[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 25, No 26 (Jun 30, 2006)

[Bill Marx]

***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 25, No. 26
> June 30, 2006
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +Ham radio volunteers ready as floods hit Eastern US
> * +Montenegro becomes the 336th DXCC entity
> * +Space campers in Belgium query ISS crew member via ham radio
> * +FCC levies fine for marketing non-certificated CBs as ham radio gear
> * +Fires keeping Southwestern ham radio volunteers on alert
> * +Contest Soapbox ready for your Field Day writeups, photos
> * +NCJ to offer WRTC-2006 blogs
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>     This weekend on the radio
>     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>    +ARRL, IARU HQ mults will be on the air for IARU HF World Championship
>     WRTC-2006 requests IARU HF World Championship logs
>     ARRL "DXCC Dialog" blog debuts
>     Field Day at W1AW slide show available
>     Educator astronaut gets on the air for Kids Day
>     New IRC available July 1
>     Correction regarding Director/Vice Director eligibility
>
> +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: ARRL Headquarters will be closed Tuesday, July 4, for the 
> Independence
> Day holiday. There will be no W1AW code practice or bulletin transmissions
> that day. ARRL Headquarters will reopen Wednesday, July 5, at 8 AM EDT. We
> wish everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend!
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>ARES/RACES TEAMS HANDLE FLOOD DUTY IN MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES
>
> Amateur Radio volunteers this week supported communication or remained on
> alert to assist relief organizations and local emergency managers in
> flood-stricken regions of the Eastern US. Widespread flooding in several
> states claimed at least a dozen lives. ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania PIO Bob
> Josuweit, WA3PZO, says ham radio volunteers in 10 counties in his Section
> actively aided local law enforcement, emergency management agencies and 
> the
> Red Cross, which set up about a dozen evacuation centers.
>
> "Hams in some areas may be on duty for several days as river levels slowly
> drop below flood stage," Josuweit told ARRL June 29. The Delaware River --
> which separates New Jersey and Pennsylvania -- crested June 29, and the
> Susquehanna River a day earlier.
>
> A mandatory evacuation order affecting some 200,000 residents of the 
> Wilkes
> Barre area in Luzerne County was lifted June 29. Josuweit reports that the
> Susquehanna crested at nearly 34 feet, 12 feet above flood stage for that
> area. "In areas where the water has already receded, many utilities are
> still out of service and local officials are advising residents to stay 
> away
> from the their homes until at least Saturday [July 1]," Josuweit said.
>
> Despite flooding in the area, Josuweit says the Wilkes Barre hamfest
> <http://www.qsl.net/k3ytl> sponsored by the Murgas Amateur Radio Club will
> go on as scheduled Sunday, July 2, at the Luzerne County Fairgrounds, 
> Route
> 118, Lake Lehman.
>
> ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Emergency Coordinator Al Rabenau, W3AHR,
> reported the Schuylkill River receding as of June 29. He said Bucks County
> ARES had been on alert status since June 28. Members established a VHF
> repeater net and have been staffing several EOCs and shelters. Bucks 
> County
> EC Harris Stein, NY3H, says ARES/RACES was trimming down some operations 
> at
> week's end but will continue Red Cross support through the holiday 
> weekend.
> He anticipates needing operators to assist with damage assessment July 1 
> and
> to replace shelter operators.
>
> Due to topography, flooding along the Delaware typically is worst in Bucks
> County and in Hunterdon County, New Jersey. ARRL Hunterdon County District
> Emergency Coordinator David Kanitra, WB2AZE, this week placed Hunterdon 
> ARES
> on a Level 1 alert for possible deployment to assist RACES.
>
> In Mercer County, New Jersey, Emergency Coordinator Kip Burnett, KB2EGI,
> reported his ARES/RACES team was on standby and no longer staffing the 
> EOC,
> which remains active. "We may be needed later to assist with water
> deployment or some other situation," he said. ARES/RACES personnel at the
> EOC this week monitored river levels.
>
> Burnett called the flooding "basically a repeat of the October 2004 and
> April 2005 floods," and said officials evacuated the same locations -- an
> area called "The Island" -- in Trenton as well as parts of Titusville.
> Conventional communication systems remained intact.
