August
15, and unsettled August 16.

New predictions for smoothed sunspot numbers in coming months seem
to appear almost monthly from the Space Environment Center.  Now the
estimate for smoothed sunspot number in December 2007 has risen from
21 to 24.  You can see the prediction from last month at
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1661.pdf and the current one
at http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1666.pdf . Look on page
nine of both issues.

Bob Wertz, NF7E was operating in Alaska last month, and wrote asking
about some strange conditions he observed on the air.

''Recently while on a mini DXpedition on Ushagat Island, located off
the coast of Homer, Alaska, we encountered some strange lulls in
operating.

''We landed on the island on July 12, and after about 3 hours, we
were on the air and doing great.  Then on the following few days, we
almost lost all communications with the world.  At first we thought
it was rig problems, then antenna problems, but then realized it
must be poor propagation.

''Can you give me some input about conditions those days?''

Yes, we can.  Looking at data from the magnetometer at University of
Alaska, we see that the A index (called the College A index) on July
11-16 was 32, 10, 2, 39, 19 and 7.  The cause was solar wind, and
the disturbance tends to concentrate toward the poles, so the
absorption in Alaska from this activity can lead you to believe your
radio is dead. Folks operating at high latitudes have had a respite
from this activity because during a lull in the solar cycle, the
chance of geomagnetic storms is much less.  But old Alaska hands will
tell you of times in years past when geomagnetic storms seemed to
last for months, and HF was mostly unusable.  That is the downside
of higher solar activity.  We like sunspots, because of the
accompanying increase in reflection and refraction in the
ionosphere.  But along with that comes greater chance of geomagnetic
storms.

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

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service at
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html.  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .  Monthly
propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas
locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Sunspot numbers for August 2 through 8 were 0, 11, 11, 11, 16, 13
and 25 with a mean of 12.4.  10.7 cm flux was 69.4, 70.4, 69.4, 68.9,
70, 69, and 69, with a mean of 69.4.  Estimated planetary A indices
were 5, 4, 2, 2, 12, 23 and 6 with a mean of 7.7.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 5, 4, 0, 2, 8, 23 and 5, with a mean of
6.7.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Sat Aug 11 01:51:42 2007
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Sat Aug 11 02:03:08 2007
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 26, No 32 (Friday, August 10, 2007)
Message-ID: <200708110552.l7B5qg1B028326@pop0.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 32
August 10, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL VEC Team Attends National VEC Conference
* + The 2007 ARRL National Convention Is Just About Here!
* + The 2007 ARRL Teachers Institutes Reach 45 Schools
* + ARRL COO Takes a Look at ARRL HQ's First Six Months of 2007
* + Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan, KD5VNP, Launches into Space
* + ARRL/TAPR Conference Coming to Connecticut Next Month
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Weekend on the Radio
       ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
     + New Chief for Air Force MARS
     + Nominations Sought for ARRL Section Managers
       New Prefix in the Works for Bosnia and Herzegovina
       ARRL Tours Continue through Summer
       100th Anniversary of Scouting Celebrated with ARISS Contact
     + No ARRL Audio News Next Week
       Let Us Know What You Think

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>.
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>
===========================================================

A quick note: Watch for September's QST in your mailbox!

==> ARRL VEC Team Attends National VEC Conference

Representatives of 11 of the nation's 14 Volunteer Examiner Coordinators
(VECs) met July 27 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the 22nd annual
National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC)
conference. NCVEC Chairman Tom Fuszard, KB9PU, presided over the
gathering. This yearly gathering offers an opportunity for VECs to
discuss issues facing the volunteer examination program and to meet
face-to-face with FCC staff members. The ARRL's delegation to the
conference included ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM; Assistant
Manager Perry Green, WY1O, and Regulatory Information Branch Manager Dan
Henderson, N1ND. Also on hand were five FCC staff members: Donna Scott,
Sandy Eckenrode, Terry Fishel, Senior Program Analyst Bill Cross, W3TN,
and Riley Hollingsworth, Special Counsel in the Enforcement Bureau.
Cross and Hollingsworth addressed the conference.

Jim Wiley, KL7CC, chairman of the NCVEC Question Pool Committee, led a
discussion on the QPC's plans for the upcoming year. The QPC is working
on the new Amateur Extra class pool and syllabus that is scheduled to be
released December 2007; it will become effective July 1, 2008. Wiley
mentioned that the QPC does not expect any new pool releases in 2009.

Fred Maia, W5YI, spoke about a problem he found with information between
the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and the Commission Registration
System (CORES) computer systems not being exchanged. Amateurs, he said,
are complying with Part 97 rules by keeping the ULS license database up
to date, but this information does not find its way into the CORES
database. Part 1 of the Rules, Section 1.8002(b)(2), which Maia said
most amateurs are unfamiliar with, states that applicants must keep
their CORES records current. Amateurs can supply CORES with up-to-date
information via the CORES Web page
<https://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do> or by filling out
and submitting FCC Form 161
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/feesforms/forms.html>.

Maia proposed that the FCC update CORES automatically when the ULS is
updated. ULS is maintained by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
(WTB) and CORES is handled by the Office of Managing Director (OMD). The
FCC's Bill Cross said these systems are two separate systems and that
they are discussing a solution.

Cross also moderated the FCC portion of the meeting and took the
opportunity to introduce the FCC personnel attending the conference. He
reviewed recent Commission rule decisions that have affected VECs,
including WTB 04-140 and 05-235 and remarked that the FCC is watching
the data streams and upgrades. Cross noted that the ARRL Web site showed
ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, buried in piles of work
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/02/28/101/?nc=1>.

Hollingsworth spoke next and opened his comments with a bit of
lightheartedness. He said that when he spoke at the Dayton Hamvention
earlier this year, he told people to "lighten up on the bands." Since
Dayton, he's only had three complaints. "I didn't mean for everyone to
take that so seriously!" he said.

He continued by saying that he is "very happy" there is a "slowdown" in
Amateur Radio enforcement needs. The Commission's enforcement has gotten
stronger over the years, and it will not be neglected, he said. He went
on to point out that the Enforcement Bureau now has its own Web page
<http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html> that lists all
Amateur Radio enforcement activities.

When it comes to VE sessions, Hollingsworth said, he's only had "two new
complaints in two years" about exam sessions, "and those were fairly
small involving only two or three applicants." He did, however, warn the
VECs "to remain vigilant about detecting fraud now that the licensing
structure is simpler."

There was a discussion at this year's conference concerning whether or
not the NCVEC should have a standard Spanish language exam pool.
Currently, multiple Spanish pool translations are being used in Puerto
Rico. The ARRL VEC brought up the idea of "only one standard pool
version that could be used by the Spanish community," and asked that the
NCVEC "seek to establish and maintain one standard Spanish language
question pool that conforms to be an exact translation of the current
English language question pool for the purposes of being made available
to the Spanish speaking public prior to its use for public study."

Due to the fact that there are differing Spanish pool translations
currently in use, and none of them an "official" translation of the
question pools, the ARRL VEC wanted one standard pool to be created.
Somma pointed out that before the VEC program came into being, the FCC
administered Spanish language license exams. "We believe in Puerto Rico,
where Spanish is an official language, there should be only one standard
translation," Somma said.

ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, in an e-mail, concurred: "FCC
Amateur Radio exams have been available in Spanish since before the
creation of the VEC program, back when the FCC administered all the
exams. Remember that the FCC regulates Amateur Radio (and other radio
services as well) in Puerto Rico where Spanish is an official language
and only a minority of the citizens are fluent in English.

"The only current issue, and the purpose of ARRL's NCVEC motion, is
whether there should be a single, standard version of the Spanish
question pool (there currently isn't), or whether the longstanding
practice of allowing any translation done by any VE team or VECs should
be continued. We believe there should be one standard and only one
translation."

In another e-mail, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, agreed: "This
effort [for a standardized Spanish translation] is nothing other than a
mechanism to insure the high degree of exam integrity that ARRL VEC has
been the standard-bearer of for years. Any other position would be
contrary to the best interests of the VEC program."

After much discussion, the majority of VECs present did not think they
would be able to utilize the Spanish version, and felt with the current
resources available, people can be tested in Spanish if need be.
Furthermore, the opposition said, the NCVEC has neither the staff nor
the resources to undertake and monitor these additional pools.

A vote followed the discussion on the ARRL VEC proposal and the motion
did not carry. The NCVEC did not endorse one standard Spanish question
pool translation and chose not to develop a unified statement about
foreign language exams.

The NCVEC re-elected the current representatives to new terms. Tom
Fuszard, KB9PU (MRAC VEC), was selected for a fifth term as chairman;
Larry Pollock, NB5X (W5YI VEC), will continue as Vice Chairman. Michele
Cimbala, WK3X (LARC VEC), will continue as secretary; Ray Adams, W4CPA
(WCARS VEC), will remain as treasurer, and Fred Maia, W5YI (W5YI VEC),
will remain as rules reporter. The four current Question Pool Committee
members -- Perry Green, WY1O (ARRL VEC), Roland Anders, K3RA (LARC VEC),
Larry Pollock, NB5X (W5YI VEC) and QPC Chairman Jim Wiley, KL7CC
(Anchorage VEC), were reappointed as well.

The NCVEC set July 25, 2008 as a tentative date for the 2008 conference.

==> The 2007 ARRL National Convention Is Just About Here!

ARRL is tying the ribbons on its planning for the 2007 ARRL National
Convention, held in conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest. The
convention and hamfest will be held August 18-19 at the Von Braun Center
in Huntsville, Alabama. The event is preceded by the Global Amateur
Radio Emergency Communications Conference -- GAREC-07 -- held in the
adjacent Embassy Suites Hotel, August 16-17.

"The ARRL National Convention will be chock-full of activities and
exhibits," said ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R.
"The centerpiece of the convention will be ARRL EXPO -- an entire
exhibit area showcasing many ARRL programs and services." A preview of
what is planned for ARRL EXPO, as well as a downloadable exhibit and
activities guide, can be found at the ARRL EXPO Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/expo>.

Another convention activity is ARRL Passport -- the ultimate hamfest
scavenger hunt. Available to the first 2500 visitors to ARRL EXPO, the
Passport opens up the possibility to win one of two terrific all-mode
mobile transceivers: the Icom IC-7000 and the Yaesu FT-857D. Passport
holders qualify by collecting different ARRL Passport codes at
participating exhibits and activities while they enjoy the convention.
Turn in your completed entry form at ARRL EXPO by Sunday at 12 noon, and
you could be a winner.

"The Huntsville Hamfest Committee has organized a fantastic slate of
presentations and forums. More than a dozen mini-forums will be given on
the ARRL Stage, located in ARRL's big exhibit area," Inderbitzen said. A
provisional list of hamfest forums can be found at the Huntsville
Hamfest's Web site <http://www.hamfest.org/forums02b.htm>. Presentations
on the ARRL Stage will include an update on Broadband over Power Line
(BPL) given by Ed Hare, W1RFI; suggestions for energizing young -- and
potential -- hams, presented by ARRL Youth Contributing Editor and
Georgia Assistant Section Manager/Youth Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; a
"how-to" session on writing for QST, presented by ARRL News Editor S.
Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA; an introduction to ARRL Operating Awards and the
ARRL QSL bureau with ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L; tips for
contesting with QST Contributing Editor and ARRL author Ward Silver,
N0AX, and an overview of Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station presented by Rob Suggs, KB5EZ, NASA Space Environments Team Lead
from the Marshall Space Flight Center. A complete listing of ARRL Stage
presentations can be found at the ARRL EXPO Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/expo>.

==> 2007 ARRL Teachers Institutes Reach 45 Schools

Forty-eight teachers representing 45 schools from around the country
attended the 2007 ARRL Teachers Institutes, held this summer in Rocklin,
California, Spokane, Washington and at ARRL Headquarters in Newington.
Each class of 12, ranging from pre-school teachers to college
professors, got the opportunity to explore and experience firsthand
wireless technology basics, how to teach basic electronics concepts
integral to microcontrollers and robots, as well as how to bring space
technology into the classroom. The four day course culminated with
building and programming a robot.

Education and Technology Program Coordinator and Director of the ARRL
Teachers Institute Mark Spencer, WA8SME, said, "We had a good range of
students this year. We had a higher percentage of hams than we have seen
in the past. These were slightly older teachers, ranging in all levels
of experience. We even had a student teacher at one of the sessions,
something I am really excited about."

Spencer said his four "instructional pillars" -- Science of radio, Space
in the classroom, Microcontrollers and Robotics -- are "ever-present"
during the Teachers Institute. "Each day is packed with lectures,
hands-on activities and demonstrations, building, programming and a
robotics competition. The first two days include instruction on how to
teach wireless technology. Day three covers microcontrollers and the
finale is how to teach basic robotics. The class materials are a mix of
basic theory coupled with teaching strategies these instructors can use
immediately when they return to the classroom."

A new feature in this year's Teachers Institute is Soldering 101.
Spencer said including this basic skill was "extremely useful. We had
both experienced hams and people new to technology. A lot of the
experienced hams hadn't soldered in a while, so it was like a refresher
course for them. The new people enjoyed learning a new skill."

Spencer said some people might have already known how to solder, but had
never considered soldering in the classroom. "They came up to me, happy
that they had learned the teaching skills that would enable them to
bring soldering in the classroom. They said, 'I knew how to solder
before I came here, but I never thought I could teach it to my students.
Thank you for giving me the skills and showing me the way so I can teach
this to my students in a way they can understand.'"

Another new feature this year was satellite contacts. Spencer chose
AO-27 due to the timing of its pass. Spencer divided the class into two
groups and took them outside for the pass. "The satellite comes over the
horizon, and the participants announce their call sign and grid square
and maybe exchange some short pleasantries. Once that's done, they go on
to the next contact," Spencer said.

By using satellites, Spencer said, he shows the Teachers Institute
participants that they can actually contact an orbiting satellite using
inexpensive equipment. "The lessons involving satellites are valuable
and focused. By using satellites, these teachers can go back to their
classrooms and teach more than just the satellite. This lesson teaches
the students how to get ready, how to prepare; this is something they
can and will carry with them all their lives. Without advance
preparation, it's really hard to make the satellite contact."

Of the 48 teachers at this year's Teachers Institutes, about 20 percent
come from "Big Project" schools, Spencer said. "About another 25 percent
of the non-Big Project schools go on to apply for grants and get
involved in the Big Project. These schools  then go on to apply for an
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, but
the Teachers Institutes show them that there is much more to it than
just an ARISS contact."

While the emphasis of the course is not Amateur Radio and teachers need
not be hams to attend the all-expenses-paid sessions, some do go ahead
and take the Technician license exam. Seven have received their
Technician license and two have upgraded to General this year alone.
"About 80 percent of the non-ham teachers have gone on to get their
Amateur Radio license. They get really 'jazzed up' about ham radio while
they are here. Since the genesis of the Teachers Institute, each
participant that has taken their Amateur Radio license exam has passed
on their first attempt," Spencer said.

Spencer said the Teachers Institute curricula are constantly being
tweaked. "Right now, we are at a maturing stage, doing the grunt work
and sustaining the program. Next year we are looking at adding Amateur
Radio Television and making an umbrella activity board that ties all
four of the instructional pillars together. I am already looking at
expanding the program for next year."

He has many long range plans in mind for the Teachers Institute. "In the
next 10 years, I would love to see a Teachers Institute in each of the
15 ARRL Divisions. These instructors would work in conjunction with
their state's science museum and run the Institute regionally through
the museum. What a great way to bring science to kids," Spencer said.

==> ARRL COO Takes a Look at ARRL HQ's First Six Months of 2007

At the July ARRL Board of Directors meeting, ARRL Chief Operating
Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, brought the Board up-to-date on the first
six months of 2007 as it relates to ARRL Headquarters and staff. With
the elimination of the Morse code testing requirement, a "transformation
occurred in Amateur Radio," he said. The ARRL, he said, was prepared for
the changes the elimination brought forth: new licensees, license
upgrades and a renewed interest in Amateur Radio overall.

