[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 25, No 05

[Bill Marx]

***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 25, No. 05
> February 3, 2006
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
> * +SuitSat-1 is in orbit!
> * +League members in New York urged to protest state grant for BPL pilot
> * +Two hams will be next ISS inhabitants
> * +ARRL asks FCC to deny Part 15 rule waiver
> * +Mississippi, Vermont considering ham radio antenna bills
> * +League invites nominations for 2005 technical awards
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio: The North American Sprint (SSB)!
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>     +ARRL Contest Advisory Committee releases white paper
>      Injured miner Randy McCloy, KC8VKZ, moved to rehab facility
>     +Scarborough Reef tops The DX Magazine's 2005 "Most Wanted" list
>      AMSAT Space Symposium set for October
>      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
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>"SUITSAT-1" LAUNCHED FROM ISS
>
> "SuitSat-1" is orbiting Earth! ISS Expedition 13 flight engineer Valery
> Tokarev released the unique and enthusiastically anticipated satellite
into
> orbit February 3 at 2303 UTC as he and ISS Expedition 12 Commander Bill
> McArthur, KC5ACR, began a six-hour space walk. SuitSat-1 consists of a
> discarded Russian Orlan spacesuit reconfigured to function as a
> free-floating Amateur Radio transmit-only satellite. Activated at 2259
UTC,
> the satellite was programmed to come to life some 16 minutes later on
145.99
> MHz. The 16-minute delay is said to be a crew safety measure. SuitSat-1's
> deployment over the south-central Pacific Ocean was the first task of the
> space walk.
>
> "Dosvidanya! Good-bye, Mr Smith!" Tokarev said in Russian as SuitSat,
> unhooked from its tether and pushed away from the space station, tumbled
> slowly away into the void. "It's moving at the specified acceleration." A
> project of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS)
> program  <http://www.rac.ca/ariss>, SuitSat drifted off until it appeared
as
> a mere speck silhouetted against brightly illuminated Earth below.
>
> The NASA trajectory operations officer at Mission Control called it "a
good
> deploy within the cone for safety to ensure no re-contact with the
> International Space Station." NASA-TV provided live coverage of the space
> walk and SuitSat-1's release.
>
> The Amateur Radio community, students, scanner enthusiasts, space fans and
> others have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the most novel satellite
> ever to orbit Earth. SuitSat-1 will transmit its voice message "This is
> SuitSat-1 RS0RS!" in several languages plus telemetry and an SSTV image on
> an eight-minute cycle as it orbits Earth. The three batteries powering the
> satellite are expected to last about a week, and SuitSat-1 should re-enter
> Earth's atmosphere after several weeks of circling the globe.
>
> SuitSat-1's 500 mW transmitter will report mission time, suit temperature
> and battery voltage (28 V is nominal) down to Earth. Its single Robot
> 36-format SSTV image is said to be similar in resolution to a cell-phone
> quality picture. SuitSat-1's signal should be strong enough to hear using
a
> VHF transceiver or scanner and a simple antenna. Its payload also includes
a
> CD containing hundreds of school pictures, artwork, poems and student
> signatures. JH3XCU/1 in Japan posted the first reception reports, noting a
> weak signal.
>
> Those who copy the SuitSat-1 transmissions on 145.99 MHz are asked to post
a
> real-time report on the SuitSat Web site <http://www.suitsat.org/>, which
> contains additional informational links. Initially, its orbit will
> approximately coincide with that of the ISS. Later, as SuitSat-1's orbit
> begins to decay, it may show up a few minutes earlier than the space
> station. The AMSAT Web site offers a listing of ISS passes
> <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/> and a graph showing the
> position of the ISS
>
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/satloc.php?lang=en&satellite=I
> SS>. ARISS invites schools and other educational groups--formal or
> otherwise--to post educational outreach reports and SSTV images via e-mail
> <suitsat at comcast.net>
>
> ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, credits ARISS-Russia's
> Sergei Samburov, RV3DR, and his colleagues with coming up with the
> spacesuit-cum-satellite concept. SuitSat-1--called Radioskaf or Radio
> Sputnik in Russian--is a first test of that idea, he says. If successful,
> there's another unneeded Orlan spacesuit still aboard the ISS.
