[FPARC] The ARRL Letter Vol. 25, No. 35 September 1, 2006
W4kkw at aol.com
W4kkw at aol.com
Sat Sep 2 08:35:44 EDT 2006
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The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 35
September 1, 2006
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IN THIS EDITION:
* +Ham radio can ride out any storms, League president says
* +ARRL Midwest Division Director Wade Walstrom, W0EJ, SK
* +Ernesto puts ARES/RACES on alert in the East
* +Japanese youngsters make ham radio contact with ISS
* +September 16 is Amateur Radio Awareness Day
* +Solar Cycle 24 could already be under way
* +ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager signs on with Yaesu
* 1942 QST reproduction a bonus with early Handbook orders
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+Digital Communications Conference 2006 will be silver anniversary event
2006 ARRL teachers institutes help boost "The Big Project"
participation
Clarification
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
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==>AMATEUR RADIO CAN RIDE OUT THE STORM, ARRL PRESIDENT TELLS NEW ENGLANDERS
Making his first visit to the ARRL New England Division Convention August
26-27, League President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, said Amateur Radio has a
notable history of riding out stormy weather. Addressing the convention
banquet, Harrison cited former ARRL staff member and ham radio historian
Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, who in 1928 expressed the opinion that Amateur
Radio is not utopia, never has been and never will be. Harrison suggested
it's worth looking at ham radio's past when considering the issues it faces
today, and there are no easy answers.
"There is no one cure-all for whatever you think is wrong with Amateur
Radio," Harrison asserted.
Offering a thumbnail review of Amateur Radio's history, Harrison pointed out
that ham radio has always had to deal with the controversies and tensions
that technological, regulatory and societal changes have sparked over the
years. Nonetheless, it's survived for nearly 100 years, and some ideas keep
resurfacing. For example, a no-code license was proposed in the 1930s, he
said, although it wasn't accepted until about a half-century later.
"But we still can't seem to get beyond that point," he added, noting the
more recent controversies surrounding the elimination of the Morse code
requirement for all license classes and license restructuring.
"When you look at the history of Amateur Radio, you kind of have to wonder:
Where are we going?" Harrison said. The ARRL president went on to offer some
of his own thoughts on the subject.
"Digital is the wave of the future," he predicted. "Our ability to provide
public service will expand." In any case, he said, ham radio will always be
in a storm, just coming out of a storm or heading into another storm.
Where Amateur Radio goes is up to those who enjoy the many facets it has to
offer, he suggested. In closing he quoted ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim,
W1AW: "Make sure everything you do is for the general good."
Harrison said it's up to today's radio amateurs to make sure that "DX Is"
never becomes "DX Was," and that "Public Service" never becomes "Public?
Sorry."
Earlier in the day at an ARRL forum, Harrison shared the spotlight with ARRL
New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Vice Director Mike
Raisbeck, K1TWF. Much of the discussion dealt with how to reinvigorate
Amateur Radio and make it more enticing to newcomers.
"There is an unlimited number of possibilities in Amateur Radio," Harrison
told the gathering. "If you get bored with one thing, there's another you
can look into." Amateur Radio promotion should focus on "this buffet of
possibilities," and not just on one activity, such as contesting or public
service.
Frenaye pointed out that while Amateur Radio gains some 20,000 new licensees
each year, it's not keeping pace with attrition by up to 10,000 licensees
annually.
Harrison reiterated his mantra that the Main Street USA of today is much
different than the Main Street of 30, 40 or 50 years ago, when many of
today's hams got started in the hobby. Today's Technician license has proven
for many to be a dead end for Amateur Radio, he said, because it has not
provided enough of an introduction to the wider world of ham radio to
maintain interest.
On the other hand, the old Novice license, Harrison noted, provided "a
connection to the outside world" through its limited HF privileges. "Opening
up an avenue to HF privileges opens up an unlimited number of
possibilities," he said. "It's time to expand the entry-level license."
The FCC has turned away proposals to establish a new entry-level license
with limited HF privileges.