The first six months of 2007 also saw some significant organizational
changes at HQ, Kramer said. "The former Membership Services Department
and the Field and Educational Services Department merged into one
department, Membership and Volunteer Programs, under the leadership of
Dave Patton, NN1N." A new Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager
joined the staff, Dennis Dura, K2DCD. Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, heads up the
newly created Educational Services Department.

"We have also made significant progress in both improving and
integrating our Web services with our Customer Relations Management
System," Kramer said. "A cross-departmental team has created all new,
much improved membership application pages on the ARRL Web site. This
team has also upgraded our credit card entry system so that it processes
transactions in real time and added additional security to our credit
card transactions. As a part of this process, we have enhanced our
warehousing and shipping systems."

While Kramer went on to list accomplishments by each ARRL department, he
stressed that the positive results seen at HQ were realized "by working
as a team...[these successes] would not have happened if we had not all
worked together. Thanks to everyone on staff for making these extra
efforts."

Kramer pointed out that the ARRL Lab continues to work with amateurs
concerning the various BPL systems, as well as participates on industry
committees working on BPL. They have helped many members with RF
interference problems, and have improved and expanded QST Product Review
testing.

The newly formed Membership and Volunteer Programs Department oversaw
the initiation of monthly teleconferences with Section Managers in their
respective Divisions. The ARRL Club Affiliation process was simplified
and the ARRL Club News electronic newsletter was launched and now has
about 6000 subscribers.
The Publications Department released nine new or revised publications,
including a new General Class License Manual, General Class Q&A, ARRL
Antenna Book and the 2007/2008 Repeater Directory. QST saw an emphasis
on emergency communications, as well as additional editorial content
featuring advanced technology.

The Sales and Marketing Department reported an increase in membership in
the first six months of the year. Insurance and banking opportunities
were presented as optional benefits to the membership.

The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator Department implemented plans for
the expected workload increase due to the elimination of the Morse code
testing requirement. With a gain in the number of license exam sessions,
ARRL Volunteer Examiner teams are responsible for administering 71
percent of the Amateur Radio exams.

The Web/Software Development Department reported that the ARRL Web site
had more than 2.1 million visitors and 50 million page views during the
first six months of 2007. They moved the Logbook of The World system to
a new, upgraded server. They also created a new Web site for the ARRL
Foundation.

==> Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan, KD5VNP, Launches into Space

On Wednesday, August 8, the space shuttle Endeavour (STS-118) launched
yet again on an 11-day mission into space, the "final frontier." One
member of the seven-member crew, Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan,
KD5VNP, said she let forth a loud "Woo-hoo!" during the launch. The
astronauts assigned to the mission include a Canadian doctor, a chemist
who knows sign language and is a former competitive sprinter and long
jumper, as well as a commander whose identical twin brother is also a
shuttle pilot.

Morgan is the mission's Educator Astronaut. She was selected for the
astronaut corps 22 years after first being selected as Christa
McAuliffe's backup in the Teacher in Space Project. McAuliffe and the
rest of the seven-member crew on board the space shuttle Challenger
(STS-51-L) perished on January 28, 1986, a mere 73 seconds after launch.


While in space, Morgan plans to answer questions from schoolchildren.
She received her Amateur Radio license in March 2003.

Like all shuttle missions, STS-118 is about the future: putting the
International Space Station (ISS) a step closer to completion and
gathering experience that will help people return to the moon and go on
to Mars. "The mission has lots of angles," Matt Abbott, lead shuttle
flight director, said. "There's a little bit of assembly; there's some
resupply; there's some repairs. And there are some high-visibility
education and public affairs events. It's a little bit of everything."

"I'm really excited about going up and doing our jobs and doing them
well," Morgan said. "I'm excited about experiencing the whole
spaceflight, seeing Earth from space for the very first time and
experiencing weightlessness and what that's all about. I am excited
about seeing what it's like living and working onboard the International
Space Station."

Morgan trained side by side with McAuliffe and witnessed the 1986
Challenger accident in which McAuliffe and her six fellow crew members
died. The Teacher in Space Project was suspended then, but Morgan held
on to her NASA ties. In the months following that tragedy, she went on
the visits McAuliffe would have made, talking to children and teachers
all over the country. When she was selected in 1998 to become a
full-fledged astronaut, she jumped at the opportunity.

In reminiscing about McAuliffe, Morgan said, "Christa's legacy was
open-ended, and is open-ended. Any teacher's legacy is open-ended. I
hope, and I know that people will be thinking about Christa and the
Challenger crew and that's a good thing and they'll be thinking about
many, many teachers and others who have worked very, very hard for 20
years to continue Christa's and the rest of the Challenger crew's work.
I am just the next teacher of many to come, we've got three in training
right now, and there will be more in the future, teachers who will fly
as astronauts, so just, just one of a long step that will continue well
into the future."

In 2002, Morgan was chosen as the first educator to become a mission
specialist astronaut. The Educator Astronaut Project evolved from the
Teacher in Space Project. Both aimed to engage and attract students to
explore the excitement and wonder of spaceflight and to inspire and
support educators. Morgan's primary duty is the same as it is for the
entire crew - to accomplish the planned objectives of the station
assembly mission, as well as taking part in several education-related
activities. "The educator astronaut is also a fully trained astronaut
who does the jobs, does the duties that an astronaut does. Astronauts
and teachers learn and share; they explore; they discover and then they
go learn and share some more. And that's what this is all about." - Some
information from NASA.

More about Endeavor's mission can be found at the NASA Web site
<http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts118/index.
html>.

==> ARRL/TAPR Conference Comes to Connecticut Next Month

Mark your calendars for September 28-30 for the 26th Annual ARRL and
TAPR Digital Communications Conference in Hartford, Connecticut
<http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html>. This conference is an international
forum for radio amateurs to meet, publish their work and present new
ideas and techniques. Presenters and attendees will have the opportunity
to exchange ideas and learn about recent hardware and software advances,
theories, experimental results, and practical applications.

Topics include, but are not limited to: Software Defined Radio (SDR);
digital voice; digital satellite communications; Global Position System
(GPS); precision timing; Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS);
short messaging (a mode of APRS); Digital Signal Processing (DSP); HF
digital modes; Internet interoperability with Amateur Radio networks;
spread spectrum; IEEE 802.11 and other Part 15 license-exempt systems
adaptable for Amateur Radio; using TCP/IP networking over Amateur Radio;
mesh and peer-to-peer wireless networking; emergency and Homeland
Defense backup digital communications; using Linux in amateur radio;
updates on AX.25, and other wireless networking protocols.

The three-day conference will include introductory and technical
sessions on Friday and Saturday, a Friday evening social and a Saturday
evening banquet. The ever-popular Sunday Seminar focuses on one topic
and provides an in-depth four-hour presentation by an expert in the
field. The Sunday Seminar speaker has yet to be announced.

According to TAPR Vice President Steve Bible, N7HPR, "the ARRL and TAPR
Digital Communications Conference is for all levels of technical
experience, not just for the expert. Not only is the conference
technically stimulating, it is a weekend of fun for all who have more
than a casual interest in any aspect of amateur digital electronics and
communications. Introductory sessions are scheduled throughout the
conference to introduce new technical topics for beginners and experts
alike. For those amateurs who are more technically inclined, this is a
must attend conference. Now more than ever, Amateur Radio needs this
great meeting of the minds to demonstrate a continued need for our
current frequency allocations by pushing forward and documenting our
achievements. The ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference is the
best way to record our accomplishments and challenge each other to do
more."

Each year at the Digital Communications Conference, a separate and
lockable room is provided for people to bring and show off their latest
projects. Tables and power will be provided. Bring your equipment and
display for all to see, learn and ask questions about, as well as a
small sign and flyer naming and describing your project.

Registration is open until September 1; after that date, late
registrations will be accepted. The cost of the two-day Digital
Communications Conference is $70; to attend only the Friday or Saturday
session is $40. Lunch is available on Friday and Saturday for $15. The
Sunday Seminar is priced separately at $25. The Saturday evening banquet
is $35 and includes dinner, guest speaker, an awards ceremony and a
prize drawing. Students under 17 are priced at 50 percent of the
registration fees. Conference registration includes conference
proceedings, sessions and meetings.

Conference presentations, meetings, and seminars will be held at the
Doubletree Hotel Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks,
Connecticut
<http://www.doubletree.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=BDLETDT>. A
block of rooms at a special rate of $79.00 has been reserved, and it is
highly recommended that you book your room prior to arriving. This
special rate is good until August 30, or until the block of rooms is all
sold out. To book your room, call the hotel directly at (860)627-5171
and mention group code DCC when making reservations.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "I Wanna Soak Up the Sun(spots)" Cook, K7RA, this week reports:
Average daily sunspot numbers were up a little, rising more than five
points to 12.4. After a short period of no sunspots, we are back to
seeing a spot or two every day. Expect these conditions to continue,
possibly falling back to zero spots again around August 16-20. Today
(August 10), expect some unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions due
to a solar wind stream. Planetary A index predicted for August 10-16 is
25, 15, 5, 5, 5, 5 and 10. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts
unsettled to active conditions August 10, quiet to unsettled August 11,
quiet August 12-14, quiet to unsettled August 15 and unsettled August
16. Sunspot numbers for August 2 through 8 were 0, 11, 11, 11, 16, 13
and 25 with a mean of 12.4. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.4, 70.4, 69.4, 68.9,
70, 69 and 69, with a mean of 69.4. Estimated planetary A indices were
5, 4, 2, 2, 12, 23 and 6 with a mean of 7.7. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 5, 4, 0, 2, 8, 23 and 5 with a mean of 6.7. For more
information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: This weekend, the WAE DX Contest (CW) and
the Maryland-DC QSO Party are on the air August 11-12. The NAQCC
Straight Key/Bug Sprint takes place August 15. Next week plays host to
the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest on August 18-19. The NCCC Sprint (CW) is
August 17 and 18. The ARCI Silent Key Memorial Sprint is August 18,
while the SARTG WW RTTY Contest is August 18 and 19. The North American
QSO Party (SSB), the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest and the Russian
District Award Contest are August 18-19. The New Jersey QSO Party is
August 18-19 and August 19-20. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is
August 20. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday August 19, for these on-line
courses beginning on Friday September 7: Technician License Course
(EC-010); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, Level 1 (EC-001);
Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006); Antenna Design and Construction
(EC-009); Analog Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013).
To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>.

* New Chief for Air Force Mars: Allen Eiermann, K3LSR, has been named
the new acting chief of Air Force MARS. Eiermann takes over for Don
Poquette who recently retired form the Air Force. Eiermann holds a
General class Amateur Radio license and is a former Navy/Marine Corps
MARS member. "I am looking forward to serving the MARS community and
will work closely with the Army and Navy-Marine Corps MARS Chiefs to
bring the tri-service MARS programs closer to being just MARS. I fully
support interoperability between the three services and the efforts to
provide communications services to other federal agencies and civilian
communities during times of need," Eiermann said.

* Nominations Sought for ARRL Section Managers: Nominations are
currently being solicited for Section Managers in the following ARRL
Sections: Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Louisiana, North
Carolina, Pacific, San Diego, South Dakota and Virginia. To be valid, a
petition must contain the signatures of five or more full ARRL members
residing in the Section concerned. Photocopied signatures are not
acceptable. Petition forms FSD-129 are available on request from ARRL
Headquarters but are not required. Petitions must be received at
Headquarters by 4 PM EST on December 7, 2007. If more than one member is
nominated in a single Section, ballots will be mailed from Headquarters
on or before January 2, 2008 to full members of record as of December 7,
2007. Returns will be counted February 19, 2008. Section Managers
elected as a result of the above procedure will take office April 1,
2008. For more information, including a sample petition, please see the
ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/smterms.html#sample>.

* New Prefix in the Works for Bosnia and Herzegovina: The ITU has
granted a request from the Ministry of Communications and Transport of
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to replace T9A-T9Z with E7A-E7Z. According
to IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, "While it probably will take some
time for the BiH administration to implement this change, it should put
to an end the use of call signs outside the ITU-allocated call sign
block by stations in parts of BiH." The new prefix will be implemented
"probably later this year," Sumner said.

* ARRL Tours Continue through Summer: The ARRL Tour Program is in full
swing this summer. According to ARRL Receptionist Penny Harts, N1NAG,
more than 200 people have toured ARRL Headquarters and W1AW this summer,
and since the Volunteer Tour Guide program was instituted last August,
more than 500 visitors have seen the ARRL up close and personal. Tours
are given by Sales and Marketing Coordinator Jackie Cornell, or by the
volunteer tour guides Bob Allison, WB1GCM, and Roy Johnson, N1IKM. Tours
highlight W1AW, the ARRL Lab, the Outgoing QSL Service and a brief visit
to each of the various departments. Visitors may operate W1AW weekdays
between the hours of 10 AM-12 pm and 1-3:45 PM; please bring along a
copy of your license. For more information on ARRL HQ tours, please
contact Jackie Cornell <jcornell@arrl.org>.

* 100th Anniversary of Scouting Celebrated with ARISS Contact: On
Saturday, August 4, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) contact took place between scouts attending the 21st World Scout
Jamboree in Chelmsford, England and Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, aboard the
ISS. Ten scouts were able to ask two questions each of the astronaut
using the special event station call sign GB100J. Approximately 40,000
scouts from 200 countries attended the Jamboree. Audio was broadcast on
the Jamboree FM radio station and was webcast on the radio station's Web
site. The audio was also fed into the EchoLink JK1ZRW (277 208) server
and received 50 connections from stations in 12 countries, including 6
repeaters nodes. Video and audio may be found on this site
<http://www.g6lvb.com/GB100JISS.wmv>.

* No ARRL Audio News Next Week: There will be no ARRL Audio News next
week Friday, August 17. Please adjust your calendars and programming
accordingly. The ARRL Audio News will return on Friday, August 24.

* Let Us Know What You Think: What's your favorite part of The ARRL
Letter? What kind of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would
you prefer the Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your
chance to let your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL
News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, <k1sfa@arrl.org>, with the
subject line "ARRL Letter Suggestions." All messages will be read and
discussed, and we look forward to implementing positive suggestions into
the ARRL Letter.

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org> also offers informative
features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
podcast from our Web site.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be
given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.

==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
<k1sfa@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
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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)

* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
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listserver.) 


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Aug 16 19:30:19 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Aug 16 19:41:20 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD034 DX news
Message-ID: <200708162330.l7GNUJjb008273@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD034
ARLD034 DX news

ZCZC AE34
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 34  ARLD034
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 16, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD034
ARLD034 DX news

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

CROATIA, 9A.  A group of operators from three clubs are QRV from
many Croatian lighthouses and islands until August 23.  Look for
9A60K/p, 9A0LH and 9A7K to be QRV from Susak Lighthouse, ARLHS
CRO-50 during the ILLW.  QSL all calls via 9A7K.

BHUTAN, A5.  Akira, JA0JHA is QRV as A52AM and has been active on 20
meters SSB between 1700 and 1900z.  QSL to home call.

PORTUGAL, CT.  Members of ARAL will be QRV as CQ5N from the
Nazare/Forte S. Miguel Arcanjo Lighthouse during the ILLW.  Activity
will be on all bands and various modes.  QSL direct to CT6ARL.

URUGUAY, CX.  Members of the Radio Club Colonia will be QRV as
CV7FARO from Colonia City Lighthouse during the ILLW.  Activity will
be on 80 to 10 meters, plus various V/UHF frequencies.  QSL via
CX1FA.

GERMANY, DA.  A group of operators will be QRV as DF0WFB/LH from the
Lighthouse, ARLHS FED-174, on Oland Island, IOTA EU-042, during the
ILLW.  They are active with two stations on HF and one on VHF.  QSL
via DF0WFB.

