[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 31

[Bill Marx]

For those that do not subscribe. Some important issues discussed in this letter.
-Bill W2CQ


> ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 22, No. 31
> August 8, 2003
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +ARRL president says BPL is "spectrum pollution"
> * +NCVEC committee mulls new entry-level license
> * +International Space School students chat via ham radio with ISS
> * +New HF RFID tag limits not expected to affect hams
> * +Hams part of Montana wildfire response
> * +League documents digital modes
> * +Two sections getting new SMs in October
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Emergency Communications Course registration
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      Correction
>      Incident leads to cancellation of ham exam sessions
>      Red Cross honors ARRL for Amateur Radio's tornado work
>      Ham radio distress call yields help from next state
>      Committee reports now available on ARRL Web site
>      Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award
>      DXCC Annual List deadline approaching
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
>
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>BPL IS "SPECTRUM POLLUTION," ARRL PRESIDENT SAYS
>
> ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says Broadband over Power Line (BPL)--if
> widely deployed--would represent "spectrum pollution" on a level that is
> "difficult to imagine." Haynie reacted after seeing videotape and early
> data from recent ARRL field studies in four states where BPL is undergoing
> testing.
>
> "BPL is the most crucial issue facing Amateur Radio and the one that has
> the most devastating potential," Haynie said. In terms of interference
> potential on HF and low-VHF frequencies, "nothing is on the same scale as
> BPL."
>
> A form of power line carrier (PLC) technology, BPL would use existing low
> and medium-voltage power lines to deliver broadband services to homes and
> businesses. Because it uses frequencies between 2 and 80 MHz, BPL could
> affect HF and low-VHF amateur allocations wherever it's deployed. BPL
> proponents--primarily electric power utilities--already are testing BPL
> systems in several markets, and one reportedly is already offering the
> service. FCC rules already allow BPL, although industry proponents want
> the FCC to relax radiation limits. It's feared such a change could
> exacerbate BPL's interference potential.
>
> During the ARRL forum at the West Gulf Division Convention (Austin
> Summerfest 2003) August 1-2 in Austin, Texas, Haynie previewed a short
> video highlighting a recent tour of BPL field trial sites by ARRL Lab
> Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. In late July, Hare traveled to BPL trial
> communities in Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New York to take
> measurements over significant parts of the HF spectrum and initial
> readings at low-VHF. Driving a specially equipped vehicle loaded with
> radio gear and measurement devices, Hare said he didn't need to look long
> to find BPL interference. "The signals were all over," he said. "The
> interference found ranged from moderate to extremely strong."
>
> The video shows the S meter of an HF transceiver holding steady in excess
> of S9 as the speaker emits a crackling din, which one observer described
> as sounding like a Geiger counter. Only the very strongest amateur signals
> broke through on 20 and 15 meters. Hare noted, however, that the field
> strengths of the various systems all were within FCC Part 15 limits for
> power line carrier (PLC) devices.
>
> Each BPL system exhibited a unique sound depending upon the modulation
> scheme it used. While in most cases it sounded like static or pulse noise,
> in one city warbling "birdies" blanketed the bands at closely spaced
> intervals.
>
> The ARRL already has filed a 120-page package of text and technical
> exhibits in response to the FCC's Notice of Inquiry in late May. The
> League plans to file reply comments--responses to comments already
> filed--by the recently extended August 20 FCC deadline.
>
> Haynie has been doing a bit of traveling of his own, including more than
> two weeks in Washington so far this year dealing with the FCC and with
> members of Congress on BPL and other Amateur Radio-related issues.
>
> Countering critics who suggest that the League is only using BPL as a
> fund-raising ploy, Haynie said the League would not be putting as much
> effort into attempting to quantify the BPL threat and to put a face on it
> if it weren't real.
>
> "The BPL industry and their associations have told the FCC and the world
> that there is no interference potential from BPL systems," Haynie said.
