[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 20

[bmarx at bellsouth.net]

> ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 23, No. 20
> May 14, 2004
> ***************
> 
> IN THIS EDITION:
> 
> * +ARRL generally supports cognitive radio proposals
> * +President Bush hears ham's BPL concerns
> * +Amateur rocket poised to carry ham radio payload into space
> * +California to host USA ARDF Championships in June
> * +FCC seeks comments on wireless broadband access
> * +W6RO marks a quarter-century of ham radio aboard the Queen Mary
> * +ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service changes aimed at improving service
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      ARRL Foundation announces scholarship winners
>      ARES team in Virginia responds to severe weather emergency
>      YCCC announces DXpedition Award Program for new, younger hams
>      Allen Baker, KG4JJH, wins QST Cover Plaque Award
>      IARU presents Amateur Radio Administration Course in Iran
>      DXCC DX Desk approves operations for DXCC credit
> 
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
> 
> ===========================================================
> 
> ==>ARRL SUPPORTS FCC'S COGNITIVE RADIO TECHNOLOGY PROPOSALS WITH
> RESERVATIONS
> 
> The ARRL says it generally supports the proposals contained in an FCC
> Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (NPRM&O), ET Docket 03-108
> relating to so-called cognitive radio (CR) technology. But the League
> urged the FCC to avoid large-scale deployment of CR technology--and
> especially of unlicensed devices in spectrum regularly used by licensed
> services--"until further experience with the technology is obtained." The
> ARRL also strenuously objected to a proposal to allow cognitive radio
> technology devices to operate under Part 15 in "rural areas" at up to a
> sixfold increase in the currently permitted power level in several UHF
> bands that include amateur allocations.
> 
> "ARRL opposes increases of power levels for undefined and indefinable
> 'rural areas,'" the League's comments said, "because the practical radio
> horizon at higher Part 15 power levels makes interference with the Amateur
> and Amateur-Satellite service operations in many frequency bands
> inevitable." The FCC seeks to allow a transmitter power increase of up to
> six times (approximately 8 dB) higher than current Part 15 limits in the
> 902-928, 2400-2483.5 and 5725-5825 MHz bands and in the 24 GHz band.
> 
> The League said the Commission should not view cognitive radio as an
> opportunity to increase permissible Part 15 power levels and questioned
> why the FCC was willing to put forth such proposals "without the slightest
> real-world test deployment" of the systems it wants to authorize.
> 
> A "cognitive radio" is one that "can change its transmitter parameters
> based on interaction with the environment in which it operates," the FCC's
> NPRM&O says. "This interaction may involve active negotiation or
> communications with other spectrum users and/or passive sensing and
> decision making within the radio." Most cognitive radios will be software
> defined radios (SDRs), the League predicted.
> 
> "There is no need for separate rules regarding cognitive and software
> defined radios," the ARRL said, calling both "an excellent opportunity" to
> drive technological advancement within Amateur Radio. "They should and can
> be regulated within the existing rules." The ARRL also urged the FCC to
> avoid creating regulatory obstacles that would hamper "experimentation and
> flexibility in conducting amateur operations."
> 
> "These technologies will allow ever-greater participation by amateurs in
> restoration of communications systems following a wide-area emergency or
> disaster and in conducting disaster relief efforts on site in coordination
> with served agencies," the League predicted.
> 
> ==>WISCONSIN HAM TAKES BPL CONCERNS TO PRESIDENT BUSH
> 
> An ARRL member from Wisconsin took advantage of a recent campaign visit by
> President George W. Bush to carry ham radio's concerns about broadband
> over power line (BPL) right to the top. Rich Kelly, KB9RNO, of Prairie du
> Chien, says he did what he could May 7 in the few moments it took to greet
> Bush and shake his hand.
> 
> "I wanted him to know that it was a concern for us," Kelly said. He got
> his chance when Bush was leaving the campaign event, he said, and was able
> to get very close to the president and shake his hand.
> 
> "I held his hand extra long and said, 'Mr President, please support the
> Amateur Radio operators of America!'" Kelly says the president looked
> right at him and replied, "I do, I do."
> 
> As Bush moved on down the line of well-wishers, Kelly continued,
> "Broadband Internet over power lines is a real concern for us." He said
> the president turned back toward him and responded, "I know, I know about
> it."