>
> For a SuitSat-1 QSL, send signal reports accompanied by a large (9x12
inch)
> self-addressed, stamped envelope to the appropriate address:
>
>      * USA: ARRL, SuitSat QSL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111-1494 USA
>
>      * Canada: Radio Amateurs of Canada, SuitSat QSL, 720 Belfast
Rd--Suite
> 217, Ottawa, ON K1G 0Z5 Canada
>
>      * Europe: F1MOJ - Mr CANDEBAT Christophe, SuitSat Europe QSL Manager,
7
> Rue Roger Bernard, 30470 AIMARGUES FRANCE
>
>      * Japan: SuitSat Japan QSL, JARL International Section, Tokyo
170-8073
> JAPAN
>
>      * Russia: Alexander Davydov, RN3DK Novo-Mytishchinsky prospekt 52-111
> Mytishchi 18, Moskovskaya obl. 141018, RUSSIA
>
>      * Other countries: Use the US or Canadian address above.
>
> Students will receive a certificate commemorating their reception. Those
who
> receive the SSTV picture or copy the "special words" will get a special
> endorsement on their certificate. The special words--in English, French,
> German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese--are embedded in the pre-recorded
> greetings in multiple languages from students around the globe.
>
> SuitSat-1 has piqued the imagination of the news media over the past
couple
> of weeks. In addition to articles in The New York Times, the Houston
> Chronicle and Associated Press, National Public Radio, Fox News, CNN, the
> Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, MSNBC and others also produced
broadcast
> or cable news reports. A magazine article is set to appear in Aviation
Week
> and Space Technology.
>
> Additional information about SuitSat on the AMSAT Web site
> <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/SuitSat/>. See "This is SuitSat-1
> RS0RS!" by Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
> <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/BauerSuitsat/index.php>.
>
> ARISS is an international educational outreach with US participation from
> ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
>
> ==>LEAGUE URGES NEW YORK MEMBERS TO PROTEST STATE GRANT TO TROUBLESOME BPL
> TRIAL
>
> ARRL Directors Frank Fallon, N2FF, of the Hudson Division and Bill Edgar,
> N3LLR, of the Atlantic Division have called on the League's New York
> membership to protest a state grant to help fund a problematic BPL pilot
> project. ARRL learned this week that the New York State Energy Research
and
> Development Authority (NYSERDA) has contracted with electric utility
> Consolidated Edison (ConEd) and BPL manufacturer Ambient to provide up to
> $200,000 in funding for a BPL pilot in the Westchester County community of
> Briarcliff Manor.
>
> "If you share our dismay that NYSERDA's funds are being used to support a
> known source of radio spectrum pollution, write to Gov Pataki and NYSERDA
> President Peter Smith to demand that the State of New York use its
influence
> to ensure that the Briarcliff Manor BPL project is either brought into
> compliance with the FCC rules immediately or shut down," Fallon and Edgar
> said in a joint statement to New York ARRL members.
>
> The Briarcliff Manor project has been the subject of a string of
complaints
> to the FCC, including several requests from the ARRL--the last filed just
> last month--to shut down the project until it complies with FCC rules.
>
> Fallon and Edgar called on ARRL members in the Empire State to write Gov
> George E. Pataki, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224 and Peter R. Smith,
> President, NYSERDA, 17 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203-6399. Pataki is a
> former Amateur Radio licensee, K2ZCZ (since reissued).
>
> ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, points out that the League's concerns
regarding
> the public grant have been on record with NYSERDA since June 2004, when
> Ambient prematurely announced a funding grant. Sumner said John Love, the
> NYSERDA project manager for the BPL grant, this week confirmed that a
> contract had been signed.
>
> "I shared with him our disappointment at Ambient's involvement, given
their
> miserable track record in Briarcliff Manor," Sumner said. In his
> conversation with Love, Sumner said he explained that Ambient was
violating
> FCC rules in Briarcliff Manor by exceeding Part 15 emission limits,
causing
> harmful interference in the amateur bands and failing to post required
> information in the public BPL system database.
