[FPARC] The ARRL Letter Vol. 25, No. 19 May 12, 2006
W4kkw at aol.com
W4kkw at aol.com
Sat May 13 07:21:39 EDT 2006
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The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 19
May 12, 2006
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IN THIS EDITION:
* +League shifts BPL focus to US Senate
* +Consent decree ends transceiver marketing case
* +Inuit youngsters in northern Quebec speak with ISS via ham radio
* +League's "Hello" campaign a hit with broadcasters
* +New, returning and current staffers fill ARRL HQ openings
* +ARRL member from Mississippi wins SBA award for Katrina efforts
* +ARRL Level 3 EmComm course gets a facelift
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+New Jersey Tech+ scores WAS on 40 CW in her first year on the air
German experimental stations on 440 kHz
AMSAT and ARISS staff museum Space Day 2006 exhibit
Former Army MARS Chief Larry Warren, KF7TJ/AAV9ET, SK
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
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==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy at arrl.org>
==>Editorial questions or comments only: Rick Lindquist, N1RL,
<n1rl at arrl.org>
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NOTE: Because of Dayton Hamvention travel schedules, the May 19 editions of
The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News will be distributed Wednesday, May 17.
See you in Dayton!
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==>ARRL SHIFTS CONGRESSIONAL BPL FOCUS TO US SENATE
With an amendment requiring the FCC to study BPL interference now included
in Section 502 of the House telecom bill, HR 5252, the ARRL is shifting its
focus to the Senate. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Committee will conduct hearings on its own version of telecom legislation, S
2686, later this month and will begin consideration of the bill in early
June. Between now and then, the ARRL is urging members in the 22 states with
Senators on the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee to write
seeking support to include similar BPL study language in the Senate bill.
"If we can protect Section 502 when the bill comes to the House floor for
consideration, and if we can get similar language introduced on the Senate
side, we'll be in a good position when and if the two bills go to a
Conference Committee," observes ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner,
K1ZZ.
Proposed by Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR (D-AR), the amendment to the House bill,
the Communications Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement (COPE) Act of
2006, gained the support of Committee Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX), and House
Energy and Commerce Committee voted 42-12 to send the COPE Act, amendment
intact, to the full House for its consideration.
The Ross amendment has received significant opposition from electric
utilities. The United Telecom Council (UTC), a bulwark of BPL support and
administrator of the Interference Resolution Web site, has referred to the
amendment as a threat and is urging its members to contact their members of
Congress regarding its inclusion.
This week the League began getting out the word via e-mail to members in
states with Senators on Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. The
letter to members in targeted states asks League members to urge their
Senators on the committee to support language addressing the BPL
interference issue when the Senate bill is marked up in committee on June 8.
The language the League wants to see in the Senate amendment to the telecom
bill would call on the FCC to "conduct, and submit to the House Energy and
Commerce and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
a study of the interference potential of broadband over power line systems
leading to improved rules to prevent the deployment of systems having a
potential to cause destructive interference to radio communication systems."
The ARRL plea includes a sample letter
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/files/BPL-Amendment-SenateSampleLette
r0506-Rev2.doc>, which members are encouraged to personalize as much as
possible. The League wants members to fax their letters to the number
indicated in the e-mail to members plus a copy to ARRL's government
relations firm Chwat & Company, ATTN: Eric Heis, KI4NFC, 625 Slaters Ln --
Suite 103, Alexandria, VA 22314. Fax 703-684-7594.
The sample letter points out the value of Amateur Radio's role in recent
disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina. "The reason we need your help is that
the FCC continues to resist growing evidence that its rules are inadequate
to protect radiocommunication systems, including those relied upon by First
Responders, from radio spectrum pollution caused by BPL systems," it says.
"The FCC needs to objectively and carefully review this evidence and adopt
rules that will keep interference from BPL within reasonable bounds."
The sample letter notes that not only has the FCC shown no inclination to do
that, it's so far failed "to enforce its existing rules in specific, well
documented instances of harmful interference."
"Remember that it is not BPL that we oppose, but BPL interference," Sumner
emphasized this week. "Some BPL systems are designed not to cause widespread
interference, but many are not. The problem is that the FCC rules don't
distinguish between the two. This is unfair to licensed radio services that
must deal with the consequences of spectrum pollution."