> 
> "And in a flash, he was gone," Kelly said. "It doesn't really tell us much
> about his support or concern about the potential problem, but at least I
> know that he heard me and was aware that he was talking to a Amateur Radio
> supporter. That is my best effort for going right to the top!"
> 
> Kelly said the exchange took place as Bush made a planned campaign stop in
> Prairie du Chien, a Mississippi River community of some 6200 people. He
> said approximately 1500 were on hand for the occasion, and he managed to
> get a ticket to the "town hall meeting" the president addressed.
> 
> Kelly said he knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to say something to
> the president on behalf of Amateur Radio. "Trying to find the right words
> when I knew that I only had a short time to do it was the hard part," he
> said.
> 
> Kelly says that while the president may have forgotten the exchange just
> as quickly as it occurred, he felt it was a worthwhile gesture
> nonetheless. "I made the effort and feel good about it," he said, adding,
> "Long live Amateur Radio!"
> 
> In late April, the ARRL called on the White House to withdraw its support
> for BPL and focus the administration's attention on "more suitable
> technologies" such as wireless broadband access. The League has issued a
> call for members to do the same.
> 
> The ARRL Web site provides an information package
> <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/cta/> explaining how members can
> contact the White House and members of Congress to express their views on
> BPL deployment and why they need to do so.
> 
> ==>HAM RADIO-CARRYING ROCKET HOPES TO REACH SPACE
> 
> An amateur rocket team is hoping to send a 21-foot-tall rocket carrying a
> ham radio avionics package into the fringes of space. The launch by the
> Civilian Space Xploration Team (CSXT) could occur as early as Monday, May
> 17, from Black Rock Desert in Nevada. A CSXT try to reach space in 2002
> ended some three seconds after launch when the rocket's engine exploded.
> Avionics Team Leader Eric Knight, KB1EHE, says CSXT has since rebounded
> from that devastating blow with a newer, bigger vehicle.
> 
> "We are very pumped," the Connecticut amateur told ARRL. "Our confidence
> level grows with each launch. All the ingredients are there for success."
> Knight's avionics team includes eight Amateur Radio licensees, most of
> whom also were involved in the 2002 launch attempt. The entire CSXT team,
> headed by CSXT founder and Program Director--and former Hollywood stunt
> man--Ky Michaelson of Minnesota, has 18 members.
> 
> In terms of Amateur Radio, the GoFast rocket, named for a corporate
> sponsor, will transmit telemetry on the 33-cm amateur band and Amateur TV
> at 2.4 GHz using a high-quality color camera. The avionics also
> incorporate multiple global positioning system (GPS) units to record the
> vehicle's precise location and flight path, redundant data acquisition and
> storage systems, and a variety of data sensors.
> 
> Once the rocket goes up, appropriately equipped amateurs may be able to
> receive signals from the approximately 2 W transmitters onboard, even at
> some distance from the launch site, Knight says. Specific frequencies had
> not been selected by week's end, however. In addition, the team will set
> up a special event HF station at the launch site with the call sign
> K7R--"for rocket," Knight says. Look for K7R in the General class phone
> portions of 20 and 40 meters.
> 
> Knight says the avionics crew even salvaged a few electronic components
> for the 2004 launch from the 2002 avionics package, which continued to
> function flawlessly until the rocket crashed into the desert.
> 
> Plans call for the solid-fuel rocket to zip upward from the desert floor
> and reach a speed of more than 4000 MPH in about 9 seconds. Assuming all
> goes well, the suborbital vehicle will, on its own momentum, attain an
> altitude of 100 km or 62 statute miles--high enough to be considered
> "space"--linger there for a couple of minutes then arc back to Earth some
> 26 miles down range. If successful it would mark the first amateur rocket
> launch into space.
> 
> Knight is optimistic that the team has gained valuable knowledge from its
> past failures. "We've learned a lot that you can't get from a textbook,"
> he said. "We feel we have a chance to make history."
> 
> There's more information on the CSXT Web site, www.civilianspace.com.
> 
> ==>USA ARDF CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING TO CALIFORNIA IN MID-JUNE
> 
> Amateur Radio Direction Finding (ARDF) enthusiasts across the US are
> gearing up for the fourth annual national ARDF Championships next month.
> ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, says, the sport--also known as
> radio-orienteering or foxtailing--is an all-on-foot "adventure in the
> woods" to see who can track down and find the most hidden transmitters in
> the shortest time. The Santa Barbara Amateur Radio Club (SBARC)
> <http://www.sbarc.org> will host the competition. Radio-orienteers from
> all over the country plus visitors from abroad are expected to attend.
> Moell anticipates a mix of experts and newcomers who aspire to be future
> champions. He says equipment need not be elaborate or expensive.
> 
> "Most beginners do very well by augmenting their handheld VHF transceivers
> with simple Yagi antennas made out of a steel measuring tape and PVC pipe
> from the hardware store," he said. For "closing in," he says an offset RF
> attenuator consisting of some $15 worth of small parts will knock down the
> signal and keep the receiver's S-meter within its scale. "Plans are on the
> Web <http://members.aol.com/joek0ov/offatten.html>, and kits are
> available, so warm up your soldering iron," he adds.
> 
> The ARDF competitive courses are open to anyone of any age and at any
> foxhunting skill level. No Amateur Radio license is needed. Medals in the
> event will be awarded in five age categories for males and four for
> females, in accordance with International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) rules
> <http://members.aol.com/homingin/intlfox.html#rules>.
> 
> Heading up the USA ARDF Championships is Marvin Johnston, KE6HTS, a
> medalist at the last two USA ARDF Championships.
> 
> An optional training camp with map-and-compass orienteering kicks off the
> ARDF action June 12-13. The main program gets under way Wednesday, June
> 16. The 2-meter competition takes place Friday, June 18. The 80-meter
> competition is the next day.
> 
> The California events end just in time for final selection of ARDF Team
> USA 2004 members, who will travel to the Czech Republic for the 12th ARDF
> World Championships September 7-12. More than 200 participants
> representing two dozen or more countries are expected to turn out for the
> event. Moell says Team USA's positions will be filled based on
> performances in this year's national championships in California and in
> last year's national championships in Ohio.
> 
> There's more information on the 2004 USA ARDF Championships on the SBARC
> Web site <http://www.sbarc.org/ardf/index.shtml>. A downloadable
> registration form and additional information are on Moell's "Homing In"
> Web site <http://www.homingin.com>.--Joe Moell K0OV
> 
> ==>FCC FORMS WIRELESS BROADBAND ACCESS TASK FORCE, SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT
> 
> Even as the FCC pursues its broadband over power line (BPL) agenda, it's
> continuing to explore wireless broadband access. FCC Chairman Michael K.
> Powell this week announced the formation of a Wireless Broadband Access
> Task Force, which has released a public notice seeking comment on issues
> related to the FCC's wireless broadband policies. Powell says the task
> force's mission is to identify potential changes in wireless broadband
> policies that will further facilitate the deployment of wireless broadband
> services.
> 
> "We are strongly committed to facilitating broadband investment and
> deployment, particularly through technological choices," Powell said.
> "This Commission has put a high priority on making sure Americans have
> access to broadband services through multiple facilities-based platforms.
> I believe that we can do even more."
> 
> The FCC says the new task force "will reach out to all relevant
> stakeholders and develop recommendations that will further the deployment
> of wireless Internet service providers (WISPs)." Powell says the
> "overarching goal" of this newest initiative is to examine what the
> Commission can do to extend broadband services to underserved areas and to
> increase competition in areas already having broadband access.
> 
> There's more information on the FCC's Wireless Broadband Access Task Force
> Web site <http://www.fcc.gov/wbatf/>.
> 
> ==>W6RO CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF OPERATION FROM THE QUEEN MARY
> 
> W6RO, the Amateur Radio station in the Wireless Room of the Queen Mary,
> recently celebrated 25 years of continuous operation. Permanently berthed
> at the Port of Long Beach, "The Queen" is one of the most popular tourist
> attractions in Southern California. During its 25 years of operation, W6RO
> has presented a positive image of Amateur Radio to more than four million
> visitors.
> 
> W6RO is the club call sign of the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach,
> an ARRL Special Service Club. At the center of operations is Nate
> Brightman, K6OSC. He has spearheaded Amateur Radio aboard the Queen Mary,
> recruited hundreds of operators, garnered equipment donations from leading
> manufacturers, and maintained excellent relations with "The Queen's"
> management.