> "Anyone seeing these BPL signals for megahertz after megahertz for miles
> along a power line should be convinced that BPL--even operating at the
> present FCC limits--poses a serious threat to all HF and low-VHF
> communications."
>
> More information is available on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/07/08/1/>. Additional information
> and video clips are on the ARRL "Power Line Communications (PLC) and
> Amateur Radio" page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>.
>
> ==>NCVEC COMMITTEE STUDYING NEW ENTRY-LEVEL LICENSE PROPOSALS
>
> The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) has
> formed a committee to develop an FCC rule making proposal for a new
> entry-level Amateur Service license. The move came during the NCVEC's
> annual meeting July 25 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where attendees heard
> presentations on the possibilities for such a new ticket. At the same
> session, the NCVEC also approved plans to draft and submit a rule making
> petition to eliminate the current 5 WPM Morse code requirement (Element 1)
> and to give Novice/Tech Plus HF privileges to all current Technician
> licensees. NCVEC Chair John Creel, WB3GXW, of the Laurel VEC presided over
> the gathering, which included representatives of 12 of the nation's 14
> VECs.
>
> NCVEC Question Pool Committee Chair Scotty Neustadter, W4WW, and Rules
> Committee Chair Fred Maia, W5YI, offered separate proposals for an
> entry-level license. Neustadter said while the current entry-level
> license, the Technician class, provides full VHF and UHF privileges, it
> does not offer a simple entry path. He recommended a 50-W maximum power
> output level, Novice/Tech HF subbands plus 12 and 17-meter privileges and
> a 20-question written exam.
>
> Maia's proposal suggested upgrading all current Tech and Tech Plus
> licensees to General and allowing their use of all bands. Beginner
> licensees should be granted call signs from the NA-NZ#xxx call sign block,
> he said. Both Maia and Neustadter suggest ways to streamline the number of
> license classes. Maia offered up the possibility of asking the FCC to
> eliminate the Morse testing requirement immediately, easing code exam
> format restrictions and giving serious thought to dropping CW-only
> subbands as well. Neustadter recommended no changes in CW/phone
> allocations, at least for now.
>
> Maia, Neustadter, Jim Wiley, KL7CC, and John Johnston, W3BE, will serve on
> the entry-level license study committee. The panel is to report back to
> the NCVEC within a few weeks.
>
> The NCVEC representatives' approval to petition the FCC seeking the
> deletion of the Element 1 Morse code examination requirement for HF access
> was in reaction to the World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03)
> decision to leave such requirements up to individual administrations. The
> ARRL-VEC abstained from voting on the issue.
>
> Responding to a question, the FCC's Bill Cross, W3TN, told the group that
> he did not believe the Administrative Procedures Act would permit the FCC
> to drop the Morse code testing requirement on its own motion. He predicted
> a lively debate during any proposal-and-comment period.
>
> In remarks at the meeting, FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley
> Hollingsworth complimented the VECs for their efforts. He noted that
> complaints concerning the administration of amateur exams were at their
> lowest point in the five years he's been handling amateur enforcement. He
> also said VECs should not underestimate the FCC's concerns regarding
> examination integrity.
>
> Members of the Licensing and Technical Analysis Branch staff at the FCC's
> Gettysburg office demonstrated a beta version of new Universal Licensing
> System <http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/> on-line filing software expected to
> go live in September. Among other features, the new, user-friendly
> software will incorporate on-screen links to context-relevant "common
> questions" and ease the process of applying for a vanity call sign. It
> also will provide compatibility with screen-reading software employed by
> sight-impaired users.
>
> The NCVEC unanimously approved an extension of an experiment to use
> videoconferencing technology to conduct Amateur Radio testing in remote
> areas of Alaska. The NCVEC had voted last year to back a one-year trial
> run to be conducted by the Anchorage Volunteer Examiner Coordinator. Jim
> Wiley, KL7CC, of the Anchorage VEC told his colleagues that, after
> unexpected delays, his VEC expects to be testing within three months.
