[CVRC] The ARRL Letter, Vol 27, No 13 (Friday, April 4, 2008)

Fri Apr 4 16:34:39 EST 2008

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 13
April 4, 2008
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Fourteenth Annual AES Superfest a Super Success
* + ARRL Recognition Awards Available
* + Get Ready for World Amateur Radio Day on April 18
* + ARRL Compiles Complete Works of Larson E. Rapp, WIOU
* + Annual Armed Forces Day Crossband Test Scheduled for May
* + 2008-2009 ARRL Repeater Directories Now Shipping
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
       This Weekend on the Radio
       ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
       Notes from the DXCC Desk
     + Hams Come to Rescue in Utah
     + Dick Jansson, KD1K, Wins March QST Cover Plaque Award
       Exhibit Kits Available for Field Day
       Field Day Station Locator Up and Running
       Transatlantic Balloon to Launch this Weekend
       Tim Hulick, W9QQ (SK)
       Des Moines Hamfest Location Update
       Belgian Satellite to Feature D-STAR Technology

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

===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ 
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then e-mail <letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, <k1sfa at arrl.org>
===========================================================

==> FOURTEENTH ANNUAL AES SUPERFEST A SUPER SUCCESS

ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, 
NQ1R, attended the 14th Annual AES Superfest 
<http://www.aesham.com/superfest.shtml> at the 
headquarters store of Amateur Electronic Supply 
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin March 28-29. This event 
is an ARRL sanctioned hamfest that included 
forums, VE testing (sponsored by MRAC), DXCC card 
checking and a fox hunt. ARRL Central Division 
Director Dick Isely, W9GIG; Vice Director Howie 
Huntington, K9KM, and ARRL Wisconsin Section 
Manager Don Michalski, W9IXG, were also on hand for the event.

More than 30 vendors made the trek to Wisconsin 
to show off their wares. "It was fun to visit 
with all of the AES staff and sales people, too. 
I enjoyed discussing our new publications, 
especially the new format of the 'The ARRL 
Repeater Directory,'" Inderbitzen said.

ARRL Volunteer Counsel Jim O'Connell, W9WU, 
offered a forum Saturday afternoon -- Legal 
Issues for Hams -- giving advice for avoiding 
restrictive antenna covenants, presenting a case 
for installing a tower (before legislative or 
zoning officials) and information on the latest 
court rulings on RFI and PRB-1. ARRL Instructor 
Gordon West, WB6NOA, presented a forum, 
encouraging the crowd to recruit, mentor and most of all, have fun!

Inderbitzen heard from many hams while he was at 
the ARRL booth at Superfest: "Most of the 
comments I received were very positive. There 
were lots of nice words about the 'direction' of 
ARRL, the layout of QST and the one-on-one 
experiences members have with the ARRL staff and 
officials. A few folks mentioned having great visits to ARRL headquarters."

On March 27, the night before Superfest, 
Inderbitzen attended a meeting of the Milwaukee 
Radio Amateurs' Club (MRAC) and spoke about 
sharing the passion for Amateur Radio with 
friends and family members. This club, founded in 
1917, will celebrate 90 years of ARRL Club 
Affiliation in 2009. In recognition of this 
milestone, Inderbitzen presented MRAC President 
Howard Parks, AB9FH, with an ARRL Recognition 
Award "for its commitment to Amateur Radio and to 
the American Radio Relay League."

==> ARRL RECOGNITION AWARDS AVAILABLE

As a service to its members, the ARRL now offers 
custom awards for clubs, groups and individuals 
for recognition and achievement, offering a wide 
range of styles and price levels. Each award is 
customized with your text and the ARRL logo. The 
ARRL has introduced these items in response to requests by members.

Products offered include a tan leather 
rectangular key fob with a call sign on one side 
and the ARRL diamond on the other; a rosewood pen 
and pencil set with personalization available on 
the pen and pencil, as well as the presentation 
box; an 8x10 inch wood plaque with blue plate 
engraved with up to 14 lines of gold text; a 
swiveling wood desk clock that holds a photo or 
an insert -- personalize this with up to 25 
characters on two lines, and a beautiful crystal 
3-inch etched globe on a crystal base, presented in a velvet-lined gift box.