> 
> At a 25th anniversary celebration held April 29 in the Queen's salon, ARRL
> Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, presented a Special
> Service Award to Brightman, who accepted it on behalf of all W6RO radio
> operators.
> 
> "What does it take to sustain a major volunteer operation over a quarter
> century?" Goddard asked in his remarks. "Vision, persuasion, promotion,
> persistence and enthusiasm. And a leader like Nate Brightman, K6OSC. The
> results? A deep sense of personal satisfaction and the presentation of
> Amateur Radio to more than four million visitors."
> 
> Nearly 100 amateurs volunteer at least four hours a month to operate W6RO
> from 9 AM until 5 PM daily. W6RO also is a regular stop on the Queen Mary
> self-guided tour, and licensed visitors may log in and get on the air. The
> former passenger liner now is on the National Register of Historic Places.
> 
> 
> There's more information on the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach
> W6RO on the Queen Mary Web site <http://www.mpicomputers.com/ham/queen/>
> 
> ==>ARRL E-MAIL FORWARDING SERVICE CHANGES AIM TO IMPROVE TRAFFIC FLOW
> 
> The ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service
> <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/emailfwd.html> has instituted several
> changes to reduce the overall volume of unwanted e-mail traffic while
> evening out the flow of desired correspondence. One outcome--at least in
> the short term--has been a reduction in undesired and unsolicited e-mail
> ("spam") via @arrl.net e-mail addresses. Several Forwarding Service
> participants have even e-mailed ARRL Headquarters to remark on the
> improvement. ARRL Chief Financial Officer Barry Shelley, N1VXY, says daily
> volume on the free-to-ARRL-members service and the number of users--63,000
> and rising--have grown dramatically, requiring some mitigation. Volume was
> averaging 500,000 messages per day, and on some days, traffic reached
> nearly one million.
> 
> "Changes had to be made, as this volume threatened to overwhelm the
> resources of the servers that maintain and process the e-mail for the ARRL
> E-Mail Forwarding Service," Shelley said. "In addition, because of the
> volume of spam, Internet service providers (ISPs) would periodically
> refuse to accept messages originating from @arrl.net addresses, mistakenly
> identifying the Forwarding Service as a spam source."
> 
> "We're trying to keep the Forwarding Service viable and at no cost to
> members," he said.
> 
> Among other changes, the Forwarding Service vendor updated its Realtime
> Black Lists to include many more targeted spam sources. "This should help
> to somewhat reduce the amount of spam," Shelley explained. He predicted,
> however, that as spammers figure out how to circumvent the changes, spam
> levels are likely to rise again.
> 
> The Forwarding Service also reduced the amount of time a message remains
> in a queue on the @arrl.net servers before the sender receives a delivery
> failure message. Although the vendor adjusted the number of recipients the
> Forwarding Service server will process at any one time, there is no limit
> on the number of addressees.
> 
> "What it means is that the sending server may have to deliver a given
> message more than once to reach all intended recipients," he explained.
> "The idea is to smooth out the flow of messages through the system,
> reducing the number of messages in the queues as well as eliminating or
> minimizing delays resulting from a high volume of traffic."
> 
> Members can help reduce their vulnerability to spam by not posting their
> @arrl.net e-mail addresses on public Web sites, Shelley says. But, he
> adds, as long as spamming continues to be a moneymaker, nothing will
> eliminate it entirely.
> 
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
> 
> Propagation prognosticator Tad "Good Day Sunshine" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
> Washington, reports: Sunspot activity has been in the doldrums, which is
> expected at this stage of the declining solar cycle. Average daily solar
> flux and sunspot numbers have hardly changed over the past week. Now, both
> numbers are rising modestly due to quickly expanding Sunspot 606, which is
> squarely aimed at Earth. There's also some good news from the sun's far
> side, where helioseismic holography has detected another sizable sunspot
> group. Both sunspot and solar flux numbers have topped 100. The lowest
> recent sunspot count was 30 on May 6, and the solar flux dropped to 85 the
> following day.
