[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 24, No 20

[Bill Marx]

***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 24, No. 20
> May 20, 2005
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +ARRL, CAP to sign cooperative agreement
> * +Morse code tops text messaging on national TV
> * +Ham contact with ISS excites Japanese junior high kids
> * +League to offer Amateur Radio credit card
> * +Reputed jammer under house arrest after release from jail
> * +WX4NHC sets 2005 hurricane season on-the-air test
> * +ARRL Foundation scholarship winners announced
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>     +Kentucky emergency communicators receive donation
>      Bill Smith, KO4NR, is April QST Cover Plaque Award winner
>      WRTC 2006 organizers to be at Dayton Hamvention
>      DXCC Desk approves operation for 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
> ===========================================================
> NOTE: Because of Dayton Hamvention and the ARRL National Convention May
> 20-22, The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News are being distributed
Wednesday,
> May 18. See you in Dayton!
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>ARRL SIGNING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH CIVIL AIR PATROL
>
> The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) and ARRL will sign a Memorandum of Agreement
> during Dayton HamventionR, May 20-22, where CAP plans to field a major
> presence. The agreement will spell out guidelines for CAP--the US Air
Force
> Auxiliary, and ARRL--the national association for Amateur Radio, to better
> use and integrate their resources during communication exercises and
> emergencies.
>
> "Civil Air Patrol has one of the largest unified communications networks
in
> the nation," said CAP Lt Col Maurice Thomas, N3ADV. "Federal, state and
> local agencies call on CAP members every day for communication support in
> search-and-rescue missions and disaster relief." Thomas says CAP, which
has
> been in existence for more than 60 years, needs "implementers" for its
> communication technology, and highly skilled ham radio operators are "a
> natural resource."
>
> Dayton Hamvention will play host to ARRL's 2005 National Convention,
> featuring ARRL EXPO 2005 in Hara Arena's Ballarena. The League also will
> maintain a retail booth and relaxation area at its traditional North Hall
> location.
>
> CAP National Commander Maj Gen Dwight Wheless, will join ARRL President
Jim
> Haynie, W5JBP, at Hamvention to sign the formal agreement. The ceremony
will
> take place Friday, May 20, during the "ARRL Goes to Washington for You"
> forum at 10:15 AM in Room 2 of Hara Arena. Wheless called radio amateurs
> "highly skilled and knowledgeable about the latest in communications
> technology."
>
> ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, points out
that
> volunteerism is an Amateur Radio tradition. "We look forward to educating
> our members about CAP, and CAP members about ARRL," he said. "From Morse
> code to high-speed digital, a wire up in a tree to satellite
communications,
> hams love to make it happen."
>
> Pitts says the ham radio slogan "When all else fails . . ." is more than
> mere words. "They know ham radio communication works again and again when
> other systems fail," he said. "One way or another, hams get the message
> through."
>
> Radio communication plays a major role in all of CAP's operations
> too--including homeland security, damage assessment, search and rescue,
and
> disaster relief. It was key in CAP's impact assessment missions during
last
> year's hurricanes in Florida, ice storms in Arkansas and New York, and
> floods in Missouri.
>
> Pitts notes that during the course of many emergency response situations,
> Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES), Radio Amateur Civil Emergency
> Service (RACES), and other Amateur Radio emergency groups find themselves
> working side by side with CAP members.
>
> "This formal agreement between our two organizations will acknowledge that
> in a disaster, we all work for the common good," he said.
>
> During Hamvention, CAP members hope to educate radio amateurs about the
> opportunities available to civilian volunteers through Civil Air Patrol.
CAP
> will occupy Booth 154-155 in the Ballarena. CAP's Wisconsin Wing will
> display its new 35-foot state-of-the-art Mobile Command Center. The unit
was
> custom-built for CAP by Winnebago Corporation thanks to a US Department of
> Homeland Security grant.