==>FCC, PILOT TRAVEL CENTERS CONSENT DECREE ENDS TRANSCEIVER MARKETING CASE
A consent decree has finally ended an enforcement action against Pilot
Travel Centers LLC that could have cost the company $125,000 in fines. In
November 2004 the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) asserting
that Pilot, despite multiple citations and warnings, continued to market CB
transceivers labeled as Amateur Radio gear but intended for use on both
Citizens Band and amateur frequencies. An FCC Order released May 11 adopts
the attached consent decree between the agency and Pilot and terminates the
forfeiture action. While Pilot agrees to make "a voluntary contribution" of
$90,000 to the US Treasury "without further protest or recourse," the
company does not admit any wrongdoing.
"The parties further agree that this consent decree is for settlement
purposes only and that by agreeing to the consent decree, Pilot does not
admit or deny any liability for violating the [Communications] Act or the
rules in connection with the matters that are the subject of this consent
decree," the agreement stipulates.
Under the terms of the consent decree, Pilot must refrain in the future from
marketing as "Amateur Radio" gear any transmitting devices with built-in
features to facilitate CB operation. The company also must determine in
advance that any CB transmitting gear it offers for sale is FCC
certificated. CB transmitters must receive FCC certification--formerly
called "type acceptance." Amateur Radio transmitting equipment does not
require FCC certification.
Should Pilot plan to sell legitimate Amateur Radio transceivers, it must
ensure before marketing or selling them that the ARRL Lab has reviewed the
equipment in question and determined that it transmits only in the Amateur
Radio bands. The ARRL Lab tests equipment both for QST "Product Review"
articles as well as for compliance with QST advertising policy, which
requires that items offered for sale meet FCC rules.
Further, the consent decree requires Pilot to remove from sale certain
Galaxy brand transceivers (models DX33HML, DX66V and DX99V) and any other
"Amateur Radio" transceivers that have not passed ARRL Lab muster in the
course of product review or advertising compliance testing. Pilot also will
have to ensure that any CB transceivers on sale by entities leasing space on
its premises are FCC certificated.
The consent decree brings to a close an enforcement action dating back more
than six years. In its 2004 NAL, the FCC cited 47 separate instances between
2002 and 2004 when Pilot allegedly had offered for sale various models of
non-certificated Galaxy CB transceivers labeled as "amateur radios" that
easily could be modified for CB operation.
The Order and the consent decree are on the FCC Web site
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-53A1.pdf>.
==>INUIT STUDENTS JOIN THE SPACE PROGRAM VIA HAM RADIO
Thanks to Amateur Radio and an international teleconferencing link, Inuit
students attending Jaanimmarik School in Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada, joined
the space program May 4. The Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) program arranged the contact between NA1SS and ARISS veteran
Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, in Kingston, Australia. Verizon Conferencing donated
a two-way audio link between the northern Quebec school and VK5ZAI. Speaking
from NA1SS, US astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, told the students that it's
very exciting to be in space.
"To look at the earth from up here and to see the entire earth at one time
is fabulous," Williams said. "Of course, being weightless is also fantastic,
when you float around, and everything else floats around too, if it's not
tied down."
Williams reported that he and Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov,
RV3BS, are doing experiments involving crystal growth in a microgravity
environment as well as fluid dynamics and growing plants. In what little
spare time he has in his busy work week, Williams--like many ISS crew
members before him--enjoys looking through the ISS window at Earth some 220
miles below.
"The mountains are beautiful, the horizon is beautiful during a sunset or a
sunrise," Williams said. "You see the different colors in the atmosphere."
One youngster wanted to know if Williams had had a chance to use the
Canadarm2--the robotic manipulator that was made in Canada. The astronaut
said he had used it and would be using it again this week. "I use it fairly
regularly," Williams added. "It's a fantastic piece of equipment."
Accompanied by some tittering from his classmates, one youngster asked the
somewhat indelicate question, "How do you go to the bathroom in space?"
Responded Williams, "You go very carefully, very carefully." He went on to
explain that the ISS is equipped with a special "air-flow" toilet "that
helps things go where they need to go."
