From n1ist@arrl.net  Mon Sep 22 00:41:54 2003
From: n1ist@arrl.net (Michael L. Ardai)
Date: Sun, 21 Sep 2003 19:41:54 -0400
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 37
Message-ID: <03092119415430@maven.atb.teradyne.com>

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Subj:	The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 37

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 22, No. 37
September 19, 2003
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Hams aid in Hurricane Isabel response
* +"Logbook of the World" goes live!
* +Astronaut revisits high school via ham radio
* +ARRL honors Amateur Radio Today production team
* +League seeks nominees for 2003 technical awards
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
    +Hoaxed!
    +W1AW 160-meter transmission to QSY slightly
     The 2003 DX Magazine "most wanted" survey under way
     John H. Sanders, WB4ANX, SK

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================

==>AMATEUR RADIO RESPONDS EFFECTIVELY TO HURRICANE ISABEL

Downgraded to a tropical storm by week's end, Isabel vented much of her
fury on North Carolina and Virginia after coming ashore on North
Carolina's Outer Banks the afternoon of September 18. The flooding it
spawned in the Washington, DC, area also meant a two-day holiday for
federal workers.

Amateur Radio volunteers had been keeping an eye on the storm for several
days prior to its arrival, however, and they were ready to assist in
providing communication support and weather spotting. The Hurricane Watch
Net <http://www.hwn.org/> secured its operation September 18 after two
full days and nights of dealing with Isabel.

"Many thanks to the dozens of dedicated reporting stations in the path of
the storm for their support," said HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, "and
most of all to all Amateur Radio operators who patiently stood on the
sidelines while helping to maintain a clear frequency on 14.325 MHz during
this high-priority operation." The HWN worked with WX4NHC
<http://www.wx4nhc.org/> at the National Hurricane Center to provide
ground-level weather information for hurricane forecasters.

In North Carolina, ARES member Mike Langley, KD4MTT, spent three days at
ARES station NC4EB at the North Carolina Emergency Management's Eastern
Branch headquarters in Kinston--the primary emergency operation center
(EOC) for Isabel.

"Ham radio has been very busy throughout the storm," Langley said. He
noted that the Eastern Branch EOC operated with a staff of six, with two
on duty for two days or more and the others taking turns. "It's been a
pretty busy process."

NC4EB participated in the statewide Tarheel Net on 75 meters, which backed
up logistical communication between the state and county and local EOCs,
and sometimes provided a primary link when government communication
systems went down. Langley said telephone and power were "spotty at best"
in many areas of Eastern North Carolina.

"Right now in the after-action, we're still maintaining vigilance here
passing information back and forth from the different EOCs to Emergency
Management and the Red Cross," Langley said. Other communication has
involved helping state agencies to deploy needed resources, such as
chainsaw crews to remove downed trees. The Eastern Branch also monitored
the Hurricane Watch Net as well as several VHF and one HF frequency plus
e-mail and telephones, he said.

In Virginia, Section Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, said he had
plenty of volunteers in the early going but could have used more as the
emergency wore on. "A few did a lot," he summed up.

The Virginia Beach Hamfest <http://www.vahamfest.com/> set for September
20-21 was among the storm's first victims. Sponsors called off the annual
event September 18.

Power outages were widespread in Virginia, and Gregory himself was running
an emergency generator. Ground already wet from previous rainfall caused
trees to topple, too, and that included several that uprooted and landed
across Gregory's driveway. He urged all involved in Amateur Radio
emergency communication to install emergency power systems in their homes
and on their repeaters.

The Old Dominion Emergency Net/Virginia Emergency Net Alpha activated on
HF to help support communication between the state EOC and local EOCs.
Gregory said the net had checkins from about half of the Commonwealth's
localities. "Our role was to provide a backup for their landline or
whatever communications, but very few of those lost that capability," he
said of the local EOCs. Areas most drastically affected, including Hampton
Roads and Northern Virginia, did need Amateur Radio support and had plenty
of volunteers, he said.

Amateurs also supported American Red Cross and Salvation Army relief
operations in Virginia.

Virginia SM Carl Clements, W4CAC, in the Tidewater Area lost commercial
power shortly after the storm struck and was powering his equipment with
an emergency generator. While he also has no telephone service, his cell
phone continues to operate. Clements also lost his HF antennas. Many trees
were down in his area, he said, in some cases blocking access.

Tidewater Area amateurs deployed at Red Cross shelters set up in schools.
"Amateur Radio is the only way for the shelters to get in touch with one
another," Clements said. Hams were handling some health-and-welfare
traffic for shelter clients.

"It's a true disaster," Clements said.

In West Virginia, ARRL Section Manager Hal Turley, KC8FS, said ARES/RACES
support of the West Virginia EOC ended September 19. "All in all, Isabel
was kind to us," he said. "As anticipated, the Eastern Panhandle sustained
the brunt of the storm." Heavy rain caused some flooding, and the state
also suffered power outages.

The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN), handled
health-and-welfare inquiries via its SATERN Net on 14.265 MHz and via its
Web site <http://www.satern.org>.

ARES teams in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey also
activated for Isabel. The storm made itself known as far north as Southern
New England and as far west as Eastern Ohio.

==>ARRL "LOGBOOK OF THE WORLD" GOES LIVE!

The long-awaited QSL-cardless ARRL awards and contact credit system
"Logbook of the World" (LoTW) officially opened for business this week.
Within its first five days of operation, the system--which is open to
all--already had attracted more than 1000 requests for a digital
certificate, the essential pass key to LoTW.

"Although Logbook of the World is a tremendous resource for hams chasing
DXCC, VHF/UHF Century Club (VUCC), Worked All States (WAS) and other
awards, we hope it will appeal to hams who are not currently active in
these awards programs," said ARRL Chief Operating Officer Mark Wilson,
K1RO. "The proliferation of logging software has stimulated activity and
interest in contesting, and submitting log data and verifying award
credits online is a logical next step."