>
> National Headquarters Chief of Communications Malcolm Kyser, KG4G, says
CAP
> maintains a dedicated nationwide HF and VHF network on federal government
> frequencies. "We operate over 550 VHF repeaters spread across the country
as
> well as HF, tactical VHF/UHF, data and commercial satellite applications,"
> he explains. "The CAP network is a 24/7 emergency services resource, which
> we rely upon to support an almost unlimited variety of missions."
>
> A nonprofit organization with some 60,000 members, the Civil Air Patrol
> performs the vast majority of continental US inland search-and-rescue
> missions under the direction of the US Air Force Rescue Coordination
Center.
> CAP volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and
anti-drug
> trafficking missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.
> CAP will hold its national conference August 17-20 in St Louis. Visit CAP
on
> the Web <http://www.cap.gov/>.
>
> ==>CW OPS WHIP WHIPPERSNAPPER TEXT MESSENGERS ON NATIONAL TV
>
> It may have been Friday the Thirteenth, but it was a lucky day for Morse
> code--and particularly for veteran CW contest ops Chip Margelli, K7JA, and
> Ken Miller, K6CTW. During a May 13 appearance on NBC's The Tonight Show
with
> Jay Leno, the pair was able to pass a message using good old fashioned
Morse
> code more rapidly than a pair of teenaged text messengers equipped with
> modern cell phones. The victory, which replicated a similar challenge that
> took place recently in Australia, has provided immense encouragement to
> Amateur Radio's community of CW operators, who been ballyhooed the
> achievement all over the Internet. The text messaging team consisted of
> world text-messaging champ Ben Cook of Utah and his friend Jason. Miller
> said afterward in a reflector posting that the CW team won fairly handily.
>
> "Ben was just getting ready to start entering the last two words when I
was
> done," he said on the Elecraft reflector in response to various questions
> he's received following the TV appearance. "I already knew that 28-30 WPM
> would easily keep us in front of even the current world [text messaging]
> record holder, and also it is the fastest speed that I can make nice
> readable copy on paper with a 'stick' [pencil]." Miller said it was
decided
> he'd be on the receiving end because he wasn't distracted by the noise in
> the studio.
>
> Margelli recalls that he was sending at 29 WPM. "I believe the goods were
> suitably delivered," he told ARRL. "CW and old guys rule!"
>
> What the viewing public didn't know was that Margelli and Miller had, in
> Miller's words, "smoked 'em every time" during three pre-program
rehearsals.
> Even so, during the real thing, when Miller raised his hand to signal he'd
> copied the CW message successfully, Jason's jaw dropped. None of the
players
> had any idea of the text they'd be sending, Miller noted. The message? "I
> just saved a bunch of money on my car insurance."
>
> As with many Tonight Show bits, this one involved a member of the
audience,
> a young woman named Jennifer who predicted--incorrectly as it turned
> out--that text messaging definitely would top 170-year-old Morse code. She
> walked away with a gift of restaurant tickets anyway.
>
> Margelli says the CW team used Yaesu FT-817 transceivers--one of his own
and
> another owned by Dan Dankert, N6PEQ. Backup units--not needed--were
provided
> by HRO; Margelli's wife Janet, KL7MF, manages an HRO store. They ended up
> using 432.200 MHz as an operating frequency in order to avoid RFI from the
> plethora of TV equipment in the studio and to avoid interfering with NBC's
> gear. They ran the little transceivers at their lowest power level and
with
> the antennas disconnected--although they were mounted on the back of each
> unit--no problem given the close proximity involved. Margelli sent with a
> Bencher paddle.
>
> To add a little atmosphere to the affair, NBC producers attired Margelli
and
> Miller to look like 19th-century-era Western Union or railroad Morse
> telegraphers. The costumes came complete with green visors, white shirts,
> sleeve garters, vests and bow ties. The teenaged SMSers wore T-shirts and
> jeans.
>
> Cook told Leno that he'd managed to send a 160-letter message to his
friend
> using his cell phone's short message system (SMS)--the formal term for
text
> messaging--in 57 seconds.