> 
> Solar flux values should rise over this weekend, with the Friday through
> Monday, May 14-17, solar flux predicted at 105, 110, 115 and 115. Solar
> flux should stay in the vicinity of 115 through Thursday, May 20. The
> predicted planetary A index indicates unsettled conditions for Saturday,
> May 15, with the Friday through Monday planetary A index predicted at 12,
> 15, 12 and 8.
> 
> A new issue of the NOAA Space Environment Center Preliminary Report and
> Forecast <http://www.sec.noaa.gov/weekly/pdf/prf1497.pdf.> includes some
> solar cycle predictions on pages 12-13. The forecast for the bottom of the
> cycle still looks to be around the end of 2006 or early 2007. For the
> higher HF bands, declining sunspots mean fewer or even no openings on 10,
> 12 and 15 meters, and probably a greater reliance on 20 or 17 meters for
> worldwide propagation during daylight hours.
> 
> Sunspot numbers for May 6 through 12 were 30, 34, 37, 57, 55, 46 and 83,
> with a mean of 48.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 86.4, 85.2, 87.2, 93.2, 93, 90.2
> and 98.8, with a mean of 90.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 17,
> 10, 6, 7, 10 and 11, with a mean of 9.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
> were 10, 13, 7, 3, 5, 8 and 9, with a mean of 7.9.
> __________________________________
> 
> ==>IN BRIEF:
> 
> * This weekend on the radio: The US Counties QSO Party (SSB), Portuguese
> Navy Day HF Contest, Manchester Mineira CW Contest, Anatolian RTTY World
> Wide Contest, His Majesty the King of Spain Contest (CW) and the ARCI
> Newcomer's Run are the weekend of May 15-16. The RSGB 80-Meter Club
> Championship (CW) is May 20. JUST AHEAD: the 2 GHz and Up Contest, the
> VK/Trans-Tasman 80-Meter Contest (phone) the EU PSK DX Contest and the
> Baltic Contest are the weekend of May 22-23. 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 ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) on-line course remains
> open through Sunday, May 16. Classes begin Tuesday, May 25.
> Computer-modeling expert and noted author L.B. Cebik, W4RNL, has combined
> the expertise of his long career as a college professor with his love and
> antennas and antenna modeling to offer a comprehensive, yet practical,
> course of study. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and
> Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce> or contact the
> ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program Department
> <cce at arrl.org>.
> 
> * ARRL Foundation announces scholarship winners: The ARRL Foundation has
> announced the recipients of 39 scholarship awards for the 2004 academic
> year. Winner of the $5000 ARRL Scholarship to Honor Barry Goldwater is
> Nathaniel T. Oster, KC0IEI, of Ames, Iowa. The Mary Lou Brown Scholarship
> award of $2500 goes to A. J. Barse, KD7OGZ, of Silverdale, Washington,
> while the $2000 Perry F. Hadlock Memorial Scholarship recipient is John
> Stratton, AA3SL, of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. A complete listing of all
> scholarship winners is on the ARRL Web site. Information and applications
> for 2005 academic year scholarships, including three new scholarship
> awards for 2005, downloadable applications and instructions, are on the
> ARRL Web site <http:www.arrl.org/arrlf>.The application period for 2005
> academic year awards begins October 1, 2004. The deadline to submit
> applications with transcripts and SAT/ACT scores affixed is February 1,
> 2005.
> 
> * ARES team in Virginia responds to severe weather emergency: The
> Spotsylvania County, Virginia, ARES team activated May 7 after severe
> thunderstorms knocked out part of the county's emergency communications
> system. "The problem resulted when a strong series of thunderstorms passed
> through the area about 6:30 Friday evening," said Virginia Section
> Emergency Coordinator Tom Gregory, N4NW. "Lightning strikes associated
> with these storms knocked out a portion of the 911 radio communications
> system serving the various volunteer fire stations in Spotsylvania and the
> radio link between Spotsylvania and Stafford." Amateur Radio operators
> provided backup communication to each of the county's fire stations until
> normal communication was restored to the stations. Members of Stafford
> County ARES assisted Spotsylvania ARES by providing additional operators
> and a radio link between the Spotsylvania and Stafford sheriff's offices
> to maintain interoperability between the two departments while the normal
> radio link was down at the Spotsylvania County end.