>
> ==>INTERNATIONAL SPACE SCHOOL STUDENTS TALK TO THE "OTHER" ISS
>
> Students at the International Space School
> <http://www.intspaceschoolfnd.org/> spoke August 1 via ham radio to NASA
> ISS Science Officer Ed Lu, KC5WKJ, aboard the International Space Station
> and at the controls of onboard ham station NA1SS. The contact was arranged
> via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program.
> The students gathered at the University of Houston in Clear Lake, Texas,
> for the contact, and Lu answered a dozen questions during the 10-minute
> pass. In answer to one question, Lu said being on the ISS had not altered
> his views regarding the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
>
> "I've always thought that it would be pretty remarkable circumstances if
> we on Earth were the only life anywhere in the universe," Lu responded.
> "The question is, 'Where?'" Lu said the answer to the question of whether
> life exists beyond the bound of Earth "is profound either way."
>
> Lu also said he seems to be enjoying spicier foods more since he's been
> aboard the ISS, but he was not able to figure out why that's the case.
> Every day on the ISS involves solving a problem of one kind or another, he
> said, but he called being in space "quite an honor" and "a tremendous
> opportunity" and he predicted the day would come when more people got the
> chance to experience space firsthand.
>
> Perhaps more than classroom work, Lu said, his experience as an aircraft
> owner helped prepare him for being in space. Being aboard the ISS "is a
> lot like working on the inside of an airplane or on the engine of an
> airplane in a lot of a cases, because the basic 'wrench skills' turn out
> to be quite a plus up here," he said.
>
> Since the ISS was passing over the Southern Hemisphere at the time, Tony
> Hutchison, VK5ZAI, in Australia--an ARISS veteran--served as Earth station
> for the International Space School contact. MCI provided a two-way audio
> teleconferencing link between Australia and Houston. ARISS
> <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international program with participation
> by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
>
> ==>NEW HF RFID TAG LIMITS SHOULD NOT AFFECT AMATEURS
>
> Little or no impact to the Amateur Service is expected at the low end of
> 20 meters in the wake of an FCC decision to raise the power limit for
> radio frequency identification (RFID) tags that operate in the vicinity of
> 13.5 MHz. The FCC agreed in a Second Report and Order (SR&O) and
> Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) in ET Docket 95-19 released July 17 to
> allow 3.5 times the previous harmonic field strength in the range of
> 13.710 to 14.010 MHz.
>
> The joint SR&O and MO&O were in response to a Petition for Declaratory
> Ruling filed by M/A-COM Private Radio Systems Inc in 2001 and a Petition
> for Reconsideration filed by the Information Technology Industry Council
> in 1997. The FCC authorized an increase in the maximum allowed field
> strength of unlicensed Part 15 devices that transmit data--specifically
> RFID tags--in the 13.553 to 13.567 MHz band from 10,000 to 15,848 uV/m at
> 30 meters.
>
> Additionally, the FCC permitted an increase in the maximum field strength
> of harmonics from the devices in the range of 13.110 to 13.410 MHz and
> 13.710 to 14.010 MHz from the current 30 uV/m to 106 uV/m at 30 meters.
> All other harmonics of the devices must remain below 30 uV/m at 30 meters.
>
> While the increased strength in lower sideband harmonics of the RFID
> devices creeps into the lowest 10 kHz of the 20-meter CW band, ARRL Lab
> Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI says there is little, if any, cause for hams to
> worry about increased noise.
>
> "The potential impact on amateurs from this rule change is minimal," he
> said. "To meet the field strength requirements at and above 14.010 MHz,
> these systems, in practice, would typically exhibit less than 1 dB over
> current FCC limits."
>
> The FCC said the changes would allow for improved operation and spur
> development of the RFID tag technology, as well as bring the standards in
> line with those in Europe and Australia.