>
> A member of the Morse Telegraph Club and a QRP enthusiast, Miller said
he'd
> been using CW for 38 years. Margelli told Leno he'd been using Morse "for
43
> years in ham radio," a phrase Leno echoed. That was the only plug Amateur
> Radio got during the appearance on the show's "Dinner for 4" segment.
Miller
> says that during rehearsal, the pair had come up with a few lines to
promote
> ham radio and telegraphy, but they were cut during the final dress
rehearsal
> in the interest of making the segment fit its allotted time slot.
>
> During the Australian competition in April, a Morse team consisting of
> 93-year-old former post office telegrapher Gordon Hill--the sender--and
> 82-year-old Jack Gibson--the receiver--topped 13-year-old SMSer Brittany
> Devlin. In that event, Hill spelled out the message in full, while Devlin
> used text-messaging shorthand. In that competition, held at the Powerhouse
> Museum in Sydney, Hill took 90 seconds to send the message, 18 seconds
> faster than Devlin's message took to reach her friend's cell phone.
>
> Miller encouraged all who enjoyed the CW-vs-text messaging segment on NBC
to
> contact The Tonight Show to let the producers know about it--with an eye
> toward having the network schedule a more elaborate segment "next time."
>
> "Thanks for the kind comments from all," Miller concluded, advising "let's
> keep on having fun!--It is a hobby after all."
>
> Commented Margelli to ARRL: "I completely agree with my fantastic
teammate,
> Ken Miller. It was a lot of fun, just like ham radio, and the show also
> delivered an important, if subtle, message about the benefits of the
'basic'
> communication infrastructure that Amateur Radio provides."
>
> ==>JAPANESE JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS TAKE "GIANT LEAP" VIA HAM RADIO
>
> A dozen junior high students in Japan used Amateur Radio May 9 to quiz
NASA
> International Space Station Science Officer and US astronaut John
Phillips,
> KE5DRY, about life in space. The contact between NA1SS in space and 8N3H
at
> Hosokawa Junior High School in Ikeda was arranged by the Amateur Radio on
> the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Working in microgravity,
> the training necessary to become an astronaut and food were the focus of
> several of the more than 20 questions asked and answered. Phillips told
the
> youngsters that he was surprised at how beautiful the Earth appears from
> space and that he never tires of watching the planet from the ISS.
> Responding to another student's question, he nearly waxed poetic in
> describing Earth's beauty.
>
> "It's absolutely true that the Earth looks beautiful from space," Phillips
> replied. "The blue of the oceans, the green of the forests and the white
> snow of the mountains create a beautiful and continuously changing
picture."
> He told the next questioner that his first impression of space was that
the
> view was magnificent "and that I knew that I would like it up here and
that
> I would like to stay longer."
>
> Questions about the diet of ISS crews are among the most frequent during
> ARISS school group QSOs, and the Hosokawa students asked several. Phillips
> noted that there is both American and Russian-style cuisine aboard--some
> fresh, some dried and some in cans. "We eat very well up here," he stated.
> He told another student that there was plenty of food aboard the ISS and
> that he and crewmate Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR, were not in any immediate
> danger of running low, as the previous crew had. He explained that there's
> no refrigerator aboard the ISS, and the crew's chow is stored in metal
boxes
> in the kitchen and elsewhere aboard the spacecraft.
>
> As for living and working in microgravity, he said it can be fun. "I feel
> wonderful in space," he declared. "I can fly like a bird or like
Superman!"
> In addition, he told another student questioner, working in space is much
> easier because "we're always floating" and can even work upside down if
> necessary. But there are downsides. He explained that the lack of gravity
> means the ISS crew members always have to keep untethered objects under
> control, lest they float off and get lost. Phillips said dizziness and
> "space sickness" are not problems he has encountered so far, but he added
> that there are medications aboard the spacecraft should either arise.
>
> Training for his mission aboard the ISS as part of the Expedition 11 crew
> took three years, he said. He advised youngsters interested in becoming
> astronauts to start by studying a lot of math. He noted that an astronaut
> from Japan is scheduled to be aboard the next space shuttle mission.