> 
> * YCCC announces DXpedition Award Program for new, younger hams: The
> Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) has announced a new DXpedition Award
> Program, aimed at encouraging new and younger amateurs to participate in
> contesting. The club raised funding for the 2004-2005 contest season with
> a raffle. YCCC will award the winning applicant up to $1500 to
> accompany--for up to one week--a YCCC-authorized DXpedition or contesting
> operation anywhere in the world to compete in one of four major contests:
> The ARRL International DX Contest or the CQ World Wide DX Contest--CW or
> phone. The award will help defray transportation and lodging costs and
> provide a stipend of $150. Applicants must live within a radius of 175
> miles of the club's center--Erving, Massachusetts. Applicants must be
> 14-21 years of age to qualify in the "youth" category, or licensed for
> less than one year (with no prior license) to qualify in the "amateur"
> category. Applicants for both categories must hold a General class or
> higher license. The application period deadline for this contest season is
> July 15, 2004. One winner will be chosen and announced at the New England
> Division Convention <http://www.boxboro.org>, August 14-15 in Boxboro,
> Massachusetts. The winner must use the award within one year. For further
> details and an application, contact YCCC President Jim McCobb, W1LLU
> <w1llu at verizon.net>, 978-363-1619; fax 978-363-2430. A contesting club
> with more than 400 members that's been in existence for more than 25
> years, the YCCC's territory includes most of New England, as well as parts
> of New Jersey and New York. To learn more, visit the YCCC Web site
> <http://www.yccc.org>.
> 
> * Allen Baker, KG4JJH, wins QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST
> Cover Plaque Award for April is Allen Baker, KG4JJH, for his article "A 6
> Meter Moxon Antenna." Congratulations, Allen! 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 May issue of QST. Voting ends May 31.
> 
> * IARU presents Amateur Radio Administration Course in Iran: In response
> to an invitation from the administration of the Islamic Republic of Iran,
> Fred Johnson, ZL2AMJ, representing International Amateur Radio Union
> (IARU) Region 3, and Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA, representing the IARU
> International Secretariat, visited Iran to present a three-day Amateur
> Radio Administration Course April 26-28. Since the early 1980s this course
> has been conducted by IARU in various forms all over the world--including
> at ARRL Headquarters--and in response to invitations from administrations
> to train regulators and prospective regulators in the administering of the
> Amateur and Amateur Satellite services. Related objectives include
> managing disaster relief communications and organizing an Amateur Radio
> society. The course in Tehran was arranged by the Directorate General of
> Telecommunications. Presentations included PowerPoint displays prepared by
> the IARU. Each of the 16 participants received printed copies of the
> displays and many other documents, plus two CD-ROMs containing information
> about Amateur Radio. The two IARU visitors spoke with many radio amateurs
> in Tehran, some of whom attended the course. The course participants
> visited EP3PTT, a station established on the Ministry's premises in
> Tehran. The equipment in this station was received by Iran from the IARU
> Region 3 Stars program. It may be operated by licensed Iranian operators
> by arrangement. Johnson and Lamoreaux described the course as a memorable
> experience and said they'd been very warmly received. Contact between IARU
> and the amateurs and the administration of Iran will continue.--IARU
> 
> * DXCC DX Desk approves operations for DXCC credit: The following
> operations have been accredited for DXCC: Burundi, 9U5M, February 4-March
> 17, 2003; Chad, TT8XZ, December 4-19, 2003; Iraq, YI/N3YPI, August 22,
> 2003 through present; YI/AB8DY, July 2, 2003 through present; Democratic
> Republic of the Congo, 9Q0AR, January 1-March 31, 2004; 9Q1KS, January
> 1-March 31, 2004; Haiti, HH2SJR, January 1, 1998-present; Rivellagigedo,
> XF4IH, March 3-20, 2004. For more information on the ARRL DXCC
> program--including rules, current and deleted DXCC lists and all forms
> needed to participate--visit the DXCC Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc>.
> 
> ===========================================================
> 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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> registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
> bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
> delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the
> "Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify
> membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change
> your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all
> automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.)
> Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE:
> HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You must do
> this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.)
> 
> The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
> sources:
> 
> * ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will
> be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)
> 
> * The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
> Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists at QTH.Net
> <http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
> cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this
> listserver.)
> 
> 
>