>
> Love "clearly didn't know much about the interference issue," Sumner said,
> adding that the official indicated NYSERDA's interest in BPL was as a
means
> to improve the quality of electric power delivery. "However, he said the
> contract requires the parties to monitor and report on interference and
its
> mitigation," Sumner noted. "I offered ARRL's technical resources to
educate
> him."
>
> On January 5, citing FCC inaction in response to previous complaints, the
> ARRL renewed its complaint to the Commission about the Ambient Corporation
> BPL project in Briarcliff Manor. The BPL system uses power lines owned and
> operated by ConEd under a Part 5 Experimental FCC authorization. The
League
> requested that the FCC instruct the BPL facility's operators to shut it
down
> immediately and not resume operation until it can demonstrate full
> compliance with all applicable FCC rules.
>
> ==>NASA, INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS TAP TWO HAMS AS NEXT SPACE STATION CREW
>
> NASA and its International Space Station partners have announced that
> astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, and cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS,
will
> be the ISS Expedition 13 crew. They'll arrive aboard the orbiting outpost
in
> early April to relieve the current crew of ISS Commander Bill McArthur,
> KC5ACR, and Valery Tokarev. Vinogradov will be the Expedition 13
commander,
> while Williams, a US Army colonel who's logged one space flight, will
serve
> as ISS flight engineer and NASA ISS science officer.
>
> Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes will join Williams and Vinogradov aboard
> the Russian Soyuz spacecraft that will transport the new crew to the ISS.
> Vinogradov and Williams will spend six months on the station, while Pontes
> will spend eight days conducting research under a commercial agreement
> between the Brazilian Space Agency and the Russian Federal Space Agency.
> Brazilian telecommunications authorities have granted Pontes the call sign
> PY0AEB for use on his space journey, and there are plans for him to do
> Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school group
> contacts during his mission. He will return to Earth in April with
McArthur
> and Tokarev, who have been in orbit since last October.
>
> Scheduled to fly on the next NASA space shuttle mission is German
astronaut
> Thomas Reiter, DF4TR. If NASA clears the shuttle for flight by June,
Reiter
> would join Williams and Vinogradov aboard the ISS for the remainder of
> Expedition 13. It's considered likely that Reiter, who had been scheduled
to
> be aboard the ISS for Expedition 12, will be active on Amateur Radio.
>
> Williams flew aboard the shuttle Atlantis in May 2000 on a 10-day space
> station assembly mission. During that mission, he performed a spacewalk
> lasting almost seven hours.
>
> Vinogradov, a veteran of one long-duration spaceflight, flew aboard a
Soyuz
> spacecraft to the Russian Mir space station as flight engineer for the
24th
> resident crew in 1997. During the 198-day mission he performed five
> spacewalks.
>
> ISS veteran Mike Fincke, KB5UAC, and Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin,
> RN3FI, have been designated as the Expedition 13 back-up crew.
>
> ==>LEAGUE CALLS ON FCC TO DENY PART 15 RULE WAIVER REQUEST FOR 902-928 MHZ
>
> Expressing concerns about interference potential and increased noise
levels,
> the ARRL this week asked the FCC to deny an industry request to waive
three
> sections of its Part 15 rules. Octatron Inc and Chang Industry Inc sought
> the waivers last November to accommodate unlicensed analog video and audio
> surveillance products they're developing that would operate in the 902-928
> MHz band--an Amateur Radio allocation. The FCC opened the proceeding, ET
> Docket 05-356, for comments in late December.
>
> "The manufacturer here has made a choice as to how to engineer its
product,"
> the League said in comments filed January 30. "It now seeks to avoid a
> series of rules specifically intended to limit interference potential of
> analog devices in a band allocated to various licensed radio services
simply
> because it deliberately engineered the device in a particular manner."