Data integrity has been a watchword of the LoTW since the project's
conception, and that starts with a digital certificate. Obtaining a
digital certificate involves a combination of on-line filing and good
old-fashioned snail mail. The first step is to visit the ARRL Logbook of
the World Web page <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>, download the LoTW software
and request a digital certificate that ties the participant's identity to
a digital key.

"We will need to verify you are who you say you are," ARRL Membership
Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, explains. "The security of the entire
system depends heavily on the method used for verifying the user's
identity." This first step is called authentication. Everyone who plans to
use LoTW first must obtain a digital certificate. There are no exceptions.
For US amateurs, this process relies on your mailing address in the FCC
database, which must be current.

For non-US amateurs, authentication will rely on other documentation,
primarily a copy of the participant's Amateur Radio license and another
official identifying document. Mail these copies to ARRL, Logbook of the
World Administrator, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 USA.

Assuming everything goes smoothly, US licensees requesting a digital
certificate soon will receive a postcard in the mail that contains a
password."The first batch of postcards has been mailed, and some people
have uploaded their passwords," Wilson said. "Those will be checked, and
the first batch of digital certificates should be e-mailed to users
September 22."

Users then should go to the LoTW Web site and enter the password to
complete the processing of their certificate request. Once the password
has been entered, the digital certificate will be e-mailed within a
working day or two. Non-US stations will receive their digital
certificates via e-mail once their documentation has been received at ARRL
Headquarters and authenticated.

Participants will use their digital certificates to "sign" and upload
either Amateur Data Interchange Format (ADIF) or Cabrillo-formatted files.
Participants also may use their primary digital certificates to obtain
additional certificates necessary to submit log data and obtain award
credit for contacts made under formerly held call signs.

At the heart of the Logbook of the World concept will be a huge repository
of log data provided by operators--from individual DXers and contesters to
major DXpeditions--and maintained by ARRL. Mills says the system will
benefit big and little guns alike by providing quick QSO credit for
ARRL-sponsored awards, especially DXCC.

Obtaining a digital certificate and uploading log data are free of charge.
There will be a per-QSO charge for each contact credit used, but Mills
expects it will be much less than the typical costs involved with
exchanging paper QSL cards. When you use an LoTW confirmation for an award
credit, the fee will be added to your account and shown in the user's
record. The user will be able to pay for these charges on-line using a
credit card.

Mills' article, "Introducing Logbook of the World," appears in the October
issue of QST. LoTW news and announcements will be posted to the Logbook of
the World Web site <http://www.arrl.org/lotw/>.

Wilson commended ARRL Web and Software Development Department Manager Jon
Bloom, KE3Z, and the other contributors to the project "for their
dedication and hard work that made Logbook a reality."

==>ASTRONAUT RELIVES HIGH SCHOOL DAYS VIA AMATEUR RADIO

It was old home week via ham radio earlier this month for NASA
International Space Station Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ. Lu spoke
September 4 with students at his college alma mater, Cornell University.
The following week, he linked up with his old high school, Webster Thomas
High School in Webster, New York, from which he graduated in 1980. In late
May, Lu chatted with youngsters at Webster's Klem Road South Elementary
School, which he'd attended three decades ago. All three contacts were
arranged by the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
program.

"The whole school was inspired by this event!" said Peter Fournia, W2SKY,
who headed up the team of nine hams that set up and operated the station
from the Webster Thomas High School library. Video was distributed
schoolwide. "Every student was riveted to their classroom monitor,"
Fournia said.

Ten students got to ask questions of Lu--who was at the controls of
NA1SS--about life aboard the ISS, and one of them asked his opinion of
civilian "space tourists" who buy a trip into space.

"We don't actually have any plans whatsoever to sell seats on the space
shuttle," Lu emphasized. He explained that the Russians have sold seats on
their Soyuz spacecraft, "but that's a different thing altogether," he
added.

Space tourists who have flown aboard the Soyuz and spent about 10 days
aboard the ISS have included businessman Dennis Tito, KG6FZX, in 2001, and
South African Mark Shuttleworth in 2002. Pop singer Lance Bass, KG4UYY, of
the group 'N Sync had been in line to become the third--and youngest--such
space tourist last fall, until arrangements with the Russian space program
fell apart.

"I do think that space tourism, in general, is a good thing," Lu went on
to say, "and in the future, I think--hopefully--the price will come down
at lot, and a lot more people will get a chance to visit space." He said
he thinks that in the long run, such space tourism will benefit space
exploration by making it more commonplace and easier to do.

Webster students also wanted to know what skills and traits make for a
good astronaut.

"One thing that being an astronaut really requires is to be adaptable," Lu
said. He said this includes being able to "get by" in different
situations, learn new languages and accommodate to staying in other
countries.

"Getting to fly, getting to spend time in space, getting to see the earth
from space and to feel like your doing something useful, not only for
myself but for people around the world," are among the rewards of being an
astronaut aboard the ISS, he told the high schoolers.

"It's been a great pleasure talking to everyone down there in Webster," Lu
said as his signal faded.

Fournia said everyone from the principals and teachers to the students
were in high spirits after the contact, which attracted media coverage.
"Everyone had big smiles," he said. "This was an excellent exposure to ham
radio, particularly to the aspects of our hobby that appeal to young
people." ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international project with
support from ARRL, NASA and AMSAT.

==>ARRL HONORS AMATEUR RADIO TODAY PRODUCTION TEAM

The ARRL has honored the individuals responsible for bringing the Amateur
Radio Today CD presentation from concept to reality. The formal
recognition came over the September 6-7 weekend during the ARRL
Southwestern Division Convention in Long Beach, California.

