[LeArc] The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 10

[Tony Coniglio]

> ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 22, No. 10
> March 7, 2003
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +Spectrum Protection Act filed in US Senate
> * +Support grows for favorable 40-meter plans
> * +Astronaut says he'll miss ability to fly
> * +Hamvention hopes to continue calling Hara home
> * +Hams respond to gas shutdown
> * +Updated General class syllabus released for comments
> * +UK to AK on LF!
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Emergency Communications course registration
>      Emergency Communications Level I course registration information
>      Arkansas gets new Section Manager
>      FCC makes housekeeping changes in Amateur Service rules
>      FCC cites RV owners in RFI complaint
>      Former ARRL staffer Marjorie Tenney, WB1FSN, SK
>      Vote on QST Cover Plaque award
>      Dayton Contest Dinner tickets now on sale
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
>
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>AMATEUR RADIO SPECTRUM PROTECTION ACT NOW IN BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE
>
> The Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act of 2003 now has been introduced
> in both chambers of Congress. Idaho Sen Michael Crapo introduced the
> Senate version of the bill, S 537, on March 6. Original cosponsors were
> Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI) and Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID).Florida Rep Michael
> Bilirakis put the latest House version of the bill, HR 713, into the
> legislative hopper on February 12. The measures, an ARRL initiative, have
> been introduced twice before in Congress. ARRL President Jim Haynie,
> W5JBP, believes this third time could be the proverbial charm.
>
> "Actually, this is the best opportunity that we've ever had to get this
> bill through, because more members of Congress than ever before are paying
> attention to ham radio now," said Haynie, who's been in Washington this
> week to talk Amateur Radio with lawmakers and regulators. In addition,
> Haynie pointed out, the House and Senate will be considering major
> spectrum reform bills, and the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act could
> serve as an amendment to that sort of legislation.
>
> HR 713 and S 537 are aimed at ensuring the availability of spectrum to
> Amateur Radio operators. The legislation would protect existing Amateur
> Radio spectrum against reallocations to or sharing with other services
> unless the FCC provides "equivalent replacement spectrum" elsewhere.
>
> Haynie encouraged members of the Amateur Radio community to contact their
> senators and representatives to urge their cosponsorship, which lends
> support to legislation while it's in committee. The House bill has been
> referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce; the Senate bill will be
> considered by the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee. In
> addition, although more members of Congress than ever understand and
> appreciate the benefits of Amateur Radio, some may remain reluctant to
> sign onto a technical piece of legislation without some indication of
> support from their own constituents.
>
> "The League is doing all it can, but we know the success or failure will
> be in the hands of the amateur community," said Haynie, who pledged the
> ARRL's continuing efforts to get the bill enacted. "Letters and e-mails
> are the key to getting legislation passed."
>
> A sample letter is available on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/govrelations/arspa.html>. Those writing their
> lawmakers are asked to copy their correspondence to the League via e-mail
> <specbill03@arrl.org>.
>
> The measures would amend the Communications Act to require the FCC to
> provide "equivalent replacement spectrum" to Amateur Radio and the
> Amateur-Satellite Service in the event of a reallocation of primary
> amateur allocations, any reduction in secondary amateur allocations, or
> "additional allocations within such bands" that would substantially reduce
> their utility to amateurs.
>
> The text of HR 713 and S 537 is available (or will soon be available) via
> the Thomas Web site <http://thomas.loc.gov/>.
>
> ==>SUPPORT GROWING FOR FAVORABLE 40-METER REALIGNMENT PLANS
>
> With World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) getting under way
> in about three months in Geneva, support is growing for two favorable
> proposals to create a 300-kHz worldwide 40-meter allocation. ARRL and the
> International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) seek a return to the 300-kHz
> allocation that existed worldwide prior to World War II but that now
> exists only in the Americas. Delegates to WRC-03 will attempt to
> address--and possibly eliminate--the overlap on 40 meters between amateurs
> in the Americas (Region 2) and broadcasters elsewhere (Regions 1 and 3).
>
> "There is encouraging news," says ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, in his "It
> Seems to Us . . ." editorial set to appear in April QST. He reports that,
> thanks to the efforts of IARU volunteers and others, more than 30
> countries now have gone on record to support either one or the other of
> two favorable 40-meter realignment formulas. Sumner said more support is
> needed, but he called the interim head count "a good start."