ARISS mentor Steve McFarlane, VE3BTD, estimated the audience at
approximately 450. The event attracted the attention of CBC North as well as
local radio, which broadcast the contact live with a running translation
into Inuktituk. APTN (Northern Canada TV Network) is producing a segment for
later broadcast.
Ottawa news media also reported on the contact because students from
Manordale Public School in Ottawa were on hand in Kuujjuaq for the
Jaanimmarik contact, McFarlane said. Youngsters at Manordale spoke with ISS
Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, in December 2004.
ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an educational outreach of a nine-nation
consortium, with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
==>ARRL'S "HELLO" CAMPAIGN A HIT AT NAB, RTNDA CONVENTIONS
When the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and the Radio-Television
News Directors Association (RTNDA) met in Las Vegas for their annual
conventions in late April, the ARRL was well represented. ARRL President
Joel Harrison, W5ZN, headed the League contingent. Media and Public
Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Pacific Division Director Bob Vallio,
W6RGG, and Vice Director Andy Oppel, N6AJO, rounded out the delegation. The
presence of thousands of broadcasters offered Pitts an ideal opportunity to
promote the ARRL "Hello . . . -- Celebrating 100 Years of Voice over Radio
Worldwide" public service announcements. Pitts gauged success on the basis
of what he *didn't* end up taking home.
"I carried 60 full 'Hello' press books containing news releases, information
and PSAs to the NAB," Pitts said. "At the end of the three days only one was
left, and that went to a radio station manager I met in the airport going
home." Pitts reports he's been hearing from hams, engineers and radio
station managers that the PSAs are airing on cable systems and radio
stations. In addition, of the 4500 brochures he took to the convention, he
had but 300 left.
The highlight each year for radio amateurs attending the NAB convention is
the ham radio operators' reception, sponsored this year by Bob Heil, K9EID,
of Heil Sound Ltd. Some 2000 radio amateurs with broadcasting industry
connections attended the April 26 affair.
The big news at this year's reception was that Heil will be inducted next
month into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. A veteran
music industry soundman and sound reinforcement innovator, Heil has worked
with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including
Chuck Berry, The Who, the Grateful Dead, Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, and ZZ Top.
NAB Vice President of Science and Technology John Marino, KR1O, co-hosted
the event.
ARRL President Harrison greeted the gathering on behalf of the League and
spoke briefly about the changes and challenges Amateur Radio faces in the
21st century.
Charlie Wooten, NF4A, was honored as Clear Channel Communications "National
Engineer of the Year," and Heil presented him with a microphone bearing
Wooten's call sign. Pitts credits Wooten with getting the "Hello" campaign
PSAs on many Clear Channel radio stations.
Pitts said he found a lot of interest in the "Hello" campaign among those
attending the broadcasters' gatherings. "But it takes more than just passing
out disks to make it on the air," he added. "It takes a personal contact,
and that's why we need continued action by our public information officers
nationwide."
==>ARRL WELCOMES NEW, RETURNING STAFFERS, ANNOUNCES STAFF SHIFT
ARRL Headquarters has welcomed three new staff members. One current and one
former staffer have filled other openings.
ARRL Membership Manager Katie Breen, W1KRB, owned and operated a restaurant
for three years before coming to Headquarters. A Connecticut native with a
strong marketing, customer service, volunteer management and event planning
background, Breen's also been an urban and regional planning professional.
Outside of ARRL, she's actively involved with the Jaycees and other
community activities.
Breen is responsible for League membership recruitment and retention, and
she says she'll focus on putting a personal touch on ARRL. As a result, she
has an open-door policy and welcomes telephone calls (860-594-0297 and
e-mail (kbreen at arrl.org) from members.
Customer Service Manager Amy Hurtado has filled the vacancy left by the
departure of Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, to supervise membership application
processing and product sales. Most recently she managed a large customer
service team at a busy direct-mail facility and has prior experience in
direct mail design and production.
At ARRL Headquarters she oversees ARRL membership fulfillment operations and
circulation for QST and all ARRL periodicals. She'll also handle the
membership renewal process, the ARRL Life Membership program and Silent Key
administration. She works closely with Breen and with Marketing Manager Bob
Inderbitzen, NQ1R, on target marketing, market concepts and direct mail
campaigns. Members may contact Hurtado by telephone (860-594-0257) or e-mail
(ahurtado at arrl.org).
