[Ham-News] The ARRL Letter, Vol. 21, No. 15

[Tim Miller]

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The ARRL Letter
Vol. 21, No. 15
April 12, 2002
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IN THIS EDITION:

* +Ham radio praised at hurricane confab
* +FCC nails vanity backlog
* +Texas high schoolers query ISS crew member
* +ARRL debuts HF Digital Communications course
* +IMAX "Space Station" film to include ARISS school contact
* +Amateur Radio represented at international conference
* +Question Pool Committee releases draft Tech syllabus
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     Club provides reimbursements for ARRL emergency communications course
     Cost of QSLing to rise again
     Dayton Hamvention announces 2002 banquet speakers
     Pacific Seafarer's Net handles emergency call
     PCsat back in the black

+Available on ARRL Audio News

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==>PRAISE FOR AMATEUR RADIO AIRS DURING NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE

At the National Hurricane Conference <http://www.hurricanemeeting.com>
April 1-5 in Orlando, Florida, representatives of Florida-based served
agencies praised the role of Amateur Radio in hurricane-related
communication emergencies. Meteorologists, emergency management
professionals and disaster-relief organizations from hurricane-prone
states use the annual conference to exchange ideas and learn about new
developments and issues involving emergency preparedness.

"Amateur Radio really shines during callouts," said John Fleming, the
communications officer of the Florida Division of Emergency Management
during an April 2 Amateur Radio training session organized by Mike Carter,
N3PDK. Carter chairs the Amateur Radio Topic Committee for the conference.

Fleming said his agency "just wants effective communication" during
emergencies, and he described how Amateur Radio fits into Florida's
emergency plans. Since the state capital of Tallahassee is in the ARRL
Northern Florida Section, Fleming explained, his office follows the
Northern Florida ARES plan to take advantage of Amateur Radio resources.

Santa Rosa County, Florida, Director of Emergency Management Dave Ling
echoed Fleming's sentiments to the Amateur Radio operators in attendance.
"We really appreciate your efforts, and I got a whole lot out of this
conference," he said.

During the hurricane season, which starts June 1 and runs through
November, the National Hurricane Center in Miami benefits from the support
of a corps of Amateur Radio volunteers who staff the center's W4EHW
<http://www.fiu.edu/org/w4ehw> amateur station. W4EHW Amateur Radio
Coordinator John McHugh, KU4GY, and Assistant Coordinator Julio Ripoll,
WD4JR, talked about their ongoing work and provided an update on the
Caribbean Amateur Radio Meteorological Emergency Network, or CARMEN (See
"Public Service," Jan 2002 QST, p 85). W4EHW gathers real-time storm data
from members of the Hurricane Watch Net on 20 meters as well as from other
sources, including the Internet.

ARRL is among the many sponsors of the annual National Hurricane
Conference. ARRL Field Organization/Public Service Team Leader Steve
Ewald, WV1X, represented ARRL Headquarters during the event.

Amateurs representing Florida's three ARRL sections were on hand for the
conference. Attending from the Northern Florida Section were Section
Manager Rudy Hubbard, WA4PUP, and Assistant SM Steve Richbourg, KO4TT.