At a second ARRL forum on Sunday, Harrison told one member he believes the
League would always support CW as an operating mode, even if the Morse
requirement goes away. "CW is popular, and I can't envision the ARRL taking
a position that would not support CW as a mode," he assured the questioner.
==>ARRL MIDWEST DIVISION DIRECTOR WADE WALSTROM, W0EJ, SK
ARRL Midwest Division Director Robert W. "Wade" Walstrom, W0EJ, of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, died August 31 during a surgical procedure. He was 59. An ARRL
Life and Diamond Club member, Walstrom was elected in 1999 to succeed
retiring Midwest Division Director Lew Gordon, K4VX. He won a third term
(2006-2008) as Midwest Division Director last fall. Born in Nebraska,
Walstrom grew up in South Dakota. He'd been an Amateur Radio licensee for 46
years and previously held the call signs K0ZTV and WA6TXE.
"Wade's sudden and unexpected passing is deeply shocking to all of us who
worked with him during his many years of service to the ARRL," said ARRL
Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ.
A member of the ARRL Executive Committee, Walstrom -- an electrical engineer
and recently retired Rockwell-Collins project manager -- was a three-term
Iowa Section Manager before becoming a director. He'd previously chaired the
ARRL Board of Directors' Volunteer Resources and Programs and Services
committees, and he'd served on the Membership Services and Election and
Ethics committees.
Walstrom was instrumental in the effort to end interference to Amateur Radio
from a broadband over power line (BPL) pilot project in Cedar Rapids. He not
only worked with local radio amateurs but co-authored a technical report
that pointed out BPL's harmful interference in the amateur bands and the
inadequacy of "notching" techniques.
An active and serious DXer and contester, Walstrom was a member of the
Eastern Iowa DX Association, QCWA, AMSAT and the Cedar Valley Amateur Radio
Club.
ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, worked with Walstrom on the
Volunteer Resources Committee, which, in 2003, revised the rules and
regulations governing the ARRL Field Organization.
"He could always find the right words when I got stuck for how to phrase
something," Craigie recalled. "It was a pleasure to work with him, and I am
very sad that there won't be any more opportunities for us to benefit from
his intelligence and good sense."
ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, said he was shocked and
saddened to learn of Walstrom's untimely death. "He was a very fair and
intelligent individual," Fallon said. "I think I can speak for all of us on
the Board when I say we admired him and the values he stood for."
ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, has succeeded
Walstrom as the division's Director. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN,
will appoint someone to fill the now-vacant Vice Director's seat.
Survivors include Walstrom's wife, Solveig, and their sons Robert and Steve,
KC0LGE. Members of the ARRL Board of Directors will represent the League at
a memorial service Tuesday, September 5, at 10 AM at St Mark's Lutheran
Church, Cedar Rapids.
The family invites memorial donations to the ARRL or to St Mark's Lutheran
Church.--some information from The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>
==>ARES/RACES DEAL WITH ERNESTO IN FLORIDA, CAROLINAS, VIRGINIA
At week's end, Tropical Depression Ernesto was poised to put a damper on the
long Labor Day weekend for many East Coast residents. Heavy rain resulting
in flash flooding, isolated tornadoes and gale-force winds were the major
threats remaining from Ernesto. Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service (ARES/RACES) volunteers were on alert in the
Carolinas and Virginia. After strafing Florida earlier in the week, Ernesto
went out over open water but again made landfall at near-hurricane strength
the evening of August 31 near Wilmington, North Carolina. ARRL Official
Emergency Station Keith Deringer, WA4KD, in Richmond said September 1 the
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) had requested Amateur
Radio volunteers to support a communication watch at the state emergency
operations center.
Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Henry Wyatt, K4YCR, told ARRL that
Chesterfield County ARES -- in the Richmond area --was standing by to
support the American Red Cross in the event of heavy flooding in the
Richmond area.
The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and other states in the Middle
Atlantic region declared emergencies, and state emergency management teams
on September 1 were preparing for possible evacuations and sheltering.