>
> Most popular among the half dozen realignment schemes outlined by
> participants at last November's WRC-03 Conference Preparatory Meeting is
> so-called Method B. This approach calls for a three-stage transition that
> would begin by allowing Region 1 and 3 amateurs on 7100-7200 kHz on a
> secondary basis starting in 2005 and end with all ITU regions gaining
> access to 7000-7300 kHz by the end of 2009--with the top 100 kHz shared
> with fixed and mobile stations in Regions 1 and 3. Broadcasters would
> shift upward to 7300-7550 kHz worldwide.
>
> For US and other Region 2 stations, such a change would mean an end to
> deafening nighttime phone band QRM from broadcasters and the necessity to
> operate split-frequency to work stations in Regions 1 and 3 on SSB.
>
> Sumner says Method B is now a European Common Proposal with initial
> support from 17 CEPT administrations. At least three other countries in
> Africa, Asia, and the Pacific have also expressed support for Method B, he
> said. The IARU team now is working to gain the support of additional
> administrations in Regions 1 and 3 either for Method B or for the similar
> Method A, Sumner reports. Otherwise identical to Method B, Method A does
> not include any sharing with fixed and mobile services.
>
> In the Americas, a dozen ITU Region 2 countries last month agreed to
> support an Inter-American Proposal that's virtually the same as the
> so-called Method D. Proposed by Canada, Method D would provide 300 kHz
> worldwide for amateurs by shifting broadcasters in Regions 1 and 3 upward
> by 200 kHz. Region 2's broadcasting allocation would remain unchanged.
> IARU Region 2 is now working to expand the list of Region 2 countries
> supporting that plan.
>
> The US so far has taken no position on the 40-meter realignment issue,
> although it has long supported a 300-kHz worldwide, exclusive allocation
> for Amateur Radio. The FCC WRC-03 Advisory Committee has recommended that
> Method A be a US proposal, but the National Telecommunications and
> Information Administration (NTIA) has not yet agreed.
>
> "Acting on behalf of the federal government users of the radio spectrum,
> the NTIA has been advocating 'no proposal' from the US, a position that
> the ARRL is working hard to overcome," Sumner points out. "A small number
> of federal agencies claim to be concerned that their backup circuits on HF
> would be affected by an upward shift of broadcasters."
>
> Sumner also calls it "unfortunate" that some broadcasters persist in
> efforts to link the 7 MHz WRC-03 agenda item with another that deals with
> the adequacy of broadcasting spectrum between 4 and 10 MHz. Sumner said
> the broadcasting spectrum item is "a separate issue with an entirely
> different genesis.
>
> ==>ASTRONAUT TELLS GERMAN HIGH SCHOOLERS HE'LL MISS ABILITY TO FLY
>
> Despite a last-minute glitch with an antenna rotator, an Amateur Radio on
> the International Space Station (ARISS) contact involving students at the
> Hochwald Gymnasium (high school) in Wadern, Germany, went off right on
> schedule. During the February 27 QSO, 16 students--all brand-new new
> amateur licensees--spoke via DL0WR in Saarland with ISS Science Officer
> Don Pettit, KD5MDT, at the controls of NA1SS. The high school was only the
> second school in Germany to experience an ARISS contact.
>
> "Most significant is that the ARISS contact gave birth to 16 new members
> of the Amateur Radio community," said ARISS Mentor Peter Kofler, IN3GHZ,
> who called the accomplishment a "superb illustration of the educational
> power of the ARISS school contacts." That their first ham radio activity
> was a contact with the ISS was "a dream come true," he added.
>
> The fact that each student had his or her own ticket also covered the
> sometimes-overlooked legal issue of third-party traffic between the US
> space station and the German students. Germany and US do not enjoy a
> third-party traffic agreement. Michael Kraus, DF3VM, conducted the
> students' training over a period of several weeks. Students ranged in age
> from 15 to 19. On the classroom side, the students had been working with
> physics teacher Marco Holzer since last November to prepare for the big
> day.
>
> Pettit told the high schoolers that the thing he misses most in space is
> his family. The thing he'll miss the most when he gets back to Earth,
> however, is the possibility to fly while in microgravity. "When I get back
> to Earth, I'll miss that the most," he said.