ENGLAND, G.  Members of the Scarborough Special Events Group will be
QRV as GB2SCA in the ILLW from the lamp room in the Scarborough
Lighthouse, ARLHS ENG-121.  QSL via bureau.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA, HL.  Members of the Anseong DX Club will be QRV
as HL0LPM/3 from Taenanji Island, IOTA AS-080, from August 19 to 21.
Activity will be on 160 to 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL via
6K2BWA.

ARGENTINA, LU.   Members of the Radio Club Ushuaia will be QRV as
AY7X from the Baliza Escarpados Lighthouse, ARLHS ARG-081, on
Redonda Island, IOTA SA-049, during the ILLW.  Activity will be on
80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB and PSK.  QSL via WD9EWK.

NORWAY, LA.  Henk, PA3FMC and Ruud, PE1BTV are QRV as LA/PA3FMC from
the lighthouse, ARLHS NOR-264, on Utvaer Island, IOTA EU-055, during
the ILLW.  Activity is on all HF bands, including 6 and 2 meters,
using SSB, PSK and meteor scatter.  QSL via PA3FMC.

ALAND ISLANDS, OH0.  Kari, OH2BP will be QRV as OH0BP in the SARTG
WW RTTY contest as a Single Operator/All Band entry.

GREENLAND, OX.  Johan, PA3EXX will be QRV as OX/PA3EXX/p from
Rathbone Island, IOTA NA-243, from August 19 to 23, from the rare
grid square HQ90.  QSL to home call.

POLAND, SP.  Look for station SN2NP to be QRV from the lighthouse at
the Gdansk Nowy Port during the ILLW.  QSL via SP2BIK.

GREECE, SV.  Gianni, IZ7FLP, will be QRV as SV8/IZ7FLP from
Zakynthos Island, IOTA EU-052, from August 18 to 25.  QSL to home
call.

TURKEY, TA.  Operators TA1FR and TA1HZ will be QRV as TC1LHW from
the Karaburun Lighthouse for the ILLW.  QSL via TA1FR.  In addition,
look for Bekir, TA2RX to be QRV as TC4LHW from the Gelidonia
Lighthouse in Antalya during the ILLW.  He will be operating with
QRP power.  QSL to home call.

ICELAND, TF.  members of the Icelandic Radio Amateurs Club will be
QRV as TF1IRA from Knarraros Lighthouse, ARLHS ICE-012, in the ILLW.
QSL via operators' instructions.

NAMIBIA, V5.  Mike, OE3MZC is QRV as V5/OE3MZC and has been active
on 15 meters SSB from 1500 to 1645z and the 20 meters SSB from 1645
to 1700z.  QSL to home call.

BERMUDA, VP9.  Seppo, OH1VR will be QRV as VP9/OH1VR from August 19
to 21.  Activity is mainly CW.  QSL to home call.

SOUTH AFRICA, ZS.  Raoul, ZS1REC will be QRV as ZS1RBI from Robben
Island, IOTA AF-064, on August 18 and 19 for the ILLW.  He plans to
be active on 160 meters.  QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The International Lighthouse/Lightship
Weekend, NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint, NCCC CW Sprint, SARTG World
Wide RTTY Contest, ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, Keyman's Club of
Japan CW Contest, Russian District Award Contest, ARCI Silent Key
Memorial CW Sprint, North American SSB QSO Party, New Jersey QSO
Party will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  The Run for
the Bacon QRP Contest is scheduled for August 20.  Please see August
QST, pages 96 and 97, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for
details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Aug 17 19:37:50 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Aug 17 19:48:55 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP034 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200708172337.l7HNbojb016823@pop1.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP034
ARLP034 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP34
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 34  ARLP034
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  August 17, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP034
ARLP034 Propagation de K7RA

We're on the road this week, and post this bulletin from
Hillsborough County, New Hampshire.

Solar activity continues low.  The sun is currently spotless, but
sunspots may return around August 20.  This week's average daily
sunspot numbers were down about a point from last week's, from 12.4
to 11.3.

Expect quiet geomagnetic conditions over the next week, according to
a forecast from the US Air Force, which predicts planetary A index
for August 17-23 of 8, 5, 10, 5, 5, 10 and 8.  But Geophysical
Institute Prague has quite a different prediction for August 18.
They predict quiet conditions for August 17, unsettled to active on
August 18, unsettled August 19, quiet August 20-21, unsettled August
22, and quiet to unsettled August 23.

Jerry Reimer, KK5CA of Spring, Texas, sent in some interesting
comments about NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) propagation
and antennas, and ionospheric data available on the internet.  An
automated ionospheric sounder, or isosonde, beams energy straight up
while sweeping the signal up in frequency, thereby determining the
MUF or Maximum Usable Frequency of that area by measuring the
reflected signal.  Jerry says that NVIS communication (which is used
to communicate with stations out to about 200 miles maximum) is best
at a frequency 50 to 80 percent below the MUF from the isosonde.  So
if the MUF of the patch of ionosphere overhead is 10 MHz, then NVIS
is best between 2-5 MHz.  With NVIS, users are trying to get high
angle radiation instead of low angle, which is usually the goal with
other modes of HF communication.  A page explaining Vertical
Incidence Soundings is linked from
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/ by clicking on the Vertical
Soundings link on the left of the page.

He also pointed out some interesting real-time maps showing
continent-wide communication between various points at
http://www.ips.gov.au/HF_Systems/4/1.  For instance, if
you select Hourly HAP Charts, then select Kansas City, what you will
see is the best frequencies for communications with Kansas City from
across the continent at that time.  So you can look at the color
region over any point on the map, and this is keyed to the best
frequency for communicating with Kansas City from that point.

More about NVIS and ionospheric soundings in next week's bulletin.

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

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service at
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.  For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html.  An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .
Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
overseas locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Sunspot numbers for August 9 through 15 were 14, 14, 13, 11, 13, 14
and 0 with a mean of 11.3.  10.7 cm flux was 67.4, 67.5, 67.6, 68.1,
67.7, 68.5, and 67.6, with a mean of 67.8.  Estimated planetary A
indices were 4, 13, 12, 6, 3, 6 and 8 with a mean of 7.4.  Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 2, 10, 7, 5, 2, 3 and 6, with a mean of
5.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Aug 17 19:44:28 2007
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri Aug 17 19:55:35 2007
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 26, No 33 (Aug 17, 2007)
Message-ID: <200708172344.l7HNiTjb021641@pop1.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 33
August 17, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

*   Hurricane Dean Slams Caribbean Islands
*   Hawaii Hams Heed the Call of Hurricane Flossie
*   September QST Hits the Streets
*   ARISS Contact with Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
*   Canadian Special Event Planned for September
*   Upcoming Special Events
*   Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Weekend on the Radio
       ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
       Field Day Logs Received are Posted
       First Chinese ARISS Contact Scheduled
       Jim DeLoach, WU0I, wins July QST Cover Plaque Award
       BPL Industry Representative Appointed to ARRL EMC Committee
       International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2007
       No ARRL Audio News This Week
       Let Us Know What You Think


There is no ARRL Audio News this week. ARRL Audio News will return next
week, Friday, August 24.

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>

==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>
===========================================================

==> Hurricane Dean Slams Caribbean Islands

The VoIP Hurricane Net activated Friday morning, August 17, at 2 AM
EDT/0600 UTC in response to Hurricane Dean's impact on St Lucia,
Dominica, Martinique and other surrounding Caribbean islands. Reports of
damage along with wind estimates and measurements were relayed to
WX4NHC, the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.

"We've received reports of wind damage. The most significant damage
reports include the roof blown off of a children's hospital in Castries,
St Lucia, two homes with roofs blown off and a banana plantation
flattened in St Vincent. We've also had a few homes with steel roofs
blown off in Trafallgua, Dominica, and a measured wind gust out of the
East-Northeast of 68 knots at the Canefield Airport in Dominica," said
Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane Net.

Clem James, J73CI, and Joseph Russell, J73RJ, on the island of Dominica
and Julien Deider, 9Z4FZ, on the island of Trinidad have been extremely
helpful in relaying reports from the affected area. They are obtaining
these reports through the 75 Meter Caribbean Weather Net and through
local repeater systems where operable and relaying them via EchoLink and
IRLP. "We owe them a huge gratitude. They have a lot going on in their
local areas yet they are relaying any information they can get to us for
the benefit of the National Hurricane Center and the mission to help
save lives," Macedo said.

Julio Ripoll, WD4R, Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator, manning the Amateur
Radio station at the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida
reported that the Meteorological Office in Martinique had a measured
wind gust of 88 MPH before Hurricane Center forecasters lost the phone
connection to the Martinique weather office. "We need any stations that
have relays into Martinique by HF or any other means to get in touch
with someone there and relay reports of meteorological data and damage
to the Hurricane Center," Ripoll said.

Cell phone service was knocked out to portions of the western and
southern parts of Dominica as reported by Joe, J73RJ. Power and phone
outages were also reported in St Lucia.

Hurricane Dean will move away from the Caribbean islands and potentially
affect Jamaica and other parts of the Western Caribbean Islands. The
VoIP Hurricane Net and WX4NHC secured operations at Noon EDT as Dean
moved away from the islands.

"We expect to reactivate WX4NHC some time Sunday Morning for Dean as it
approaches Jamaica though things could change," said Ripoll. The VoIP
Hurricane Net is also preparing activation plans for Sunday. -- Thanks
to Rob Macedo, KD1CY

The Hurricane Watch Net has temporarily secured operations following 6
hours of net operations for Hurricane Dean on 14.325 MHz. According to
Net Manager Dave Lefavour, W7GOX, the net will resume at 2200 UTC on
Saturday, August 18, and remain on the air until the band closes as the
storm heads closer to Jamaica. On Sunday, the net will commence at 1200
UTC.

"We provided storm information to the affected area in the Windward
Islands and passed local weather conditions and initial damage reports
from the area to the National Hurricane Center in Miami as Dean moved
through the islands," Lefavour reported.

"We appreciate the excellent cooperation of all amateurs in remaining
clear of the frequency and allowing us to communicate with those
stations in the path of Dean."

As of 1500 UTC, Friday, a hurricane warning remained in affect for
Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe, and a tropical storm warning
remained in effect for the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico and a
number of islands in the Lesser Antilles.

A tropical storm warning and a hurricane watch has also been issued for
Haiti form the Haiti/Dominican Republic border to Port-Au-Prince. A
hurricane watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the
watch area and within 36 hours.

Hurricane Dean was located near 14.6 North, 62.6 West and it was moving
toward the west at 18 knots with maximum sustained winds at 90 knots
with gusts to 110 knots.

==> Hawaii Hams Heed the Call of Hurricane Flossie

The VoIP Hurricane Net activated as Hurricane Flossie approached Hawaii
August 14. Flossie was at one time a Category 2 hurricane that passed
75-100 miles offshore of the Big Island of Hawaii. On Tuesday, while
Flossie weakened and was downgraded to a tropical storm, tropical
storm-force winds spread over Hawaii around mid-morning local time
(1700-1900 UTC). If Flossie had deviated to the north, Hawaii would have
been at risk for hurricane force conditions, with a change of as little
as 50 miles north or south making a huge impact to the Big Island. The
other islands in Hawaii were not seriously impacted.

The VoIP Hurricane Net assisted with obtaining reports from Hawaii
SKYWARN and RACES and fed it back to National Hurricane Center
Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, and his team at the National Hurricane
Center in Miami, Florida. The VoIP Hurricane Net uses the EchoLink
Conference WX-TALK Node 7203/IRLP Reflector 9219 for its operations.

Connie McCurdy, NH7IE (using NWS Honolulu call sign KH6SW), acted as Net
Control for an informal SKYWARN Net that became more formal on Tuesday
as Flossie approached. "The Big Island has declared a State of
Emergency, all schools are closed and many roads have been closed. The
Coast Guard has ordered small vessels to return to harbor on the Big
Island and large ships over 200 tons to leave. We did have an earthquake
near the volcanoes, but no damage. Everything will be closed up
tomorrow; folks are hunkered down to ride out the storm. Also, nine
people from FEMA were sent over and arrived today just in case things
turn out bad for the Big Island," she said.

She said an alert was sent out to Honolulu that high winds and rain were
expected on the Big Island. "We are advised to get supplies and stand by
to be called out to shelters if needed. A net will be set up on our
local repeater 146.880," she said.

ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager and Assistant Director
of the VoIP Hurricane Net Dennis Dura, K2DCD, said on Tuesday: "We are
monitoring the activity of the VoIP Hurricane Net and the activities of
ARES and RACES is Hawaii. At this time, no assistance is needed, but we
will be prepared to assist the Amateur Radio community and the
government of Hawaii with any communication needs."

A 5.3 earthquake also rocked the Big Island Monday evening at 7:38 local
time (0038 UTC Tuesday morning) centered about 25 miles south of Hilo,
according to a preliminary report from the US Geological Survey. There
were no reports of injuries, structural damage or a tsunami, although
the quake did cause a small landslide, according to Tom Brown, a
spokesman for Hawaii County Civil Defense.

Island of Hawaii Mayor Harry Kim issued a state of emergency Monday
afternoon for the volcanic island's population of 160,000. "We're taking
this all very seriously," said Janet Snyder, Kim's press secretary.

The VoIP Hurricane Net activates when a hurricane affects a land area
that has EchoLink and/or IRLP nodes in the affected area, and a request
to activate comes from local area served agencies such as an EOC, NWS
Forecast Office/SKYWARN program or the National Hurricane Center Amateur
Coordinators in Miami. You may listen to VoIP Hurricane Net on one of
the listen-only IRLP reflectors, which are New England IRLP Reflector
9129 and Australia IRLP Reflector 9508. The listen only EchoLink
Conference is VKEMCOMM node 270177.

For more information on the VoIP Hurricane Net, visit the VoIP Hurricane
Net Web page <http://www.voipwx.net/>. -- Some information from Rob
Macedo, KD1CY

==> September QST Hits the Streets

If you haven't received the September issue of QST, just wait a bit,
because it's on its way! QST, the official journal of the ARRL, is the
members-only magazine featuring all the latest Amateur Radio news and
technology.

The September issue is our first-ever Emergency Communications issue.
Learn how the ARRL is promoting effective, coordinated responses to
emergencies. Look for an exciting article on D-STAR, a new way to
transmit digital voice and data at VHF and UHF. Have you ever wondered
just how emergency communications began? Read about its rich and varied
history in September QST. Learn how the Military Affiliate Radio System
(MARS) is now integrated into one unit that emphasizes digital
communication.

The ARRL Diamond Terrace is just about complete. Check out the progress
that has been made to this new must-see feature of ARRL Headquarters and
learn how you can become a lasting part of this great legacy.

On the technical side, the September issue offers articles on how to get
a maximum gain portable HF Yagi antenna and a remote power controller.
Be sure to read about a way to pack power to bring with you for
emergencies. Learn about a way of determining resonant frequency of a
tuned circuit. QST Product Review Editor Mark Wilson, K1RO, reviews the
Tokyo Hy-Power HL-1.5KFX linear amplifier, ARRL Lab Test Engineer Mike
Tracy, KC1SX, reviews the Gamma Research HPS-1a switching power supply
and Rich Arland, W3OSS, reviews the Hendricks QRP Kits FireFly
transceiver.

If you're looking for upcoming operating events, don't miss Jamboree on
the Air and the 2007 Simulated Emergency Test, both of which are covered
in the September issue.

As in each and every QST, you will find a wide variety of articles and
columns for all hams, covering DXing, vintage gear and cutting edge
technology, public service, special events, as well as a schedule of
upcoming hamfests, conventions and contests.

==> ARISS Contact with Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children

For 11 kids at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, Florida,
July 17, 2007 was quite a memorable day. These children had the unique
opportunity of questioning astronaut Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, onboard the
International Space Station (ISS) via ham radio as it made a 9 minute 30
second pass over the United States.

This Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact
was made possible due to the initial efforts of John Rothert, KC4IYO.
After applying for the contact, John became ill and was unable to
continue helping. Through the sponsorship of the Lake Monroe Amateur
Radio Society and combined efforts of Northern Florida Section Public
Information Coordinator Mike Welch, KF4HFC; Bob Pollack, KF4IMF; Lou
McFadin, W5DID; the Child Life Department of Arnold Palmer Hospital and
many other supporters, the event went off without a hitch.