>
> At the contact's conclusion, Earth station control operator Junki Okuda,
> JL3JRY, said the students were very excited by the experience of being
able
> to talk directly with an astronaut in space. "That's one small step for
man,
> one giant leap for children," he joked, paraphrasing the famous words US
> astronaut Neal Armstrong spoke as he became the first human to set foot on
> the moon in 1969.
>
> On hand at the school for the event were some 300 students representing
the
> entire enrollment of Hosokawa Junior High, plus 100 parents and other
> visitors and news media representatives. The ARISS-Japan mentor for the
> contact was Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ/AD6GZ.
>
> ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach
> program with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
>
> ==>ARRL TO SPONSOR AFFINITY CREDIT CARD
>
> The League will unveil its new ARRL VisaR Card--an affinity credit card
with
> U.S. Bank--this week at Dayton Hamvention, which is playing host to the
ARRL
> 2005 National Convention. U.S. Bank personnel will be on hand for the
> launch, Friday, May 20, at the ARRL EXPO 2005 exhibit area with
applications
> for radio amateurs attending the convention who want to be among the first
> to apply. The no-annual-fee card is available to ARRL members and
> nonmembers.
>
> "With every card issued and every purchase made, ARRL Visa card holders
> support ARRL programs and services at no additional cost to them," says
ARRL
> Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R. "This is a great way for members
to
> show off their support for ARRL and for Amateur Radio."
>
> The card carries an attractive design with the ARRL logo. The words
"Amateur
> Radio Operator" appear prominently on the face of the card.
>
> Basic information about the ARRL Visa card is available on the ARRL Web
site
> <www.arrl.org/visa>. This page includes a link
> <http://www.usbank.com/affinitycreditcards/?loc=9507> to U.S. Bank's Web
> site to learn more and to apply.
>
> ARRL membership does not confer automatic eligibility to obtain a card.
> While there's no annual fee, the ARRL Visa card carries a credit limit of
up
> to $15,000 and 0 percent APR interest for the first six months. Certain
> terms and conditions do apply. U.S. Bank is the creditor, issuer and
service
> provider.
>
> At least initially, call signs cannot be embossed onto the card,
Inderbitzen
> says. "We're working with U.S. Bank to find a suitable solution, but that
> will most likely be further down the line," he explained.
>
> ==>GERRITSEN RELEASED ON BOND, REMAINS UNDER HOUSE ARREST
>
> Reputed Los Angeles-area radio jammer Jack Gerritsen reportedly has
> satisfied the requirements of a $250,000 cash or property bond and has
been
> released from a federal lockup. The US Bureau of Prisons indicates that
> Gerritsen got out of jail May 17, although he reportedly remains under
house
> arrest at his home in Bell.
>
> Acting on a criminal complaint, FBI special agents, accompanied by
personnel
> from the FCC Los Angeles Field Office, arrested the 69-year-old Gerritsen
> without incident early May 5 at his home. Federal agents also seized his
> radio equipment. According to terms spelled out by the US Attorney for the
> Central District of California after he was taken into custody, Gerritsen
> will be subject to monitored home detention and barred from possessing or
> using any radio equipment. Additionally, Gerritsen's residence remains
> subject to search. Unconfirmed reports say Gerritsen's passport has been
> taken as well.
>
> The criminal complaint said an FCC investigation revealed that Gerritsen
> "often transmits his prerecorded political messages and real-time
harassment
> and profanity for hours at a time, often making it impossible for licensed
> radio operators to use the public frequencies."
>
> The FCC already has affirmed a $10,000 fine against Gerritsen for
operating
> without a license. It has proposed another $42,000 in forfeitures for
> alleged interference-related infractions.
>
> Five years ago, Gerritsen was convicted in a California court of
interfering
> with police radio transmissions and sentenced to 38 months in prison.
After
> his release, he applied for a Technician class amateur license and was
> granted KG6IRO. The FCC promptly rescinded the grant when it learned of
his
> earlier conviction, however.