>
> He explained that while the ISS occupants are able to float freely, there
> is a "ceiling" and a "floor" to the spacecraft. The "floor," he said, has
> a darker color than the other surfaces.
>
> Pettit also described how the crew enjoys the spectacular view of Earth
> below through the airliner-sized ports on the ISS, talked about what the
> astronauts do in their spare time and explained the scientific research
> the Expedition 6 crew is involved with. No, he said, there are no
> alcoholic beverages onboard Space Station Alpha.
>
> In the parking lot of the auditorium where the contact took place,
> coordinating teacher Hubert Sch�fer, DJ8VH, and some fellow members of the
> Wadern Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC)-affiliate, which loaned its
> DL0WR call sign to the occasion, had set up a 12-meter-tall mast to
> support the antenna system. Barely an hour before the contact was to take
> place, the primary antenna rotator failed. A backup unit put into play
> worked flawlessly.
>
> Reporters from two television, two radio stations and two newspapers
> covered the event. The Hochwald contact marked the 88th ARISS school
> contact.
>
> ARISS is an international program with participation by ARRL, NASA and
> AMSAT. For more information, visit the ARISS Web site
> <http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov>.
>
> ==>HAMVENTION HOPES TO CALL HARA ARENA HOME A WHILE LONGER
>
> Although 2003 marks the last year of a five-year contract to hold
> Hamvention at Hara Arena, organizers hope to keep the show there for the
> indefinite future. Rumors crop up each year--and this has been no
> exception--that this year's event will be the last to take place at the
> venerable venue near Dayton, Ohio, that's served as Hamvention's home
> since 1964. Negotiations on a new contract to retain Hara for future shows
> remain in the offing. Billed as "the world's largest Amateur Radio
> gathering and trade show," Hamvention 2003 takes place May 16-18.
>
> "We haven't made any decisions yet," Hamvention Production Manager Garry
> Matthews, KB8GOL, said this week. "We want to get this year's show under
> our belt and then renegotiate the contract." At the same time, Matthews
> said, there are no plans to go elsewhere, nor is Hamvention under any
> threat or pressure to relocate. "There's nothing planned to move," he
> said. "But," he conceded, "we've looked at alternative locations in case
> something happens. Anything could happen to Hara."
>
> Matthews says the sponsoring Dayton Amateur Radio Association has explored
> several other possible locations for Hamvention, which has quietly dropped
> "Dayton" from the show's official name. Matthews says no other site in the
> Greater Dayton area will serve the purpose that Hara does. "None of the
> other venues will support the show at its current size," he said.
>
> Speaking of size, Hamvention reported that attendance for last year's 50th
> anniversary event was 24,832--down about 5 percent from 2001's crowd of
> 26,151. 2002 marked the second year in a row that Hamvention's attendance
> had dipped.
>
> Attendance climbed to 28,804 in 2000, the year of the ARRL National
> Convention at Dayton. Matthews has said that any crowd larger than 28,000
> starts to push the envelope as far as Hara Arena is concerned--especially
> the human comfort factor. Hamvention attendance peaked in 1993 at
> 33,669--before the event date changed from April to May.
>
> As for continued use of Hara Arena, Matthews points out that the building
> has never been sold, is not for sale now and never has been. As for a new
> contract with Hara? "We'll evaluate the show after June 1, and we hope to
> improve some things," he said, without revealing any details.
>
> In the meantime, he's pouring his energy into the arrangements for this
> year's show, but, he reports, things have been slower to come together in
> terms of advance sales to visitors and vendors.  "If we go to war, people
> might not want to travel," he said. "There's nothing to panic about, but
> it's tougher this year."
>
> Some changes already have been announced. Among other things, Hamvention
> this year will replace its annual banquet and entertainment with a more
> low-key award winners' reception at Hara Saturday evening.
>
> Between now and show time, Matthews says Hamvention will--among other
> moves--boost its advertising and promotion to counteract the sluggish
> advance sales. "We're going to have a good show," he predicted
> confidently.
>
> For additional insights and information on Hamvention, see "How Hamvention
> Happens," in April 2000 QST and available on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2003/03/06/4/0004053.pdf>. For more
> information on Hamvention 2003, visit the Hamvention Web site
> <http://www.hamvention.org>.
