[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 40

[Bill Marx]

> ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 23, No. 40
> October 8, 2004
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +NTIA edges closer still to FCC's BPL stance
> * +IARU Administrative Council okays three-year plan, BPL resolution
> * +ISS crew hails private space venture's success
> * +500 kHz amateur allocation sought down under
> * +Nominations open for 2004 ARRL International Humanitarian Award
> * +Astronaut Carl Walz, KC5TIE, to be AMSAT Symposium speaker
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
>      Correction
>     +Radio Amateurs of Canada President, First VP resign
>     +Sputnik I anniversary noted
>      EMA getting new Section Manager; six incumbents gain new terms
>      Deadline is December 31 for ARRL WAS/90 Award
>      Van Field, W2OQI, wins September QST Cover Plaque Award
>      DXCC Desk accredits DX operation
>      Larry Kayser, VA3LK/WA3ZIA, SK
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
>
> ===========================================================
> NOTE: To accommodate travel schedules, The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News
> for Friday, October 8, are being distributed a day early. The Solar Update
> will be available via the ARRL Web site and as a W1AW bulletin.
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>NTIA'S BPL POSITION STILL A MOVING TARGET
>
> The position of the National Telecommunications and Information
> Administration (NTIA) with respect to BPL appears to be a moving target.
> From expressing "broad concerns" about BPL in August 2003 to claiming BPL
> could help alleviate power line noise this past June, the NTIA now has
> aligned its position even more closely with that of the FCC--already an
> unapologetic BPL proponent. At the same time, the agency's recently
> amended recommendations recognize the reality of BPL's interference
> potential and suggest a "not-in-my-backyard" attitude toward BPL
> deployment near government radio systems.
>
> In a cover letter to one of two separate filings last month, NTIA Office
> of Spectrum Management Associate Administrator Fredrick R. Wentland says
> the agency believes its "less burdensome proposals" will "adequately
> protect federal radio communication systems from locally generated BPL
> emissions while minimizing restrictions on BPL."
>
> An agency of the US Department of Commerce, the NTIA now says it "fully
> supports" the FCC's proposed method to extrapolate the level of BPL
> emissions from power lines. It's also dropped its call for a "height
> correction" for measurements below 30 MHz. Based on the NTIA's own earlier
> studies, the method the agency now supports could result in measurements
> that fail to accurately reflect actual emission levels by as much as 20
> dB.
>
> Additionally, the NTIA says it now prefers the FCC's proposal to measure
> BPL field strength "at various specific locations along a power line"
> instead of along the length of the line. "NTIA's extensive further
> analysis shows that the overall peak field strength that would be found in
> an exhaustive search along the power line would not significantly exceed
> the peak level measured using the streamlined approach proposed in the
> NPRM [Notice of Proposed Rule Making]," the agency said. In its earlier
> comments, however, the NTIA had advised determining field strength by
> tracking the entire line because its modeling demonstrated that interval
> measurements "may not consistently reveal the peak level of radiated
> emissions."
>
> The NTIA also has reconsidered its earlier proposals to exclude certain
> frequency bands and geographical zones and to provide for voluntary
> coordination to prevent BPL interference to critical government radio
> systems. Since filing its comments on the BPL Notice of Proposed Rule
> Making (NPRM) last June, Wentland said, the NTIA has narrowed the scope of
> specific bands and areas where "special protection mechanisms" regarding
> BPL should apply.
>
> "Federal radio communications not specifically addressed in the proposed
> restrictions should be, for the most part, adequately protected in the
> near term by the baseline interference prevention mechanisms specified in
> the NPRM (eg, field strength limits, compliance measurement guidelines,
> and the prohibition of harmful interference)," Wentland concluded in a
> cover letter.
>
> The NTIA says its revised recommendations would exclude Access BPL
> operation nationwide from some 2.2 percent of the HF and low-VHF spectrum
> and from a minuscule portion--0.0007 percent--of the HF spectrum "in
> limited geographic areas." That's less than half the spectrum the NTIA
> initially suggested protecting from BPL interference.
>
> The NTIA says excluded bands primarily should be those used for safety
> communications "in situations where co-channel emissions from numerous BPL
> devices may be received via line of sight and ionospheric interfering
> signal paths." Exclusion zones would include "sensitive radio astronomy
> sites," generally located in remote, sparsely populated areas where there
> would be "little or no actual constraint on Access BPL market
> penetration," NTIA said.
