[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 30

[Bill Marx]

***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 24, No. 30
> August 5, 2005
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +Amateurs commenting heavily on FCC's Morse proposal
> * +Hams swing into action as convention forced to evacuate
> * +Astronauts install PCSat 2 on space station
> * +Radio amateurs cooperate in maritime rescue
> * +FCC questions applicant about identity discrepancies
> * +Amateur Radio volunteer dies installing antenna
> * +A "new" ham satellite is in the offing
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
>     +New IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator appointed
>      Changes announced for ARRL International EME Competition
>      Australian BPL-related submissions express concerns
>      DXCC Desk approves operation for DXCC credit
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
>
> ===========================================================
> ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
> letter-dlvy at arrl.org
> ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl at arrl.org
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>HUNDREDS FILE COMMENTS ON FCC MORSE PROPOSAL
>
> Hundreds already have filed comments via the FCC's Electronic Comment
Filing
> System (ECFS) on the Commission's recent proposal to eliminate the Morse
> code requirement for all license classes. Dozens more--most brief, some
> detailed--are showing up daily. A formal 60-day comment period starts once
> the FCC's Notice of Proposed Rule Making and Order (NPRM&O) in WT Docket
> 05-235 appears in the Federal Register, but the FCC will accept comments
> filed now. Issued in response to 18 petitions for rule making--including
one
> from the ARRL--the FCC's July 19 NPRM&O dealt only with the Morse
> requirement and turned away all other proposed rule changes. A random
> sampling of the more than 360 comments filed as of August 2 suggested the
> tide is running firmly in favor of the FCC's stance. Some even praised the
> Commission.
>
> "The FCC has finally come through," commented Doug Durrett, KC7DJI, a
> Technician class licensee. "Hats off and thumbs up to the 05-235 proposal.
> Get it done ASAP."
>
> Others, such as Jesse T. Franklin, K9GO, were just as adamant that Morse
> code should remain a licensing requirement for those desiring HF access.
> "Morse code has been the foundation of the Amateur Radio Service since the
> very beginning," he asserted. "I feel doing away with the Morse code
testing
> would only weaken the service."
>
> Many pro-Morse postings raised the specter of impending chaos on the ham
> bands if the requirement goes away, with some suggesting that eliminating
> Morse testing would be "the beginning of the end for Amateur Radio." As
one
> commenter put it, dropping Element 1 would mean "continuing down the
> slippery slope of 'dumbing down' the Amateur Radio Service." Another
> contended that passing a Morse code examination contributes to better
> on-the-air discipline. Still others called Morse an "important tradition,"
a
> "universal language," a "vital tool" useful in emergencies and--in the
words
> of Jan Smoller, KC2CT-- "the one sacred bastion left to preserve the
history
> and continuance of the Amateur Radio Service." William R. Ogden, W2WO,
> suggested that Morse code creates a sense of community among radio
amateurs.
>
> A relative handful of commenters appear to favor keeping the 5 WPM Morse
> examination for Amateur Extra applicants only. Others asked the FCC to
> revisit the notion of creating a new entry-level license class--something
> else the ARRL and others sought--as well as the recommendation to stop
> making question pools public.
>
> Several licensees who'd gone through the old three-tiered system of Morse
> examination elements indicated they'd like to see the requirement
disappear.
> "I support the removal of the Morse code requirement, even though I had to
> pass the 5, 13 and 20 WPM," wrote Brent Crier, N9BC, whose comments were
> fairly typical of that group. "CW is not going to go away like some think.
> If new operators want to use that mode they will learn it."
>
> Robert A. Johnson, K3MQ, was among those characterizing Morse code as
> obsolete, even though he says he operates CW. "Requiring amateurs to learn
a
> system which is antiquated meets no public service need," he remarked. "I
> personally use and enjoy Morse code but feel it should be an option for
> those interested--not a requirement." Advanced class operator Marvin B.
> Smith, WA5PSA, said it's "time for Morse code to stand or fall of its own
> accord as a mode."
>
> Many, like Thomas J. Miller, W2HVK, said eliminating the Morse requirement
> would breathe new life into the Amateur Service. "The US could certainly
use
> more trained radio operators considering the post 9/11 world we live in,"
he
> said. "Additional roadblocks (like CW) to upgrading to HF make no sense
> today."