>
> ==>HAMS STILL ACTIVE AS COOLER WEATHER HELPS TAME MONTANA WILDFIRES
>
> With the 24,000-acre Robert Fire <http://akteam.ak.blm.gov/> in Montana 55
> percent contained and cooler weather and light rain over the August 2-3
> weekend, residents in the contained area east of the fire were allowed to
> return home. Several Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) personnel in
> Flathead County remained active this week in support of the Office of
> Emergency Service (OES) and the Flathead County Disaster Care Unit.
>
> "The fire situation was helped this weekend with the light rain and moist
> cool temperatures," said Flathead County EC Don Ross, N7JIZ. "The Robert
> Fire (near West Glacier) is somewhat controlled with West Glacier, Lake
> Five, and Blankenship area evacuation orders lifted." The Robert fire
> started July 23, and more than 100 homes had to be evacuated during the
> last week of July.
>
> Ross said that over the August 2-3 weekend ARES members maintained
> communication between OES and the Red Cross shelters. They also handled
> weather and smoke reports, assisted in the demobilization of the county
> command center at West Glacier and relayed official information from the
> OES both by telephone and radio. Amateurs were monitoring 2 meter
> repeaters from about 7 AM until 10 PM and are equipped for HF operation on
> 75 meters if it's needed.
>
> Meanwhile, Ross said, the Wedge Canyon Fire--a nearly 26,000-acre blaze on
> the North Fork eight miles south of the Canadian border--remains very
> active with hot spots in Glacier and the Flathead National Forest. Seven
> houses have been destroyed, and many more are in harm's way, Ross reports.
> The fire has been 50 percent contained, however, and some rain fell over
> the August 2-3 weekend.
>
> Montana Section Manager Doug Dunn, K7YD, said recently that many sections
> of Montana have either been on fire or on guard in recent weeks.
>
> ==>LEAGUE DOCUMENTS DIGITAL MODES
>
> With a new Web page on digital mode specifications, ARRL hopes to make
> answering the question "Is that mode legal?" a lot easier.
>
> Until 1995, the only permissible digital modes under Part 97 rules were
> RTTY and modes that used ASCII codes. On November 1 of that year, the
> FCC--acting on an ARRL petition--agreed to allow the use of any digital
> mode, providing its technical characteristics were "publicly
> documented"--�97.309(a)(4)--and the HF digital mode explosion began in
> earnest.
>
> To make finding technical specifications for existing and emerging digital
> modes more convenient, ARRL now provides technical documentation for many
> modes now in use on its "�97.309(a)(4) Technical Descriptions" page
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/techchar/>.
>
> "We needed a better place to find whether a technique has been published,"
> said ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, in explaining
> the move to make the information more readily available. "A place on the
> Web seemed to be the best way of letting the amateur community know that a
> technique is published as well as providing an accurate technical
> description of what it is."
>
> The documentation is adequate to recognize the technique or protocol when
> observed on the air, to determine the call signs of stations in
> communication and to read the content of their transmissions. The page
> currently contains technical descriptions of CLOVER, CLOVER-2000, G-TOR,
> PACTOR, PACTOR-II and PSK31. Volunteers are developing documentation for
> MT63, PACTOR-III, MFSK-16 and Q15X25 for later addition.
>
> The ARRL invites help from designers, manufacturers, users and user groups
> to fill in the gaps for additional modes. Send information or inquiries to
> ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI <w4ri@arrl.org>.
>
> ==>TWO ARRL SECTIONS TO GET NEW SECTION MANAGERS IN OCTOBER
>
> New Section Managers will take the reins in San Francisco and Eastern
> Washington, while several incumbent SMs will start new two-year terms this
> fall. All candidates ran without opposition in the current election cycle
> and were declared elected. All terms of office begin October 1.