>
> ==>WX4NHC HURRICANE SEASON 2005 ON-THE-AIR STATION TEST SET
>
> WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center (NHC),
> will sponsor the WX4NHC Hurricane Season 2005 On-The-Air Station Test
> Saturday, June 4, from 1300 until 2200 UTC. This is not a contest or
> hurricane exercise. The purpose of this annual event is to test all radio
> equipment, computers and antennas using as many modes and frequencies as
> possible. It also provides an opportunity to monitor for any possible RFI
to
> NOAA and NHC equipment.
>
> "We will also be testing some new antennas and equipment that are being
> installed for this coming season," says WX4NHC Amateur Radio Coordinator
> John McHugh, K4AG. "Some operator training will also be conducted." McHugh
> reminds participants that the hurricane season station test is just an
> equipment and operator test, and WX4NHC will not activate any nets.
>
> WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF, UHF as well as on APRS on 2 and 30
> meters. Approximate frequencies include: 7.268, 14.325, 21.325 and 28.525
> MHz on SSB; 14.035, 21.035 and 28.035 MHz on CW; 14.070 MHz on PSK31.
WX4NHC
> also plans to be on the VoIP Hurricane Net 1700-1900 UTC on IRLP Node 9219
> and EchoLink WX-TALK Conference and will be active on South Florida-area
VHF
> and UHF repeaters, 146.52 MHz FM simplex and 144.200 SSB.
>
> Participants report call sign, signal report, location, name and a brief
> weather report (eg, "sunny," "rain" etc). Nonhams may submit their actual
> weather using the On-Line Hurricane Report Form
> <http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html>.
>
> Send QSL card requests with an SASE to W4VBQ. Visit the WX4NHC Web site
for
> additional information <http://www.wx4nhc.org>.
>
> ==>ARRL FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS FOR 2005
>
> The ARRL Foundation has announced the recipients of 31 scholarship awards
> for the 2005 academic year. Congratulations to these scholarship winners!
>
> * The ARRL Scholarship to Honor Barry Goldwater--$5000: Kyle Graves,
KY5LE,
> Weatherford, Texas
>
> * The Carol J. Streeter, KB9JBR, Scholarship--$750: Brian Poustinchian,
> KB9TEH, Carol Stream, Illinois
>
> * The Central Arizona DX Association Scholarship--$500: Gerica Rayas,
> KD7WJR, Phoenix, Arizona
>
> * The Charles Clarke Cordle Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Sylvia
Richardson,
> KG4OEG, Cumming, Georgia
>
> * The Charles N. Fisher Memorial Scholarship--$1000: James Wenner, K6NSY,
> Westminster, California
>
> * The Donald Riebhoff Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Andrew Sowa, KB3EFQ,
> Media, Pennsylvania
>
> * The Dr. James L. Lawson Memorial Scholarship--$500: Timothy Jean,
KB1FIP,
> Swansea, Massachusetts
>
> * The Earl I. Anderson Scholarship--$1250: David Lambert, KC9BLA,
> Brownsburg, Indiana; Rasa Dovilas, W9RSA, Urbana, Illinois
>
> * The Edmond A. Metzger Scholarship--$500: Charles McClish, KB9RGF,
Kokomo,
> Indiana
>
> * The Fred R. McDaniel Memorial Scholarship--$500: David Darrow, KD5JLK,
> Plano. Texas
>
> * The General Fund Scholarships--$1000: Wendy Wigh, AE6RL, Kingsburg,
> California; Jonathan Garrison, KG4GZR, Salisbury, California
>
> * The Henry Broughton, K2AE, Memorial Scholarship--$1000: John McIntyre,