>
> The decision by Octatron and Chang Industry to employ analog, rather than
> digital, emissions at 1 W is at the heart of the waiver request. Section
> 15.247(b)(3) permits a 1 W power level for digital and spread-spectrum
> devices, but not for analog. The companies say they need 1 W to ensure
> reliable transmission. Digital devices still must meet the Part 15 power
> spectral density limitation, the League pointed out.
>
> "Neither can either device meet the power spectral density requirement of
> Section 15.247(e), applicable to digital intentional radiators which
engage
> in continuous transmissions," the League contended. "Finally, the devices
> cannot meet the specifications for high-power, point-to-point operation in
> certain bands using highly directional antennas set forth in Section
15.249
> of the Commission's rules."
>
> The League took issue with the manufacturers' unsupported assertion that
the
> surveillance systems "will not create significant interference."
>
> "Since the petitioners have apparently failed to determine, much less
> explain, the interference potential of their devices, it cannot be
> determined whether or not the underlying purposes of the rules limiting
> power and power spectral density for analog and digital devices in the
> 902-928 MHz band would be frustrated by a grant of the proposed waiver in
> this case," the League continued. "A waiver cannot be granted without such
a
> finding."
>
> The ARRL argued that given their potential to interfere with licensed
> services in the 902 to 928 MHz band, they should instead be operated in a
> Public Safety allocation, such as 2450 to 2483.5 MHz, and on a licensed
> basis.
>
> "The precise purpose of the rules sought to be waived here was to preclude
> interference before it arises," the League said. "The purpose of this rule
> would be directly frustrated by permitting, without rulemaking, high-power
> analog devices that cannot meet the power spectral density limitation of
> Section 15.247(e)."
>
> The petitioners fail to show that the devices could not have been designed
> to meet FCC rules, the League said, adding that it appears the lower cost
of
> manufacturing analog devices is apparently the reason why they're seeking
> the waivers. "This is not a valid basis for a waiver grant," the ARRL
said.
>
> Granting "repeated waivers" for Part 15 analog devices that don't meet the
> fundamental interference-avoidance requirement of the power spectral
density
> limit, the League concluded, "adds to the aggregate noise levels in the
> subject bands and contributes to the already prevalent 'tragedy of the
> commons' interference problems" in bands such as 902-928 MHz.
>
> ==>AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA BILLS IN PLAY IN MISSISSIPPI, VERMONT
>
> Legislation is under consideration in Mississippi and Vermont to
incorporate
> the essence of the limited federal preemption known as PRB-1
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/PRB-1_Pkg/prb-1.pdf> into
the
> statutes of those two states. Echoing the language of PRB-1, the measures
> call on localities establishing ordinances regulating antenna placement,
> screening or height to reasonably accommodate Amateur Radio communication
> and impose the minimum practicable regulation to accomplish the
> municipality's legitimate purposes. ARRL Mississippi Section Manager
Malcolm
> Keown, W5XX, reports similar bills were introduced this session in the
House
> and Senate. The Senate version has already passed and been sent on to the
> House.
>
> "Since 2001, Mississippi hams have been trying to get a bill through the
> Mississippi Legislature to provide for 'reasonable accommodation for the
> erection of antenna structures' by local zoning boards and to separate us
> from the cellular telephone tower interests," Keown says. The Senate
version
> of the PRB-1 legislation, SB 2709, cleared the County Affairs and
> Municipalities committees January 31, and it passed the full Senate
February
> 1. The House version, HB 736, is on the House General Calendar for a vote
> there by February 9.
>
> "We now have two horses in this race," Keown said this week, urging
> Mississippi ARRL members to urge their state senators and representatives
to
> support the measures. "Keep your fingers crossed!" Assuming one of the
PRB-1
> measures succeeds in the House, minor differences in wording would be
worked
> out in committee, Keown speculates. In past years, he says, a PRB-1 bill
has
> made it through one legislative chamber only to die in committee in the
> other.
>
> Both Mississippi PRB-1 bills leave it up to local governing authorities to
> determine "the types of reasonable accommodation to be made and the
minimum
> practicable regulation necessary . . . within the parameters of the law."