>
> Coordination areas, the NTIA says, should apply to receivers "at known
> locations that must operate with very weak desired signals and where
> harmful interference must be prevented" beforehand with a high degree of
> certainty rather than "after discovery."
>
> Prior coordination of BPL deployment using certain frequencies, the NTIA
> now says, should apply "in limited geographic areas wherein BPL deployment
> will not necessarily be constrained, depending on details of the planned
> BPL deployment." The NTIA also said it could no longer support a
> requirement for BPL systems to transmit identification codes.
>
> The agency does not appear to have backed away from its recommendation
> that the FCC apply its more stringent certification, rather than
> verification, procedures, to authorize BPL systems that, NTIA's comments
> said, "pose relatively high interference risks."
>
> The ARRL also supports certification, which would require independent
> testing or review of test results, as opposed to having a BPL operator
> merely attest that its system complies with FCC rules. The League asserts
> that certification offers a higher degree of confidence that deployed BPL
> systems will not continue to exceed Part 15 limits.
>
> The FCC is expected to consider a Report and Order in the BPL Proceeding,
> ET Docket 04-37, when it meets Thursday, October 14.
>
> For additional information, visit the "Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and
> Amateur Radio" page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/bpl/>. 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/>.
>
> ==>IARU ADMINISTRATIVE COUNCIL ADOPTS THREE-YEAR PLAN
>
> The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Administrative Council has
> adopted a three-year plan to develop support for Amateur Radio frequency
> allocations. The plan provides for the IARU to maintain and increase
> contact with regional telecommunications organizations through its own
> regional organizations. Meeting October 2-4 in Port of Spain, Trinidad &
> Tobago, the Council also adopted positions on agenda items for World
> Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07). The IARU will seek an a
> future WRC agenda item looking toward a worldwide amateur allocation at 50
> MHz. Six meters is not now available in all parts of the world. The
> Council meeting followed the IARU Region 2 Conference in Port of Spain.
>
> The Council also adopted a resolution calling attention to the obligation
> of telecommunication administrations "to take all practicable and
> necessary steps to avoid harmful interference to radiocommunication
> services from power and telecommunication distribution networks, including
> so-called Broadband over Power Line (BPL) systems that use the HF
> spectrum."
>
> The Council also received a report from ITU Development Sector Study Group
> 2 outlining progress toward revising a Recommendation concerning effective
> utilization of Amateur Radio in disaster mitigation and relief. Amendments
> to the international Radio Regulations at World Radiocommunication
> Conference 2003 placed additional emphasis on this role. The Council also
> agreed to rename the position of IARU disaster communications adviser to
> IARU international coordinator for emergency communications. Hans
> Zimmermann, HB9AQS, will continue to serve the IARU in this capacity.
>
> Focusing primarily on WRC-07, the Council worked up a list of
> International Telecommunication Union (ITU) meetings during the coming
> year at which IARU representation will be required and reviewed plans for
> staffing them.
>
> The Council also charged the IARU leadership with drafting a "white paper"
> to scope the environment and develop options for the IARU's long-term role
> and structure. Council members also discussed issues relating to the
> constitutions of the IARU and its regional organizations and agreed to
> further consider these matters when the white paper was further developed.
>
> The International Secretariat--ARRL--presented the 2005-2007 budget, which
> includes provision for financial contributions from the three regional
> organizations to defray a portion of the expenses, in accordance with
> previously adopted policy.
>
> In other action, the IARU Administrative Council:
>
>      * selected "Radio Amateurs Expanding the World of Wireless
> Communications" as the theme for World Amateur Radio Day 2005. Celebrated
> each April 18, World Amateur Radio Day marks the anniversary of the
> founding of the IARU in 1925 and provides an opportunity to present a
> positive image of Amateur Radio to the general public.
>
>      * reviewed and updated a working document describing the requirements
> for radio spectrum allocations to the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite
> services.
>
>      * received reports on successful IARU participation in ITU
> telecommunication exhibitions in Europe, Africa and Asia and noted initial
> preparations by IARU Region 2 to participate in the upcoming Americas
> Telecom in Brazil.