>
> In San Francisco, Bill Hillendahl, KH6GJV, will succeed current SM Len
> Gwinn,WA6KLK, who did not seek a third term. Hillendahl served as an
> assistant SM under Gwinn and as an Official Observer and Public
> Information Officer.
>
> In Eastern Washington, Mark Tharp, KB7HDX, will take over from Kyle Pugh,
> KA7CSP, who decided not to seek another term after 11 years as SM. Tharp
> has been the Official Observer Coordinator for Eastern Washington since
> 1994 and has been an OO and Official Emergency Station since 1993. He
> previously served for more than five years as an Emergency Coordinator.
>
> Western Washington got a new SM July 1 when Ed Bruette, N7NVP, was
> appointed to succeed veteran SM Harry Lewis, W7JWJ, who stepped down with
> three months remaining on his term. Bruette was the only candidate to
> succeed Lewis in the current election cycle.
>
> Sitting Section Managers in six other ARRL sections were returned to
> office without opposition. They include Jeff Ryan, K0RM, Colorado; Susan
> Swiderski, AF4FO, Georgia; Phineas Icenbice, W6BF, Los Angeles; Jettie
> Hill, W6RFF, Sacramento Valley; Ray Taylor, N5NAV, South Texas; and Hal
> Turley, KC8FS, West Virginia.
>
> Several new Section Managers, including at least three from the current
> crop, will be at ARRL Headquarters September 6-7 weekend for the Section
> Managers' Workshop.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Propagation prognosticator Tad "Walking on the Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
> Washington, reports: Average daily sunspot numbers and solar flux were up
> this week compared to last. Geomagnetic indices remained about the same.
> The quietest day was Tuesday, August 5, when the planetary A index was 9,
> the high-latitude college A index was only 3, and the college K index
> actually was zero over two of the three-hour reporting periods and one
> during four of the periods.
>
> The most active geomagnetic day was Wednesday, August 6, when the
> planetary A index was 43, and the planetary K index rose as high as 7. A
> day with numbers closer to the norm for a stormy space weather day on
> earth was Friday, August 1, when the mid-latitude A index was 28, the
> planetary A index was 37 and the high latitude college A index was 74. The
> mid and high-latitude and planetary A and K indices for the past four
> weeks are on the NOAA Daily Geomagnetic Data page
> <http://www.sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/indices/DGD.txt>.
>
> This weekend is the Worked All Europe DX CW Contest, but the predicted
> planetary A index for August 8 is 40 and 25 for August 9. This could be a
> problem for amateurs in the Northwest, because the path to Europe is
> polar. The predicted solar flux for Friday through Monday, August 8-11 is
> 130.
>
> For more information on propagation and an explanation of the numbers used
> in this bulletin see the Propagation page on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.
>
> Sunspot numbers for July 31 through August 6 were 65, 85, 95, 144, 138,
> 136 and 155, with a mean of 116.9. The 10.7-cm flux was 102.1, 107.3,
> 111.4, 120, 122.5, 130.6 and 128.7, with a mean of 117.5. Estimated
> planetary A indices were 32, 37, 21, 15, 14, 9 and 43, with a mean of
> 24.4.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The Worked All Europe (WAE) DX Contest (CW)
> and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are the weekend of August 10-11. The Six
> Club Perseids Meteor Shower Contest is August 12-14. JUST AHEAD: The North
> American QSO Party (SSB), the SARTG World Wide RTTY Contest, the ARRL 10
> GHz Cumulative Contest, the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest, the SEANET
> Contest (CW/SSB/Digital) and the New Jersey QSO Party are the weekend of
> August 16-17. 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: Seats remain
> available for the Level I ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications
> on-line course (EC-001) that begins August 19 and is sponsored by the
> United Technologies Corporation. Registration closes Sunday, August 10, at
> 12:01 AM or until all seats are filled--whichever occurs first.
> Registration opens Monday, August 11, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0401
> UTC), for the Level II Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-002).