Just prior to the ISS pass, the Child Life personnel established phone
contact with Will Marchant, KC6ROL, and Graham Lawton, G7EVY. These hams
helped prepare everyone for the contact and coordinated the telebridge
connection between the hospital and the ISS via W6SRJ, the host ground
station located at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California.

At approximately 2:28 PM, Bill Hillendahl, the operator at W6SRJ, began
calling, "NA1SS, NA1SS, this is W6SRJ." Soon, applause erupted from the
hospital conference room as a voice over the speaker answered, "NA1SS,
over!" This began a lively 9 minute question-and-answer session between
eager children and Anderson. By the end of the pass, the children had
asked 33 questions, possibly setting a record for any ARISS contact.

"We're very excited about ARISS bringing their program to our patients
as it will be a fun activity that will lift their spirits," said Sheri
Mosely, child life manager for the hospital. "Talking with an astronaut
is definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity and one we hope they'll
never forget."

Once the contact was finished, local media from three television
stations, one newspaper and one radio station began interviewing the
children and hospital personnel, adding greatly to the excitement of the
day. This was truly a successful ARISS contact that will not be soon
forgotten by the children at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer
Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively
to the needs of children. It offers comprehensive, specialized programs
and services for children including acute care, adolescent medicine, a
Congenital Heart Institute in partnership with Miami Children's
Hospital, pediatric intensive care, emergency medicine, nephrology,
neurology and trauma services. -- Some information from David Jordan,
AA4KN

==> Canadian Special Event Planned for September

A demonstration of cooperation in emergency communications preparedness
between Canadian radio amateurs and those in the United States is
planned for September 29-30 with a special event station VO1ARES
<http://www.rac.ca/fieldorg/aresjointevent.htm>. It will be located at
the Marconi memorial station on historic Signal Hill, St John's,
Newfoundland, where reception of the first transatlantic wireless
transmission occurred in 1901. Sponsored by Foreign Affairs and
International Trade Canada (DFAIT) and Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC),
the facilities are provided by Parks Canada and coordinated by the
Society of Newfoundland Radio Amateurs (SONRA).

The objectives of the special event are threefold: To highlight the
capabilities of Amateur Radio in providing emergency communications in
times of crisis, to illustrate the cooperation between Canada and the
United States on emergency preparedness within the context of the
Security and Prosperity Partnership signed by the President of the
United States and the Prime Minister of Canada in 2005, and to create a
database of communications "first responders" that the Government of
Canada could contact for emergency communications assistance in times of
crisis.

Radio amateurs from across Canada and the US are being invited to
participate in this first-time official activity, with opening
festivities scheduled September 29 from 1430-1730 UTC. In particular,
ARES units in both countries are encouraged to take part and to "talk
up" the value of Amateur Radio as a community resource. Officials from
the Canadian government have been invited, and ARRL Joel Harrison, W5ZN,
has confirmed his intention to attend. Operations will feature virtually
all transmission modes on most HF bands over the two-day period. Times
and frequencies are yet to be determined.

A commemorative QSL card will be issued. QSLs may be sent direct to
VO1ARES via VE9GLF, G. L. Friars, 35 Upper Quaco Rd, Baxters Corner, NB
E25 2S2, Canada. All replies from VO1ARES will be via the bureau. Those
wishing a direct reply, including Short Wave Listeners, must include an
envelope and sufficient postage. Within Canada, please send a
self-addressed stamped envelope. If outside of Canada, please include
sufficient International Reply Coupons (IRCs) to cover the cost of a
letter from Canada to your country. This is imperative in order to
receive a card directly; otherwise it will go via the bureau.

Listen for VO1ARES both before and after the special event. The call
sign will be active September 27-October 1.

Upcoming issues of RAC's The Canadian Amateur (TCA) magazine and the RAC
Web site <http://www.rac.ca/> contain further details of the event.  --
Information provided by Bob Cooke, VE3BDB

==> Upcoming Special Events

Several upcoming Special Event operations were inadvertently left out of
the September 2007 QST "Special Events" column. They appear below, as
well as on the Special Events Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

Aug 15-Aug 26, 0000 UTC-0400 UTC, Columbus, Ohio. John D. Kraus Memorial
Amateur Radio Club, W8JK/WOW. 30th anniversary of the "WOW Signal."
7.045 14.045 7.200 14.250. QSL: Bruce Lerner, KC8VEB, 734 Suntree Dr,
Westerville, OH 43081 <http://www.w8jk.org>.

Aug 17-Aug 19, 0000 UTC-2359 UTC, Cheboygan, Michigan. Oakland County
ARPSC, K8S. Celebration of International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend.
7.270 14.270 21.270 28.370. Certificate: Gary Sklar, 7296 Green Farm Rd,
West Bloomfield, MI 48322. The event will be held in cooperation with
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, local Michigan Branch,
Mackinaw City, Michigan <k8ikw@aol.com>.

Aug 17-Sep 13, 1700 UTC-1700 UTC, Illinois River, Illinois. USS LST325
Radio Club, WW2LST. USS LST325 Summer Cruise Up Through the Illinois
Heartland. 14.300 14.040 7.040 3.540. QSL: USS LST325 Memorial Ship, 840
LST Dr, Evansville, IN 47713 <http://www.lstmemorial.org>.

Aug 27-Sep 1, 1600 UTC-2359 UTC, Woodstock, Connecticut. Eastern
Connecticut Amateur Radio Association, K1MUJ. 50th anniversary of the
founding of Eastern Connecticut ARA. 3.825 7.175 14.125 21.215. QSL:
ECARA, PO Box 63, Dayville, CT 06241 <http://www.qsl.net/K1MUJ>.

Aug 28-Aug 29, 1400 UTC-0659 UTC, Sacramento, California. Amateur Radio
Emergency Communication Volunteers, N6S. California State Fair. 146.195
147.555 14.250 7.250. QSL: Patrick Schamun, N6ARO, 8237 Tiki Ln,
Sacramento, CA 95828 <n6arophrs@lanset.com>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "We Had Joy, We Had Fun, We Had Seasons in the Sun(spot)" Cook,
K7RA, this week reports from the road in Hillsborough County, New
Hampshire, that solar activity continues low. The sun is currently
spotless, but sunspots may return around August 20. This week's average
daily sunspot numbers were down about a point from last week's, from
12.4 to 11.3.

Expect quiet geomagnetic conditions over the next week, according to a
forecast from the US Air Force, which predicts planetary A index for
August 17-23 of 8, 5, 10, 5, 5, 10 and 8.  But Geophysical Institute
Prague has quite a different prediction for August 18.  They predict
quiet conditions for August 17, unsettled to active on August 18,
unsettled August 19, quiet August 20-21, unsettled August 22, and quiet
to unsettled August 23.

Sunspot numbers for August 9 through 15 were 14, 14, 13, 11, 13, 14 and
0 with a mean of 11.3. 10.7 cm flux was 67.4, 67.5, 67.6, 68.1, 67.7,
68.5, and 67.6, with a mean of 67.8. Estimated planetary A indices were
4, 13, 12, 6, 3, 6 and 8 with a mean of 7.4. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 2, 10, 7, 5, 2, 3 and 6, with a mean of 5.

For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: This weekend, the ARRL 10 GHz and Up
Contest is on August 18-19. The NCCC Sprint (CW) is August 17 and 18.
The ARCI Silent Key Memorial Sprint is August 18, while the SARTG WW
RTTY Contest is August 18 and 19. The North American QSO Party (SSB),
the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest and the Russian District Award
Contest are August 18-19. The New Jersey QSO Party is August 18-19 and
August 19-20. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is August 20. Next week,
look for the CCC Sprint (CW) on August 24. The ALARA Contest, the Hawaii
QSO Party, the SCC RTTY Championship, the YO DX HF Contest and the Ohio
QSO Party are all on August 25-26. The SKCC Weekend Sprint and the SARL
HF CW Contest are both August 26. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
information.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday August 19, for these on-line
courses beginning on Friday, September 7: Technician License Course
(EC-010); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications, Level 1 (EC-001);
Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006); Antenna Design and Construction
(EC-009); Analog Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013).
To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>.

* Field Day Logs Received are Posted: All 2007 Field Day logs have been
received and posted to the Claimed Scores page on the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/claimed/>. They reflect all applications
sent from the b4h Web applet, as well as those received via the US
postal service and usable electronic submissions sent via regular e-mail
(non-Web applet submissions). According to Field Day Manager Dan
Henderson, N1ND, "In some cases we did not receive sufficient
information, and those entries are not allowed to be used at this time.
A follow-up e-mail was sent to those concerned that included a blank
summary sheet and a request to please complete the form and resubmit. In
cases where we have not heard back from those requests, the entries are
currently not on the list and can't be included until complete
information is received back by the ARRL." Those with missing entries,
who have questions or who find errors in their listing should contact
Henderson via e-mail <n1nd@arrl.org> or by phone at 860-594-0236 after
Tuesday, August 28 when he returns from vacation. If you call before
that date, Henderson asks that you "please leave a message and please be
patient. I will work with you to resolve any problems."

* First Chinese ARISS Contact Scheduled: ARRL ARISS Program Manager
Rosalie White, K1STO, reports that the first-ever Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) contact between China and the
International Space Station (ISS) will take place August 26. American
astronaut Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, will chat with students at the Nanjing
No. 3 High School in Nanjing, Jiangsu in the People's Republic of China.
The radio coordinator is Michael Chen, BD5RV. The school has been around
for more than 100 years and has 3000 students in 64 senior and junior
grade classes on three campuses. The school is well known for its
Amateur Radio club and its 6-time-national-winner women's volleyball
team. The Amateur Radio club has completed more than 20,000 QSOs with
other stations from all over the world. There have been a total of 308
school-to-ISS contacts to date.

* Jim DeLoach, WU0I, wins July QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the
QST Cover Plaque Award for July is Jim DeLoach, WU0I, for his article
"Balloon-Lifted Full-Wave Loop Antennas." Congratulations, Jim! The
winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors
of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL
members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qstvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the August issue by Friday, August 31.

* BPL Industry Representative Appointed to ARRL EMC Committee: ARRL
President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed Brent Zitting, KB4SL, of
Huntsville, Alabama, to serve on ARRL's ElectroMagnetic Compatibility
(EMC) Committee. Zitting, a 25-year ARRL member, is employed by IBEC, a
BPL manufacturer and integrator located in Huntsville, Alabama. The EMC
Committee, chaired by Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF,
consists of representatives from various industries that are interested
in helping ARRL effectively and appropriately work with industry on
interference issues. ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, said he is
pleased to see Zitting serve on the committee. "Brent has carried his
ham radio experience to the BPL industry, quietly working behind the
scenes to help it better understand Amateur Radio. Having his industry
occupy a seat at our table is a positive step that will improve
communication significantly." Zitting said he is enthusiastic about
serving as a member of the committee. "I look forward to helping the
ARRL on this committee. BPL technology has made great progress in its
ability to mitigate interference, which is good news for hams. I want to
help the ARRL more fully understand the BPL industry so that both can be
'good neighbors.' I am pleased to be part of the solution."

* International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2007: More than 380
lighthouses in more than 48 countries -- from Argentina to Wales -- will
be on the air for 2007 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW)
organized by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group, Scotland. The event, held for
the ninth year in a row, takes place Saturday, August 18 0001
UTC-Sunday, August 19 2359 UTC. While not a contest, the ILLW is more of
a QSO Party and Amateur Radio demonstration. The ILLW aims to raise
public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and the need for their
preservation and restoration, promote Amateur Radio and foster
international goodwill. Stations at more than 40 US lights are expected
to be on the air for the event, and several stations will identify with
special event call signs. Participating lighthouse/lightship stations do
not have to be inside the structure or on the vessel itself; a Field
Day-type setup at or adjacent to the light is sufficient. More
information about the event, including a registration form, is available
on the ILLW Web site <http://illw.net/2007_list.htm>.

* No ARRL Audio News This Week: There will be no ARRL Audio News Friday,
August 17. Please adjust your calendars and programming accordingly. The
ARRL Audio News will return next week on Friday, August 24.

* Let Us Know What You Think: What's your favorite part of The ARRL
Letter? What kind of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would
you prefer the Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your
chance to let your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL
News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, at k1sfa@arrl.org, with the
subject line "ARRL Letter Suggestions." All messages will be read and
discussed, and we look forward to implementing positive suggestions into
the ARRL Letter.


===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers
informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
podcast from our Web site.

Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be
given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.

==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
k1sfa@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
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ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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* 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 Wplewis2 at cs.comms.com  Sun Aug 19 00:09:17 2007
From: Wplewis2 at cs.comms.com (Wplewis2@cs.comms.com)
Date: Sun Aug 19 00:09:28 2007
Subject: [CVRC] Merrily Evans will be back for a visit next week
Message-ID: <200708190409.l7J49Hjb019346@pop1.greatbasin.net>

Hello All,

Merrily Evans (Bob's wife) will be in town for a quick visit with old
friends.  (She works full time at a bicycle shop, and this is high season).

Merrily will be joining us at Jethro's for lunch on Wednesday the 22nd, 11:00
am.  All who remember her and would like to visit are more than welcome.
Jethro's is in the Ranchos on Kimmerling, between the bowling alley 
and the Post
Office.  Questions:  782-6949 Will or Phyllis,
or wplewis2@cs.com.   Hope to see you there,

Will KD7NIR and Phyllis KD7OKI Lewis


From dick at twohams.com  Tue Aug 21 18:01:17 2007
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan K7VC)
Date: Tue Aug 21 18:01:32 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLB018 ARRL San Francisco Section Manager Re-elected
Message-ID: <200708212201.l7LM1HV2009553@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB018
ARLB018 ARRL San Francisco Section Manager Re-elected

ZCZC AG18
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 18  ARLB018
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 21, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB018
ARLB018 ARRL San Francisco Section Manager Re-elected

In the only contested Section Manager race this summer, Bill
Hillendahl, KH6GJV, was re-elected as the ARRL San Francisco Section
Manager. He received 237 votes and his opponent, Warren "TR" Reese,
WB6TMY, received 134 votes. Election ballots were counted Tuesday,
August 21, 2007 at ARRL Headquarters.  Hillendahl, of Santa Rosa,
California, begins his third two-year term of office on October 1,
2007.

The following incumbent ARRL Section Managers did not face
opposition and were declared elected for their next terms of office
beginning October 1, 2007: Jeff Ryan, K0RM, Colorado; Mark Tharp,
KB7HDX, Eastern Washington; Susan Swiderski, AF4FO, Georgia; Phineas
Icenbice, W6BF, Los Angeles; Ray Taylor, N5NAV, South Texas; Ann
Rinehart, KA8ZGY, West Virginia.

Ron Murdock, W6KJ, who already had been declared elected as the new
Sacramento Valley Section Manager as of October 1, began his term a
little early on July 2. Murdock was appointed to fill in for Casey
McPartland, W7IB, who stepped down because of a planned upcoming
move out of the section.
NNNN
/EX
--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
k7vc@arrl.org


From kd7jyk at earthlink.net  Wed Aug 22 03:04:25 2007
From: kd7jyk at earthlink.net (KD7JYK)
Date: Wed Aug 22 04:02:37 2007
Subject: [CVRC] MFJ-8621 VHF Data Radio?
References: <200708190409.l7J49Hjb019346@pop1.greatbasin.net>
Message-ID: <003101c7e48a$ad68e120$a563f504@ELNkk7rc>

Anyone playing with an MFJ-8621 VHF Data Radio for dedicated packet or APRS?

Comments?  Opinions?  Something surplus to your needs?