ARRL North Carolina SEC Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK, said his state seemed to have
weathered Ernesto pretty well, although there was "lots of street and
highway flooding" and some roadways had to be closed to traffic. Nobles told
ARRL that the Eastern Branch EOC in Kinston (NC4EB) was maintaining a
listening watch on local and regional repeaters at week's end. "We are
getting some reports of evacuations of small communities, due to rising
water," he said.
With Ernesto threatening to become a Category 1 hurricane, the Hurricane
Watch Net (HWN) activated August 31. "After a 3-1/2 hour net, we had a great
turnout of reporting stations," said HWN Assistant Manager Bobby Graves,
KB5HAV. HWN members gather and report ground-level storm data via WX4NHC at
the National Hurricane Center in Miami to assist forecasters in better
understanding a storm's behavior.
In its final advisory on TD Ernesto, the National Hurricane Center was
predicting rainfall totals of from 4 to 7 inches over the Mid-Atlantic
states, including the central Appalachians from Virginia northward through
September 3, and up to a foot in some areas.
"Life-threatening flash floods and mud slides are possible with these
rains," the NHC warned.
Earlier in the week, ARES/RACES teams in Florida, the HWN and WX4NHC and the
VoIP Hurricane Net went on alert as Ernesto, still a tropical storm, drew a
bead on Southern Florida and later lashed the region with heavy rains and
strong winds.
==>JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLERS IN JAPAN SPEAK WITH ASTRONAUT VIA HAM RADIO
Youngsters attending Yoshinari Junior High School in Sendai City, Japan,
spoke August 25 with US astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, at NA1SS on the
International Space Station. The Amateur Radio n the International Space
Station (ARISS) program arranged the direct VHF contact between 8J7YJH and
NA1SS. One student had a new twist on the often-asked "food question." She
wanted to know if the food aboard the ISS could be better.
"The food is actually very good. We have a wide variety of food that's both
United States and Russian," Williams said. He explained that sometimes he'll
get a craving for something that's not available in space, but "overall the
food is pretty good."
Another student wondered if heated food in space gives off "steam" and if
you can smell foods in space.
"We don't see steam up here too much because the food doesn't get that hot,
I guess, plus the humidity is pretty low here, but you can smell it,"
Williams responded. He explained that the crew warms up its meals either by
injecting hot water or by using an oven in the ISS galley.
As had occurred during the previous ARISS school QSO with students gathered
at Reece High School, in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, Williams repeatedly
experienced difficulty copying Earth station 8J7YJH, despite multiple
attempts by control operator Toshiji Miyagawa, JE7KQU, to reestablish
contact. At other times, the NA1SS signal appeared to experience strong
interference that rendered Williams unreadable.
A change to a backup VHF channel late in the approximately 10-minute pass
permitted the students to have another two questions asked and answered.
Williams said that in his free time aboard the ISS, he enjoys looking out
the window, making telephone calls home, reading and listening to music. He
said that he and Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, exercise
approximately two and a half hours daily to counteract the effects of the
weightless environment on the human body.
ARISS-Japan mentor Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ, said some 240 people were on hand
for the contact, which received media attention from four television
stations -- including national network NHK -- and five newspapers.
ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach
with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
==>AMATEUR RADIO AWARENESS DAY IS SEPTEMBER 16
September is US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Preparedness
Month, and Saturday, September 16, is Amateur Radio Awareness Day. For the
third straight year, the ARRL and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
groups across the US will join a coalition of more than 200 national,
regional, state and local organizations taking part in Preparedness Month
activities. ARES is a partner with DHS through the Citizen Corps program.
ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says local ARES
groups and clubs will be making presentations to civic organizations, at
schools and at regional fairs to showcase Amateur Radio.
"More than 4000 ARRL 'Hello' campaign <http://www.hello-radio.org/>
brochures have gone out in the past few weeks alone to prepare for the
month-long initiative," he said.
To highlight Amateur Radio Awareness Day, ARRL public information officers
(PIOs) will promote the DHS's "30 Tips for Emergency Preparedness"
<http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0711.xml> to
attract news media coverage. Some tips on promoting National Preparedness
Month are on the ARRL public relations Web pages
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/contact/2006/08/SEPTEMBER>.