Assistant Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, is relatively new licensee, but
she's gleaned a lot of Amateur Radio knowledge from her husband Michael,
K1MK, an ARRL Life Member and 30-year veteran ham.
With an academic background in journalism, history, English and photography,
Keane has led political campaigns, worked for the Boy Scouts of America and
headed the news department for a local weekly. At ARRL, she prepares and
edits news and feature articles for the Web site, QST and NCJ.
Outside of Headquarters, Keane volunteers with the Cub Scouts and enjoys
reading. "Working at the League is something I have wanted to do ever since
I learned about the ARRL," she says. "You could say that this is a dream
come true."
A familiar face at ARRL Headquarters for 25 years, former ARRL Advertising
Manager Debra Jahnke, K1DAJ, will return to the fold in late May to take on
the responsibilities of Business Services Manager for the ARRL Sales and
Marketing Department. Jahnke left Headquarters in 2005 to become advertising
director for a Wisconsin publisher, and she earned her ham radio license
along the way. "I'm thrilled to be returning home and to be back at ARRL,"
Jahnke said. "I feel my job experience during the past year provided me with
a new perspective and new ideas, and I can't wait to get started."
At Headquarters, Jahnke will head the business services team, developing
advertising opportunities for QST, QEX and NCJ and working with League
clients who purchase ARRL publications and other services.
Jahnke plans to spend at least one day at ARRL EXPO 2006 at Dayton
Hamvention and will be on site at Newington starging May 24.
Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, soon will shift gears after
seven-plus years at ARRL to tackle new duties as Regulatory Information
Specialist. He'll succeed John Hennessee, N1KB, who died in March. In his
new job, Henderson will work with US amateurs on a wide range of topics
relating to FCC rules and regulations governing Amateur Radio. He'll assist
members in such areas as the PRB-1 limited federal preemption, antenna and
zoning questions and the ARRL Volunteer Counsel and Volunteer Consulting
Engineer programs.
==>MISSISSIPPI ARRL MEMBER WINS SBA AWARD FOR KATRINA EFFORTS
A Mississippi radio amateur and broadcaster who braved the fury of Hurricane
Katrina to keep his ham radio club's low-power FM (LPFM) broadcast station
WQRZ-LP on the air was one of three recipients to receive the Small Business
Administration (SBA) Phoenix Award. The SBA honored ARRL Member Brice
Phillips, KB5MPW, of Bay Saint Louis, for "Outstanding Contributions to
Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer."
"We are proud to be the first Amateur Radio organization-owned broadcast
facility in the US--and proud Mississippians--to serve our state and as a
model to the country as the first broadcast station to be attached to an
emergency operations center," Phillips says. He notes that the station lost
everything to the storm except "our lives and our commitment to the
community."
Owned and operated by the Hancock County Amateur Radio Association, WQRZ-LP
(103.5 FM) was built and is operated by volunteers with disabilities. Before
Hurricane Katrina hit, Phillips and WQRZ-LP Program Director Christine
Stach, KC5RIC, relocated the station from a small shed next to their house
in Waveland to the Hancock County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), which
was forced to move twice.
As the storm surge waters reached the building's second level, Phillips
braved the elements and rigged car batteries to power the station's
broadcasts of search-and-rescue and other emergency information. WQRZ was
one of only four of the more than three dozen Gulf Coast radio stations--and
the only one in Hancock County--to stay on the air during the early days
after Katrina struck. Phillips also was among the many radio amateurs
providing emergency communication in the storm-stricken region.
FEMA distributed 3000 FM radios to Hancock County storm survivors so they
could tune to WQRZ-LP and learn where to get food, water, ice, tarpaulins,
help from the Red Cross and The Salvation Army and other survival
assistance.
Phillips received his award in Washington, DC, during SBA National Small
Business Week in mid-April.
Normally solar-powered, WQRZ-LP serves the Bay Saint Louis, Waveland,
Diamondhead and Kiln areas of Mississippi. WQRZ-LP's licensee, the Hancock
County Amateur Radio Association, is a non-profit IRS 501(c)(3)
organization. The station invites contributions to help it rebuild to
WQRZ-LP, POB 1145, Kiln, MS 39556-1145. Contact the station for more
information <WQRZ1035 at yahoo.com>.