>
> ==>AMATEURS RESPOND TO PENNSYLVANIA "BIG CHILL"
>
> Amateur Radio Emergency Service/Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service
> (ARES/RACES) team members in southern York County, Pennsylvania, activated
> March 3 after a natural gas shutdown forced residents to evacuate their
> homes to escape winter's chill. Some two dozen amateurs took shifts to
> assist the American Red Cross, staff the local emergency operations center
> and provide other necessary communication. ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania
> Section Manager Eric Olena, WB3FPL, reports that Amateur Radio involvement
> in the gas emergency ended around midday on March 5.
>
> York County ARRL Emergency Coordinator Kerry Smeltzer, KA3KAR, says the
> problem, reportedly the result of a regulator failure, cut off the main
> natural gas supply serving the communities of Red Lion and Dallastown.
> Estimates vary as to the number of residents directly impacted by the gas
> failure, but they ran anywhere from 5000 to 10,000. Red Cross "mass care"
> facilities in two local schools let residents take advantage of heated
> facilities and hot meals. Smeltzer and his family were among those taking
> refuge.
>
> In addition to the ARES/RACES teams activated in York County, Smeltzer
> said, ARES teams in surrounding counties and from nearby Maryland were on
> standby for the duration in case needed. ARES/RACES used two local VHF
> repeaters for most communications. Smeltzer said that the Baptist Men's
> Kitchen was on site to provide meals. The Civil Air Patrol also responded.
>
> ==>QUESTION POOL COMMITTEE RELEASES DRAFT ELEMENT 3 SYLLABUS FOR COMMENT
>
> The Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer
> Examiner Coordinators has released a draft syllabus for the Element 3
> (General) Amateur Radio examination. This syllabus will be used to develop
> a new General class question pool that will become effective July 1, 2004.
> The QPC is inviting comments on the document as well as suggested
> questions for the General-class question pool.
>
> ARRL VEC Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, says comments and questions may
> include, but are not limited to, such things as new material in terms of
> technology or operations, topics that might be deleted as no longer
> relevant and corrections involving grammar, spelling and technical
> details.
>
> The General class syllabus is an outline of 10 question-topic
> areas--called "subelements"--from which actual Element 3 examination
> questions will be developed. These include FCC rules, operating
> procedures, radio wave propagation, Amateur Radio practices, electrical
> principles, circuit components, practical circuits, signals and emissions,
> antennas and feed lines and RF safety.
>
> A question pool based on the revised syllabus will be released later this
> year. The QPC will invite public input on the General questions once
> they've been made public. A new Technician class question pool released
> last November takes effect in the exam room on July 1 of this year.
>
> The draft General (Element 3) syllabus
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/gp-syllabus-2004.html> is available on the
> ARRL Web site, which also includes all current question pools
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/pools.html>.
>
> QPC Chairman Scotty Neustadter, W4WW, has requested comments to the
> committee by July 15, 2003. The amateur community may e-mail comments to
> the Question Pool Committee at qpc@arrl.org.
>
> ==>UK TO AK ON 136 kHz
>
> Reaching Alaska from the United Kingdom using just 1 W ERP is quite a feat
> for any band, but the Radio Society of Great Britain reports that Laurie
> Mayhead, G3AQC, was heard in Alaska on 136 kHz. In the early hours of
> February 15, he transmitted to Laurence Howell, GM4DMA/KL1X in Anchorage,
> and just before UK dawn at 0615 his call sign was clearly identified using
> software to read the signal.
>
> G3AQC was using QRSS--very slow CW--with a 60-second-long dit. The 7278-km
> distance is a transmission record for 1 W ERP on 136 kHz.
>
> Two years ago, Mayhead and Larry Kayser, VA3LK, made ham radio history
> when they completed the first two-way transatlantic exchange on 136 kHz,
> also using very slow speed CW. Last year G3AQC became the first person to
> span the Atlantic on 73 kHz.
>
> Howell expressed surprise that the path involved in the latest
> accomplishment is "notoriously poor" between southeastern Alaska, on the
> east coast of the Pacific, and Europe. "The signal would theoretically go
> on a Great Circle route to nearly 80 degrees north, over the northern
> Canadian Arctic, northern Greenland, east of Iceland, Glasgow, then over
> the UK to the South Coast--across and through the auroral oval."