> The House version includes an additional sentence: "This legislation
> supports the Amateur Radio Service in preparing for and providing
emergency
> communications for the State of Mississippi and local emergency management
> agencies."
>
> In Vermont, meanwhile, the House Government Operations Committee on
February
> 2 heard public testimony on a PRB-1 bill introduced in the House, H.12.
> Several Amateur Radio operators attended the session along with
> representatives from the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which opposes
> such legislation, and several public safety officials.
>
> The proposed Vermont antenna bill not only calls for community regulators
to
> "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communication, it includes a
schedule
> of minimum regulatory heights, below which localities could not impose
> restrictions.
>
> On lots smaller than one acre, municipalities could not restrict the
overall
> height of an Amateur Radio antenna and associated support structure to
less
> than 75 feet above ground level "nor restrict the number of support
> structures."
>
> On parcels of one acre or larger, the bill, as written, would prohibit
> municipalities from restricting the height of an Amateur Radio antenna "to
> less than that specified in 47 CFR §97.15(a) nor restrict the number of
> support structures." That section of the Amateur Service rules actually
does
> not specify a height, but it does require antenna structures more than 200
> feet above ground to notify the Federal Aviation Administration and
register
> the structure with the FCC.
>
> In historic or design control districts, the Vermont bill would permit
> localities to restrict the height of antennas and associated support
> structures to less than 75 feet but would not allow them to prohibit
Amateur
> Radio antennas and support structures altogether nor to limit their height
> to less than that of the tallest permitted structure within such a
district.
>
> The measure would grandfather existing Amateur radio antennas and support
> structures and provide for their repair or replacement "with comparable
> components" without further permitting or review.
>
> To date, 21 states have enacted Amateur Radio antenna bills that reflect
the
> PRB-1 limited federal preemption.
>
> ==>NOMINATIONS INVITED FOR 2005 ARRL TECHNICAL AWARDS
>
> The League is accepting nominations from ARRL members and affiliated clubs
> for its three technical awards for the year 2005. The deadline is March 31
> to submit nominations for the ARRL Technical Service Award, the ARRL
> Technical Innovation Award and the ARRL Microwave Development Award.
>
> The ARRL Technical Service Award goes annually to a radio amateur whose
> service to the amateur community and/or society at large is of the most
> exemplary nature within the framework of Amateur Radio technical
activities.
> These include, but are not limited to:
>
>      * Leadership or participation in technically oriented organizational
> affairs at the local or national level.
>
>      * Service as an ARRL technical volunteer.
>
>      * Service as a technical advisor to clubs sponsoring classes to
obtain
> or upgrade amateur licenses.
>
> The Technical Service Award winner receives an engraved plaque. In
addition,
> the winner may request ARRL publications of a value of up to $100.
>
> The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is presented each year to an Amateur
> Radio licensee whose accomplishments and contributions are the most
> exemplary nature within the framework of technical research, development
and
> application of new ideas and future systems. These include, but are not
> limited to:
>
>      * Development of higher speed modems and improved protocols.
>
>      * Promotion of personal computers in Amateur Radio applications.
>
>      * Activities to increase efficient use of the amateur spectrum.
>
>      * Digital voice experimentation
>
> The technical innovation award winner receives a cash award of $500 and an
> engraved plaque.
>
> The ARRL Microwave Development Award is given each year to an individual
> radio amateur or group conducting research and activity and applying new
and
> refined uses in the amateur microwave bands. This includes adaptation of
new
> modes both in terrestrial formats and satellite techniques.
>
> The Microwave Development Award winner receives an engraved plaque. In
> addition, the winner may request ARRL publications of a value of up to
$100.
>
> Full information on these awards appears on the ARRL Technical Awards page
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/instructor/instructor/awards.html>.
>
> Nominations should thoroughly document the nominee's record of technical
> service and accomplishments. Include basic contact information for both
you
> and the nominee when making nominations for any of these technical awards.
> Submit all supporting documentation or information along with a letter of
> nomination that includes endorsements of ARRL affiliated clubs and League
> officials.