Do you have that one ham in your group who comes 
out every Field Day, rain or shine, who stays 
from beginning to end, helping out in any way 
possible? Acknowledge their involvement with a 
beautiful gift that shows how much you value 
their service. What about the ham in your club 
that has been a member for 25 years and has yet 
to miss a meeting? Show them how much you 
appreciate their contribution with a small 
personalized token. Do you have an Elmer you 
would like to thank with more than words? A 
personalized gift with their name and call sign 
on it would remind them of you every time they use it.

Each item features the ARRL diamond logo. Award 
orders will be processed and delivered within 20 
working days. View the entire award product line, 
as well as ARRL clothing items, at the Barker 
Specialties Web site <http://www.barkerstores.com/arrl>.

==> GET READY FOR WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY ON APRIL 18

Each year on the anniversary of its founding, 
April 18, the International Amateur Radio Union 
(IARU) marks World Amateur Radio Day. On this 
83rd anniversary of its inaugural meeting in 
Paris, the IARU dedicates World Amateur Radio Day 
to the future of Amateur Radio with its theme, 
"Amateur Radio: A Foundation for Technical Knowledge."

It is no secret that many professionals in the 
field of radio, TV, communications and 
electronics have started their technical 
education as young radio amateurs. Although 
Amateur Radio has a different face nowadays -- 
Digital Communications, Voice over Internet 
Protocol, Satellite up- and downlinks and more -- 
it is even of greater value as a foundation for 
technical knowledge for youngsters. And much more 
-- it is and should be used as a unique 
attraction for future young radio amateurs.

World Amateur Radio Day provides an occasion to 
promote and publicize Amateur Radio. Amateur 
Radio clubs are encouraged to find suitable ways 
of celebrating World Amateur Radio Day. Many ways 
can be considered -- inviting youngsters to visit 
radio clubs, showing up on the air with a special 
call sign, organizing a station in a public area 
with media coverage or publicly honoring amateurs 
who have made significant contributions. Whatever 
method is chosen, clubs should think about 
publishing a press release for the media, giving 
the background to World Amateur Radio Day and 
promoting the value of Amateur Radio as a foundation for a technical career.

The ARRL will be very pleased to hear how Amateur 
Radio clubs chose to celebrate World Amateur 
Radio Day. Share your stories and photos with us, 
so that they may be shared with the Amateur Radio 
community. E-mail your submissions to ARRL 
Affiliated Club/Mentor Program Supervisor Norm 
Fusaro, W3IZ <clubs at arrl.org>. Please be sure to 
put "World Amateur Radio Day" in the subject 
line.  -- Information provided by IARU

==> ARRL COMPILES COMPLETE WORKS OF LARSON E. RAPP, WIOU

Thanks to the efforts of ARRL volunteer Bob 
Allison, WB1GCM, the League has assembled the 
complete known works of noted QST author Larson 
E. Rapp, WIOU 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/larson/>. Rapp's 
remarkable contributions spanned a period of more 
than three decades (1941-1962, 1972), primarily 
during the month of April. Rapp was said to be 
from Kippering-on-the-Charles, Massachusetts, just off Route 128.

"Like most visionaries unafraid of pushing 
technology beyond conventional limitations, 
Larson at times was controversial among his peers 
and contemporaries," ARRL Lab Engineer Mike 
Gruber, W1MG, said. "You can now be the judge of 
just how well Rapp's theorems and trademark 
'radical approach' have withstood the test of time."

The first Rapp article, "Putting Dynamic 
Prognostication to Work," appeared in the April 
1941 issue of QST. In the article, Rapp expounded 
on his efficient one-tube transmitter. When Rapp 
discussed the tuning of the transmitter, he said, 
"The high coupling efficiency of the unit results 
in a minimum plate current of resonance of about 
0.9 ma. at 7 Mc. This is too low a value to show 
on the 0-250 milliammeter that should be used for 
the circuit, so you'll have to take our word for 
it." The transmitter was described as having a 
"simple construction of the chassis which is made 
from cardboard fastened by wire staples and glue. 
The underside is covered with tin foil."