Kurt

From dick at twohams.com  Wed Aug 22 04:09:28 2007
From: dick at twohams.com (Dick Flanagan K7VC)
Date: Wed Aug 22 04:10:27 2007
Subject: [CVRC] N6AJO for Pacific Division Vice-Director
Message-ID: <200708220809.l7M89SV2011297@pop0.greatbasin.net>

Candidate Statement:  Andy Oppel, N6AJO, for Pacific Division Vice-Director

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your Vice-Director 
since 2003, which included being a member of several ARRL committees:

1) The National Emergency Response Preparedness Committee (NERPC), 
which delivered a comprehensive study with specific recommendations 
to improve our readiness to respond to widespread emergencies.

Within the NERPC, I chaired the database group and personally wrote 
detailed specifications for an ARES registration database, which was 
subsequently built by ARRL staff and is now ready for use.

2) Since 2006 I have chaired the Technology Task Force, which has 
reviewed technical development work done by volunteer working groups 
and presented recommendations to the Board of Directors.

3) In 2003-04 I served on the ARESCOMM Committee, which presented 
recommendations for ARES digital communications to the Board of 
Directors at the 2005 Annual Meeting.

Although I work all modes and an occasional contest, as you can see I 
have a passion for emergency communications not only because it 
serves our communities well, but also because it is the best way to 
justify amateur radio to those who would like to take our spectrum 
away from us.

Prior service to the ARRL includes East Bay Section Manager 2000-2003 
and Assistant Section Manager 1981-1999.  I have completed ARECC 
Level I and II and FEMA courses 100, 200, and 700.  I serve as 
Assistant Chief Radio Officer for Alameda County (California) RACES/ARES.

Professionally I am Principal Data Architect for Ceridian, have 
taught at U.C. Extension for 25 years, and am the author of two 
published books on database technology.  I frequently offer the ARRL 
advice on information technology issues.

Vice-Directors cannot vote or address the floor at board meetings, so 
our influence is through background discussions and active 
listening.  I know the process well and can make your ideas and opinions heard.

Andy Oppel
andy.oppel@gmail.com
andy@andyoppel.com

http://www.andyoppel.com/N6AJO/

520-864-2299

--
Dick Flanagan K7VC NV SM
k7vc@arrl.net


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Aug 23 19:32:31 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Aug 23 19:32:55 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD035 DX news
Message-ID: <200708232332.l7NNWUV2013543@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD035
ARLD035 DX news

ZCZC AE35
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 35  ARLD035
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 23, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD035
ARLD035 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
NC1L, YO2DFA, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX News, The Daily DX,
Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest Calendar and WA7BNM web
sites.  Thanks to all.

FIJI, 3D2.  Tomas, LY1F will be QRV as 3D2MT from August 28 to
September 4.  Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using mainly CW.  He
plans to be an entry in the upcoming All Asian contest.  QSL via
VK2CCC.

CROATIA, 9A.  Giuseppe, IK5WWA will be QRV as 9A/IK5WWA from Solta,
IOTA EU-016, from August 25 to September 1.  He intends to put other
islands on the air during this time.  QSL to home call.

NEPAL, 9N.  Stig, LA7JO is QRV as 9N7JO and has been active on 20
meters CW around 0230z and 1430z.  QSL direct via his Thailand
address.

CHINA, BY.  Operators BD7KLO, BA4ALC, BA4ED and BD4HD are QRV from
Pingtan Island, IOTA AS-138, until August 26.  Activity is on 40 to
10 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL via operators' instructions.

CHILE, CE.  Dale, VE7SV is QRV as CE3/VE7SV until the end of August.
QSL to home call.

IRELAND, EI.  In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Irish
Radio Transmitters Society, special event station EI75IRTS will be
QRV on August 26, September 2 and 9.  QSL via bureau.

LIBERIA, EL.  Dickson, EL2DT has been QRV on 20 meters at various
times.  QSL via WA4TII.

FRANCE, F.  Members of the Granville ARC are QRV as F5KAQ/p from
Tombelaine Island, IOTA EU-156, until August 26.  Activity is on all
HF bands using CW, SSB and various digital modes.  QSL via F5RJM.

ISLE OF MAN, GD.  Bob, MD0CCE has been active on the 14247 kHz net
around 2015z.

SARDINIA, IS0.  Flaviano, I2MOV is QRV as IS0/I2MOV from Dolianova,
IOTA EU-024, until November.  Activity is on 40 to 6 meters using
mostly CW.  QSL to home call.

DENMARK, OZ.  Ric, DL2VFR will be QRV as OZ/DL2VFR from Roemoe
Island, IOTA EU-125, from August 26 to September 1.  Activity is on
all bands using mostly CW.  QSL to home call.

SWEDEN, SM.  Operators SM3CXS, SM3GSK, SM3JGG, SM3NXS and SM3XGV are
QRV as SD3N and SG3U from Grimskar Island, IOTA EU-176, until August
26.  Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL via
bureau.  In addition, special event station 8S3SYL is active until
August 26 during the meeting of the Scandinavian Young Ladies Radio
Amateurs in Oestersund.  QSL via bureau.

CRETE, SV9.  Dick, G3URA will be QRV as SV9/G3URA from August 27 to
September 4 using mostly CW.  In the upcoming Russian RTTY contest
he will be active as J49XF.  QSL to home call.

TURKEY, TA.  In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the founding
of the Turkish Coast Guard Command, operators TA1FR, TA1HZ and TA2RX
are QRV as TC25SG from August 27 to 30.  Activity is on 40, 20 and
17 meters using SSB.  QSL via TA1HZ.

EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA.  Special event stations R100AK and R100IF are
QRV until the end of the year to commemorate the 100th anniversary
of the birth of Alexander Kamalagin, UA4IF.  QSL both calls via
RW4HB.

NAMIBIA, V5.  Alfons, DJ8VC is QRV as V5/DJ8VC until September 8.
Activity is on 160 to 10 meters using CW and SSB.  He plans to be
active as V55V/p in the upcoming IARU Region 1 Field Day contest and
upcoming WAS SSB contest.  QSL these two operations direct.

CHAGOS ISLANDS, VQ9.  Larry, VQ9LA has been active on 160 meters
around 2330z and 80 meters around 0630z.  QSL direct.

INDIA, VU.  In celebration of 60 years of Indian Independence,
members of National Institute of Amateur Radio in Hyderabad are QRV
as AT60MY until November 17.  QSL via VU2NRO.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The NCCC CW Sprint, ALARA Contest,
Hawaii QSO Party, SCC RTTY Championship, YO HF DX Contest, Ohio QSO
Party, SKCC Weekend CW Sprint and the SARL HF CW Contest are all
scheduled for this weekend.  Please see August QST, page 97, and the
ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites for details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Aug 24 17:30:54 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Aug 24 17:31:27 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP035 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200708242130.l7OLUsV2027230@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP035
ARLP035 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP35
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 35  ARLP035
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  August 24, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP035
ARLP035 Propagation de K7RA

Conditions were quiet this week, with no geomagnetic disturbances
and most days had zero sunspots.  For the past two days, August
22-23, the sunspot number was 11 and 12, indicative of a single
sunspot group.

Slightly unsettled conditions are expected this weekend, with a
planetary A index from August 24-30 expected at 8, 15, 15, 12, 8, 8
and 5.  Sunspot activity is expected to remain low, as lone sunspot
969 moves across the sun.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions for August
24, unsettled August 25, quiet to unsettled August 26, quiet August
27, unsettled August 28, and quiet again August 29-30.

Back in ARLP032 dated August 3, this bulletin said if the average
sunspot number for August is above 20, then we will see another rise
in our three-month moving average, which was also shown in that
issue.  Instead, for the three weeks and two days of this month
we've had eight days of no sunspots, and the average sunspot number
for the month thus far is 8.7.  So perhaps early this spring was not
the sunspot cycle minimum.  Note the average sunspot numbers for
March and April of this year were 9.8 and 6.9.  Monthly averages
seemed to be rising, until now.

Jerry Reimer, KK5CA wrote to us recently about NVIS propagation
(Near Vertical Incidence Skywave, or high angle radiation for local
or regional coverage).  In his email, he wrote, ''NVIS experimenters
and practitioners would do well to always consider the foF2 and fMUF
values, available here:
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpmenu/lists/iono_day.html.  For most of
the U.S., 40m is currently well above what is usable for NVIS
propagation. Sometimes 60m is not usable, and this can sometimes
also include 75/80m for some areas.  Many people are confused when
their low ''NVIS'' antenna (often a resonant horizontal wire dipole
at 6-20 feet) is ineffective for high angle propagation above the
fMUF, while it is effective in working stations over 200 miles away.
Most of these antennas radiate signals at all angles, not just the
highest angles, and the lower angle signals are refracted with more
favorable S/N ratios than are the vertical signals, which pass
through the F-layer.  For reliable NVIS propagation, it is critical
to select a frequency which is 50-80 percent below the fMUF''.

In that list that Jerry referenced, there are isosonde stations in
North America, one of which may be local to you.  Each page lists a
latitude and longitude, but the format may be unfamiliar.  They use
an odd longitude reading that goes from zero degrees on the prime
meridian east, covering the full 360 degrees.  So if the number is
E359, that would be one degree west of the meridian.  For these
stations in North America, just subtract the number shown from 360
to get the approximate location of the ionospheric sounding.  For
Dyess, it shows the location as N32E260.  This would be 32 degrees
north latitude, 100 degrees west longitude, because 360 minus 260 is
100.

Locations you might check, shown with the states they are in, are
Millstone Hill (MA), Point Arguello (CA), Boulder (CO), Bear Lake
(UT), Wallops (VA), Eglin (FL) and Dyess (TX).

The critical frequency you are looking for is in the foF2 column.
An interesting article about ionosondes is at
http://www.prc68.com/I/MWI.shtml.

Another list of stations is
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/StationP12.html, but I don't know
where to get data from these.

David Moore sent a link to an article about Japan's solar research
satellite, Hinode:
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMKOOWZK5F_index_0.html.

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

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service at
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ . Monthly
propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve overseas
locations are at http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Sunspot numbers for August 16 through 22 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 11 and
12 with a mean of 3.3. 10.7 cm flux was 67.3, 67.6, 67.9, 67.8,
69.1, 69.3, and 70, with a mean of 68.4. Estimated planetary A
indices were 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 4 and 4 with a mean of 4.1. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 6, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3 and 2, with a mean of
2.6.
NNNN
/EX


From letter-dlvy at arrl.org  Fri Aug 24 20:26:42 2007
From: letter-dlvy at arrl.org (ARRL Letter Mailing List)
Date: Fri Aug 24 21:02:04 2007
Subject: [CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 26, No 34 (Friday, August 24, 2007)
Message-ID: <200708250026.l7P0QhV2031635@pop0.greatbasin.net>

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 34
August 24, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Dean Downgraded to Tropical Depression, Hurricane Watch Net
Deactivated
* + ARRL Director Elections in November
* + The 2007 ARRL National Convention -- Gone, but Definitely not
Forgotten
* + GAREC-07 Celebrates Emergency Communications in Huntsville
* + ARES Teams Activated for Northwest Ohio Near-Record Flooding
* + FCC Enforcement Actions
*   Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Weekend on the Radio
       ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
     + Section Manager Elections Results Announced
     + Malaysia to Send Astronaut to ISS
       Communications Museum Comes Back to Life
       On-line Course Developer Needed
       QST Wants You!
       Let Us Know What You Think


+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>
===========================================================

==> DEAN DOWNGRADED TO TROPICAL DEPRESSION, HURRICANE WATCH NET
DEACTIVATED

The remnants of Hurricane Dean, now Tropical Depression Dean, have
dissipated over Mexico and the heavy rain threat has diminished. The
Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) secured activation for Dean on Wednesday
afternoon at 1915 UTC after commencing operations last Friday. Despite
experiencing very poor propagation and noisy conditions on 20 meters,
the net managed to provide the latest storm advisories from the National
Hurricane Center (NHC) to amateurs and listeners in Dean's path.

As the storm powered through the Windward Islands, scraped Jamaica,
threatened the Cayman Islands, Haiti, the Dominican Republic and finally
crossed into Mexico, HWN was in frequent contact with the affected areas
to collect real-time weather data from local hams, passing it to the NHC
forecasters and informing the affected areas about what to expect next
via official bulletins.

On Tuesday, Dean made landfall near Costa Maya or Majahual at 0830 UTC
as a potentially catastrophic Category 5 hurricane. Earlier in the week,
the storm slammed Jamaica as the eye passed within 50 miles of the South
Coast of Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane. The VoIP Hurricane Net
solicited reports from any stations in the affected area or any stations
that have contact with the affected area.

"We received numerous reports of estimated winds over 100 MPH in
Corozal, Belize, with roofs off homes, power, electricity and phone
service out in many areas. Similar damage was reported in Chetmual,
Mexico from a relay from Connie, NH7IE, from a friend who lives in
Chetmual, Mexico," said Rob Macedo, KD1CY, Director of Operations of the
VoIP Hurricane Net.

WX4NHC Assistant National Hurricane Center Amateur Radio Station
Coordinator, Julio Ripoll, WD4R, worked to get reports via the VoIP
Hurricane Net and liaison was established with Spanish speaking Mexican
stations on the XE2MCC EchoLink conference node: 255469. Ripoll received
reports directly from that conference via Spanish, and Francisco
Diaz-Gonzalez, NP3OD, from the VoIP Hurricane Net Control team, is
monitoring that conference for reports. "We've received reports of trees
down, power outages from the Telum and Campeche, Mexico, area as relayed
via the XE2MCC conference and from other amateurs," Macedo said.

A report of 16 fishermen being stranded in the Middle Keys on Jamaica
was confirmed by Julien Dedier, 9Z4FZ,from Trinidad, by making contact
with the Trinidad Coast Guard who then verified the report with the
Jamaican Coast Guard. All 16 fishermen took shelter in a Coast Guard
building on the keys and were safe. Dedier relayed numerous other
damage, storm surge and wind estimate reports from Jamaica to the net.
"Thanks for the update on the fishermen and were glad to know they are
safe," said Ripoll.

Ray Weber, KA1JJM, from Western Massachusetts SKYWARN, and Dave Taylor,
KI4YIK, from Rock Hill, South Carolina, both were instrumental in
relaying measured wind data reports. Ray had a contact in Lionel Town,
Jamaica, who was a mariner, and Dave had a contact with a missionary in
Jamaica that had wind instrumentation that clocked sustained wind
speeds. "This is an example of gathering disaster intelligence
information by all means possible which is a huge role for our net. If
we don't have direct contact with the affected area, getting stations
that can relay from other sources from both within the Amateur community
and from other contacts that Amateurs may have in the area can be of
great help," Macedo said.

Between the *WX-TALK*/IRLP 9219 reflector system and the listen-only
conferences, there were more than 150 connections from EchoLink PC
users, as well as EchoLink and IRLP links and repeaters where people
that were interested in Dean's impact on Jamaica monitored. This
included relief agencies that monitored, such as the Salvation Army and
the Southern Baptist Relief organization.

The Hurricane Watch Net activates on 14.325 MHz when a hurricane is
forecast within 300 miles of landfall.  - Information provided by HWN
Manager Dave Lefavour, W7GOX, and Director of Operations of the VoIP
Hurricane Net Rob Macedo, KD1CY

==> ARRL DIRECTOR ELECTIONS IN NOVEMBER

ARRL Chief Executive Officer and Board Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ,
announced that the Ethics and Elections Committee of the ARRL Board of
Directors has completed its review of the candidates' eligibility and
has found all of them to be eligible. Ballots will be counted at ARRL HQ
on November 16. The Divisions holding elections this year are Pacific,
Rocky Mountain, Southeastern, Southwestern and West Gulf.

In the Pacific Division, Bob Vallio, W6RGG, of Castro Valley,
California, was named Director for another three year term; Vallio was
running unopposed. The rules state that if a candidate is running
unopposed, he or she shall be declared the winner without balloting.
Vallio has been Pacific Division Director since February 2003, when he
assumed the position upon the death of Jim Maxwell, W6CF. For Vice
Director in the Pacific Division, incumbent Andy Oppel, N6AJO, of
Alameda, California will face Rob Brownstein, K6RB, of Santa Cruz,
California.