Receiving ARRL Special Service awards for their contributions to the
Amateur Radio public relations effort were director Dave Bell, W6AQ,
scriptwriter Alan Kaul, W6RCL, editor Keith Glispie, WA6TFD, and Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, who assisted in producing Amateur Radio Today along
with Bell, Kaul and Bill Baker, W1BKR. The video presentation has been
widely distributed--including to all 535 members of the US Congress. ARRL
Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, presented the plaques to
the team members on hand at the convention.

Former CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, narrated Amateur Radio
Today, which runs approximately six minutes. Designed for presentation to
nonhams and civic clubs, Amateur Radio Today focuses on Amateur Radio's
role in emergency communications, including Amateur Radio's role in the
September 11, 2001, response.

The League also honored Bell--a Hollywood TV producer and past chairman of
the ARRL Public Relations Committee--with a Lifetime Achievement Award. At
its July meeting, the ARRL Board of Directors cited Bell's "many
significant contributions" to the ARRL, his role as chairman of the Public
Relations Committee and his work in the production of films and videos
promoting Amateur Radio. His film and video repertoire includes The Ham's
Wide World, Moving Up to Amateur Radio, This is Ham Radio, The New World
of Amateur Radio and Ham Radio Olympics.

ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said the idea for the Amateur Radio
Today video stemmed in part from his desire to "leave behind more than my
business card" when talking with members of Congress, their staff members
and others who are not licensees but who "stand to influence or affect the
future of Amateur Radio in some way." Haynie said he and Bell discussed
the project, and Bell agreed to take it on, donating a lot of his own time
and effort in completing the project.

Individuals may order a copy of the Amateur Radio Today CD-ROM from the
ARRL on-line catalog <https://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=8861> or download
it for free. Amateur Radio Today also is available in VHS videotape
format. A subtitled (open-captioned) version also is available.

==>ARRL SEEKS NOMINEES FOR 2003 TECHNICAL AWARDS

Nominations now are open for the 2003 ARRL technical awards--the Technical
Service, Technical Innovation and Microwave Development awards.
Individuals may nominate themselves or others for these awards, aimed at
recognizing technical service accomplishments within the Amateur Radio
community. Nominations should include contact information for the nominee
and for the person submitting the nomination. Submissions should include a
nomination letter, endorsements of ARRL-affiliated clubs and League
officials and additional supporting material. All nomination forms
<http://www.arrl.org/ead/award/application.html> are available on the ARRL
Web site.

The ARRL Technical Service Award is offered annually to a licensee whose
service to the amateur community and/or society at large is of the most
exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio technical
activities. These include, but are not limited to leadership or
participation in technically oriented organizational affairs at the local
or national level; service as an official ARRL technical volunteer, such
as a Technical Advisor, Technical Coordinator or Technical Specialist; and
service as a technical advisor to a club that sponsors licensing classes.

The Technical Service Award winner receives an engraved plaque and a $100
credit toward the purchase of ARRL publications or products.

The ARRL Technical Innovation Award goes each year to a licensee whose
accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within
the framework of technical research, development, and application of new
ideas and future systems. These include, but are not limited to promotion
and development of higher-speed modems and improved packet radio
protocols; promotion of personal computers in Amateur Radio applications,
activities to increase efficient use of the amateur spectrum, and digital
voice experimentation.

The Technical Innovation Award winner receives a cash award of $500 and an
engraved plaque.

The ARRL Microwave Development Award goes annually to the amateur or group
of amateurs whose accomplishments and contributions enhance and augment
the field of microwave development. The award recognizes research into and
development of new and refined uses for the amateur microwave bands. This
includes adaptation of new terrestrial and satellite communication modes.

The Microwave Development Award winner receives an engraved plaque and a
credit of up to $100 toward ARRL publications or products.

Nominations go to ARRL Technical Awards, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.
All nomination forms and support information must be received at
Headquarters by March 31, 2004.

For more information, contact Jean Wolfgang, WB3IOS <jwolfgang@arrl.org>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Propagation guru Tad "Black Hole Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
reports: Last week's bulletin called for stable geomagnetic conditions
over the weekend--which we got. Planetary A indices, a measure of
geomagnetic stability for the day, were 11, 11, 7 and 6 for last Friday
through Monday, September 12-15. There was a strong solar wind, but a
north-pointing interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) kept any destabilizing
effects to a minimum. The IMF continued to point north through Sunday,
September 14, but then pointed south. This led to the geomagnetic storm
and high planetary A index of 37 and 61 on Tuesday and Wednesday,
September 16 and 17.

The IMF continues to point south, and we are now entering a stronger solar
wind stream. The predicted planetary A index for Friday, September 19,
through Monday, September 22, is 35, 25, 20 and 15.

Solar flux this week was down and average daily sunspot numbers were up
slightly. The sun has appeared nearly blank this week, with any sunspots
toward the edge of the disk, not pointing radiation at Earth as spots in
the center do.

Solar flux was lowest in the past couple of weeks at 94.4 on Friday,
September 12. Recent daily sunspot numbers were lowest on September 10 at
42. As the solar cycle declines over the next couple of years, we will
eventually see long periods with sunspot counts of zero. Solar flux is
currently rising as we progress toward the fall equinox September 23. The
current solar flux forecast for the short term shows flux values of 110
for September 19-21, and 115 for September 22-23.