>
>      * reappointed Monitoring System International Coordinator R. E.
> Knowles, ZL1BAD; International Beacon Project Coordinator Peter Jennings,
> AB6WM/VE3SUN; Satellite Adviser Hans van de Groenendaal, ZS6AKV; and EMC
> Adviser Christian Verholt, OZ8CY, for new three-year terms.
>
> Attending the Port of Spain meeting were IARU President Larry Price, W4RA;
> Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH/G4HUA; Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ;
> regional representatives Ole Garpestad, LA2RR, Don Beattie, G3BJ, Panayot
> Danev, LZ1US, Pedro Seidemann, YV5BPG, Rod Stafford, W6ROD, Noel Donawa,
> 9Y4NED, Peter Naish, VK2BPN, and Yoshi Sekido, JJ1OEY; and recording
> secretary Paul Rinaldo, W4RI.
>
> The next IARU Administrative Council meeting is set for September 17-18,
> 2005, in Switzerland following the IARU Region 1 Conference.
>
> ==>SHORT-TERM EXPEDITION 9 CREW CONGRATULATES SPACESHIPONE SUCCESS
>
> The International Space Station (ISS) crew this week congratulated the
> SpaceShipOne team on its third successful flight of a private human
> spacecraft and for winning the $10 million X Prize competition. NASA ISS
> Science Officer Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, and Russian Cosmonaut Gennady
> Padalka, RN3DT, noted that for a few moments Monday morning, they were
> joined in space by SpaceShipOne pilot Brian Binnie.
>
> "From Gennady and myself and the International Space Station team,
> congratulations on a job well done, and we're really glad SpaceShipOne
> returned safely," Fincke said. He also discussed the private space flight
> during an earlier news teleconference called to sum up their stay in
> space, which is fast drawing to a close.
>
> "For the most part," Fincke told reporters, "Gennady and I are pretty
> lonely up here--just the two of us--and when somebody else comes up here,
> even if it's 100 km, that still brings another person off of the planet,
> and that's special, and we believe in the space program."
>
> Fincke said he and Padalka were "really impressed" when they got to see
> uplinked video of last week's successful SpaceShipOne flight to the edge
> of space by test pilot Mike Melvill.
>
> The news teleconference October 4 came as the Expedition 9 crew is
> wrapping up its six-month stay aboard the ISS and getting ready to turn
> over the reins to a new crew. Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW,
> and Flight Engineer and cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov are scheduled to
> launch on October 13 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. They'll
> arrive at the ISS two days later to begin their own tour of duty.
>
> On other topics, Fincke and Padalka expressed confidence in the Russian
> Elektron oxygen-generating system aboard the ISS. The system has
> experienced some problems in recent weeks, but Fincke said he and Padalka
> are optimistic that the repairs will hold. The ISS has spare oxygen on
> board and "plenty of margin," Fincke added, if the Elektron were to
> malfunction again. The system works by extracting oxygen from water and
> venting off the hydrogen.
>
> The Expedition 9 crew members also agreed that while efforts to make the
> ISS work environment a lot quieter, they continue to wear hearing
> protection to preserve their hearing from the constant thrum of equipment
> and air circulation fans. "In the future, though, we should build quieter
> spacecraft," Fincke recommended. Padalka allowed that the ISS is
> "definitely more quiet than Mir," the former Russian space station on
> which he served a duty tour in the 1990s.
>
> Padalka this week attained a milestone of sorts by racking up a total of
> one year in space. He's been aboard the ISS for 169 days. That time,
> coupled with his Mir mission, put him over the 365-day mark.
>
> Fincke said his family "is the reason why I'm returning to the planet"
> later this month. He said the first thing on his agenda once he's back on
> Earth will be to spend some time alone with his wife and son and an infant
> daughter born while he was in space and whom he's never met. "My family
> and I are going to go on another kind of ship," he said, suggesting an
> ocean cruise was in the offing.
>
> Fincke also said he and Padalka were looking forward to the arrival of the
> Expedition 10 crew. They'll depart the ISS and return to Earth October 23,
> accompanied by Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Shargin, who will travel to the ISS
> with the Expedition 10 crew.
>
> After the news conference, Fincke called on ground controllers to help him
> identify what he called an "unidentified floating object" aboard the ISS.