In "The Circular Band Theorem: Operational 
Advantages of Concentric Frequency Allocations" 
[April 1946], Rapp theorized if the FCC assigned 
"amateur frequencies in concentric circles 
instead of bands [the end result would be] the 
consequent elimination of out-of-band operation 
and band edge crowding...[making] it possible to 
work someone 40 or 50 kc. removed from one's 
frequency." This was brought on by Rapp's claim 
that amateurs, "realizing that after calling 'CQ' 
they had to start listening somewhere and that 
somewhere was usually the edge of the band." Rapp 
called for bands to be designed in "concentric 
circles, and the beginners should be encouraged 
to start in the smallest circle. Thus, even if 
one managed to get out of band -- we don't see 
how he could, but someone would find a way! -- he 
would still be inside the next circle and amateur 
radio would have no black mark against it for 
out-of-band operation. Further, the fact that a 
beginner was encouraged to start in the
  inner circle would make him feel like he was 
one of the boys right off, being allowed into the inner circle!"

In the April 1960 issue of QST, a phony full-page 
ad announced the formation of "Larsen E. 
Enterprises, Inc," supposedly off Route 128 in 
Kippering-on-the-Charles, Massachusetts, with 
Larsen E. Rapp as president. Bearing a "Not a 
Advertisement" disclaimer, the ad offered 
customers free access to the company's 
air-conditioned "Wonder Workshop" with each kit 
purchase. "If you don't have the time to assemble 
the entire kit yourself, one of our engineers 
will be glad to do it for you, just for the 
pleasure it gives him," the ad promised. "No 
tipping please." In the "Print Shoppe," customers 
could purchase "authentic reproductions of the 
rarest QSL cards in the world." The price 
included having the company's "patient penman" 
fill in the card with your call sign and a signal 
report, duplicating the original ink and handwriting.

Rapp himself said that "In assembling this list 
of my articles and letters over the years, I 
noticed that QST always chose to publish them in 
the springtime. This practice was especially 
meaningful to me as spring has historically been 
a time of new beginnings and in our radio hobby, 
a time for new insights into old technical 
problems. I hope you, too, will be helped and 
inspired by these writings of an old ham."

==> ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY CROSSBAND TEST SCHEDULED FOR MAY

The Army, Air Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast 
Guard are co-sponsoring the annual 
Military/Amateur Radio communications tests in 
celebration of the 58th anniversary of Armed 
Forces Day (AFD). Although the actual Armed 
Forces Day is celebrated on May 17, the AFD 
Military/Amateur Crossband Communications Test 
will be conducted on May 10 to prevent conflict 
with the Dayton Hamvention, scheduled for May 16-18.

The annual celebration features traditional 
military to amateur crossband communications SSB 
voice tests and copying the Secretary of Defense 
message via digital modes. These tests give 
Amateur Radio operators and short wave listeners 
an opportunity to demonstrate their individual 
technical skills and to receive recognition from 
the Secretary of Defense and/or the appropriate 
military radio station for their proven 
expertise. QSL cards will be provided to those 
stations making contact with the military 
stations. Special commemorative certificates will 
be awarded to anyone who receives and copies the 
digital Armed Forces Day message from the Secretary of Defense.

Look for schedules and frequencies of 
participating military stations to be published 
in May on the Army MARS Web site <http://www.netcom.army.mil/MARS>.

==> 2008-2009 ARRL REPEATER DIRECTORIES NOW SHIPPING

With more than 20,000 listings for VHF/UHF 
repeaters across the US and Canada, "The ARRL 
Repeater Directory 2008-2009" is a must have. 
Once again, the ARRL is offering two sizes of the 
"Repeater Directory" -- pocket size 
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1271> and 
desktop <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=1298>.