>
> Based on a random sample of 135 comments filed by August 2, approximately
60
> percent favored the elimination of the Morse code requirement for all
> license classes, while approximately 30 percent asked the FCC to retain
the
> requirement. Another 10 percent endorsed keeping the Morse code as a
> requirement to obtain an Amateur Extra class license. The ARRL random
> sampling was not scientific. By week's end, the number of comments filed
had
> nearly doubled, with comments supporting removal of the Morse requirement
> continuing to predominate.
>
> The comment period extends for many more weeks; an official comment
deadline
> has not yet been established. The FCC then will consider all comments in
> developing a Report and Order (R&O) that spells out whatever new rules the
> FCC finally adopts and set an effective date. That's not expected to
happen
> before year's end at the earliest.
>
> A copy of the NPRM&O is on the FCC Web site
>
<http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/retrieve.cgi?native_or_pdf=pdf&id_docume
> nt=6518023930> To file on-line comments in this proceeding, WT Docket
> 05-235, or to view others' comments, visit the FCC Electronic Comment
Filing
> System (ECFS) site <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/> and click on "Submit a
> Filing" or "Search for Filed Comments."
>
> In either case, type "05-235" in the "Proceeding" field. Be sure to
include
> the hyphen--but not the quotation marks. Directions for filing comments,
> which can be in the form of an attached document, are on the ECFS site.
> Click on "Getting Started" to learn more.
>
> ==>HAMS BECOME "FIRST RESPONDERS" AS CONVENTIONEERS FORCED TO EVACUATE
>
> Radio amateurs attending the ARRL Rocky Mountain Division Convention July
30
> in Bryce Canyon, Utah, were among the first to respond when release of a
> noxious substance felled more than 50 people. Utah ARRL Section Manager
Mel
> Parkes, AC7CP, and other hams swung into action to assist after
> conventioneers and other guests near an inside pool adjacent to the
> convention area at Ruby's Inn lodge began complaining of nausea, headaches
> and difficulty breathing sometime around 11 AM. Parkes himself later
> suffered the effects of the substance--now believed to be pepper
spray--and
> was among those treated at the scene before being taken to a hospital.
>
> "It was fantastic to see people go into emergency mode," said ARRL Sales
and
> Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, who was representing the
> League at the convention. "The calmest people there were the hams."
>
> Convention attendees helped to evacuate victims and direct traffic as
> emergency crews arrived on the scene. Among those helping to coordinate
> activities was Utah Section Emergency Coordinator Jerry Wellman, W7SAR.
> Motschenbacher said several Amateur Radio Emergency Service members
grabbed
> their "jump kits" and rendered assistance to those suffering from the
fumes.
>
> Ironically, the incident occurred as Wellman's forum, "Emergencies: What
> If?" was under way. When notified that he had to clear the room because of
> an emergency, Wellman says his first reaction was that someone was playing
a
> joke. "Then the fellow said, 'This is the real thing, you have to
evacuate,'
> so we ended the seminar quickly."
>
> At first, neither the substance nor its source were known. It was later
> determined that someone had apparently smeared pepper spray on the wall of
a
> room in the lodge, and the fumes got into the inn's ventilation system.
>
> "As the gas began to migrate out of the initial release area into the
> hamfest area, more and more people began to be affected," Motschenbacher
> recalled. "By this time a mass evacuation was in process. Eventually the
> entire central complex was evacuated and roped off." In all, some 300
guests
> were relocated into other facilities at the inn complex.
>
> The incident "totally disrupted the convention," Motschenbacher said, but
as
> things began to calm down that afternoon, some presenters conducted their
> forums outdoors. An evening banquet was also held outside and away from
the
> affected area.
>
> After several hours, Parkes and others returned to the inn, but because
> authorities had confiscated their clothing for analysis, they were attired
> in garb donated by a local charity. "Everybody just pulled together," said
> Motschenbacher, who reported suffering a sore throat but did not require
> medical treatment. "All the authorities were very complimentary about
> Amateur Radio."
>
> ==>PCSAT2 INSTALLED ON ISS DURING SPACE WALK
>
> The PCSat2 <http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat2.html> Amateur Radio
> package has been installed on the exterior of the International Space
> Station (ISS) as Materials International Space Station Experiment 5
> (MISSE5).
>
> Astronaut Soichi Noguchi, KD5TVP, unfolded the suitcase-like Passive
> Experiment Container (PEC) holding PCSat2 and other experiments mounted
atop
> the ISS P6 truss structure August 3 during a space walk with Astronaut
Steve
> Robinson. Noguchi deployed the "tape measure" antennas by pulling up a
> couple of Mylar strips that allowed the antennas to pop out. PCSat2 is not
> yet available to users.