>
> Nomination forms for all three technical awards are available on the ARRL
> Web site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/award/application.html>. Send
> completed forms to ARRL Technical Awards, 225 Main St, Newington, CT
06111.
> Nominations must be received at ARRL Headquarters by March 31, 2006.
> Supporting information must be received at ARRL Headquarters by April 15.
>
> For more information, contact Norm Fusaro, W3IZ, <w3iz at arrl.org> at ARRL
> Headquarters.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Propagation prognosticator Tad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Cook,
K7RA,
> Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar activity is very low! Average daily
> sunspot numbers for the week were down by more than 40 points to 9.1.
> Average daily solar flux dropped nearly 11 points to 80.6. Geomagnetic
> conditions, with the exception of January 26, were stable and quiet. On
> January 26 the interplanetary magnetic field, which can shield Earth from
> solar wind if it is pointing north, turned south, and the mid-latitudes
> experienced some moderate geomagnetic activity, with the A index for the
day
> at 15. Polar regions saw a lot more activity, with the College A index in
> Alaska going to 36.
>
> The sun has been spotless since January 29, and daily readings of zero
> sunspots could continue for another week. We will observe more and longer
> periods such as this as we head toward the solar minimum, still expected
> about to occur about a year from now. Geomagnetic conditions should remain
> quiet and solar flux at around 77. It may not begin to rise again until
> February 10.
>
> Sunspot numbers for January 26 through February 1 were 24, 29, 11, 0, 0, 0
> and 0, with a mean of 9.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 86.9, 83.5, 80, 79.5,
78.8,
> 77.6, and 77.6, with a mean of 80.6. Estimated planetary A indices were
29,
> 8, 6, 3, 1, 2 and 4, with a mean of 7.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
> were 15, 7, 4, 1, 0, 1 and 3, with a mean of 4.4.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The North American Sprint (SSB), the Vermont,
> Delaware and Minnesota QSO parties, the YL-ISSB QSO Party, the 10-10
> International Winter Contest (SSB), the YLRL YL-OM Contest (CW), the AGCW
> Straight Key Party and the Mexico RTTY International Contest are the
weekend
> of February 4-5. JUST AHEAD: The ARCI Winter Fireside SSB Sprint is
February
> 6, the ARS Spartan Sprint is February 7 and the KCJ Topband Contest is
> February 9-10. The North American Sprint (CW), the YLRL YL-OM Contest
(SSB),
> the CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest, the Louisiana and New Hampshire QSO parties,
the
> SARL Field Day Contest, the Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint (CW), the Dutch
PACC
> Contest, the OMISS QSO Party 1500Z, the FISTS Winter Sprint, the British
> Columbia QSO Challenge and the RSGB First 1.8 MHz Contest (CW) are the
> weekend of February 11-12. The ARRL School Club Roundup runs from February
> 13 to February 17. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
> <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.
>
> * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
> Registration remains open through Sunday, February 5, for these ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) Program on-line courses:
> Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002), Amateur Radio
> Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003), Antenna Modeling (EC-004),
> VHF/UHF Beyond the Repeater (EC-008), Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011)
> and HF Digital Communications (EC-005). Classes begin Friday, February 17.
> To learn more, visit the CCE page <http://www.arrl.org/cce> or contact the
> CCE Department <cce at arrl.org>.
>
> * ARRL Contest Advisory Committee releases white paper: The ARRL Contest
> Advisory Committee (CAC) has released a white paper, "HF Contesting--Good
> Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions"
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/hf-faq.html>. The document, which discusses
> common situations encountered during HF contesting, results from CAC work
> that arose over the course of an informal committee meeting at Dayton
> Hamvention. While not a comprehensive set of "Frequently Asked Questions"
> (FAQ), the white paper does address many issues that periodically arise
> related to HF contesting and even some that may apply to VHF/UHF
contesting.
> The white paper operates from an HF perspective, however, recognizing that
> there are many differences between HF and VHF/UHF contest practices. ARRL
> Contest Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, stresses that the white
paper's
> interpretations do not supersede the rules for any contest but are
intended
> to assist contesters by providing some interpretations and operating
> suggestions based on CAC members' accumulated experience.