==>ARRL UPDATES AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS LEVEL 3 COURSE
The ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) Program has revised
and updated its Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (AREC) Level 3
course. The new top-level EmComm course, designated EC-003 Rev 2, has
supplanted EC-003 in the program's list of online offerings. ARRL Online
Course Development Coordinator Howard Robins, W1HSR, says the updated
curriculum incorporates some major changes.
"This update is very significant, because it brings the management training
part of the AREC program into line with today's homeland security
environment," Robins remarked. "This is the first revision of the AREC Level
3 course since it was originally introduced in December 2000. Needless to
say, much has changed since then, and this revision reflects those changes."
EmComm Online Course Editor Dave Colter, WA1ZCN, was the principal author of
EC-003 Rev 2, Robins noted. He says a number of individuals with experience
in the emergency communications arena beta-tested the updated course, and it
underwent a thorough final review prior to its release. The AREC Level 1
(EC-001) and 2 (EC-002) courses are prerequisites for the Level 3 course.
According to Robins, EC-003R2 includes significant information about how
Amateur Radio emergency communication leadership must prepare and function
in the post-September 11, 2001, era. He says the updated course takes into
account the "many changes in the homeland security landscape--a term that
did not exist when the original Level 3 curriculum was developed.--and how
Amateur Radio fits into that landscape."
New topics include:
* National Incident Management System (NIMS)
* National Response Plan (NRP)
* Key NRP Emergency Support Functions
* Department of Homeland Security Citizen Corps and Community Emergency
Response Teams
* National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) Communications Support
* Hospital Emergency Communications
* ARES Management and the Incident Command System (ICS)
Robins points out that several other Level 3 units have been revised to
better focus on leadership and management.
Registration for EC-003 Rev 2 opens Monday, May 15 and will remain open
through June 4. The inaugural class begins Friday, June 16.
To learn more about this and other online educational offerings from ARRL,
visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or
contact the CCE Department <cce at arrl.org>.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Solar Seer Tad "Sunny" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: This week
saw higher geomagnetic activity and lower sunspot numbers than the previous
period (our reporting week is Thursday through Wednesday). Average daily
sunspot numbers declined more than 5 points to 54.3. Today, May 12, look for
active geomagnetic conditions with a planetary A index predicted at 25, then
declining to 12 and 10 on Saturday and Sunday. Sunspot numbers and solar
flux should be a bit lower than the past week.
Geophysical Institute Prague predicts active geomagnetic conditions for
today, May 12, unsettled May 13, quiet to unsettled May 14, nice and quiet
May 15-16, back to quiet to unsettled for May 17, and unsettled conditions
on May 18.
Many readers alerted us to a new long-range sunspot cycle prediction
regarding the peak of Cycle 25, which should reach solar maximum around 2022
<http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/10may_longrange.htm?list15934>.
For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the
numbers, see the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.
Sunspot numbers for May 4 through 10 were 50, 61, 69, 64, 53, 56 and 27,
with a mean of 54.3. 10.7 cm flux was 91.8, 86.7, 87, 86.2, 84.7, 82.6, and
78.2, with a mean of 85.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 14, 13, 24,
19, 8, 4 and 4, with a mean of 12.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were
10, 8, 14, 17, 5, 2 and 4, with a mean of 8.6.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The Mid-Atlantic QSO Party, the VK/Trans-Tasman
80-Meter Contest (phone), the VOLTA Worldwide RTTY Contest, the CQ-M
International DX Contest, the F.I.S.T.S. Spring Sprint and the 50 MHz Spring
Sprint are the weekend of May 13-14. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is
May 15. The NAQCC 80-Meter Straight Key/Bug Sprint is May 18, the RSGB
80-Meter Club Championship (CW) is May 18 and the Thursday NCCC Sprint
Ladder is May 19 (UTC). JUST AHEAD: Armed Forces Day military/Amateur Radio
communications tests, the US Counties QSO Party (SSB) His Majesty the King
of Spain Contest (CW), the EU PSK DX Contest, the Portuguese Navy Day
Contest (PSK31 and CW/SSB), the Manchester Mineira CW Contest and the Baltic
Contest are the weekend of May 20-21. The QRP Minimal Art Session is May 25.