This year, not only is the pocket-sized Repeater 
Directory a half-inch larger than previous 
editions, it boasts a larger font size, making 
for easier reading. For the first time ever, this 
year's editions feature handy indexing tabs on 
the cover, easier to read listings and a "Key to 
Repeater Notes" located right up front in the Directory.

Along with these new features, both editions have 
the features you know and enjoy from prior years: 
Repeater operating practices, repeater lingo and 
hints for newly licensed hams; Frequency 
Coordinator contact information; listings for 
D-Star and APCO 25 repeaters; a guide to using 
CTCSS tones and Digital Coded Squelch (DCS); 
VHF/UHF band plans and a 2 meter channel-spacing 
map; IRLP (Internet linked) nodes; tips for 
handling interference; listings for IRLP, 
WIRES-II and EchoLink (Internet linked) nodes; 
emergency message handling procedures, and a transceiver memory log.

Order your copy of The ARRL Repeater Directory 
2008-2009 today at the ARRL Online Store 
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=What's%20New>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Who bade the Sun clothe you with rainbows" 
Cook, K7RA, this week reports: The past few days 
have had very stable geomagnetic conditions. 
After unsettled to active geomagnetic indicators 
on March 26-28, conditions quieted down 
dramatically. Combined with the nearly two-week 
run of sunspots and the spring season, this makes 
good HF conditions. There were actually three 
sunspots, beginning on March 23 with the first 
one and a sunspot number of 14. March 24 and 25 
each brought one new spot; the sunspot number 
rose to 35 and 52 on those days. Activity peaked 
between March 26-29 with daily sunspot numbers of 
63, 57, 63 and 50. Yesterday, April 3, the 
sunspot number was back to 14 again, as 
one-by-one, the three spots drifted from view. 
Today's sunspot number may be back to zero, and 
it may stay that way until April 18-20. Sunspot 
numbers for March 27 through April 2 were 57, 63, 
50, 41, 45, 25 and 24 with a mean of 43.6. The 
10.7 cm flux was 84.8, 82.9, 82.6, 80.5, 79.2, 77.8
  and 75.9 with a mean of 80.5. Estimated 
planetary A indices were 31, 21, 8, 8, 4, 4 and 1 
with a mean of 11. Estimated mid-latitude A 
indices were 19, 13, 6, 6, 2, 5 and 1, with a 
mean of 7.4. For more information concerning 
radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical 
Information Service Propagation page 
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. 
To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, 
check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page 
<http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's 
"Tad Cookism" brought to you courtesy of Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, look 
for the YLRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest (CW) on April 
4-6. The SP DX Contest, the EA RTTY Contest, the 
QCWA Spring QSO Party, the Missouri QSO Party and 
the Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest are all 
on April 5-6. The RSGB RoPoCo 1 is April 6, the 
RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (CW) is April 7, 
the ARS Spartan Sprint is April 8 and the NAQCC 
Straight Key/Bug Sprint is April 9. The CQ WW WPX 
Contest (SSB) is March 29-30. Next weekend is the 
LRL DX-YL to NA-YL Contest (SSB) on April 11-13. 
The EU Spring Sprint (CW) is April 12. The JIDX 
CW Contest, Radio Maritime Day and the Georgia 
QSO Party are April 12-13. Be sure to check out 
the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon and the UBA Spring 
Contest (SSB) on April 13. The RSGB 80 Meter Club 
Championship (SSB) is scheduled for April 16. 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 Contes
  t Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: 
Registration remains open through Sunday, April 
20, 2008, for these on-line course sessions 
beginning on Friday, May 2, 2008: 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). Each 
online course has been developed in segments -- 
learning units with objectives, informative text, 
student activities and quizzes. Courses are 
interactive, and some include direct 
communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students 
register for a particular session that may be 8, 
12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they 
may access the course at any time of day during 
the course period, completing lessons and 
activities at times convenient for their personal 
schedule. Mentors assist students by answering 
questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well a
  s providing helpful feedback. Interaction with 
mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no 
appointed time the student must be present -- 
allowing complete flexibility for the student to 
work when and where it is convenient. To learn 
more, visit the CCE Course Listing page 
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact 
the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce at arrl.org>.