> KC2JSJ, Rochester, New York; Lawrence Lin, AB2PS, Flushing, New York
>
> * The IRARC, Joseph P. Rubino, WA4MMD, Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Gary
> Fowks, KF4HEE, Saint Cloud, Florida; Leeds, David, KG4MQX, Hollywood,
> Florida;
>
> * The Irving W. Cook, WA0CGS, Scholarship--$1000: Evan Seiwert, KC0LET,
> Viola, Kansas
>
> * The Jean Cebik Memorial Scholarship--$1000; Thomas Campie, KC0PNH,
> Camanche, Iowa
>
> * The K2TEO Martin J. Green Sr Memorial Scholarship--$1000: Andrew Krumm,
> KG4OTL, Greenbackville, North Carolina
>
> * The L. Phil and Alice J. Wicker Scholarship--$1000: Yan Yan, KG4IHW,
> Chapel Hill, North Carolina
>
> * The Louisiana Memorial Scholarship--$500: Dustin Howell, W5CFI, West
> Monroe, Louisiana
>
> * The Mary Lou Brown Scholarship--$2500: Trevor Conroy, W7TDC, Newberg,
> Oregon
>
> * The Mississippi Scholarship--$500: Chris Abbott, KD5WCR, Vicksburg,
> Mississippi
>
> * The Nemal Electronics Scholarship--$600: William Fisher, W4WJF, Vale,
> North Carolinia
>
> * The New England Federation of Eastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio
> Associations (FEMARA) Scholarships--$1000: Scott Jamieson, KO1W, Tiverton,
> Rhode Island; Matthew Lape, N1XB, Francestown, New Hampshire; Jennifer
> Moyher, N1ZZY, Stratford, Connecticut; Jake Stone, KB1INV, Stamford,
> Connecticut
>
> * The Norman E. Strohmeier, W2VRS, Memorial Scholarship--$500: Dana
> Esposito, KC2NDL, Syracuse, New York
>
> * The Paul and Helen L. Grauer Scholarship--$1000: Jack Short, KC0QIO,
> Kansas City, Missouri
>
> * The Perry F. Hadlock Memorial Scholarship--$2000: Brian Rautio, AB2MP,
> Phoenix, New York
>
> * The PHD Scholarship--$1000: Daniel Friedrichs, K0IPG, LeMars, Iowa
>
> * The Six Meter Club of Chicago Scholarship--$500: Andrew Carter, KC9BOH,
> Wilmette, Illinois
>
> * The Tom and Judith Comstock Scholarship--$1000: Andrew Warner, KD5KZG,
> Richardson, Texas
>
> * The William Bennett, W7PHO, Memorial Scholarship--$500: Garrett
Swanberg,
> KD7MCS, Monroe, Washington
>
> * The Yankee Clipper Contest Club Inc Youth Scholarship--$1500: Henry
> Ferland, KB1HOY, Gardner, Maine
>
> * The You've Got a Friend in Pennsylvania Scholarship--$2000: John
Stratton,
> AA3SL, Glen Mills, Pennsylvania; Amy Johnson, KB3HXF, New Castle,
> Pennsylvania
>
> Downloadable applications and instructions for 2006 academic year
> scholarships are on the ARRL Foundation Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlf>. The application period for 2006 academic year
> awards begins October 1, 2005.
>
> The deadline to submit applications with transcripts and SAT/ACT scores
> affixed is February 1, 2006.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Solar flash Tad "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
> Washington, reports: Things got quite exciting last weekend. On Friday the
> Thirteenth at 1650 UTC, a tremendous explosion near Sunspot 759 blasted
> toward Earth. The impact on Earth's magnetic field was felt at 0230 UTC on
> May 15, producing an extreme geomagnetic storm. A geomagnetic storm is a
> disturbance of Earth's magnetic field.
>
> The planetary K index reached 9 on Sunday, May 15. This is huge!. The
> middle-latitude, high-latitude and planetary A indices for Sunday were 44,
> 77 and 105 respectively--all very high values.