> Registration remains open through the August 16-17 weekend or until all
> seats are filled--whichever occurs first. Class begins Tuesday, August 26.
> Thanks to United Technologies Corporation, the $45 registration fee paid
> upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the
> Level II course. During this registration period, approximately 75 seats
> are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. For
> more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
> Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org, 860-594-0340.
>
> * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
> Registration for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) course opens Monday,
> August 11, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0401 UTC). Registration will
> remain open through Sunday, August 17. Class begins Tuesday afternoon,
> August 19. 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.
>
> * Correction: The ARRL Letter, Vol 22, No 30, reported the wrong dates for
> The ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference. The 22nd annual ARRL/TAPR
> Digital Communications Conference will take place September 19-22 in
> Hartford, Connecticut.
>
> * Incident leads to cancellation of ham exam sessions: Ham radio exam
> sessions--including one set for August 10--at the East Valley Sheriff's
> Station in Thousand Oaks, California, were put on hold after the site
> became a crime scene earlier this week. VE Coordinator and PIO for the
> Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, reports that the
> community room where the VE exams are held every other month was damaged
> in a shooting incident and--as part of a crime scene--it's off limits to
> the public until further notice. He said the club hopes to resume its
> normal exam schedule in October.
>
> * Red Cross honors ARRL for Amateur Radio's tornado work: The ARRL has
> received a certificate of appreciation from the American Red Cross for the
> "valuable service" League members provided in support of Red Cross efforts
> after a devastating series of tornados struck Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee
> and Arkansas on May 4. The certificate specifically acknowledges Amateur
> Radio operation in Missouri. "Your time and compassion resulted in more
> than 735 individuals and families being sustained in a time of crisis,"
> wrote ARC National Coordinator of Disaster Volunteers Wendy Kaplan in an
> accompanying letter also signed by ARC executive vice president for
> disaster services Terry Sicilia. Amateur Radio and the American Red Cross
> have a long history of cooperation during disasters. The first Memorandum
> of Understanding between ARRL and the ARC dates back to 1940.
>
> * Ham radio distress call yields help from next state: When 83-year-old
> Walter Siebert, K3KBR, of Valley Lee, Maryland, started suffering serious
> chest pains July 15, he called 911. For reasons yet to be determined, no
> one answered. So Siebert turned to ham radio and put out a cry for help on
> 75 meters, saying he was having chest pains and needed to go to the
> hospital. Larry Wheeler, KG4RGN, heard Siebert's plea in Williamsburg,
> Virginia. At the time, Wheeler was monitoring a net on 3947 kHz as part of
> Amateur Radio Emergency Service District 7's participation in a Surry
> Nuclear Power Plant VOPEX (Virginia Operations Plan EXercise) drill. He
> notified the net to clear the frequency and contacted Siebert to get the
> necessary details. Wheeler then got in touch with the 911 dispatcher in
> James City County, Virginia. The 911 dispatcher in turn was able to reach
> the proper authorities in Maryland and get medical help to Siebert, who
> was hospitalized.
>
> * Committee reports now available on ARRL Web site: Committee reports
> prepared for the July 2003 ARRL Board of Directors meeting now are
> available on the ARRL Web site. Visit the July 2003 Committee Reports to
> the ARRL Board of Directors page
> <http://www.arrl.org/announce/reports-0307/>.
>
> * Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award
> for June was Bart Pulverman, WB6WUW, for his article "Self-Supporting
> Tower and Antenna Installation." Congratulations, Bart! 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 article in the August issue of QST. Voting ends August 31.
>
> * DXCC Annual List deadline approaching: The ARRL DXCC Desk says the
> deadline to submit applications for the 2003 DXCC Annual List is rapidly
> approaching. Applications must be postmarked no later than September 30,
> 2003. For more information, contact DXCC Manager Bill More, NC1L,
> dxcc@arrl.org.
>
> ===========================================================
> 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.
>
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> 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.)
>