>
> Built by US Naval Academy students under the guidance of APRS guru Bob
> Bruninga, WB4APR, PCSat2 will operate in cooperation with the Amateur
Radio
> on the International Space Station (ARISS) program
> <http://www.rac.ca/ariss>. It will provide a 10-meter PSK31 multi-user
> transponder, an FM voice repeater for possible use with ISS crew members
and
> an AX.25 packet system for use as a UI digipeater and for telemetry,
> command, control.
>
> Bruninga says the PSK31 transponder will not be turned on for general use
> until ground controllers have a better understanding of its thermal and
> power load. But it was enabled on August 5 over the US for a test, and the
> FM downlink (435.275 MHz) displayed the signal of a station transmitting
on
> 29.402 MHz.
>
> The NA1SS/RS0ISS ARISS equipment was powered down during the PCSat2
> installation, but it was back up August 4, when STS-114 crew member Andy
> Thomas, KD5CHF/VK5MIR, made some terrestrial contacts while the ISS and
> Discovery were passing over his native Australia.
>
> Bruninga says PCSat2 may be ready for use within a few days, but he asks
> that stations not attempt to use the system until it's been checked out
and
> an announcement made. In the meantime, Bruninga has invited well-equipped
> ground stations to help capture early telemetry on the alternate downlink
of
> 437.975 MHz. By week's end, some Earth stations were already reporting
> telemetry from PCSat2. Telemetry is at 1200 and 9600 baud. E-mail
telemetry
> files to pc2 at grc.nasa.gov. Bruninga says the UHF downlink is only 1 W and
> will require a gain antenna to copy.
>
> Bruninga also has asked 1200 baud IGates or SATgates to monitor 437.975
MHz
> and feed the global APRS system live telemetry page
> <http://www.pcsat2.info/PCSat2Web/RealTime.jsp>.
>
> PCSat2's primary downlink frequency is 435.275 MHz; the packet digipeater
up
> and downlink frequency is 145.825 MHz. More information is on the USNA Web
> site <http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pec/pc2ops.html>.
>
> ==>RADIO AMATEURS AID IN PACIFIC MARITIME RESCUE
>
> "Mayday, Mayday, Mayday! This is the sailboat Enamorado. Mayday, Mayday!"
> That's what Wisconsin radio amateurs Ed Toal, N9MW, and Ralph Henes,
W9CAR,
> heard during a casual Sunday morning net July 24 on 14.238 MHz that also
> involved Dick Mannheimer, K6LAE, in Los Angeles. Toal and Henes were able
to
> contact the operator, Ken Saijo, KC6ORF--a California retiree--who
confirmed
> the 35-foot sailing vessel was in trouble and needed help.
>
> "All social chatter immediately stopped, and we declared an emergency in
> progress on frequency," Henes said. Then, while Toal gathered information
> from the operator aboard the Enamorado, Mannheimer and Henes both called
the
> US Coast Guard to relay the boat's situation and position, which turned
out
> to be in Mexican waters. Henes said the Coast Guard relayed their
> information to the Mexican Navy. Henes and Toal were able to copy KC6ORF
> well, although Mannheimer could not, and they maintained contact with the
> disabled boat.
>
> The Wisconsin hams learned that that Saijo was accompanying the boat's
> skipper, Ken Scheibe, on a trip from California to Costa Rica when they
ran
> into a storm. As a result, the vessel lost its engine and steering and
both
> men were injured, neither seriously. Before putting out distress calls on
20
> meters, Saijo had tried without success to raise help via the vessel's VHF
> marine radio.
>
> Mannheimer noted that Art Rowe, K7HA, in Washington, and Tom Miller, K4IC,
> in Arlington, Virginia, initially kept the frequency clear. They were
> subsequently joined by a host of other stations in the US and Canada, some
> of whom were able to copy KC6ORF and help relay as needed.
>
> Toal had to leave after a couple of hours, but Henes and Mannheimer
remained
> on frequency. About three hours into the incident, Henes again called the
US
> Coast Guard to see if it had heard back from the Mexican Navy. It had not,
> so he called the Mexican Navy himself and, after what he described as "a
few
> tense language-barrier moments," he was connected with someone who spoke
> English and Spanish and told that a rescue boat and helicopter were on the
> way.