* Notes from the DXCC Desk: ARRL DXCC Manager 
Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that DXCC has completed 
processing applications for 2007. As such, St 
Barthelemy (FJ) has been added to the DXCC 
computer system and Logbook of The World 
<http://www.arrl.org/lotw>. With the addition, 
this moves the #1 Honor Roll position to 338 
current entities; operators now need 329 entities 
to qualify for Honor Roll. ARRL "While DXCC has 
completed applications for 2007, there are a 
number of application returns still being mailed, 
so it may be another 2-3 weeks before applicants 
receive their 2007 return," Moore said. "LoTW is 
now accepting certificate requests for St 
Barthelemy; once those logs are submitted, the 
matches should occur and applicants can claim 
DXCC credit." For programmers who use the DXCC 
entity numbering system, the entity code for St 
Barthelemy is 516. Moore also noted that the 2007 
G4GIR/KH9 DXpedition to Wake Island 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 at arrl.org> to have your DXCC record updated."

* Hams Come to Rescue in Utah: Eldon Kearl, 
K7OGM, of Fish Haven, Idaho, was driving in the 
Logan Canyon, Utah area last week when he came 
upon a driver who lost control of her truck in 
the snow. Her truck fell more than 100 feet over 
a cliff, and two of the three passengers were 
thrown from the truck. Witnesses tried to call 
for help on their cell phones, but the closest 
cell coverage was more than a 30 minute drive 
away. Kearl, however, had a radio in his car and 
was able to get a hold of another ham, Roger 
Ellis, KE7HTE, of Logan, Utah. Kearl relayed to 
Ellis information about the accident scene and 
Ellis called 911. First responders were on the 
scene within half an hour. Although the driver 
and passengers in the truck suffered only minor 
injuries, a spokesman for the Utah Highway Patrol 
said that if Kearl and Ellis had not responded in 
getting help so quickly, the injuries could have 
been much worse. As Kearl said, "It all worked 
out pretty good." Kearl and Ellis have nev
  er met, but live relatively close to each 
other; they plan on meeting each other in person 
soon.  -- Information provided by KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, Utah

* Dick Jansson, KD1K, Wins March QST Cover Plaque 
Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award 
for March is Dick Jansson, KD1K, for his article 
"HF Antennas and Restricted Living." 
Congratulations, Dick! The winner of the QST 
Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or 
authors of the best article in each issue -- is 
determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST 
Cover Plaque Poll Web page 
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qstvote.html>. 
Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the 
April issue by Wednesday, April 30.

* Exhibit Kits Available for Field Day: Visit the 
ARRL Field Day information page 
<http://www.arrl.org/fieldday> for all the 
details on Field Day rules, frequencies, forms, 
pins, logos and T shirts. The complete Field Day 
packet 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2008-packet.pdf> 
can be downloaded from the site as well. If you 
have unanswered questions about Field Day, 
contact ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, 
N1ND, via e-mail <fdinfo at arrl.org> or by phone at 
860-594-0236. If you want to order exhibit kits 
containing printed flyers about Amateur Radio, 
you may order these materials on the ARRL Web 
site <http://www.arrl.org/brochures/>. The cost 
of the exhibit kits ranges from $8-$12 depending 
on shipping. To make sure you'll have the display 
material in time for Field Day, your order must 
be received before June 13. ARRL Field Day is 
always the fourth full weekend in June; in 2008, it is June 28-29.

* Field Day Station Locator Up and Running: This 
year, for the first time, the ARRL has put 
together a Station Locator 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php> 
to help amateurs or those interested in Amateur 
Radio find a Field Day 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/> 
site near them. According to ARRL Field Day 
Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, many amateurs have 
been asking for something like this for many 
years: "So far, 287 groups in 45 states and 3 
Canadian provinces had registered their Field Day 
site with the Station Locator." If your group 
would like to be a part of the Station Locator 
Service, it's easy to get started. Just go to the 
Field Day Station Locator Web site 
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php> 
and follow the instructions.