Current Rocky Mountain Vice Director Division Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT,
of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is running for Director against Jeff Ryan,
K0RM, of Westminster, Colorado. Current Director Warren G. "Rev" Morton,
WS7W, of Casper, Wyoming, is not seeking re-election. Vice Director
candidates for the Rocky Mountain Division are Dwayne Allen, WY7FD, of
Devil's Tower, Wyoming, and Chris Howard, W0EP, of Fort Collins,
Colorado.

Due to the retirement of ARRL Southeastern Division Director Frank
Butler, W4RH, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, after 50 years of elected
service to the ARRL, the Southeastern Division Director's seat is open.
Candidates are Sherri Brower, W4STB, of Vero Beach, Florida; Rudy
Hubbard, WA4PUP, of Milton, Florida; Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, of Harvest,
Alabama, and Carl Zelich, AA4MI, of Chuluota, Florida. Candidates for
Vice Director of the Southeastern Division are incumbent Sandy Donahue,
W4RU, of Dothan, Alabama, and Jeff Beals, WA4AW, of Loxahatchee,
Florida.

Current ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, of
Topanga, California, will face challenger Carl Gardenias, WU6D, of
Perris, California. Current Vice Director for the Southwestern Division
Edward J. "Ned" Stearns, AA7A, of Scottsdale, Arizona, is not seeking
re-election; four candidates have stepped forward to seek that position:
Tom Fagan, WB7NXH, of Tucson, Arizona; Joseph Madas, AE6JM, of Banning,
California; Tuck Miller, NZ6T, of National City, California, and Marty
Woll, N6VI, of Chatsworth, California.

Current ARRL West Gulf Division Director Coy Day, N5OK, of Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma, will face Ed McGinley, W5ETM, of Fort Worth, Texas, for
that position. Incumbent Vice Director for the West Gulf Division, Dr
David Woolweaver, K5RAV, of Harlingen, Texas, will face John Teer, AK5Z,
also of Harlingen.

Ballots will be sent to all full members of the League in that Division
who are of good standing as of September 10, 2007 (you must be a
licensed radio amateur to be a full member). The ballots will be mailed
not later than October 1, 2007 and, to be valid, must be received at
ARRL HQ by noon Eastern Time on Friday, November 16, 2007.

Absentee ballots are available to those ARRL full members licensed by
the FCC but temporarily residing outside of the US. Members overseas who
arrange to be listed as full members in an appropriate Division prior to
September 10, 2007, will be able to vote this year where elections are
being held. Even within the US, full members temporarily living outside
the ARRL Division they consider home may have voting privileges by
notifying the ARRL Secretary prior to September 10, 2007, giving their
current QST address and the reason another Division is considered home.

==> THE 2007 ARRL NATIONAL CONVENTION -- GONE, BUT DEFINITELY NOT
FORGOTTEN

The 2007 ARRL National Convention, held August 18-19 in conjunction with
the Huntsville Hamfest, lived up to its promise to be 'chock-full of
activities and exhibits.' The centerpiece of the Convention was ARRL
EXPO -- an entire exhibit area showcasing many ARRL programs and
services. According to Charlie Emerson, N4OKL, vice president of the
Huntsville Hamfest Association, more than 5000 people enjoyed the
National Convention and hamfest.

ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, led the team
that organized ARRL's exhibit and convention activities. "The Huntsville
Hamfest Committee rolled out the red carpet for ARRL members and
friends. We were delighted to sign up more than 150 new and renewing
members throughout the event. But the greatest measure of this event's
success was in the relationship-building that took place throughout
these days. GAREC, the Huntsville Hamfest and the ARRL National
Convention brought together the very best of our Amateur Radio Service."


Just prior to the hamfest, the 2007 Global Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Conference (GAREC-07), sponsored by the IARU, was
Thursday and Friday, August 16-17. GAREC-07 registrants participated in
emergency communications-themed presentations, discussions and
demonstrations.

ARRL staff and volunteers ran booths and tables at the Convention,
showcasing the services and programs offered by the League.
Representatives from various ARRL departments were in attendance,
including the ARRL Lab, Public Relations, Publications, DXCC and Awards,
and the ARRL VEC. The big ARRL Bookstore offered hundreds of books and
other ARRL publications and merchandise, as well.

ARRL Officers and Directors were on hand, too, including President Joel
Harrison, W5ZN and CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, as well as Vice Presidents
Rick Roderick, K5UR, and Rod Stafford, W6ROD. Representatives from the
IARU, including President Larry Price, W4RA, and Vice President Tim
Ellam, VE6SH, made the trek to Alabama, as well.

ARRL Headquarters staff and Field Organization leaders gave more than a
dozen short mini-forums on the ARRL Stage during the Convention in
ARRL's big exhibit area. Presentations on the ARRL Stage included an
update on Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) given by Ed Hare, W1RFI;
suggestions for energizing young -- and potential -- hams, presented by
ARRL Youth Contributing Editor and Georgia Assistant Section
Manager/Youth Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; a "how-to" session on writing for
QST, presented by ARRL News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA; an
introduction to ARRL Operating Awards and the ARRL QSL bureau with ARRL
DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L; tips for contesting with QST Contributing
Editor and ARRL author Ward Silver, N0AX, and an overview of Amateur
Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) presented by Rob Suggs,
KB5EZ, NASA Space Environments Team Lead from the Marshall Space Flight
Center.

ARRL staff presented forums at the hamfest, as well as on the ARRL
Stage. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, moderated the ARRL Membership
Forum. ARRL Education Services Manager Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, led the
ARRL Education Forums which included an overview of the ARRL's new
Education Services Department. She also covered topics on the new ARRL
mission statement on education, new licensing materials, enrichment
courses and an update on ARRL outreach activities through the Education
and Technology Program and Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS).

ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, took visitors on a virtual
ARRL Headquarters tour, sharing stories of ARRL special event activities
aimed at encouraging on-air activity among new and newly active hams,
including real-time Web blogs and videos, Hello-Live! and the W1AW HF
Open House. ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP,
talked about ARES and the media, and discussed ways to help public
service activities capture the attention of the media. ARRL DXCC Manager
Bill Moore, NC1L, and ARRL Web and Software Development Manager Jon
Bloom, KE3Z, presented ARRL's Logbook of the World (LoTW) and the DXCC
award program.

More than 8000 copies of the 2007 Public Relations brochure, "Getting
the Message Through" were distributed at the Convention, as well as 200
copies of the revamped "Hello!" brochure, according to Pitts.

Another activity offered at the Convention this year was the ARRL
Passport. While this activity was a smaller version of the one offered
at the Dayton Hamvention, it provided the same excitement and thrill as
its counterpart. Billed as the ultimate Convention scavenger hunt, those
taking part this year searched the ARRL EXPO area and attended ARRL
Forums to acquire special Passport codes that, once entered in the
Passport, qualified the hunters to win one of two prizes. Out of nearly
500 entries, Richard Pavalonis, KE5ORR, of Santa Fe, Texas, won an Icom
IC-7000 HF/VHF/UHF all-mode mobile transceiver, and Tim Shipman of
Owensboro, Kentucky, son of Walter, KI4OHY, will have fun with the Yaesu
FT-8577D HF/VHF/UHF all-mode mobile transceiver. Congratulations to the
winners and thanks to all who participated.

For those who couldn't make it to Huntsville, Keane and Bloom together
contributed to a Convention Weblog
<http://www.arrl.org/blog/Huntsville%202007> that posted news and
happenings direct from the ARRL EXPO area (and beyond!).

One of the busiest places at the ARRL EXPO was the Youth Lounge. Young
people, ranging from ages of about 7 to 17 were all over the Convention
and hamfest, exploring all that Amateur Radio has to offer. There were
many foxhunts throughout the two days, as well as scavenger hunts, a ham
radio quiz show, crafts, prizes and more.

Other hamfest forums covered contesting, emergency communications such
as D-STAR, public service, education and many technical issues.

After the hamfest closed on Saturday, the ARRL Alabama Section held a
reception for retiring ARRL Southeastern Director Frank Butler, W4RH.
Butler is retiring after more than 50 years of elected service to the
ARRL. He began his elected service as Section Communications Manager for
the Western Florida Section. Butler plans to stay involved with the
ARRL, attending the IARU Region 2 Committee Meeting in Brasilia, Brazil
as a member of the ARRL delegation next month, and the ARRL Executive
Committee Meeting in October, before his term ends January1, 2008.

Emerson said that Convention and hamfest attendance reached
unprecedented levels. "The hamfest is getting into the 'unreal'
category. We have reports of people coming in from everywhere." Both
official hotels, the Embassy Suites (connected to the all
air-conditioned Von Braun Center, site of the Convention and Hamfest)
and the Holiday Inn (across the street) sold out before the hamfest.

When asked where the next ARRL National Convention would be held,
Inderbitzen said, "We're glad to help evaluate National Convention
applications, but the ultimate decision is made by the elected officials
of the ARRL Board of Directors. In the meantime, we hope that all of our
members can someday enjoy attending an ARRL National Convention."

==> GAREC-07 CELEBRATES EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS IN HUNTSVILLE

The third event of its kind, and the first ever held in the United
States, the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference
(GAREC-07) took place August 16-17 in Huntsville, Alabama, just prior to
the 2007 ARRL National Convention and Huntsville Hamfest.

Almost 100 people from all over the world came to Huntsville, making
this truly a global event. GAREC's prevailing theme, how to apply
advanced technologies to emergency communications, was echoed throughout
the two-day event. From presentations to discussion groups to emergency
vehicle displays to information about the latest in hardware, GAREC
attendees had a sampling of just about everything pertaining to the
Emergency Communications arena.

According to IARU International Coordinator for Emergency Communications
Hans Zimmermann, F5VKP/HB9AQS, "Compared to the first two GAREC
conferences [held in Tampere, Finland], the number of international
participants was considerably lower. Region 1 [Europe, Africa, the
Middle East], was represented by Ireland, France, Bulgaria, Finland, The
Netherlands and South Africa. Region 2 [the Americas] had
representatives from Brazil, Canada, the United States and Trinidad and
Tobago. Region 3 [Asia and Oceania] submitted a detailed report, but
sent their regrets due to a collision of dates with a major regional
event."

ARRL Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, said many large and
essential organizations that work with Emergency Communications sent
representatives to GAREC. "We saw representatives from the IARU, ARRL,
Army MARS, American Red Cross, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief,
Department of Homeland Security, The Salvation Army, industry and
others." Sarratt said that organizations weren't the only attendees.
"Many Section Emergency Coordinators (SEC), District Emergency
Coordinators (DEC) and Emergency Coordinators (EC) from the ARRL field
organization attended GAREC."

In addition to those ARRL volunteers and Southeastern Division Director
Frank Butler, W4RH, CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ; Chief Technology Officer
Paul Rinaldo, W4RI; Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts,
W1AGP, and Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura,
K2DCD, attended GAREC on behalf of the ARRL.

Both Pitts and Dura gave presentations. Pitts spoke about the need for a
Public Information Officer (PIO) to be in the Joint Information Center
(JIC) at any ARES deployment. "We lose far too many good stories because
no one is in the right place speaking to media at the time of the
incident. With a 24 hour news cycle, even a few hours later is too
little too late. This idea was well received, and while many of the
region's groups have recently added this to their action plans,
approximately a dozen other groups stated that they will be adding this
component to their activities. This information was also well received
by some of the international representatives who asked for copies of our
PR materials and permission to translate and modify them for use in
their home countries," Pitts said.

Dura talked about using VoIP, EchoLink and IRLP for establishing and
maintaining communications during hurricanes. The session discussed the
methods of combining RF links to the Internet to establish a cohesive
network. The VoIP Hurricane Net is another tool that Amateur Radio
operators, the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center
and emergency managers use to gather detailed information on local
conditions.

Other presentations included the use of new technologies and modes in
Emergency Communications, such as ALE, EchoLink/IRLP, D-STAR, Winlink
2000 and TSSG, an advanced system being developed in Ireland.

Outside of the conference venue, various Emergency Communications
agencies brought their vehicles. Sarratt said, "An impressive fleet of
emergency communications vehicles added a perfect hands-on hardware feel
to GAREC. The vehicles were on display and tour for visitors to learn
about serious mobile communications." These vehicles, hosted by Alabama
Homeland Security, Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief, American Red Cross,
The Salvation Army and the Tennessee Emergency Communications
Association, were very popular, drawing large crowds. "Luckily, no
emergencies occurred to take the vehicles away from us this weekend,"
Sarratt said.

While GAREC is not a decision-making body, its ideas and proposals will
be submitted to the IARU to be included for discussion at their next
Administrative Council meeting, scheduled for June 2008. These ideas may
also be discussed at each of the three IARU Regions' upcoming meetings.

The conference made the recommendation to introduce the call sign suffix
"/D." This suffix would be used by those in the Amateur Radio Service
who handle traffic related to emergency and disaster situations.
According to Pitts, this recommendation, made by Willem Visch, PG9W,
would let anyone listening immediately know there was emergency traffic
and lessen the chances of someone unintentionally breaking in on an
emergency net.

Another recommendation included the extension of "EmComm Party
on-the-Air." These are Emergency Communications exercises already in
place in Region 1. Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR, Region 1 representative,
proposed holding two annual international drills, lasting only 4 hours,
beginning November 11. This, he said, recognizes that major calamities
can and do cross international borders, and hams need to practice for
such eventualities.

GAREC suggested that the IARU initiate studies in cooperation with its
Member Societies and with specialized emergency communication groups.
These studies would focus on the development and possible introduction
of standard codes for use in international emergency communications, as
well as on the need for the development of a list of standard resource
types.

The conference announced its support of the IARU's Administrative
Council decision to collect information from all Member Societies about
the status of implementation and application of the revisions to Article
25 of the ITU Radio Regulations (RR) resulting from WRC-03. The part of
Article 25 concerning Emergency Communications says, "Amateur stations
may be used for transmitting international communications on behalf of
third parties only in case of emergencies or disaster relief. An
administration may determine the applicability of this provision to
amateur stations under its jurisdiction" (RR 25.3), and "Administrations
are encouraged to take the necessary steps to allow amateur stations to
prepare for and meet communication needs in support of disaster relief"
(RR 25.9A).

GAREC appealed to all of the IARU Member Societies, as well as
specialized emergency communications groups, encouraging the accession
to and ratification of the Tampere Convention on the Provision of
Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and Response
Operations
<http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/emergencytelecoms/doc/tampere/S-CONF-ICET-2001
-PDF-M07.pdf> by their respective national authorities. The US has not
yet ratified this document, but word was received during GAREC that
Ireland announced their accession to Tampere. There are currently 37
countries that have adopted Tampere.

The conference also appealed to the IARU to "further encourage the
development and the application of new modes and technologies in
emergency communications," and to support the development of training
aids. This includes the handbook on emergency communications, initiated
by the 2005 and 2006 GAREC conferences, "and the development of a
handout to inform the public, in particular during major conferences
such as the forthcoming WRC-07
<http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp?category=conferences&link=wrc-07&lan
g=en>, as already decided by the IARU Administrative Council in 2005."
GAREC also asked the IARU to "continue its support to the continuation
and further development of the GAREC concept and process."

GAREC also asked Amateur Radio contest organizers to include a provision
in their rules that contest participants avoid frequencies in the
immediate vicinity of the Center of Activity frequencies (as proposed at
GAREC-05); these frequencies are 14.300, 18.160 and 21.360 MHz.
According to Pitts, "This would minimize interference to weak or distant
stations which may be passing emergency traffic, but not heard in the
contest din." Region 2, of which the US is a part, has not adopted the
Center of Activity frequencies, but they will be discussed at the Region
2 meeting in Brazil next month.