ARRL Public Service Team Manager Steve Ewald, WV1X, notes that the
underlying theme of National Preparedness Month is to encourage everyone to
be aware of and prepare for emergencies all year long.
"Amateur Radio operators, led by ARRL Field Organization leaders across the
country, are encouraged to consider this year's ARRL Simulated Emergency
Test (SET) -- as well as all preparations and post-SET evaluations -- as a
demonstration of your participation in National Preparedness Month," Ewald
said. The target weekend for the 2006 SET is October 7-8
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/setguide.html>.
A major ham radio presentation during September will take place on the West
Coast. ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, says Amateur
Radio Expo 2006 <http://lafair.b2v.org/> will be held in conjunction with
the Los Angeles County Fair. "They will staff the exhibit over four
weekends," Norton said, noting that the fair annually attracts hundreds of
thousands of visitors.
Amateur Radio Expo 2006 will get under way the weekend of September 9-10 and
will feature a special event station plus interactive presentations to
demonstrate the many facets of ham radio.
In a related vein, Pitts says he'd like to see a tighter relationship
between ARES organizations and the League's corps of volunteer PIOs.
"Too often something happens, and everyone grabs a radio. No one grabs a
camera or laptop and gets the word of ARES actions out to the media until
long after the story becomes stale," he observed. "We have wonderful stories
to tell, but we are too busy to tell them when they are fresh."
Pitts said he and the ARRL Public Relations Committee are working on ways to
better integrate public relations and emergency response actions at the
local level.
Pitts says that according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
families should plan on being totally on their own for up to four days.
"That's like being back in ancient times: no cell phone, no Internet, no
911," he said.
==>"BACKWARD SUNSPOTS" MAY HERALD START OF SOLAR CYCLE 24
The recent appearance on the sun of two so-called "backward sunspots" may
mean solar Cycle 23 is drawing to a close and Cycle 24 now is under way or
soon will be. At least that's the thinking of some scientists.
"We've been waiting for this," said Solar Physicist David Hathaway of the
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, after the first
backward spot showed up. "A backward sunspot is a sign that the next solar
cycle is beginning."
The term "backward" refers to the sunspots' magnetic polarity. One such
sunspot appeared briefly July 31, then disappeared, but its significance was
that its magnetic polarity was just the opposite of current Cycle 23 spots.
Another more robust backward spot, Sunspot 905, appeared in late August --
although it subsequently began to dissipate -- and some sungazers are saying
Cycle 24 already has begun. ARRL propagation guru Tad Cook, K7RA, this week
called it "the second sunspot of the new Solar Cycle 24."
"Eventually there will be more of the new reversed sunspots than old ones
from Cycle 23, and that occurrence is one way to mark the beginning of the
next sunspot cycle," he said. Radio conditions will not improve any time
soon but over a period of several years of the course of the 11-year cycle,
perhaps peaking around 2010.
==>WORLD WAR II-ERA QST IS BONUS WITH 2007 ARRL HANDBOOK ADVANCE ORDERS
The 84th edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications -- the 2007
edition -- is set to begin shipping in early October. ARRL Marketing Manager
Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, says now's the time to place orders for the reference
manual, which has proven popular both within and outside the Amateur Radio
community. Those placing advance Handbook orders by September 30 will
receive a reproduction January 1942 issue of QST as a bonus.
"The special QST reissue is filled with World War II-era remembrances,
including the FCC Order suspending Amateur Radio operation in the US, issued
December 8, 1941," Inderbitzen says. "Sixty-five years later, this
commemorative reproduction of QST is a time capsule -- a tribute to the
perseverance and patriotism of radio amateurs." Inderbitzen says the QST
reissue bonus will remain available to those placing advance orders while
supplies last.
Since 1926, generations of hams, engineers and technicians have relied on
The ARRL Handbook for its thorough coverage of theory, references and
practical projects. "The content of this new edition reflects the latest
aspects of today's Amateur Radio -- fundamental electronics concepts,
components and building blocks, analog and digital radio design,
troubleshooting techniques, antennas and more," Inderbitzen said.