> The piece--apparently a machined block of metal with rounded edges on both
> sides and two protruding pins--was found in a plastic bag and lacks any
> identifying marks.
>
> "It's up to you guys to make it an IFO--an identified floating object,"
> Fincke told the ground crew as he allowed the object to float within view
> of the ISS camera.
>
> ==>AUSTRALIAN AMATEURS SEEK TO STAKE A CLAIM AT 500 KHZ
>
> The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) has announced plans to request
> the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) to establish an experimental
> amateur allocation at 500 kHz.
>
> "The best way to do this is to establish a small slice of spectrum around
> 500 kHz--probably 495 to 510 kHz--as an Amateur Radio band," said WIA
> Director Glenn Dunstan, VK4DU. "The band would also provide a unique
> opportunity for experimentation with antennas, propagation, advanced
> narrowband modulation techniques and receiver digital signal processing."
>
> A former shipboard radio officer, Dunstan noted that 500 kHz was the
> international maritime Morse code distress frequency for most of the 20th
> century. Following the introduction of the Global Maritime Distress and
> Safety System (GMDSS) in 1999, 500 kHz use has declined rapidly, Dunstan
> said. China, the last official user of the frequency, plans to discontinue
> operation there next year.
>
> Dunstan concedes that since 500 kHz remains allocated to the Maritime
> Service, gaining a permanent amateur foothold there is "some way off," but
> the WIA is hoping that Australian authorities will grant access to some
> spectrum there in the meantime for experimental use.
>
> The ARRL and the RSGB have expressed some interest in a 500 kHz Amateur
> Radio allocation. The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Region 1
> and various US amateur long-wave groups also are actively pursuing
> experimental use of 500 kHz. Additionally, the IARU favors a worldwide
> Amateur Radio band at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz and is seeking support for such
> an allocation at World Radiocommunication Conference 2007.
>
> ==>ARRL INVITES NOMINATIONS FOR 2004 INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN AWARD
>
> Nominations are open for the 2004 ARRL International Humanitarian Award
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/awards/humanitarian.html>. The award is
> conferred upon an amateur or amateurs who demonstrate devotion to human
> welfare, peace and international understanding through Amateur Radio. The
> League established the annual prize to recognize Amateur Radio operators
> who have used ham radio to provide extraordinary service to others in
> times of crisis or disaster.
>
> The ARRL Board of Directors named Mike Young, KM9D, and Jan Heaton,
> KF4TUG, of Naples, Florida, as joint winners of the 2003 Humanitarian
> Award. In April of last year, Young and Heaton sailed from Kiribati
> carrying medical supplies for a 16-year old girl--unconscious and bleeding
> and in desperate need of medical attention--aboard a vessel adrift without
> power some 100 nautical miles away. Along the way, they maintained Amateur
> Radio contact with amateurs in the Seattle area. One of them notified the
> US Coast Guard, which subsequently was able to intercept the drifting ship
> to render additional assistance and take the injured party aboard.
>
> A committee appointed by the League's President recommends the award
> recipient(s) to the ARRL Board, which makes the final decision. The
> committee is now accepting nominations from Amateur Radio, governmental or
> other organizations that have benefited from extraordinary service
> rendered by an Amateur Radio operator or group.
>
> Amateur Radio is one of the few telecommunication services that allow
> people throughout the world from all walks of life to meet and talk with
> each other, thereby spreading goodwill across political boundaries. The
> ARRL International Humanitarian Award recognizes Amateur Radio's unique
> role in international communication and the assistance amateurs regularly
> provide to people in need.
>
> Nominations should include a summary of the nominee's actions that qualify
> the individual (or individuals) for this award, plus verifying statements
> from at least two people having first-hand knowledge of the events
> warranting the nomination. These statements may be from an official of a
> group (for example, the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, a local or
> state emergency management official) that benefited from the nominee's
> particular Amateur Radio contribution. Nominations should include the
> names and addresses of all references.
>
> All nominations and supporting materials for the 2004 ARRL International
> Humanitarian Award must be submitted in writing in English to ARRL
> International Humanitarian Award, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 USA.
> Nomination submissions are due by December 31, 2004. In the event that no
> nominations are received, the committee itself may determine a recipient
> or decide to make no award.