Zimmermann said, "With the conference in Region 2, GAREC has established
itself in a major event in the field of Emergency Communications. What
started in Region 1 as an independent event, has in 2006 found wider
attention due to its combination with the International Conference on
Emergency Communications (ICEC-06) and now with the ARRL National
Convention in 2007. It is, however, only thanks to the hosts of these
conferences, that they can fulfill the purpose set out from the
beginning.

"Only the actual implementation and application of the recommendations
made by GAREC can be the ultimate criteria for the success of these
conferences, as a tool for the further development of the role of the
Amateur Radio Service in the provision of emergency communications. The
appreciation expressed by numerous participants following each one of
the so far three events, and the increasing interest demonstrated by the
number of participants must be taken as an obligation to work even
harder on the subject, rather than being considered a cause for
satisfaction with what has been achieved. The statement of GAREC-07
shows that much remains to be done. In addition to new proposals, it
reiterates some still pending issues raised in 2005 and 2006."

Sumner said GAREC stressed interoperability. "In explaining how they are
applying specific advanced technologies to emergency communications,
speaker after speaker identified interoperability with other
technologies and networks as a key objective. It was a joy to share the
GAREC experience with nearly 100 dedicated, committed Amateur Radio
volunteers who were as intent on cooperating as on explaining and
advocating their favorite technologies. This spirit of cooperation and
the recognition of the need to preserve our interoperability bode well
for the future of Amateur Radio emergency communications, and for our
ability to continue to serve our local, national and global
communities."

Sarratt agreed. "This was truly a successful conference. The knowledge
gained on technology, networking, organizations and hardware exceeded
our expectations. This knowledge and the relationships developed will
pay many dividends during disaster relief efforts."

Tying it all together was a call that came in right as GAREC was
closing. Beepers went off, text messages were received, radios echoed
throughout the hall as the National Weather Service and SKYWARN issued
an alert to North Alabama due to high winds and oncoming storms. Pitts
said, "The alert and call for ham radio helped underscore the dedication
and need for those volunteers better than any final speech could have
done. It was like, 'The party's over - we go back to work!'"

==> ARES TEAMS ACTIVATED FOR NORTHWEST OHIO NEAR-RECORD FLOODING

Heavy rains over the past week began taking their toll on Northwest Ohio
communities as near record flood levels peaked on Wednesday. Ohio
Amateur Radio Emergency Service District 1 was especially hard-hit in
the Hancock and Seneca County areas, and a command post at the Seneca
County Emergency Operations Center was activated.

The city of Findlay experienced catastrophic flooding; according to Karl
Erbland, K8ARL, District Emergency Coordinator for ARRL Ohio Section -
District 1, this is the worst flooding in the area since 1913. Hancock
County ARES Emergency Coordinator Bill Davis, N8PTJ, activated Hancock
Emergency Radio Services ARES to provide support to numerous agencies,
including the Hancock County Emergency Management Agency, area fire
departments, American Red Cross, the Sheriff and health district
departments. Two shelters were set up, with the largest taking around
250 displaced persons.

The flooding affected every area of the city. The Blanchard River's
almost-100-year-old record of 18.5 feet was nearly broken by a crest
reading of 18.46 feet on Wednesday afternoon.

The Hancock County hams even had to be resourceful for their own
services. A few days before the major flooding began, lightning struck
the Findlay Radio Club repeater site during another severe storm. Radio
communication during the flood was conducted on a simplex frequency,
with additional support through their 440 MHz repeater.

Reports of cell phone failures and some problems with the state's 800
MHz digital system set the stage for Amateur Radio networks help to
relieve some of these shortcomings. At an information meeting held on
Thursday, EMA Director Garry Valentine, N8GIL, noted that agencies
should learn to count on the Amateur Radio operators in emergencies to
provide communication support, and that Amateur Radio has many
capabilities for communicating. "Our amateurs are always there to
assist," Davis said. "We can count on them in times like these."

Communications activities included the following: relayed from Emergency
Operations Center to fire departments; facilitated delivery of food and
water to Jenera, Ohio residents; assisted in the rescue of two elderly
ladies and two people in wheelchairs; kept County Sheriff aware of road
closures; tracked rescue operations for the Red Cross; tracked displaced
persons being transported to Red Cross shelter; on standby for Water
Command Center and City Command Operations; relayed Health and Welfare
traffic; provided telephone service to some without home phone service;
relayed between Seneca County and Hancock County EMA directors, and
relayed between District Emergency Coordinator and Hancock County
Emergency Coordinator.

Amateurs in Seneca County were put on standby Tuesday, August 21 when
word came that the Ruffing Family Care Center (south of Tiffin, Ohio)
might be in danger from the rising Sandusky River, which runs near the
center's property. County Emergency Coordinator Mike Klaiss, KC8BUJ, and
EMA Director Dan Stahl, KC8PBU, held an on-the-air meeting with ARES
officers and the McCutchenville, Ohio fire chief to review the reports
and predictions from the National Weather Service in Cleveland. ARES
officers remained ready through the evening and Wednesday morning.
Seneca County activated the Emergency Operations Center around 7 AM on
Wednesday as the Sandusky River continued to rise and affect additional
areas in the county.

Seneca County EMA Director Dan Stahl said: "Hams play a big part in the
emergency operations plan and in the communications center at the EOC.
We intend to use all the amateurs in Seneca County during disasters like
these. They provide a trained and reliable pool of communicators capable
of assisting us."

Thursday brought a little relief from the rising waters but then came
the rising temperatures and humidity levels. Disaster assessment was a
hot job as temperatures rose to 91 degrees and similar levels of
humidity. "There is a lot more to do across the entire affected area,"
said Erbland. "Our communities are extremely blessed to have such
dedicated Amateur Radio operators. Our emphasis on ARRL communications
training and the different FEMA courses such as Incident Command System
and National Incident Management System is paying off. We're standing by
for any needed communications as our communities recover."

ARRL Ohio Section Emergency Coordinator Frank Piper, KI8GW, said, "I am
extremely proud of how well the Amateur Radio operators in Hancock,
Seneca and all other counties affected by the weather this past week in
the Ohio Section. This is why we plan and test our communication skills
and equipment on a regular basis."  -- Information provided by Karl
Erbland, K8ARL, District Emergency Coordinator for ARRL Ohio Section -
District 1; Bob Copas, K8OIL, Hancock County Liaison/Net Control
Operator, and Bill Davis, N8PTJ, Hancock County ARES Emergency
Coordinator

==> FCC ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

On August 23, the FCC's Enforcement Bureau released new Amateur Radio
enforcement actions. Norman Ball, KE6VWN, of Sunland, California, and
Richard Martin, KE6RJI, of Maywood, California, both received Warning
Notices informing them that the FCC had received written complaints
concerning the K6GE repeater and cited their "failure to follow rules
set forth by the licensee/control operators of the repeater system for
its users." They were told that they had been told to refrain from using
this repeater system, "but have apparently ignored both verbal and
written requests" to do so. Both Ball and Martin were informed by the
FCC that if they use the repeater again after receiving their letters
from the FCC, "[the FCC] will initiate enforcement action against your
license, which may include revocation, monetary forfeiture (fine) or a
modification proceeding to restrict the frequencies on which you may
operate." The FCC warned Ball and Martin that fines "normally range from
$7500 to $10,000."

Mark F. Hubeny, N9ZHW, of Kaukauna, Wisconsin, received notification
from the FCC informing him that he never responded to their Warning
Notice concerning the operation of his amateur station on non-amateur
frequencies sent June 1 of this year. He was told he had 20 days to
respond. The letter said, "Failure to respond appropriately to this
letter of inquiry may constitute a violation of the Communications Act
and our rules. We will afford you an additional 20 days from the date of
this letter to respond."

Romeo C. Valdez, K6RMY, of San Jose, California, received notice from
the FCC about a complaint filed against the operation of his station.
"The complaint alleges that you are operating an unidentified repeater
on 147.735 MHz," the letter said. Valdez was directed to "review and
fully address the complaint within 20 days of receipt of this letter.
Failure to respond to this letter would be a separate violation of the
Commission's rules."

Smith Trucking, Inc, of Smithfield, Pennsylvania, was cited by the FCC
for "operating radio equipment without a license on the frequency 28.
535 MHz and causing interference to licensed stations in the Ten Meter
Amateur Band. The drivers were observed operating unlicensed in April
and May 2007 on Route 19 between the Fairmont, West Virginia area and
the Haywood power plant near Shinnston, West Virginia." The FCC
admonished Smith Trucking to "[p]lease advise your drivers that
operation of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a
violation of Section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934...and subject
them to a fine or imprisonment, as well as in seizure of any
non-certified radio transmitting equipment."

James T. Ogden, N7KPU, of Prescott Valley, Arizona, was advised by the
FCC of a complaint from "the licensee of a coordinated repeater system,
with supporting documentation, alleging that your N7KPU repeater is
operating without coordination on 447.350/442.350 MHz and causing
harmful interference. The complaint indicates that you have been
contacted numerous times about this problem but have declined to address
it." The FCC requested information from Ogden concerning the
coordination, if any, of his repeater, and asked that he forward any
complaints he might have received. The FCC also wants Ogden to describe
in detail how his repeater is configured, "including all sites, IRLP
links and addresses, using diagrams where necessary. Detail any changes
in location since the coordination, if any, was issued." Ogden was
informed that any information he provided will be used to determine
what, if any, action the FCC might take in this matter.

The FCC issued an Order of Dismissal and Termination against Jack R.
Sharples of Florida concerning the matter of his application for a new
Amateur Radio license. In May, in a Hearing Designation Order, the FCC
called Sharples "a convicted felon and registered sexual predator," and
said "Sharples's felony conviction for at least one sexual-related
offense involving children raises material and substantial questions as
to whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to be a
Commission licensee. Although Sharples's felony adjudications occurred
more than seven years ago, the nature of the criminal misconduct, and
the fact that the Amateur Radio Service is particularly attractive to
children, call into serious question whether he should be permitted to
obtain an Amateur Radio authorization." Sharples had 20 days since the
release of the HDO to file a written appearance; on June 19, "he
submitted to the Presiding Judge a document in which he set forth
reasons for filing an [Amateur Radio license] Application,
notwithstanding his felony convictions [and] the document was received
as a good faith Notice of Appearance. "Sharples, in a telephone call
with the FCC requested more time to consider whether he would continue
to prosecute his Application. The request was granted without
objection." On June 27, Sharples sent a fax to the Presiding Judge
withdrawing his application for an Amateur Radio license. The FCC's
request to dismiss the application with prejudice and terminate the
preceding was granted, as was Sharples's application for an Amateur
Radio license, also with prejudice, on August 1.

On March 8, 2007, David O. Castle, WA9KJI, of Evansville, Indiana, was
first notified by the FCC to "refrain from using the repeater system
operating on 146.79/146.19 and 147.15/147.75 MHz," stemming from a
complaint by the trustee of the Tri-State Amateur Radio Society, W9OG.
In May, 2007, the FCC notified Castle that it was designating his
license renewal application for hearing in the wake of alleged
misconduct extending back several years and continuing at least until
earlier this year. In its Hearing Designation Order from May, the
Commission said, "Since 1998, Castle has been warned repeatedly to
refrain from intentionally interfering with radio communications;
broadcasting without communicating with any particular station; causing
interference on amateur repeaters; using amateur repeaters without
authorization, and using indecent, slanderous or harassing language. We
find that Castle's continuing course of conduct raises questions as to
whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to remain a
Commission licensee." Castle was given 20 days to respond to the HDO,
but according to the Memorandum Opinion and Order released August 20,
2007, "to date [August 1, 2007], no written appearance has been filed
by, or on behalf of, Mr Castle. In addition, a prehearing conference was
held on August 13, 2007, in the Commission's Washington, DC offices. No
one attended or entered an appearance on behalf of Mr. Castle."

The Commission, however, did receive a number of communications by or on
behalf of Castle, one requesting that the contents of the HDO be sent to
him "'in an audible form (cassette or cd)"' because he has "'limited eye
sight.'" The MO&O said Castle told the FCC "Travel will not be possible
due to health and finances. Representation by an attorney is not in my
budget." The FCC complied with Castle's request and sent him a disc
containing audio files of all the documents released in his proceeding
to date. Castle's daughter, Donna J. Dill, sent the Presiding Judge a
fax on June 18 stating, among other things, that her father "'is not
able to travel or hire an attorney...He tells me that he has sent his
statement and this is all he is able to do as his eye sight is limited
and health poor."

It was concluded through Castle's and Dills' submissions to the FCC that
Castle did not intend to appear as directed, and "even assuming that
these documents can somehow be construed as 'pleadings,' as defined in
Section 1.204 of the Commission's Rules, they are procedurally deficient
and may not, therefore, be considered." As such, it was ordered that
Castle's application to renew his Amateur Radio license be dismissed
with prejudice.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "I Wanna Be the One to Walk in the Sun(spot)" Cook, K7RA, this week
reports: Conditions were quiet this week, with no geomagnetic
disturbances and most days had zero sunspots. For the past two days,
August 22-23, the sunspot number was 11 and 12, indicative of a single
sunspot group. Slightly unsettled conditions are expected this weekend,
with a planetary A index from August 24-30 expected at 8, 15, 15, 12, 8,
8 and 5. Sunspot activity is expected to remain low, as lone sunspot 969
moves across the sun. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet
conditions for August 24; unsettled August 25; quiet to unsettled August
26; quiet August 27; unsettled August 28, and quiet again August 29-30.
Sunspot numbers for August 16 through 22 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 11 and 12
with a mean of 3.3. The 10.7 cm flux was 67.3, 67.6, 67.9, 67.8, 69.1,
69.3 and 70, with a mean of 68.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 7,
5, 4, 3, 2, 4 and 4 with a mean of 4.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 6, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3 and 2 with a mean of 2.6. For more information
concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information
Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the Radio: This weekend, the CCC Sprint (CW) on August
24. The ALARA Contest, the Hawaii QSO Party, the SCC RTTY Championship,
the YO DX HF Contest and the Ohio QSO Party are all on August 25-26. The
SKCC Weekend Sprint and the SARL HF CW Contest are both August 26. Next
week, look for the NCCC Sprint (CW) on August 31. The Russian RTTY WW
Contest and the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint are on September 1. On September
1-2, check out the All Asian DX Contest (Phone), RSGB Field Day (SSB)
and IARU Region 1 Field Day (SSB). The DARC 10 Meter Digital Contest is
September 2, while the MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint is  September 3-4 and
the ARS Spartan Sprint is September 4. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course Registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday September 9, 2007, for these
online courses beginning on Friday September 21: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 2 (EC-002); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
Level 3 (EC-003R2); Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital Communications
(EC-005); VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008), and Radio
Frequency Propagation (EC-011). To learn more, visit the CCE Course
Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the
Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>.

* Section Manager Elections Results Announced: In the only contested
Section Manager race this summer, Bill Hillendahl, KH6GJV, was
re-elected as the ARRL San Francisco Section Manager. He received 237
votes and his opponent, Warren "TR" Reese, WB6TMY, received 134 votes.
Election ballots were counted last week at ARRL Headquarters.
Hillendahl, of Santa Rosa, California, begins his third two-year term of
office on October 1, 2007. The following incumbent ARRL Section Managers
did not face opposition and were declared elected for their next terms
of office beginning October 1, 2007: Jeff Ryan, K0RM, Colorado; Mark
Tharp, KB7HDX, Eastern Washington; Susan Swiderski, AF4FO, Georgia;
Phineas Icenbice, W6BF, Los Angeles; Ray Taylor, N5NAV, South Texas; Ann
Rinehart, KA8ZGY, West Virginia. Jim Pace, K7CEX, of Centralia,
Washington, will become the Western Washington Section Manager on
October 1. Pace will take over the reins from Ed Bruette, N7NVP, who
decided not to run for a third term of office. Pace has moved up through
the section leadership ranks by previously serving as District Emergency
Coordinator, Section Emergency Coordinator and presently as an Assistant
Section Manager. Ron Murdock, W6KJ, who already had been declared
elected as the new Sacramento Valley Section Manager as of October 1,
began his term a little early on July 2. Murdock was appointed to fill
in for Casey McPartland, W7IB, who stepped down because of a planned
upcoming move out of the section.