>
> Henes also got the Mexican Navy vessel to come up on 20 meters. "Within
> minutes, they were on the frequency calling the stranded boat," he said.
> Unfortunately, neither Saijo nor Scheibe spoke Spanish fluently enough to
> understand the communicator on the Mexican Navy vessel.
>
> Enter Jorge Lira, XE1JP, who volunteered to serve as translator. He was
able
> to relay the foundering sailboat's coordinates to Mexican authorities. "He
> saved the day," said Henes, who reports he was able to hear the rescue
> helicopter in the background on Saijo's transmission. Saijo and Scheibe
were
> plucked to safety from the distressed vessel, which the Mexican Navy towed
> to safety.
>
> Henes said he later received an e-mail from Scheibe thanking him and the
> other radio amateurs for helping. Toal said later, "To me, we were just
> paying our dues for the right to be hams."
>
> A TV station and a newspaper in Madison, Wisconsin, were among the news
> media reporting the incident and Amateur Radio's role in coming to the
> rescue.
>
> ==>FCC ASKS OHIO APPLICANT TO EXPLAIN IDENTITY "DISCREPANCIES"
>
> "Apparent discrepancies" regarding the identity of an Ohio man has
prompted
> the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) to set aside two
> applications it had granted. The WTB referred the matter of Joseph W.
> Hartmann Jr of Youngstown to the Enforcement Bureau, FCC Special Counsel
> Riley Hollingsworth said in a June 21 letter to Hartmann.
>
> In one instance, the WTB indicated, Hartmann filed in October 2000 to
> associate his FCC Registration Number (FRN) with amateur call sign K3GUX,
> issued to Joseph V. Hartmann Sr. The FCC's Universal Licensing Service
shows
> a Delaware mailing address for the senior Hartmann. Hollingsworth said FCC
> records indicate that Joseph V. Hartmann Sr's birth date is in 1919, while
> the younger Hartmann indicated on his application that he was born in
1969.
> Hollingsworth asked the younger Hartmann to provide justification for
> obtaining an FRN in the name of Joseph V. Hartmann Sr.
>
> The FCC said Joseph W. Hartmann Jr subsequently filed applications to
change
> the licensee name and address for K3GUX. Hollingsworth asked Joseph W.
> Hartmann Jr to justify filing applications requesting the FCC to change
> Joseph V. Hartman Sr's name to Joseph W. Hartmann Jr, and the senior
> Hartman's address to that of the younger Hartmann.
>
> Hollingsworth said Joseph W. Hartmann Jr told him that he was trying to
> correct errors in his licensee record in the FCC's database.
>
> In another matter, the FCC Enforcement Bureau notified Wayne Spindler of
> Encino, California, on June 21 that the WTB had set aside his Technician
> license grant, KG6ZBU, on its own motion on May 13. That call sign no
longer
> appears in the FCC database.
>
> "That action was based upon complaints about unlicensed operation of your
> station prior to filing an application," Hollingsworth told Spindler. "In
> view of the action by the Wireless Bureau, your application reverts to a
> pending status, and you have no authority to operate." The FCC had granted
> Spindler's application April 21.
>
> Hollingsworth told Spindler that the FCC would contact him for additional
> information "we may need in order to make a determination as to what
action
> to take in this matter."
>
> ==>RADIO AMATEUR LOSES LIFE INSTALLING EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA
>
> An Ohio radio amateur died July 30 while attempting to perform a public
> service for his county's RACES/ARES program. Preble County RACES Radio
> Officer Robert W. "Bob" French II, N8EHA, of Eaton was on a tower at the
New
> Paris fire station installing an antenna for the RACES/ARES program when
an
> element came into contact with a power line. The shock knocked French from
> the tower, and he reportedly fell some 40 feet to the ground. French's son
> Aaron, KA8VUS, Al Stone, KB8RPO, and other members of the work party
> administered CPR to no avail.
>
> "Bob started back up the tower, pulling the antenna up by the feed line as
> he climbed," Stone recounted in a message shared with ARRL by Ohio Section
> Manager Joe Phillips, K8QOE. "At one point Bob thrust his hand upward to
> grab another rung of the tower, with the feed line in his hand. The
antenna
> began swinging, and when he went for that last rung, the antenna came in
> contact with [the] power line." Stone said the ham volunteers were
> installing two antennas on the New Paris fire station's tower as part of a
> project to equip every firehouse in the county with an antenna and ham
radio
> for emergency backup communication.