* Transatlantic Balloon to Launch this Weekend: 
The trans-Atlantic balloon flight of the Spirit 
of Knoxville V is set to launch April 5 at 2000 
EDT (0000 UTC April 6). The balloon, designed to 
stay aloft for more than 24 hours, will be 
inserted into the current jet stream at normal 
flight altitudes of 30,000-40,000 feet. This will 
take the balloon into Europe over the UK and 
France at around 40 hours into the flight if all 
goes well. Using radio frequencies, the balloon 
transmits data detailing its current location, 
distance traveled, speed, height and health of 
the balloon. Last month, the Spirit of Knoxville 
IV made two-thirds of its journey and crossed the 
tectonic plate to Europe; organizers hoped the 
balloon would make to Europe, but after 40 hours 
and 3300 miles, the balloon lost altitude and 
went into the ocean as it neared Ireland. The 
balloon's payload consists of hand-made computers 
and radios along with a GPS and self-authored 
software. The onboard computer gathers
   information from the GPS like altitude, speed 
and temperature; the computer then determines 
whether it needs to drop weight to maintain its 
altitude and sends this information, via Amateur 
Radio frequencies, to volunteers around the 
globe. Track the mission live (the live status 
page will only become active at launch). See the 
Spirit of Knoxville Web page 
<http://www.spiritofknoxville.com/> for more information.

* Tim Hulick, W9QQ (SK): ARRL has learned that 
Tim Hulick, PhD, W9QQ (ex W9MIJ), Captain, USNR 
retired, of Schwenksville, Pennsylvania, passed 
away December 28, 2007 after a lengthy battle 
with cancer. He was 65. Hulick, an ARRL Life 
Member, also held the calls V47QQ, KG4QQ, HL9QQ 
and PJ9Q. A 1964 graduate of the US Naval 
Academy, Hulick served his country for 29 years. 
Upon retiring from the Navy, he operated Watts 
Unlimited, producing a lightweight HV Power 
Supply designed for use as a replacement in older 
amplifiers. Hulick wrote several articles for QST 
and QEX, including "Switching Power Supplies for 
High Voltage" (QEX, February 1991), "PSK31 on the 
Road!" (QST, March 2000), and "A Two-Element 
Vertical Parasitic Array for 75 Meters" (QST, 
December 1995). Hulick was on the ARRL DXCC Honor 
Roll with 356 countries; he only needed BS7, but 
was too sick to mount a serious effort to get 
them while it was most recently on the air. He 
worked more than 230 counties while mobile.
  He also operated /MM from a number of ships 
during his Naval career. Hulick was buried with 
full military honors at Arlington National 
Cemetery. He is survived by his wife JoAnne, 
three sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.

* Des Moines Hamfest Location Update: The Des 
Moines Radio Amateur Association (DSMRAA) will 
hold their hamfest on April 27 at the 92.5 KJJY 
Event Center, located at 2100 NW 100th Street in 
Clive, Iowa. The April issue of QST inadvertently 
stated the hamfest would be held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

* Belgian Satellite to Feature D-STAR Technology: 
Students at the Universite de Liege in Belgium 
have built OUFTI-1 
<http://www.leodium.ulg.ac.be/cmsms/>, a new 
Amateur Radio CubeSat featuring D-STAR 
digital-communication protocol that is used for 
control and telemetry. Amateur Radio operators 
from all over the world are able to listen in on 
the ON0ULG D-STAR repeater on 70 cm 
<http://www.jfindu.net/dstarlh.aspx?rptr=ON0ULG>; 
2 meters will be operational soon. The objective 
of this nanosatellite project is to provide 
hands-on experience to students in the design, 
construction and control of complete satellite 
systems, ultimately serving as the basis for a 
variety of space experiments. The first satellite 
in the series, OUFTI-1, is a CubeSat -- a 
10×10×10 cm cube weighing in at no more than one 
kilogram.  -- Information provided by the OUFTI Team

===========================================================
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 
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==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy at arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, k1sfa at arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org>
==>ARRL Audio News: 
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