* Malaysia to Send Astronaut to ISS: According to ARRL ARISS Program
Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, earlier this month Malaysia announced that
two Malaysian doctors have become new hams; one will be chosen to travel
to the International Space Station under the Malaysian National
Angkasawan Programme with Russia. Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, 9W2MUS,
and Captain Dr Faiz Khaleed, 9W2FIZ, will make QSOs with students via
ARISS. The two doctors regularly publicize ham radio and ARISS on their
blog <http://www.angkasawan.com.my/blog/index.php?itemid=21>. For more
information on the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
project, check out their Web page <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm>.

* Communications Museum Comes Back to Life: A generous individual who
wishes to remain anonymous donated $40,000 to the Vintage Radio and
Communications Museum of Connecticut, enabling the museum to pay off
their debt to the town of Windsor, Connecticut. The donation comes as
the museum plans to reopen this summer for the first time in more than
seven years. Since that time, the museum has acquired a 20,000 square
foot building in Windsor, and volunteers have been hard at work
restoring the building for public use. The town of Windsor extended the
museum at $35,000 loan that helped them pay insurance and other expenses
while the group worked to ready its new location. A $100,000 state grant
paid for major building upgrades, allowing the museum to plan for an
August opening. The Vintage Radio and Communications Museum of
Connecticut is dedicated to the preservation of old-time communications
equipment and to educating the public. The museum displays radios,
televisions, motion picture and telephone equipment, as well as vintage
advertising and memorabilia. Audio, video and paper libraries, along
with an extensive collection of schematics, are also available for
research. For more information, visit their Web site
<http://www.vrcmct.org>.

* Online Course Developer Needed: As a result of the success of the ARRL
Education Services' online Technician licensing course, and due to
increasing demand for General Class licensing instruction, ARRL is
looking for an experienced on-line course developer to create a General
Class licensing instruction course on a contract basis.  ARRL's current
learning management platform is WebMentor. If you are interested in
applying for this position, please send an e-mail <coursedev@arrl.org>
describing your interest and experience. Please provide a daytime phone
number in your e-mail.

* QST Wants You!: Have you ever thought of writing an article for QST?
The official journal of ARRL, the national association for Amateur
Radio, QST is always on the lookout for articles that explore all the
possibilities of ham radio. We are looking for stories and articles that
present a project or idea that is useful and engaging to most hams. The
story you have had brewing in your head for months might be perfect for
QST or the ARRLWeb. For the Web, we're looking for short (1500 words
maximum), general-interest articles that tell a particularly interesting
story. At least one photo to accompany the story is mandatory. Send your
submissions to QST Managing Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE <qst@arrl.org>.

* Let Us Know What You Think: What's your favorite part of The ARRL
Letter? What kind of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would
you prefer the Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your
chance to let your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL
News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, at k1sfa@arrl.org, with the
subject line "ARRL Letter Suggestions." All messages will be read and
discussed, and we look forward to implementing positive suggestions into
the ARRL Letter.

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers
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<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be
given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.

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letter-dlvy@arrl.org
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==>How to Get The ARRL Letter

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ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
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* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
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listserver.) 


From kd7jyk at earthlink.net  Mon Aug 27 14:42:36 2007
From: kd7jyk at earthlink.net (KD7JYK)
Date: Mon Aug 27 19:00:52 2007
Subject: [CVRC] Wanted to buy.
References: <7.0.1.0.2.20061209225607.03499578@charter.net>
	<7.0.1.0.2.20061218075943.034c9988@charter.net>
Message-ID: <015d01c7e8da$0a7801e0$1c63f504@ELNkk7rc>

MFJ-8621 Data Radio, in excellent to new condition.

Kurt
From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Thu Aug 30 20:39:06 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Thu Aug 30 20:40:21 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLD036 DX news
Message-ID: <200708310039.l7V0d6V2032630@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB DX @ ARL $ARLD036
ARLD036 DX news

ZCZC AE36
QST de W1AW
DX Bulletin 36  ARLD036
 From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  August 30, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB DX ARL ARLD036
ARLD036 DX news

This week's bulletin was made possible with information provided by
K1ZZ, NC1L, VE2TKH, W0PV, WB8IMY, the OPDX Bulletin, DXNL, 425 DX
News, The Daily DX, Contest Corral from QST and the ARRL Contest
Calendar and WA7BNM web sites.  Thanks to all.

FIJI, 3D2.  Tomas, LY1F is QRV as 3D2MT until September 4.  Activity
is on 80 to 17 meters using mainly CW.  This includes an entry in
the All Asian DX contest.  QSL to home call.

WEST MALAYSIA, 9M2.  In celebration of 50 years of nationhood, 16
stations located throughout Malaysia will use special call prefix
9M50M until September 1.  QSL via bureau.

TONGA, A3.  Ron, ZL1AMO is QRV as A35EA from Lifuka, IOTA OC-169,
until September 16.  His activity is holiday style.  QSL to home
call.

SPAIN, EA.  In commemoration of the European basketball championship
EuroBasket 2007, special event stations AN0EB, AN4EB, AN5EB, AN6EB
and AN7EB will be QRV from September 1 to 16.  QSL all calls via
EA4RCH.

CANARY ISLANDS, EA8.  Heinz, DH1PS is QRV as EA8/DH1PS/p from
Fuerteventura Island, IOTA AF-004, and its Lighthouse, WLOTA 0883,
until September 8.  QSL to home call.

ISLE OF MAN, GD.  Dieter, DL2BQD plans to be QRV as MD/DL2BQD from
September 6 to 13 or 14.  Activity will be mainly during his
evenings on 40, 30 and 20 meters using QRP power.  QSL to home call.

ST. LUCIA, J6.  Bill, K9HZ is QRV as either J69HZ or J6/K9HZ until
September 2.  Activity is on 20 to 10 meters using SSB.  QSL to home
call.

MINAMI TORISHIMA, JD1.  JA6GXK is QRV as JD1BMM from Marcus Island
until September 20.  Activity is on 80 to 10 meters using CW, SSB,
RTTY and PSK.  QSL to home call.

PERU, OA.  Dane, S57CQ is QRV as OA4/S57CQ until September 3 while
working as an Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer with the
UN World Food Program.  Activity is mostly on 20 meters using SSB,
with some CW and RTTY.  QSL to home call.

FINLAND, OH.  Markus, OH1MN hopes to be QRV as OF1OTA from
Luonnonmaa Island on September 1 and 2.  Activity is on HF, and 6
and 2 meters using SSB, with FSK on 2 meters.  QSL to home call.

BELGIUM, ON.  In tribute to the Belgium resistance during WW II,
members of the Radio club de Binche will be QRV as ON4WAR from
Waudrez on September 1 and 2.  Activity will be on 40 meters using
CW and SSB.  QSL via ON7RY.

POLAND, SP.  Special event station 3Z0MSPO will be QRV September 3
to 6 to commemorate the 15th International Defense Industry
Exhibition from Kielce.  QSL via bureau.  In addition, special event
station SN10IPA is QRV until September 16 in celebration of the 10th
anniversary of the foundation of the International Police
Association.  QSL via bureau.

GREECE, SV.  Geza, HA4XG is QRV as J48XG and SV8/HA4XG from Corfu
Island, IOTA EU-052, until September 6 during a family holiday here.
Activity is on all HF bands, including 6 and 2 meters.  He will also
try some Meteor Scatter on 2 meters.  QSL direct to home call.

EAST KIRIBATI, T32.  Gordon, WB6NOA is QRV as T32GW from Fanning
Island, IOTA OC-084, until September 3.  This is not a DXpedition,
so his activity will be in his spare time.  QSL to home call.

CAMEROON, TJ.  TJ3SL has been active on 17 meters around 1440 to
1600z and then 20 meters around 1630z.  QSL via F5PSA.

EUROPEAN RUSSIA, UA.  Special event station RC150KTS is QRV during
September to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the birth of
Russian scientist and pioneer of astronautic theory, Konstantin E.
Tsiolkovsky.  QSL via RU3SD.

CANADA, VE.  Steve, VE2TKH is QRV as VO2ZT from Labrador City until
September 4.  Activity is on HF using mostly CW with some SSB.  QSL
to home call.

INDIA, VU.  Members of the National Institute of Amateur Radio in
Hyderabad are QRV as special event station AT60MY until November 17
to celebrate the 60th anniversary of India's independence.  QSL via
VU2NRO.

INDONESIA, YB.   Rich, PA0RRS is QRV as YB9/PA0RRS from Bali Island,
IOTA OC-022, until September 24.  Activity is mostly on 40 to 10
meters, but will try 80 and 6 meters as well.  QSL to home call.

THIS WEEKEND ON THE RADIO.  The All Asian SSB DX Contest, NCCC CW
Sprint, Russian RTTY World Wide Contest, Wake-Up. QRP CW Sprint,
RSGB SSB Field Day, IARU Region 1 SSB Field Day and the MI QRP Labor
Day CW Sprint will certainly keep contesters busy this weekend.  The
ARS Spartan CW Sprint is scheduled for September 4.  Please see
September QST, page 90, and the ARRL and WA7BNM contest web sites
for details.
NNNN
/EX


From memberlist at www.arrl.org  Fri Aug 31 11:35:45 2007
From: memberlist at www.arrl.org (ARRL Web site)
Date: Fri Aug 31 11:36:58 2007
Subject: [CVRC] ARLP036 Propagation de K7RA
Message-ID: <200708311535.l7VFZjV2028127@pop0.greatbasin.net>

SB PROP @ ARL $ARLP036
ARLP036 Propagation de K7RA

ZCZC AP36
QST de W1AW
Propagation Forecast Bulletin 36  ARLP036
 From Tad Cook, K7RA
Seattle, WA  August 31, 2007
To all radio amateurs

SB PROP ARL ARLP036
ARLP036 Propagation de K7RA

Sunspot numbers pulled up from 0 this week, but barely.  Average
daily sunspot numbers rose over nine points to 12.9.  Geomagnetic
conditions were quiet. Conditions have been quiet for so long that
we may not appreciate this, as many of us wish for more solar
activity and sunspots.

It wasn't long ago when we had more sunspots, but the accompanying
geomagnetic activity made conditions difficult.  Check the Planetary
A index in October 2002, April, June, September and December 2003,
and into January 2004.  For 2003, check
http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/old_indices/2003_DGD.txt.
For any other year, just change 2003 toward the end of the URL, and
to check sunspot numbers change DGD to DSD at the end of the URL.

If you read ARRL Propagation Bulletins from back then, in addition
to complaints about the higher geomagnetic activity, you'll find
stories of better VHF propagation during periods of geomagnetic
disturbance.  You can see old bulletins back through 1995 at,
http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/.

This morning the Australian Ionospheric Prediction Service sent out
a warning of increased geomagnetic activity centered on September 1
due to a wind stream from a solar coronal hole.  They predict today,
August 31, will be quiet with increasing activity late in the day,
unsettled to active conditions with possible minor storm on
Saturday, September 1, and mostly unsettled conditions September 2.

Geophysical Institute Prague predicted earlier that August 31 would
be quiet to unsettled, September 1 unsettled to active, unsettled
conditions September 2-3, quiet September 4-5, and unsettled to
active again on September 6.

Over the same period the US Air Force predicts a Planetary A index
of 15, 25, 12, 12, 8, 5 and 15 for August 31 through September 6.
 From the same prediction, it looks like September 8-17 may see a
return of 0 sunspot days.

In response to last week's mention of ionospheric sounders, Pat
Dyer, WA5IYX of San Antonio, Texas wrote in with some useful
information and links.

At http://digisonde.haystack.edu/Search.html you can view recent
ionographs from the MIT Haystack Observatory at Millstone Hill in
Westford, Massachusetts. In the typical Lowell Digisonde graph, we
can see echoes from the ionosphere over a range of 1-10 MHz, for
radio energy beamed straight up and swept through the radio
spectrum.  Frequency is shown along the bottom, on the x-axis, and
the vertical axis is calibrated in kilometers.  This is the
calculated height of the part of the ionosphere that is returning
echoes.

On the left side at the top we see foF2, which is the approximate
frequency of the strongest echoes. Along the bottom, below the
graph, is a list of "D" and "MUF."  This is the calculated Maximum
Usable Frequency for the patch of ionosphere over the observatory,
related to distance.  So stations 1000 km apart, with the
observatory in the middle, would see the MUF value associated with
that distance reflected by the patch of sky above the observatory.

Currently I am looking at a chart for August 31 at 0730z.  For the
distances of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500 and 3000 km I am
seeing MUF values of 2.7, 2.7, 2.8, 3.0, 3.1, 3.4, 4.3 and 6.4 MHz.
This means that stations 1500 km apart, or 750 km on each side of
the observatory, could communicate well on 80 meters, but not at
1000 km or shorter distances.

WA5IYX gives an example at,
http://www.qsl.net/wa5iyx/ionogram/01701400.gif.

Referring to the example, Pat writes, "The x-axis is the swept
ionosonde freq (MHz) of the pulse sent straight up (VI, vertical
incidence) with (if any) echoes displayed.

"The short red dashes just under the x-axis are freq segments where
their ionosonde is shut off to avoid QRMing the existent services
there."

He continues, "The y-axis is the "virtual height" in km as
determined by the ms time delay for the echo (1 ms round trip is
approximately 300/2 km).  It's called virtual since (with the
exception of Es) the reflection takes place over a depth of 10s of
km, with the pulse actually being slowed down just before and after.
This is what gives those striking curves to the F-region traces.
For F1 it's the lower E region and for F2 the F1 - they are still
slowing (retarding) down the pulse, less so as the freq rises,
giving the appearance that the F2 layer is at first high, then
lowers, and then rises again.  Only the latter is really indicative
of a true height change as the pulse goes higher (deeper) into the
layer before being reflected as the freq is raised (and eventually
fully penetrating it)."

"foF2 is the highest VI freq reflection of the ordinary wave from
the F2 region. A plasma (which is what the ionosphere is) in a
magnetic field splits an incident radio wave into two components
(birefringence) - the ordinary (o) and extraordinary (x) wave.  On
VI ionograms these echoes are separated by the natural gyrofrequency
(the spin/sec that a free electron exhibits in a given strength
magnetic field).  So that separation will vary across the earth as
the magnetic field (in long-lat as well as height).  For Lowell it's
about 1 MHz difference."

Pat goes on to say, "In my Lowell sample, that 27.58 MUF is the
calculated maximum oblique frequency that sampled portion of the
F-layer should be able to return (in their case over a 3000 km
range).  These are calculated from the Secant Law using the foF2 and
F2 values.  Their current display format lists (at the bottom left)
the interpolated MUFs for ranges of 100, 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000,
1500, and 3000 km. (This isn't visible in his example, but the
actual MUFs not shown are 4.4, 4.4, 4.6, 4.8, 5.2, 5.7, 7.3 and 11.2
MHz)."

He closes by saying, "A super-complex explanation of Dynasondes is
at,
http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/stp/IONO/Dynasonde/tutorial/tutorial.html."

Thanks, Pat!

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

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL
Technical Information Service at,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. For a detailed
explanation of the numbers used in this bulletin, see,
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/k9la-prop.html. An archive of past
propagation bulletins is at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/ .
Monthly propagation charts between four USA regions and twelve
overseas locations are at, http://www.arrl.org/qst/propcharts/.

Sunspot numbers for August 23 through 29 were 12, 12, 14, 13, 12, 14
and 13 with a mean of 12.9. 10.7 cm flux was 70.8, 71.6, 71.5, 70.1,
69.2, 70.1, and 69.6 with a mean of 70.4. Estimated planetary A
indices were 2, 2, 8, 10, 12, 11 and 4 with a mean of 7. Estimated
mid-latitude A indices were 1, 1, 6, 10, 10, 9 and 4, with a mean of
5.9.
NNNN
/EX