>
> The winner of the ARRL International Humanitarian Award receives an
> engraved plaque and a profile in QST and other ARRL venues.
>
> ==>AMSAT SYMPOSIUM TO FEATURE ISS ASTRONAUT AS BANQUET SPEAKER
>
> International Space Station Expedition 4 crew member Carl Walz, KC5TIE,
> will be the speaker at the AMSAT Symposium and Annual Meeting banquet
> Saturday, October 9. Walz, who has flown four space missions, and
> Expedition 4 Commander Yuri Onufrienko, RK3DUO, installed and deployed the
> first of the four Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
> antennas during a January 2002 space walk.
>
> Walz is expected to discuss his experiences aboard the ISS as well as
> NASA's new "Journey to the Moon, Mars and Beyond" initiative.
>
> The 22nd AMSAT Symposium and Annual Meeting October 8-10 in Arlington,
> Virginia, will also feature presentations on a variety of Amateur Radio
> satellite-related topics, including the latest on Echo and ARISS, the
> plans for Eagle and P3E and presentations on some of the university-built
> satellites.
>
> This year's symposium will be held in conjunction with the ARISS
> international delegates meeting October 10-13. ARRL Senior News Editor
> Rick Lindquist, N1RL, will represent the League at the AMSAT Symposium and
> attend the ARISS gathering as a member of the ARISS Public Relations
> Committee.
>
> AMSAT says it hopes to retire the Echo "thermometer" on its Web site
> <http://www.amsat.org> during the weekend gathering. As of October 6, the
> Echo launch fund was some $3000 shy of its $110,000 goal. Co-chairing this
> year's AMSAT Symposium and Annual Meeting are Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and
> Janet Bauer.--AMSAT
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The Pennsylvania QSO Party, the YLRL
> Anniversary Party (CW), the Makrothen RTTY Contest, the Oceania DX Contest
> (CW), the EU Autumn Sprint (CW), the FISTS Fall Sprint, the North American
> Sprint (RTTY), the 10-10 International 10-10 Day Sprint and the UBA ON
> Contest (CW) are the weekend of October 9-10. The YLRL Anniversary Party
> (SSB) is October 13-15. JUST AHEAD: Jamboree On The Air (JOTA), the JARTS
> World Wide RTTY Contest, the Microwave Fall Sprint, the Worked All Germany
> Contest, the Asia-Pacific Fall Sprint (CW). the UBA ON 2-Meter Contest,
> the RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (CW) and the Illinois QSO Party are the weekend
> of October 16-17. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
> <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info.
>
> * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
> Registration for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open
> through Sunday, October 10. Class begins Friday, October 22. With the
> assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know
> to pass the FCC Technician license class examination. 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>.
>
> * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
> for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line
> course (EC-002) opens Monday, October 11, at 1201 AM EDT and will remain
> open through the October 16-17 weekend or until all available seats have
> been filled. Class begins Friday, October 29. Thanks to our grant
> sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and the
> United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon
> enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course.
> Amateurs aged 55 and older are strongly encouraged to participate. During
> this registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a
> first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>.
> For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
> Miller, K3UFG, <cce at arrl.org>; 860-594-0340.
>
> * Correction: The news brief "Santa Clara Valley gets new Section
> Manager," The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 39 (Oct 1, 2004), contained
> incorrect information regarding the tenure of new SM Kit Blanke, WA6PWW,
> as SCV's Technical Coordinator. He has served in that volunteer position
> since 1985. Our apologies for the error.
>
> * Radio Amateurs of Canada President, First VP resign: Radio Amateurs of
> Canada (RAC) has announced the resignations of President Daniel Lamoureux,
> VE2KA, and First Vice President Bob Nash, VE3KZ. "Both officers have been
> hospitalized with severe, heart-related problems," an RAC bulletin said
> October 6. "The RAC Board of Directors and Executive thank them both for
> their dedicated service to Amateur Radio and RAC and are confident that
> all radio amateurs wish them a full recovery and fast return to the
> amateur bands." Both resignations were effective immediately.