Sunspot numbers for September 11 through 17 were 55, 58, 57, 58, 68, 89
and 83, with a mean of 66.9. The 10.7-cm flux was 96.7, 94.4, 96.1, 94.7,
97.3, 99.3 and 105.9, with a mean of 97.8. Estimated planetary A indices
were 15, 11, 11, 7, 6, 37 and 61, with a mean of 21.1.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The ARRL 10 GHz Cumulative Contest, the SARL
VHF/UHF Contest, the Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW), the Collegiate
QSO Party, the South Carolina QSO Party 1300Z, the QRP Afield Contest, the
Washington State Salmon Run, the Panama Anniversary Contest, the Fall QRP
Homebrewer Sprint and the AGB NEMIGA Contest are the weekend of September
20-21. JUST AHEAD: The CQ/RJ Worldwide DX Contest (RTTY), the Scandinavian
Activity Contest (SSB) and the Texas and Alabama QSO parties are the
weekend of September 27-28. 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 for the Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006) course opens
Monday, September 22, 12:01 AM EDT (0401 UTC). Registration will remain
open through Sunday, September 28. Classes begin Tuesday afternoon,
September 30. Registration for the ARRL HF Digital Communications (EC-005)
and VHF/UHF--Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) courses remains open
through Sunday, September 21. Those interested in taking an ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) course in the future can
sign up to be advised via e-mail in advance of registration opportunities.
To take advantage, send an e-mail to prereg@arrl.org. On the subject line,
indicate the course name or number (eg, EC-00#) and the month you want to
start the course. In the message body, provide your name, call sign, and
e-mail address. Please do not send inquiries to this mailbox. 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 Certification and Continuing Education Program
Coordinator Howard Robins, W1HSR, hrobins@arrl.org.

* Hoaxed! Along with many others, QST was snookered by a bogus satellite
photo <http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_blackout_photo.htm> that
purported to depict the US as seen from space during the August 14
electrical power outage in the Northeast. The image on page 80 of the
October issue accompanied a story, "Hams a Bright Spot During Power
Blackout," which deals with ham radio's response to the blackout
emergency. Widely circulated via the Internet, the image apparently was a
retouched composite of old satellite photos with fake identification
added. As several astute members have pointed out, among other things, the
faked photo shows the blackout zone as totally dark--which it was not--and
the area shown is geographically inaccurate. Real power blackout satellite
images available on the Internet include these from a US Air Force Defense
Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellite
<https://afweather.afwa.af.mil/news/black_out.html>. The DMSP satellites
have a low-light sensor on board that is sensitive enough to see city
lights from space. The capability is unique to the Air Force's weather
satellites. There's also a NOAA image on the Universe Today Web site
<http://www.universetoday.com/html/archive/2003-0818.html>. Another image
is available on NASA's Earth Observatory site
<http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=16
273> (courtesy of Chris Elvidge, US Air Force). ARRL regrets the error.

* W1AW 160-meter transmission to QSY slightly: Starting Monday, September
29, W1AW will shift its 160-meter code practice and bulletin transmission
frequency from 1818 kHz to 1817.5 kHz, starting with the 4 PM EDT (2000
UTC) code practice run. The change not only brings W1AW's Top Band
frequency in line with those the station uses on other bands, it also
should help to eliminate possible interference from broadcast station
harmonics and birdies--something that's more likely on an integer (ie,
whole number) frequency. W1AW has been conducting code practice and
bulletin transmissions on 1818 kHz since 1982. Prior to that, W1AW
transmitted both CW and phone bulletins on 1835 kHz.

* The 2003 DX Magazine "most wanted" survey under way: The 2003 DX
Magazine "most wanted" survey <http://www.dxpub.com/dx_survey2003.html> is
under way. The deadline to respond is October 15. The survey helps
DXpeditioners decide where to go next. DX Magazine Publisher Carl Smith,
N4AA, says not all DXCC entities are listed--just the most likely ones.
Respondents are asked to select entities they do not have confirmed for
DXCC. There's an opportunity to comment, where respondents may list needed
countries not appearing on the list. The results will be released in early
2004.--The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>

* John H. Sanders, WB4ANX, SK: ARRL has learned that former Delta Division
Vice Director John H. Sanders, WB4ANX, of Kingsport, Tennessee, died July
11. He was 82. Sanders served as Vice Director from 1974 until 1976. He
also was a director and later vice president of the ARRL Foundation. An
ARRL Life Member, Sanders rose to become president of Eastman Chemical
Products in Kingsport and later was appointed assistant general manager,
Eastman Chemicals Division and vice president of Eastman Kodak Company--a
position he held until his retirement. He was a graduate of Auburn
University and a veteran of World War II, in which he served with the US
Army artillery and was awarded the Purple Heart. He was a fellow of the
East Tennessee Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and
a past national AIChE president. In Kingsport, he was active in Junior
Achievement, the American Red Cross and the Kingsport Area Chamber of
Commerce. Survivors include his wife Mary Helen and two sons.

===========================================================
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
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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
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==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
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Subject: The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 37
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From n1ist@arrl.net  Sun Sep 28 22:44:22 2003
From: n1ist@arrl.net (Michael L. Ardai)
Date: Sun, 28 Sep 2003 17:44:22 -0400
Subject: [Letter-List] The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 38
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Subj:	The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 38

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 22, No. 38
September 26, 2003
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +ARRL rebukes Commissioner's "Broadband Nirvana" comments
* +Ham radio enforcement "the Riley way" marks fifth anniversary
* +ARISS chalks up its 115th school group contact
* +Kind words for Amateur Radio hurricane assistance
* +Morse petitions' comment deadline is September 29
* +Digital Communications Conference 2003 gives a glimpse of the future
* +Rohn files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     Reputed "oldest ham in the US" turns 103
     New ARRL Section Manager named in Idaho
     Shooting for the moon yields first-ever US-Czech Republic EME QSO on
24-GHz
     EarthLink delay to ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service addressees
continues
     ARRL Foundation Scholarships available for application starting
October 1

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================

==>ARRL REBUKES FCC COMMISSIONER'S "BROADBAND NIRVANA" REMARKS

The ARRL has strongly objected to FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy's
suggestion that Broadband over Power Line (BPL) technology will contribute
to what she described as "broadband Nirvana." Addressing the United
Powerline Council's annual conference September 22 in Arlington, Virginia,
Abernathy expressed unabashed enthusiasm for BPL and recommended a
combination of regulatory restraint and the elimination or substantial
modification of existing rules as steps along the "path to Enlightenment,"
as she put it. In a terse response faxed September 25 on behalf of the
League's 155,000 members, ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ,
asserted that Abernathy overlooked some significant issues in her Nirvana
analogy.