See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the
WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html>
for more info.
* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday, May 21, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE). Program on-line courses:
Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency
Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog
Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Classes begin Friday,
June 2. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department
<cce at arrl.org>.
* New Jersey Tech+ scores WAS on 40 CW in her first year on the air: ARRL
member Jane Tymko, KC2OBS, of Bartley, New Jersey, managed to work all
states during her very first year as a radio amateur. The kicker is that
Tymko, a Technician with Element 1 credit--what used to be called a "Tech
Plus" ticket--worked all 50 states on the often broadcaster-plagued 40-meter
Novice/Tech Plus band segment, 7100-7150 kHz. "I'm working on my General,
now that I've accomplished this," Tymko told ARRL when she visited
Headquarters to get her cards checked for the Worked All States (WAS) Award.
ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, presented her WAS
certificate on the spot (photo). Tymko says Alaska was her hardest state.
Most of the time, though, she simply called "CQ," and says most ops slowed
down to match her 12-14 WPM CW copying capability. Her setup is modest: 100
W to a dipole. She studied for her license entirely on her own, using a
Morse training program to learn the code. In addition to the ARRL, Tymko is
a member of the YLRL and F.I.S.T.S. Congratulations, Jane!
* German experimental stations on 440 kHz: Geri Holger, DK8KW/W1KW, in Peine
near Hannover, reports that German telecommunication authorities have issued
him an experimental license to operate on the "medium wave" frequency of 440
kHz using the call sign DI2BO. He joins Walter Staubach, DJ2LF, in Dormitz
near Nuernberg, who's been operating experimental station DI2AG on 440 kHz.
Tests have been under way on that frequency since January 2005, Holger says,
"to study the special propagation conditions on medium wave." Holger says CW
beacon transmissions (which include call sign and grid square) will be sent
on 440 kHz (±100 Hz), maximum 200 Hz bandwidth at a maximum power of 9 W
ERP. "Both beacon transmissions will be coordinated in a way so that they
can be observed simultaneously to study the propagation from both locations
at the same time," Holger explained. "Also, two-way contacts between both
experimental stations are planned." Further information is on the DK8KW
Longwave Information Web site <http://www.qru.de/di2bo.html>.
* AMSAT and ARISS staff museum Space Day 2006 exhibit: Representatives of
AMSAT-NA and the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program staffed a Space Day 2006 exhibit May 5 at the Smithsonian National
Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center. The ARISS team exhibited various
pieces of ISS hardware and AMSAT representatives explained the process of
building small satellites. On display were the California Polytechnic
Institute CubeSat model and several picosats. Popular with youngsters who
stopped by was the opportunity to listen to recorded ARISS school contacts.
Among those staffing the exhibit were ARISS International Chairman Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, Past AMSAT-NA President Perry Klein, W3PK, and Bill Boston,
N3DCI. "We gave out several hundred ARRL and other brochures. There was so
much interest, I lost my voice by the end of the day and still haven't
gotten it back fully!" Klein quipped this week. Others assisting included
APRS guru and satellite experimenter Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, Ken Nichols,
KD3VK, Bob McCown, N3IYI, and AMSAT-NA Director of Education and Board
member H. Paul Shuch, N6TX.
* Former Army MARS Chief Larry Warren, KF7TJ/AAV9ET, SK: Robert L. "Larry"
Warren, KF7TJ/AAV9ET, of Hereford, Arizona, died April 28. He was 78. An
ARRL member, Warren served as Chief of the Army Military Affiliate Radio
System (MARS) from 1983 until he retired in 1989, although he continued on
as a MARS special consultant until last December. Warren is credited with
initiating the global Army MARS Area Gateway network to expedite the relay
and delivery of MARSgram and other message traffic. After joining the US
Army Air Corps in 1946, Warren remained on active duty with the Army for 20
years, retiring with the rank of major. He then worked for the Department of
the Army in a civilian capacity at Ft Huachuca, Arizona, for 22 years. A
MARS member for 58 years, Warren was a member of the Cochise Amateur Radio
Club and of the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).
===========================================================
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==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl at arrl.org
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==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
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