>
> French, 51, belonged to the ARRL. He was a founding member of the Preble
> Amateur Radio Association and very active in the club. "He was one of the
> biggest advocates for Amateur Radio I have known," said Gary Hollenbaugh,
> NJ8BB, who eulogized his friend at an August 3 service. "His leadership,
> organizational skills, knowledge and enthusiasm cannot be easily
replaced."
>
> Hollenbaugh says French was wearing a safety belt but not a fall restraint
> harness. "He was still climbing the tower and not able to secure off," he
> said, conceding that his friend did not follow several safety rules. He
also
> questioned why the tower was sited so close to power lines.
>
> ARES District 3 Emergency Coordinator Ron Moorefield, W8ILC, represented
the
> ARRL at French's service. Survivors include his wife Cathy, KA8RWX, and
> their daughter and son. The family invites memorial contributions to the
> Preble Amateur Radio Association, 7810 US Hwy 35 E, W Alexandria, OH
45381.
>
> ==>AMATEURS TO GET "NEW" SATELLITE
>
> PO-28 (POSAT-1)--Portugal's first satellite, launched 12 years ago--will
be
> turned over to Amateur Radio use in the very near future. That was the
word
> July 30 from AMSAT-UK Secretary Jim Heck, G3WGM, during the AMSAT-UK
> International Space Colloquium in Guildford, England.
>
> Launched September 25, 1993, the satellite operated as a packet
> store-and-forward BBS (9600 baud FM FSK) on Amateur Radio frequencies for
> several weeks in early 1994. Over the years, PO-28's primary usage has
been
> commercial, although plans have called for eventually shifting its
operation
> to ham radio use. G3WGM reports that following lengthy negotiations it has
> been agreed that the satellite can be switched permanently to amateur
> frequencies. The changeover is expected to take a couple of weeks.
>
> The Portuguese satellite was built at the University of Surrey as part of
a
> collaborative satellite technology program that involved industry and
> academe. Uplink frequencies will be 145.925 and 145.975 MHz. Downlink
> frequencies will be 435.075 and 435.275 MHz. More information on PO-28 is
on
> the AMSAT Web site <http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/po28.html>.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Ra the Sun god Tad "Let the Sunshine In" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
> reports: Average daily sunspot numbers rose by more than 68 points this
week
> to 83.7 compared to last week's numbers. This is four weeks after the
recent
> large number of sunspots around the beginning of July, which corresponds
to
> the rotation of the sun relative to Earth. That area of the sun is now
back
> in view, but with sunspots diminished.
>
> The reporting week began July 28 with heightened geomagnetic activity, but
> it quieted down. Prediction for the next few days is for solar flux to
> remain above 100, which is expected until August 10. Current geomagnetic
> conditions are slightly unsettled, but after August 10 are predicted to be
> quiet. Barring an unexpected solar flare, expect good conditions--at least
> relative to recent HF propagation at this lower spot on the solar cycle.
>
> The overall trend for the remainder of this sunspot cycle will be down,
and
> it becomes more obvious when we average the numbers over a long period.
> Currently we are looking to reach solar minimum around the end of 2006.
>
> Sunspot numbers for July 28 through August 3 were 29, 69, 62, 110, 102,
112
> and 102 with a mean of 83.7. 10.7 cm flux was 95.8, 103.7, 105, 109.7,
> 111.2, 110.2 and 108.9, with a mean of 106.4. Estimated planetary A
indices
> were 28, 19, 16, 9, 16, 12 and 11 with a mean of 15.9. Estimated
> mid-latitude A indices were 18, 14, 11, 10, 18, 9 and 6, with a mean of
> 12.3.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The North America QSO Party, (CW), the ARRL
UHF
> Contest, the TARA Grid Dip Shindig, the 10-10 International Summer Contest
> (SSB), the National Lighthouse Weekend QSO Contest, the European HF
> Championship, the RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are the
> weekend of August 6-7. JUST AHEAD: the NAQCC 80/40 Straight Key/Bug Sprint
> is August 10; the NCCC Thursday Sprint is August 12 (UTC). The WAE DX
> Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are the weekend of August
13-14.