>
> He said there's speculation that the actual path might been around or even
> under the auroral zone, since there was no auroral Doppler seen on the
> received signal. Howell and Mayhead credited research and preparation
> carried out by G3NYK, G3LDO, W3EEE and W4DEX, for helping to set the new
> LF record.--RSGB
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Heliophile Tad "I Live for the Sun" Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington,
> reports: This week we saw the average daily sunspot number increase nearly
> 50 points over the previous week, and the average daily solar flux was up
> 30 points. The geomagnetic indices were active after a robust solar wind
> arrived on March 3. The most active period was late on March 3 into March
> 4 when the planetary K index reached 4 and Alaska's College K index
> reached 6.
>
> On Thursday evening of the reporting period we were affected by a
> high-speed solar wind stream from a coronal hole causing minor geomagnetic
> storms in high latitudes. This would result in absorption of HF signals
> over polar paths. Geomagnetic indices are expected to be unsettled to
> active over the next few days, and solar flux should decline again. Solar
> flux is expected to go below 145 by March 10, then reach a short-term
> minimum below 110 around March 22-23.
>
> Sunspot numbers for February 27 through March 5 were 82, 77, 73, 67, 136,
> 160 and 138, with a mean of 104.7. The 10.7-cm flux was 117.6, 124.9,
> 138.1, 147.3, 149.1, 146 and 148.5, with a mean of 138.8. Estimated
> planetary A indices were 22, 17, 14, 14, 15, 26 and 16, with a mean of
> 17.7.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The South African Radio League (SARL) Field
> Day Contest, the RSGB Commonwealth Contest (CW), the North American Sprint
> (RTTY), the UBA Spring Contest (CW), the NSARA Contest and the Wisconsin
> QSO Party are the weekend of March 9-10.  JUST AHEAD: The Pesky Texan
> Armadillo Chase is March 13. The YLISSB QSO Party (SSB), the 10-10 Mobile
> Contest, the BARTG Spring RTTY Contest, the SARL VHF/UHF Contest, the
> Russian DX Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest and the Virginia QSO Party
> are the weekend of March 15-16. 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 Emergency Communications course registration: Registration opens
> Monday, March 10, 12:01 AM EST (0500 UTC), for the on-line Level II
> Emergency Communications course (EC-002). Registration remains open
> through the March 15-16 weekend or until all available seats have been
> filled--whichever comes first. Class begins Tuesday, March 25. Thanks to a
> recent grant, the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be
> reimbursed after successful completion of the course. During this
> registration period, approximately 50 seats are being offered to ARRL
> members on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>
> and the C-CE Links found there. For more information, contact Emergency
> Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org;
> 860-594-0340.
>
> * Emergency Communications Level I course registration information: March
> registration is closed for the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
> Level I on-line course (EC-001) sponsored by the Corporation for National
> and Community Service (CNCS). All available seats have been filled.
> Registration for the next available Level I class opens Monday, April 7,
> at 12:01 AM EST. Senior amateurs are strongly encouraged to take advantage
> of this opportunity. Those considering enrolling in the Level I class are
> urged to take the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium WebMentor
> sample course to familiarize themselves with the course template and tools
> used in all ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) on-line
> courses. Sign up for e-mail registration reminders for all C-CE courses by
> sending a request to prereg@arrl.org. To learn more, visit the ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>
> and the C-CE Links found there. Address your Emergency Communications
> course questions to ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
> Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org.
>
> * Arkansas gets new Section Manager: ARRL Field and Educational Services
> Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, has appointed Robert D "Dennis" Schaefer,
> W5RZ, to be the new Arkansas ARRL Section Manager. Schaefer, who lives in
> Dover, served as a Section Communications Manager (SCM) from 1968 until
> 1970 and as an Assistant SM. He now serves as a Delta Division Assistant
> Director and as a District Emergency Coordinator. He succeeds SM Bob
> Ideker, WB5VUH, who first served as SM from 1991 through 1995 and who
> returned to office in 2001. Ideker had decided to not run for another
> term, and Eldon Bryant, K7ZQR, was nominated and elected to replace him.
> Bryant subsequently decided not to assume the office, however. Schaefer's
> term as SM term begins April 1. Arkansas members may contact Schaefer via
> e-mail <w5rz@arrl.org>.