"Nightmare is more like it," Sumner declared. "The technical showings
submitted by the ARRL and others in response to the Commission's Notice of
Inquiry (NOI) in ET Docket No. 03-104 clearly establish that BPL is a
significant source of radio spectrum pollution. It cannot be implemented
without causing harmful interference to over-the-air radio services."

Sumner told Abernathy that while BPL industry groups, such as the one she
addressed this week, prefer to deny the evidence, the FCC is obliged to
work to a higher standard.

In its comments in response to the FCC NOI, the League characterized BPL
as "a Pandora's Box of unprecedented proportions" and said the
Commission's Part 15 rules "should be modified so as to prevent
interference to users of the HF and low VHF spectrum" from the outset.

Abernathy's speech, "Reaching Broadband Nirvana," never broached the topic
of BPL's potential to interfere with other radio services. Recently, the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
<http://www.ntia.doc.gov>--which regulates spectrum allocated to federal
government users--expressed "broad concerns" about interference to
government users and launched an extensive modeling, analysis and
measurement program for BPL. In his letter, Sumner reminded Abernathy that
the radio spectrum is a precious natural resource.

"To squander that resource simply to add a redundant, unnecessary, and
relatively poorly performing 'last mile' connection for consumers, is
unconscionable," he said. Sumner expressed the hope that Abernathy will
give the League an early opportunity to explain its BPL concerns to her in
person.

In her remarks to the UPLC gathering, Abernathy contended that it's been
regulatory restraint rather than heavy-handed regulation that has allowed
nascent platforms such as direct broadcast satellite (DBS) to become
competitively viable. "When the Commission completes this rulemaking," she
said, "I expect that we will eliminate many existing rules and
substantially modify others; the central question is the degree of
regulation that will remain during the transition to a more robustly
competitive market."

Individuals may e-mail Abernathy via her FCC Web site
<http://www.fcc.gov/commissioners/abernathy/mail.html> or directly
<kabernat@fcc.gov>. The text of her prepared remarks also is available on
the FCC Web site
<http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-239079A1.doc>.

The League's initial 120-page package of comments and technical exhibits
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/> and its reply comments
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/reply-comments-index.htm
l> are available on the ARRL Web site. Additional information and BPL
video clips are on the ARRL "Power Line Communications (PLC) and Amateur
Radio" page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>.

To support the League's efforts in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL
Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>.

To date, more than 4600 comments--many from the Amateur Radio
community--have been filed in response to the FCC's BPL NOI. They are
available for viewing via the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System
(ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>.

==>AMATEUR RADIO ENFORCEMENT "THE RILEY WAY" MARKS FIVE YEARS

Close to 1000 Amateur Radio enforcement cases have crossed his desk since
Riley Hollingsworth was tapped five years ago to resurrect the FCC's
Amateur Radio enforcement efforts. That doesn't include countless ham
radio "situations" he's resolved through informal counseling on the
telephone or through an exchange of e-mails. At the time he took the job
in the fall of 1998, Hollingsworth--whose official title is Special
Counsel for Enforcement--called it "a new day for Amateur Radio" after
years of amateur enforcement neglect on the Commission's part. As he sees
things today, rules compliance and on-air behavior have improved since the
new sheriff rode into town, but there's still lots to do.

"I'm fairly satisfied with the progress that we've made in five years,"
Hollingsworth said in modest acknowledgment of the milestone, "but I think
we need at least five more years of this type--of this level--of
enforcement, because the bands have quite a long way to go. It's no time
to rest."

Five years ago, Hollingsworth began with a "top-10" list of alleged
high-profile Amateur Radio offenders. By and large, he's slowly--and most
would say successfully--worked his way to the point that many of today's
cases appear comparatively mundane. But they get the same level of
attention.

"The biggest problem we have now, I think, stems from conduct-type
problems--lack of courtesy, taking serious offense and reacting to what is
perceived as deliberate interference," Hollingsworth said this week.
"Ninety percent of the interference that's reported to me is not
deliberate." As he regards all enforcement cases, the remaining 10 percent
are "serious."

"I think a lot of the 'radio rage' has subsided, but I wish that people
would be a little more aware of just how valuable Amateur Radio is and how
they sound on the air," said Hollingsworth. That's a message he's repeated
often on the hamfest circuit.

"Maintenance mode" is a goal he'd like to see enforcement achieve.
Hollingsworth explained that's when the number of enforcement cases is
perceived to be in balance with the number of licensees. "I don't think
we're there yet in the Amateur Service, but I think that we can get
there," he said. Hollingsworth credits the amateur community's desire for
strong, even stern, enforcement for his program's success.

"Probably 99 percent of the reason it's worked is everybody wants it," he
said. "In this service they plead for enforcement. In every other service,
they don't want to see you coming." This attitude, he believes, stems from
a sincere desire by licensees to keep Amateur Radio a self-policing
service. He counts keeping the support of the amateur community among his
major accomplishments.

Looking out on the Amateur Radio enforcement horizon, Hollingsworth said
he'll "keep pedaling" and chipping away at the enforcement workload. He'll
also continue to look to the assistance and cooperation of his fellow
radio amateurs, whom he called "just good people."

Amateurs "have got to stick together and cooperate and stay away from the
infighting because they've got some very serious external threats,"
Hollingsworth said, citing BPL as just one example. "To the extent that
they're not rowing together, it makes those threats more dangerous."

In his many public appearances--including several at
Hamvention--Hollingsworth has stayed "on message" over the five years of
his amateur enforcement tenure. "I just want everyone to realize what they
have," he said. "We have incredible frequencies, power, modes, and so
forth." He said a realization of the value of Amateur Radio itself is a
deterrent to potential rule breakers, but he said Amateur Radio
enforcement is "permanently ensconced" at the FCC.