> The NCCC Thursday Sprint is August 19 (UTC). 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 Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open
> through Sunday, August 7. Classes begin Friday, August 19. With the
> assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know
> to pass the FCC Technician class license 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 (EC-002)
> on-line course opens Monday, August 8, at 1201 AM EDT and will remain open
> until all available seats have been filled or through the August 13-14
> weekend--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, August 26.  Thanks to
> the United Technologies Corporation (UTC), the $45 registration fee paid
> upon enrollment will be reimbursed to students who complete the course
> requirements and are upgraded by their mentor to "Passed" within the
8-week
> course period. 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.
>
> * New IARU Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator appointed: Bill Zellers,
> WA4FKI, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, has been appointed as the new
IARU
> Region 2 Monitoring System Coordinator. He succeeds Martin Potter, VE3OAT,
> who stepped down in 2004. IARU Region 2 President Rod Stafford, W6ROD,
> announced the appointment this week. "Bill is excited about taking on the
> duties and responsibilities as Monitoring System Coordinator for Region 2
> and assisting in the effort to keep the Amateur Radio bands free of
> intruding signals," Stafford said. "Join me in congratulating Bill on his
> appointment and wish him luck in his efforts in his new position." The
IARU
> Monitoring System (IARUMS) is a worldwide service that works primarily to
> identify and initiate the necessary steps to remove from the Amateur Radio
> bands any non-Amateur Radio signals that are causing harmful interference
> through improper use. IARUMS also conducts surveys of amateur band
> occupancy, among other tasks. Potter says Zellers is eager to become fully
> engaged in his new post, supporting and coordinating the various national
> intruder watch programs in IARU Region 2 and working together with the
> IARUMS Coordinators in Regions 1 and 3.
>
> * Changes announced for ARRL International EME Competition: The ARRL
Program
> and Services Committee has approved the addition of a Single Operator
> Assisted (SOA) category for single-band and multiband ARRL International
EME
> Competition entries. Under SOA, one person performs all operating and
> logging as well as equipment and antenna adjustment and alignment. The use
> of spotting assistance or nets (operating arrangements involving other
> individuals, DX-alerting nets, packet, etc) is permitted. The new category
> will be in play for the upcoming 2005 contest season, although it was not
> approved in time to make the contest announcement in August QST. This
change
> means that single-op single-band and multiband EME event participants now
> may compete as unassisted or assisted. Certificates will be awarded for
the
> new category. The EME competition cover three 48-hour weekend periods
(0000
> UTC Saturday through 2359 UTC Sunday). Dates and designated bands for 2005
> are September 24-25: 2304 MHz and Up, and October 22-23 and November 12-13
> 50: MHz through 1296 MHz. For more information contact ARRL Contest Branch
> Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, n1nd at arrl.org.
>
> * Australian BPL-related submissions express concerns: The Australian
> Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) says the majority of the 275
> submissions to its BPL Discussion Paper
> <http://www.acma.gov.au/ACMAINTER.2163012:STANDARD::pc=PC_9240> show a
high
> level of concern regarding BPL interference and its management. More than
> 220 of the comments came from radio amateurs. Others were from
> telecommunications companies, broadcasters and government agencies. One
> commenter, telecoms provider Optus, recommended a "cautious approach" and
> expressed concern over potential BPL interference to its cable services as
> well as over the issue of regulatory and competition certainty. Broadband
> cable and DSL provider Telstra worried about interference to its broadband
> and HF radio services saying its calculations indicate "ubiquitous BPL
could
> have serious consequences for cable modem networks" and could lead to
> "significant degradation of VDSL in cases where power and
telecommunications
> lines are in close proximity." Commenting through their industry
> association--the Personal Emergency Response Services Association (PERSA),
> medical alarm providers concluded that electromagnetic interference from
BPL
> to PERS is potentially severe, continuous and widespread. "BPL
interference
> could prevent a call for assistance in a life-threatening situation,
> resulting in death or injury," PERSA asserted. Not surprisingly,
submissions
> from the BPL industry recommend less-onerous management techniques,
although
> power company Bytecan did acknowledge interference to various services and
> devices during its tests. Others commenting included CB radio, model
> aircraft enthusiasts, outback radio users and equipment suppliers.--Phil
> Wait, VK2DKN/Wireless Institute of Australia
>
> * DXCC Desk approves operation for DXCC credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has
> approved this operation for DXCC credit: T6EE, Afghanistan, from September
> 19 until October 16, 2004. For more information, visit the DXCC Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/>. "DXCC Frequently Asked Questions" can
> answer most questions about the DXCC program. ARRL DX bulletins are
> available on the W1AW DX Bulletins page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/dx/>.
>
> ===========================================================
> 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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