>
> * Injured miner Randy McCloy, KC8VKZ, moved to rehab facility: Randy
McCloy,
> KC8VKZ, the sole survivor of the January 2 Upshur County, West Virginia,
> coal mine tragedy, has been transferred from the hospital to a
> rehabilitation center. McCloy, 26, was moved to HealthSouth Mountainview
> Regional Rehabilitation Hospital in Morgantown on January 26. McCloy's
> condition remains fair. He is no longer in a coma, although he remains
> unable to speak, according to his physician, Dr Larry Roberts. McCloy's
> fever has dropped and he has not needed kidney dialysis in the past few
> days. The explosion at Sago Mine killed 12 other miners and left the mine
> filled with deadly carbon monoxide. McCloy has been hospitalized for the
> past three weeks at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital.
> Well-wishers have been sending cards and QSLs to McCloy at PO Box 223,
> Philippi, WV 26435. A fund has been set up to accept donations for
McCloy's
> benefit: The Randal McCloy Jr Fund, c/o Clear Mountain Bank, 1889 Earl
Core
> Rd, Morgantown, WV 26505.
>
> * Scarborough Reef tops The DX Magazine's 2005 "Most Wanted" list:
> Scarborough Reef (BS7H) has replaced North Korea (P5) as the most-wanted
> DXCC entity, according to The DX Magazine's
> <http://www.dxpub.com/dx_mag.html> 2005 survey of DXers. The Daily DX
> <http://www.dailydx.com> (and QST's "How's DX?") Editor Bernie McClenny,
> W3UR, says several groups are working toward activating Scarborough Reef.
> "The problem is not obtaining a license or transportation to the rocks,"
he
> reported this week. "There must be serious diplomacy between China and the
> Philippines in order for this one to be pulled off." The second
most-wanted
> is Lakshadweep (VU7). Swapping spots with Scarborough Reef at number three
> is North Korea (P5), at four is Peter I (3Y/P), and at five is Yemen (7O).
> The 3Y0X DXpedition to Peter I <http://www.peterone.com/>, expected to
begin
> as early as February 6, could move that entity down the list for this
year's
> survey. McClenny notes that the imminent 3Y0X operation, which received a
> $7500 ARRL Colvin grant award, will be the most expensive DXpedition ever.
> Rounding out the top 10 most-wanted DXCC entities on The DX Magazine's
2005
> survey were: Navassa (KP1), Desecheo (KP5), South Sandwich (VP8/S),
Glorioso
> (FR/G) and Andaman and Nicobar Islands (VU4). The Andamans, last activated
> in late 2004 during the VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition cut short by the South
Asia
> tsunami, are scheduled to be on the air again this April.
>
> * AMSAT Space Symposium set for October: The 2006 AMSAT Space Symposium
will
> take place October 5-11 in the San Francisco Bay area (Crowne Plaza San
> Francisco Mid-Peninsula Hotel in Foster City). Registration will open and
a
> first call for papers and presentations will be issued approximately April
> 1. This year's Symposium will include meetings of the AMSAT-NA Board of
> Directors, the AMSAT general membership, the Amateur Radio on the
> International Space Station (ARISS) international delegates, the
> International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) Satellite Advisors Committee and
> the AMSAT international delegates. Additional information is available on
> the AMSAT Web site <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/>.
>
> * DXCC Desk approves operation for DXCC credit: The ARRL DXCC Desk has
> approved this operation for DXCC credit: YI9VCQ (Iraq), November 30, 2004
> through November 5, 2005. 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>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, 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 the latest news,
> updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> offers
> access to news, informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
> <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
> compiled from The ARRL Letter.
>
> Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
> in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to
> The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League.
>
> ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
> letter-dlvy at arrl.org
> ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl at arrl.org
> ==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org>
> ==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
> 860-594-0384
>
> ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
>
> The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from
> ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail
> delivery:
> ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
> <http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
> 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.)