While he's had some very interesting assignments and enjoyed nearly every
day of his tenure with the FCC, he says the past five years have been the
highlight of his 30-year FCC career.

"My greatest satisfaction is thinking that I may have paid back a debt,"
said Hollingsworth, who's been licensed since age 13. "It's the most
rewarding thing I've ever done with the Commission."

==>HAWAII SCHOOL CONTACT MARKS 115TH ARISS QSO

Students from second grade through high school at Punahou School in
Honolulu, Hawaii, quizzed NASA International Space Station Science Officer
Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, on September 15 about how he's faring aboard the ISS. The
early morning contact between NA1SS on the ISS and WH6PN in Honolulu
marked the 115th Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
school group contact. Lu told the students that living in space makes him
appreciate life on Earth.

"One of the things about living in space is it makes you appreciate the
things you have on the ground," Lu said, "a lot of little things that you
never think about--for instance, we don't take showers up here." The other
side of the coin, though is being able to see how beautiful Earth looks
from space, Lu added. In response to a later question, Lu noted that
living in space is not as isolating as it once was, since the crew now has
access to e-mail and telephone.

Lu and Expedition 7 crew commander Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP, will return
to Earth in October after having been aboard the ISS since April.
Malenchenko and Lu became the first primary ISS crew to travel to the ISS
via a Russian Soyuz TMA-2 spacecraft instead of arriving on a US space
shuttle. With NASA's shuttle fleet still grounded, the crew will return on
a Soyuz vehicle as well. Astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC,
<http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/foale.html> and cosmonaut Alexander
Kaleri, U8MIR <http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/kaleri-ay.html>--both
veterans of the Russian Mir space station--have been named as the ISS
Expedition 8 crew.

In responding to another question, Lu pointed out that ISS crews are
quarantined for about a week before launch, in part to make sure they are
not sick or coming down with something. But the quarantine period also
provides some needed quiet time, "to keep you away from all of the
hullabaloo that surrounds the launch," he said. "At that point you just
need to study and prepare and think about your mission and get ready."
Without the quarantine period, he said, "you wouldn't have any time to
yourself."

"Aloha to everybody down there!" Lu said in wrapping up the contact. He
said he hoped to visit Hawaii and possibly the school within the next
year.

Punahou School science center co-director Gail Peiterson said the
questions asked were a representative sample chosen through a student
competition.

Handling Earth station duties for the contact was Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN,
who operated from the Sacred Heart Academy station. ARISS School Contact
Coordinator Tim Bosma, W6ISS, moderated the contact. Two-way audio for the
QSO was provided by an MCI-WorldCom teleconferencing link.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international project with support
from ARRL, NASA and AMSAT.

==>RED CROSS UNIT COMPLIMENTS AMATEUR RADIO ASSISTANCE DURING ISABEL

Amateur Radio assistance in the Hurricane Isabel relief and recovery stage
has continued this week in the Southeast. Ham radio's role has drawn
compliments from the American Red Cross of Central Maryland, which praised
the amateurs' dedication.

"I want to thank the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the
amateur radio community for coming out and supporting the American Red
Cross over the critical 72 hours when Hurricane Isabel passed over
Maryland," said Frank M. Eilbacher, KC0EKL, a Red Cross disaster
communications lead. "We recognize you took time away from your families
and, for some of you, your own personal disasters to support us."

During the storm's peak on September 18, Eilbacher said, electrical power
and telecommunication problems abounded, but ham radio operators "filled
the gap providing a crucial communication link between Red Cross chapters
and shelter locations." Amateurs in the storm-struck region staffed state
and county emergency operating centers and shelters, as well as the
Maryland/Delaware American Red Cross Hurricane Watch Center.

The Salvation Army also has responded to affected areas including North
Carolina, where Hurricane Isabel came ashore September 18. Salvation Army
Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) volunteer Carlos Varon, K2LCV, from
Flushing, New York, this week accompanied two Salvation Army canteen units
from New York City to Morehead City, encountering heavy rain and wind on
the way.

Varon, who took along his "orange box" portable ham station, reports the
Salvation Army has been operating up to a half dozen field canteens.
Carteret County Emergency Coordinator Rich Wright, KR4NU, and his ARES
team have been supporting the SATERN operation. Operators were deployed
this week to provide communication between the canteens and the local
command post. Plans call for expanding the operation to shadows some
Salvation Army officers. Varon has been working out of a Salvation Army
warehouse facility, expediting the deployment of necessities bound for
storm victims.

The Salvation Army is providing relief to affected residents and emergency
response workers in North Carolina, Washington, DC, and Baltimore,
Maryland, as well as in smaller communities.

Earlier this week, ARRL North Carolina Section Manager John Covington,
W4CC, reported that some ARES teams were providing communication support
for localities--most in the hard-hit northeastern portion of the
state--that still lacked power and telephone service. Covington said hams
established point-to-point communication between shelters and emergency
operations centers in affected counties. In one community, hams helped a
fire dispatch center that lost its antennas in the storm.

In keeping with the Boy Scout motto, "Be prepared," Venturing Crew 80 of
Alexandria--in Northern Virginia just outside Washington, DC--responded to
requests for assistance from the Alexandria EOC and Fairfax ARES as
Hurricane Isabel approached. The crew specializes in emergency
communication and first aid and counts several ARES members among its
membership and leadership. Some of the scouts remained on duty for several
days.

Venture Crew members helped support communication at the Alexandria and
Fairfax EOCs, at the Alexandria American Red Cross chapter house and at
Red Cross shelters in both communities. While distributing bulk bottled
water to homes lacking running water, crew volunteers got to meet Virginia
Gov Mark Warner, who was visiting a shelter to thank volunteers.

Members of the Mount Vernon Amateur Radio Club and the Alexandria Radio
Club also provided communications support to Alexandria and Fairfax
operations. Repeaters operated by both clubs were used during the
emergency response.