Former ARRL Chief Operating Officer Mark Wilson, K1RO, edited the 2007
Handbook edition. Wilson continues to serve the League as QST "Product
Review" editor. A handful of additional editors contributed updates, new
content, and many new projects, building on the major 2005 revision.
Some examples: Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, has freshened the propagation
chapter, while Tom O'Hara, W6ORG, has updated the Amateur Television section
and Paul Danzer, N1II, has revised the computer hardware information. Former
Headquarters technical editor Stu Cohen, N1SC, has added a vintage radio
section.
Projects new to The Handbook for 2007 include the HiMite, a simple
single-band CW transceiver by Dave Benson, K1SWL; a 12 V dc boost regulator
for mobile or portable operation by Dan Kemppainen, N8XJK, and a top-loaded
low-band antenna from Dick Stroud, W9SR. Stroud also contributed details of
a high-power 6-meter low-pass filter.
The 2007 Handbook also includes several new station accessories you can
build: a digital communication interface by Larry Coyle, K1QW; a PIC-based
HF/VHF power meter by Roger Hayward, KA7EXM, and a remote antenna switch by
Bill Smith, KO4NR.
As with recent previous Handbook editions, an included CD-ROM contains all
text and illustrations in the hard-copy publication plus companion software,
PC board templates and other support files.
"Although most people prefer to sit and read the printed book, the
electronic version has a powerful search feature for looking things up,"
Inderbitzen points out, "and it offers a convenient way to print out a few
pages to bring to your workbench or mark up with notes and comments."
The 2007 edition is available in hardcover ($59.95) and softcover ($44.95)
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=no-hb2007>. Order direct from the ARRL
online catalog, by toll-free telephone (888-277-5289, US only) or from
select ARRL publications dealers
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/dlrsearch.phtml>.
==>ARRL'S DENNIS MOTSCHENBACHER, K7BV, ACCEPTS EXECUTIVE POSITION WITH YAESU
ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, has accepted a
position with Vertex Standard (Yaesu) as Executive Vice President of its
Amateur Radio Sales Division. ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer,
WJ1B, announced Motschenbacher's departure August 28 "with regret" and
congratulated him on his new position.
"This is an incredible opportunity for Dennis, who will be relocating to
Yaesu's Corporate Office in Cypress, California," Kramer said.
In addition to his comprehensive knowledge of the Amateur Radio industry and
extraordinary marketing and sales skills, Motschenbacher "also brought us an
unbridled passion about Amateur Radio and a vision for the ARRL's future,"
when he arrived at League Headquarters four years ago, Kramer said.
"The ARRL will miss him," he added. "We have become a better organization
because of him."
At Vertex Standard, Motschenbacher will be responsible for Yaesu Amateur
Radio equipment sales and marketing in the US and Canada. He'll leave the
League in mid-September.
"I dreamed of working at ARRL HQ ever since I was a teenager, never really
believing I would actually get here," Motschenbacher said. "It has been a
terrific four and half years packed with lots of change and new friendships.
I am deeply honored to now have this opportunity to work for Mr. Hasegawa
and Yaesu, serving the Amateur Radio community in a different but equally as
important manner."
First licensed in 1962 at age 13 as WV6WTD, Motschenbacher -- a Minnesota
native -- has operated under various US and foreign call signs over the
years. Well known as a DXer and top-tier contester, he's operated from 35
different countries and competed at World Radiosport Team Championship 2000
in Slovenia.
Motschenbacher is an ARRL Life and Diamond Club member and belongs to the
ARRL Legacy Circle. He's also a past president of the Texas DX Society.
Before joining the ARRL Headquarters staff, Motschenbacher served as editor
of National Contest Journal (NCJ) for four years. In his current position at
ARRL Headquarters, he oversees the League's publication and advertising
sales as well as product marketing and membership recruitment activities.
A year ago, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Motschenbacher was among those
HQ staff members who were instrumental in coordinating the procurement and
shipping of equipment to aid radio amateurs responding in the field. He also
traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, to assist Alabama Section Manager Greg
Sarratt, W4OZK, who was overseeing the intake of American Red Cross ham
radio volunteers supporting communication at its 250 shelters and kitchens
along the devastated US Gulf Coast.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Ra the Sun god Tad "Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the
sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Despite the decline in the
sunspot cycle, we will see improved HF propagation over long distances in
September.