>
> * FCC makes housekeeping changes in Amateur Service rules: The FCC has
> made some minor changes in the Part 97 Amateur Service rules as a result
> of decisions at past World Radiocommunication Conferences. In a
> wide-ranging Report and Order released March 3 that affects several radio
> services, the FCC has removed �97.401(b) and international footnote 5.120
> from the Amateur Service rules. The sections reference International
> Telecommunication Union (ITU) Resolution 640, which invited
> administrations to provide for the needs of international disaster
> communications and for the needs of emergency communications within their
> national regulations using certain amateur bands. Resolution 640 was
> deleted at WRC-97, and footnote 5.120 at WRC-2000. "We do not think this
> will have an impact on the Amateur Service emergency communications
> because Sections 97.111(a)(1) and 97.101(c) of our Rules allow amateur
> stations to communicate with foreign stations in disaster areas, making
> the provisions based on the former ITU Resolution No. 640 unnecessary,"
> the FCC said in the RO&O in ET Docket 02-16. Those sections permit
> "transmissions necessary to exchange messages with other stations in the
> amateur service" unless an administration objects and require control
> operators "at all times and on all frequencies" to give priority to
> stations providing emergency communications. Footnote 5.120 had listed 80,
> 40, 30, 20, 17, 15, 12 and 2 meters as bands to be used in the event of
> natural disaster.
>
> * FCC cites RV owners in RFI complaint: The FCC has told an Oregon couple
> to stop using its Winegard amplified television antenna (Model
> Sensar/Roadstar) on their recreational vehicle "until the condition
> causing harmful interference has been corrected." The FCC contacted Jimmy
> and Jan Bowen of Gresham, Oregon, following a February 3, RFI complaint
> from an Amateur Radio operator to the FCC Portland office. The
> interference was reported on 447.375 MHz. An FCC agent investigating the
> allegation tracked the interfering signal to the Bowen's RV in Portland.
> The FCC cited Part 15 rules and noted that certain Winegard antenna
> amplifiers "have been the source of radio frequency interference in a
> number of cases." Due to the complaints, Winegard
> <http://www.winegard.com> has agreed to replace defective units at no
> charge. The FCC advised the couple to contact Winegard to make necessary
> arrangements.
>
> * Former ARRL staffer Marjorie Tenney, WB1FSN, SK: Former ARRL
> Headquarters staff member Marjorie C. Tenney, WB1FSN, died February 22.
> She was 78. Known for her friendliness and willingness to help others,
> Tenney worked in various HQ capacities from 1965 through 1985. ARRL Chief
> Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, remembered Tenney as consistently
> cheerful person who was eager to be of help to members and coworkers.
> Survivors include her husband, Herbert, WB1ETL, three sons--including
> Richard, WB1ASG--and a daughter.
>
> * Vote on QST Cover Plaque award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award
> for December 2002 was Dick Stroud, W9SR, for his article "Try Copper for 2
> Meters--the CuLoop." The January 2003 winner was Paul Wade, W1GHZ, for his
> article "A 222-MHz Transverter for the Yaesu FT-817." The February 2003
> winner was David A. Rosenthal, N6TST, for his article "Portable in
> Paradise: Cruise Ship Dxing." Congratulations, Dick, Paul and David! 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.
> Voting takes place each month on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qstvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your
> favorite articles in the March issue of QST. Voting ends March 31.
>
> * Dayton Contest Dinner tickets now on sale: The North Coast Contesters
> have announced that tickets for the 11th annual Dayton Contest Dinner now
> are on sale. The dinner will be held Saturday, May 17, 6:30 PM, at the
> Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dayton. Seating is limited, random and not
> reserved. All dinner ticket orders are handled exclusively by Craig Clark,
> K1QX, Radioware and Radio Bookstore, PO Box 209, Rindge, NH 03461
> <http://www.radio-ware.com>. Order tickets weekdays by calling toll-free
> 800-457-7373 or via e-mail <jcclark at prexar.com>. Major credit cards are
> accepted.
>
> ===========================================================
> The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
> Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main
> St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
> <http://www.arrl.org>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.
>
> The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of
> interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely,
> accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org> for
> the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/> offers access to news, informative features and
> columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a
> weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled from The ARRL Letter.
>
> 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 and The American Radio Relay League.
>
> ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
> letter-dlvy@arrl.org
> ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@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 e-mail
> 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@QTH.Net
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
> cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this
> listserver.)
>