> Lamoureux--who also serves as ARISS-Canada coordinator--was a guest at the
> ARRL Board of Directors meeting in July. "We are distressed to hear this
> news and wish Daniel and Bob rapid recoveries," said ARRL CEO David
> Sumner, K1ZZ. The RAC Board will convene a special meeting as soon as
> possible to deal with the vacancies.
>
> * Sputnik I anniversary noted: The world changed this week 47 years ago
> when the Soviet Union successfully launched Sputnik I on October 4, 1957.
> The world's first artificial satellite was about the size of a basketball
> and weighed just over 180 pounds. Sputnik I took about 98 minutes to orbit
> Earth on its elliptical path, and radio amateurs around the world
> enthusiastically tuned in to monitor its 20 and 40 MHz beacons. The
> satellite's 1 W transmitter fed four antennas deployed at 35º angles, and
> three silver-zinc batteries powered it for three weeks. In addition to
> ushering in a new era of political, military, technological and scientific
> development, Sputnik's launch marked the start of space exploration and
> gave rise to the birth of NASA.--NASA
>
> * EMA getting new Section Manager; six incumbents gain new terms: Mike
> Neilsen, W1MPN, will take over January 1 as ARRL Eastern Massachusetts
> Section Manager. He'll succeed current SM Phil Temples, K9HI, who decided
> not to run for another term. Neilsen, who lives in Hudson, has served as
> Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator for three years. He
> was the sole nominee for the position. Six incumbent SMs also had no
> opposition at the end of the nomination period in September and have been
> declared elected. SMs continuing in office for new two-year terms starting
> January 1 are Dale Bagley, K0KY, Missouri; Rich Beaver, N3SRJ, Western
> Pennsylvania; Jim Boehner, N2ZZ, South Carolina; Tom Dick, KF2GC, Northern
> New York; Jean Priestley, KA2YKN, Southern New Jersey; Dale Williams,
> WA8EFK, Michigan.
>
> * Deadline is December 31 for ARRL WAS/90 Award: There's still time to
> make your 50 contacts to qualify for the ARRL Worked All States in the
> 90th Award. No QSLs are necessary. Just fill out the application showing
> the contacts you've logged. To be valid for the award, all contacts must
> be made between 0000 UTC on April 3, 2004, and 2359 UTC on December 31,
> 2004. WAS in the 90th applications will be accepted through 2005. For more
> information, visit the WAS in the 90th Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/awards/was-90>.
>
> * Van Field, W2OQI, wins September QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of
> the QST Cover Plaque Award for September is Van Field, W2OQI, for his
> article "HF Antennas 101." Congratulations, Van! 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 October issue of QST. Voting ends October 31.
>
> * DXCC Desk accredits DX operation: The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved the
> YV0D, Aves Island, DXpedition of August 1-4, 2004, for DXCC credit. (The
> YV0D logs have been uploaded to ARRL's Logbook of the World
> <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>.) For more information, visit the DXCC Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc>. A new feature, "DXCC Frequently Asked
> Questions <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/faq/>," can answer most
> questions about the DXCC program. Current ARRL DX bulletins are available
> on the W1AW DX Bulletins for 2004 page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/>.
>
> * Larry Kayser, VA3LK/WA3ZIA, SK: Larry Kayser, VA3LK/WA3ZIA, of Westport,
> Ontario, Canada, died unexpectedly October 5. He was 64. An ARRL
> International Life Member, Kayser was widely known throughout the Amateur
> Radio community for his technical expertise as well as his operating skill
> and accomplishments. In February 2001, Kayser and Laurie Mayhead, G3AQC,
> made ham radio history by completing the first two-way transatlantic
> Amateur Radio exchange on 136 kHz. A consummate experimenter, Kayser in
> recent years was very active in low-frequency work, but in earlier decades
> he was involved in Amateur Radio satellites and contributed to the AMSAT
> AO-7 project. A member of the First Class CW Operators Club (FOC), Kayser
> for a time during the 1990s edited the "CW Today" column for The Canadian
> Amateur, the journal of Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC). In addition to
> ARRL and RAC, Kayser belonged to the Quarter Century Wireless Association.
> He was retired from Bell Canada. Survivors include his wife, Joyce,
> VE3JAK.
>
> ===========================================================
> The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
> Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main
> St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
> <http://www.arrl.org>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President.
>
> The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of
> interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely,
> accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org> for
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