Expect rising sunspot numbers and solar flux over the next few days, with
mostly quiet geomagnetic conditions. The predicted planetary A index for
September 1-7 is predicted to be 10, 10, 20, 12, 10, 5 and 5.
For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical
Information Service <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.
Sunspot numbers for August 24 through 30 were 22, 23, 21, 26, 48, 30 and 19,
with a mean of 27. The 10.7 cm flux was 78.2, 77.2, 75.7, 78.6, 76.4, 73,
and 74.2, with a mean of 76.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 2, 3,
18, 11, 9 and 6 with a mean of 7.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4,
0, 2, 12, 9, 9 and 5, with a mean of 5.9.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This weekend on the radio: The All Asian DX Contest (SSB), the Russian
RTTY World Wide Contest, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, RSGB SSB Field Day, IARU
Region 1 Field Day (SSB) AGCW Straight Key Party and the DARC 10-Meter
Digital Contest are the weekend of September 2-3. the Michigan QRP Labor Day
CW Sprint is September 4-5. The ARS Spartan Sprint is September 5. JUST
AHEAD: The ARRL September VHF QSO Party, the North American Sprint (CW), the
Worked All Europe (WAE) DX Contest (SSB), the International G3ZQS Memorial
Straight Key Contest, the Swiss HTC QRP Sprint, the SOC Marathon Sprint, the
Tennessee QSO Party and the ARCI End of Summer Digital Sprint are the
weekend of September 9-10. YLRL Howdy Days are September 12-14. 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, September 24, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education(CCE) program online courses. Classes
begin on Friday, October 6: 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). These courses will also open for registration Friday, September
22, for classes beginning Friday, November 3. 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>.
* Digital Communications Conference 2006 will be silver anniversary event:
The 2006 TAPR/ARRL Digital Communications Conference (DCC)
<http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html> Friday through Sunday, September 15-17, at
the Clarion Airport Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, will mark the 25th anniversary
of the founding of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) and of the DCC! It
also will host the 10th annual APRS National Symposium. This is a
must-attend event for all technically inclined radio amateurs. A
just-updated schedule of forums and speakers is available on the TAPR Web
site and includes sessions for beginners and experts alike. ARRL
Publications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, will represent the
League at the 2006 DCC. Register for the conference online
<http://www.tapr.org/registration>.
* 2006 ARRL teachers institutes help boost "The Big Project" participation:
This year's teachers institutes helped the ARRL Education and Technology
Program (ETP -- "The Big Project") <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/> to
reach a milestone of more than 200 schools that have received some form of
grant from the program, says ETP Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME. "The
institutes continue to provide the much needed in-service training teachers
need to help their students understand wireless technology and in turn
become more productive citizens," Spencer said, "but there is still a lot of
work to do." The ETP receives very generous support from donors and the ham
community at large, Spencer says. "The outcome of that generosity may not be
immediately apparent, but the impact of what the ETP is doing is real,
helping real kids, teachers, and schools." The program recently added
another 36 schools in 20 states to push the total to 207. The list includes
15 high schools, 6 middle schools and 4 elementary schools as well as two
post-secondary schools, a vo-tech school, two tech institutes and 4 K-12
schools. Support the ETP via the ARRL's secure Web site
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/education/education.html>.
* Clarification: To amplify and clarify a statement in the story "ANOUSHEH
ANSARI IS A "GO" AS FIRST FEMALE CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVELER" that appeared in
The ARRL Letter, Vol 25, No 34 (Aug 25, 2006): Ansari would be the fourth
civilian -- and the first female civilian -- to fly to the ISS. She would
not be the first female civilian to fly into space.
===========================================================
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delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
<http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member
Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership
data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail
address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent
email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit
modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot
change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the
Members Only Web Site.)
The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
sources:
* ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be
posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)
* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio
Club: Visit Mailing Lists at QTH.Net
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.)
More information about the FPARC
mailing list