"Things are still messy down here, and some of us are still recovering,"
said Bill Stewart, W2BSA, a Venture Crew 80 chartered organization
representative and committee member. "Most of Northern Virginia has power.
The biggest problem we have had is flooding."

Power has begun returning to the half-million or so residents who still
had none at the new week began. ARRL Virginia Section Emergency
Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW, reports commercial power finally returned
to his home September 24. He'd spent 141 hours running his home from an
emergency back-up generator. Gregory, who lives in Stafford County, lost
power September 18. This week he strongly advised amateurs involved in
public service communication to have a supply of emergency power available
for such situations, so they can remain on the air.

==>MORSE PETITIONS' COMMENT DEADLINE LOOMS

The period for public comments on seven separate Morse code-related
petitions for rule making--some of which would altogether eliminate
Element 1, the 5 WPM Morse test, from the Amateur Service rules (Part
97)--ends Monday, September 29. US amateurs may comment on the
petitions--RM-10781 through RM-10787--using the FCC Electronic Comment
Filing System (ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>.

As of week's end, the seven petitions had attracted more than 1800
comments from the amateur community. The FCC has yet to invite comments on
two other Morse-related rule making petitions. The petitions, both filed
in August, have not yet been put on public notice by the FCC.

Ireland (EI) and Singapore (9V) have become the latest countries to remove
the requirement for Amateur Radio applicants to pass a Morse code
examination for HF access. Ireland's Commission for Communications
Regulation (ComReg) announced September 15 that it took the action in line
with the outcome of World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03),
which removed the requirement for prospective amateur licensees to prove
Morse proficiency to operate below 30 MHz. All Class B licensees now have
"Full License" privileges and may operate on HF.

Singapore's iDA informed the Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society
earlier this month that it would no longer require a Morse test for
General class applicants, although the test reportedly will continue to be
available to those wishing to take it. Restricted licensees will be given
an option of upgrading to General class.

In addition, Switzerland, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Norway, the
Netherlands, Austria, New Zealand and Australia have moved to drop their
Morse requirements or are expected to do so this year.

==>DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE 2003 A HIT!

Despite Southern New England's brush with Hurricane Isabel a day earlier,
more than 100 Amateur Radio digital enthusiasts showed up in Windsor,
Connecticut, September 19-21 for the 2003 TAPR/ARRL Digital Communications
Conference (DCC). Friday and Saturday forums covered a wide range of
topics--from APRS to software-defined radio (SDR). The Sunday seminar by
Matt Ettus, N2MJI, focused on SDR. This year's conference also included a
number of beginner-oriented sessions on PSK31, APRS, WSJT and EchoLink.

ARRL Web and Software Development Department Manager Jon Bloom, KE3Z, came
away especially impressed by the SDR developments he observed at the
conference. "There's something happening here that will affect ham radio
in the not-so-distant future," he said

Alex Mendelsohn, AI2Q, was the Saturday evening banquet speaker. He
discussed the occasionally forgotten fact that Amateur Radio is still a
source of inspiration for engineers and technicians throughout the
communications industry. Many key individuals in industry today trace
their technical and engineering roots to early involvement in Amateur
Radio, he pointed out.

At the banquet, ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI,
presented the 2002 ARRL Technical Innovation Award to Jonathan Taylor,
K1RFD, who created the popular EchoLink Amateur Radio/Voice Over Internet
Protocol network.

This year's Digital Communications Conference was represented on the air
by the W1AW/1 HF-digital special event station. Despite poor band
conditions, the W1AW/1 operators still managed more than 100 contacts on
several digital modes.

Copies of the DCC 2003 conference Proceedings remain available from the
ARRL <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/>.

==>ROHN FILES FOR CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY

Rohn Industries <http://www.rohnnet.com/> filed a voluntary petition for
Chapter 11 bankruptcy September 16 in the US Bankruptcy Court for the
Southern District of Indiana. The best-known manufacturer of tower and
tower hardware for the Amateur Radio community, the Peoria, Illinois-based
company manufactures towers, antenna support structures and
"infrastructure equipment" for the telecommunications industry. In
business since 1948, the firm also makes security fencing and provides
design and construction services.

"Our immediate goal is to stabilize the company's financial situation and
utilize the Chapter 11 process to enable the company to conduct normal
business operations as the company works to complete a sale transaction,"
Rohn Industries President Horace Ward said in announcing the company's
bankruptcy filing. Rohn says it's now in discussions with an unrelated
third party regarding a proposed asset sale while it continues to conduct
business as usual. Ward told ARRL there is "no truth" to a rumor
circulating on some Internet newsgroups that disgruntled workers had
damaged manufacturing equipment beyond repair in reprisal for
consolidating fabrication facilities last January into a single plant in
Frankfort, Indiana.

The impact of Rohn's troubles on the Amateur Radio community is not clear,
but at least one major antenna products supplier reported earlier this
summer that it was having problems getting Rohn products, although it
continues to offer them. Ward told ARRL this week that Rohn intends "to
execute the orders we have and to continue to take orders in the normal
course of business."

In the company's statement, Ward attributed the bankruptcy filing to a
severe downturn in the telecommunications industry. In July, NASDAQ
delisted Rohn Industries after it was unable to meet its minimum bid price
requirement. The company remains eligible for listing on the Over the
Counter (OTC) Bulletin Board (OTC-BB: ROHN). During the past 52 weeks, the
company's stock has sold for as little as a penny a share.

At the same time it filed for Chapter 11 protection, Rohn has announced
it's entered into a $9.5 million debtor-in-possession credit line with its
lenders. The bankruptcy court must approve that agreement.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Solar Sage Tad "SPF-15" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: At last
the sun is showing one large sunspot. Sunspot 464 is expanding rapidly and
now is part of an extended dark area about 13 Earth diameters wide. A
helioseismic holography image shows a large sunspot currently on the side
of the sun that faces away from Earth.