>
> The A and K indices indicate the severity of magnetic fluctuations and, as
a
> result, the disturbance to the ionosphere. K indices of 2 or 4 indicate
> unsettled or even active magnetic conditions--likely to be reflected in a
> degradation of HF conditions. An index of 9 represent a major storm that
> would result in an HF blackout.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The US Counties QSO Party (SSB),
> VK/Trans-Tasman 80-Meter Contest (Phone), the EU PSK DX Contest, the
> Portuguese Navy Day Contest (PSK31), the Manchester Mineira CW Contest,
His
> Majesty the King of Spain Contest (CW) and the Baltic Contest are the
> weekend of May 21-22. JUST AHEAD: The CQ WW WPX Contest (CW), the ARCI
> Hootowl Sprint and the Michigan QRP Memorial Day CW Sprint are the weekend
> of May 28-29. 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 HF Digital Communication (EC-005) and ARRL
> VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) courses remains open through Sunday,
> May 22. Classes begin Friday, June 3. Students participating in
> VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) will explore some of the lesser-used
> and more intriguing aspects of VHF/UHF operation. HF Digital Communication
> students will learn to use a variety of HF digital modes. To learn more,
> visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL C-CE Department
cce at arrl.org.
>
> * Kentucky emergency communicators receive donation: The Kentucky District
7
> Amateur Radio Emergency Team (KD7ARET) <http://www.ky7et.org/> has
received
> a $5000 donation from the John E. and Betty J. Meyer Family Foundation.
The
> funds will support the group's efforts to provide emergency communication
to
> served agencies during emergencies and disasters. KD7ARET most typically
> supports police and fire departments, the National Weather Service and
> emergency management offices. In addition, some of the money will be go
into
> a fund to purchase a mobile communication van with Amateur Radio
> capabilities that could serve to back up local police and fire
departments.
> KD7ARET boasts more than 100 Amateur Radio volunteers from the nine-county
> area comprising District 7 in Northern Kentucky. ARRL Kentucky Section
> Manager John Meyers, NB4K, says the team plans to participate in ARRL
Field
> Day, June 25-26, at Mills Road Park in Independence, Kentucky. In the past
> year KD7ARET has bought reflective vests for its members as well as
radios,
> antennas and coax for the Owen County Emergency Operations Center. "We are
> in the process of buying radios, antennas and coax for the Transit
Authority
> of Northern Kentucky Regional Communication bus, the Campbell County
> Emergency Operations Center and the District Office of Emergency
Management
> in Walton, Kentucky, as well as additional handheld radios and extra
battery
> packs for emergency coordinators," he adds. Since KD7ARET's incorporation
in
> January 2004, the group has received $10,000 in cash and more than $2000
> worth of equipment to enhance local emergency communication capabilities.
>
> * Bill Smith, KO4NR, is April QST Cover Plaque Award winner: The winner of
> the QST Cover Plaque Award for April is Bill Smith, KO4NR, for his article
> "A Low-Cost Remote Antenna Switch." Congratulations, Bill! 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 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 by May 31!
>
> * WRTC 2006 organizers to be at Dayton Hamvention: Atilano de Oms, PY5EG,
> will head the WRTC 2006 Organizing Committee delegation to Dayton
Hamvention
> Friday through Sunday, May 20-22. Committee members will be promoting the
> global Amateur Radio contesting competition held in conjunction with the
> International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship. WRTC 2006
> will take place July 7-10 in and around Florianopolis, Brazil. At Dayton
> Hamvention and elsewhere, the WRTC-2006 Organizing Committee will be
> attempting to raise the funds needed to support the event. Look for "Win a
> free trip to Brazil for WRTC 2006" banners at Hamvention. Other WRTC 2006,
> from buttons to T-shirts will be available too, plus there will be a
drawing
> on an Acom amplifier. WRTC representatives plan to frequent other
> contesting-oriented events at Dayton Hamvention as well. The drawings will
> be at the contest dinner Saturday, May 21, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in
> downtown Dayton. There's more information on the WRTC-2006 Web site
> <http://www.wrtc2006.com/html/web/en/home.asp>.
>
> * DXCC Desk approves operation for credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved
> this operation for DXCC credit: T68G, Afghanistan, current operation
> effective April 2005. For more information, visit the DXCC Web page
> <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/>. "DXCC Frequently Asked Questions"
> <http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/faq/> 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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