The emergence of this spot has raised the sunspot count, and solar flux is
some 20 points higher than predicted a week ago. Solar flux for the past
few days has edged above 130, and the prediction for Friday through
Monday, September 26-29, is for flux values of 135, 130, 130 and 125.

On September 23, wee transitioned from summer to fall in the Northern
Hemisphere and from winter to spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Around
the equinox is a great time for worldwide DX, because all parts of Earth
are bathed approximately equally by the sun's energy.

Sunspot numbers for September 18 through 24 were 92, 71, 72, 64, 91, 133
and 121, with a mean of 92. The 10.7-cm flux was 109.2, 111.1, 111.9,
119.9, 122.6, 124.9 and 133.5, with a mean of 119. Estimated planetary A
indices were 40, 32, 25, 21, 18, 17 and 33, with a mean of 26.6.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The CQ/RJ Worldwide DX Contest (RTTY), the
Scandinavian Activity Contest (SSB) and the Texas and Alabama QSO parties
are the weekend of September 27-28. JUST AHEAD: The California QSO Party,
the SARL 80-Meter QSO Party, the TARA PSK31 Rumble, the Oceania DX Contest
(SSB), the EU Autumn Sprint (SSB), the QCWA QSO Party and the RSGB 21/28
MHz Contest (SSB) are the weekend of October 4-5. 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.

* Reputed "oldest ham in the US" turns 103: The man believed to be the
oldest Amateur Radio operator in the US--Byrl "Tex" Burdick, W5BQU, of El
Paso--turned 103 on September 25. First licensed in the fall of 1930,
Burdick is on the air every day--most recently on 15 meters (look for him
on or about 21.314 MHz), and he enjoys ragchewing. On behalf of the
League, ARRL President fellow Texan and Jim Haynie, W5JBP, this week wrote
Burdick to extend congratulations and best wishes. Burdick is an ARRL
member and a routine QSLer. Happy Birthday, Tex!

* New ARRL Section Manager named in Idaho: Idaho has a new ARRL Section
Manager, effective September 23. ARRL Field and Educational Services
Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, has appointed Doug Rich, W7DVR, of Boise to
take over from John Cline, K7BDS, who has stepped down. An Amateur Extra
class licensee, Rich will complete Cline's term, which runs through next
September. Cline submitted his resignation with regret this week because
he's changing jobs within the Idaho Bureau of Disaster Services (hence his
"BDS" suffix) and pursuing a master's degree. Cline called Rich "highly
respected with the ham radio community in southern Idaho." Rich is the
Chief Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) Communications Officer
for the State of Idaho, Bureau of Disaster Services, and has served two
terms as president of the Voice of Idaho Amateur Radio Club. Idaho ARRL
members may contact Rich via e-mail w7dvr@arrl.org.

* Shooting for the moon yields first-ever US-Czech Republic EME QSO on
24-GHz: Amateur Radio moonbounce (Earth-Moon-Earth, or EME) and microwave
history was made September 24 at 1400 UTC when Josef Sveceny, OK1UWA, and
Al Ward, W5LUA, completed the first-ever 24-GHz EME QSO between the Czech
Republic and the US. "This was Josef's first 24-GHz EME QSO, and he was my
third initial on 24 GHz," said Ward. He noted the successful effort marked
the second scheduled attempt during September. OK1UWA has a 3-meter Prime
Focus dish with 35 W at the feed, vertically polarized. W5LUA's station is
a 3-meter Prime Focus dish with 70 W at the feed, horizontally polarized
to account for the spatial offset between NA and Europe. Previous
international 24 GHz EME QSOs have take place between the US and Canada,
the US and Russia and Canada and Russia.

* EarthLink delay to ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service addressees continues:
Despite several discussions with EarthLink, the Internet Service Provider
continues to delay messages sent via the ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/emailfwd.html> (@arrl.net) to
@earthlink.net e-mail addresses. As a result of EarthLink's actions, ARRL
cannot guarantee timely delivery of messages forwarded via the ARRL E-Mail
Forwarding Service to its members' EarthLink e-mail addresses. EarthLink
contends that the @arrl.net domain is a spam source based on its internal
standards and analysis. While EarthLink appreciates the concept of a
simple e-mail forwarding system like arrl.net and concedes that the spam
is not originating from the ARRL E-Mail Forwarding System, it maintains
its position that blocking all messages--including valid e-mail--from this
domain is an effective tactic in its efforts to fight spam. EarthLink has
told ARRL that it will continue to delay messages until the amount of spam
being sent through this system is reduced to a level EarthLink deems
acceptable. ARRL advises affected members to consider changing the ISP to
which their ARRL E-Mail Forwarding System e-mail is forwarded. ARRL
members logged onto the ARRL Web site can make necessary changes through
their Member Data page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html>
(click on "Modify membership data"). Note that it may take up to 24 hours
for changes in your e-mail address to take effect. Affected members also
may consider contacting EarthLink <abuse@abuse.earthlink.net
<mailto:abuse@abuse.earthlink.net> on their own. ARRL apologizes for any
inconvenience and continues efforts to resolve this situation.

* ARRL Foundation Scholarships available for application starting October
1: The window opens October 1 to apply for ARRL Foundation scholarships
for the 2004-2005 academic year. The full listing of available
scholarships is available on the ARRL Foundation Scholarship Programs Web
page <http://www.arrl.org/arrlf/scholgen.html>. Use one application to
apply for the main pool of scholarships. Applicants must fill out a
separate application to apply for The William R. Goldfarb Memorial
Scholarship <http://www.arrl.org/arrlf/goldfarb.html>. The application,
transcript, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and Student
Aid Report (SAR) package must be received at ARRL Headquarters by February
1, 2004.

===========================================================
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Subject: The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 38
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