>
> In Binghamton, New York, and surrounding Broome County authorities ordered
> the evacuation of some 15,000 residents as the Susquehanna and Chenango
> rivers overflowed their banks, putting some neighborhoods under several 
> feet
> of water. Parts of Interstates 81 and 88 as well as State Route 17 were
> closed.
>
> In Delaware last weekend, Justin Kates, KB3JUV, says ARES volunteers
> diverted their attention from Field Day and prepared to support
> communication in the wake of flooding in Sussex County, which received 15
> inches of rain in some areas. "Emergency management had a difficult time
> providing road and medical crews to the affected areas due to the high
> water," Kates told ARRL. The weather event also disrupted conventional
> communication systems.
>
> While formal activation was unnecessary, Amateur Radio volunteers remained
> poised to supply any needed communication assistance. A SKYWARN activated,
> however, and volunteers relayed rainfall reports as well as road and 
> highway
> reports.
>
> ==>UN MAKES IT OFFICIAL: MONTENEGRO NOW NUMBER 336 ON THE CURRENT DXCC 
> LIST
>
> A new ARRL DXCC entity came into being this week! As expected, the United
> Nations admitted the Republic of Montenegro as its 192nd member June 28, 
> and
> that action automatically makes the tiny Balkan nation the 336th current
> DXCC entity.
>
> "According to the ARRL DXCC List criteria, entities on the UN list of
> member-states qualify as political entities," said ARRL Membership 
> Services
> Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG. "Therefore, effective June 28, 2006 (UTC), ARRL
> has added The Republic of Montenegro to the DXCC List. Claims for DXCC
> credit will be accepted immediately."
>
> The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com> this week quoted Ranko Boca, YT6A,
> that current Montengrin radio amateurs may use their current
> Serbia-Montenegro call signs until the International Telecommunication 
> Union
> (ITU) designates a call sign block for the new country.
>
> In anticipation of Montengro's new nation status, International DX 
> Festival
> Montenegro <http://www.yu6scg.cg.yu/international-dx-festival.html> has 
> been
> set for July 20 until August 12. That's when several international 
> operators
> - with Boca as DXpedition leader and well-known DXer Martti Laine, OH2BH, 
> as
> radio operations leader - will join forces with Montenegrin Amateur Radio
> operators from at least three different stations using a common call sign 
> in
> an effort to meet the DX community's need to work the newest DXCC Entity.
> Festival organizers have set the ambitious goal of 200,000 contacts for 
> the
> event, which will use all HF bands.
>
> The event also will include several basic courses on ham radio operating 
> and
> CEPT license examinations aimed at new and less-experienced radio 
> amateurs.
> Another goal is to establish an Amateur Radio Club of Montenegro
>
> Others scheduled to take part in the DX Festival include ARRL CEO David
> Sumner, K1ZZ, and XYL Linda, KA1ZD; 3Y0X team member Bob Grimmick, N6OX;
> IARU Region 1 Executive Committee member Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T;
> Carsten Esch, DL6LAU, and Vladan Kecman, YT3T/YU1AO.
>
> Montenegro declared its independence on June 3 following a national
> referendum May 21.--The Daily DX; ARRL DXCC Desk
>
> ==>EUROPEAN SPACE CAMPERS QUIZ ASTRONAUT ON SPACE LIFE, RESEARCH
>
> A group of British space campers at the Euro Space Center (ESC) in Belgium
> went right to the source via ham radio and teleconference to get answers 
> to
> their questions about life and work aboard the International Space 
> Station.
> The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program
> arranged the June 13 contact with US Astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, at
> NA1SS. One camper wanted to know whether a human space flight to Mars 
> would
> be possible by 2020, as has been projected.
>
> "Oh, I think it's realistic," Williams replied. "It depends upon the
> countries that are involved and how committed they are to the programs to
> make them happen by 2020."
>
> Answering another space camper, Williams outlined some potentially 
> practical
> benefits of the scientific research occurring onboard the ISS.
>
> "You never know when you're doing research what the benefits are going to 
> be
> until way off in the future," Williams qualified. "We are working on
> research to prevent kidney stones -- renal stones. That's very important 
> for
> us in a weightless environment, and that will have direct application to
> those on the ground."
>
> Williams said he and Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, also
> are conducting studies on bone density. Experience has shown that the
> weightless environment appears to affect bone density of astronauts and
> cosmonauts on long-term duty in space.
>
> As other ISS crew members before him have said, viewing Earth from the ISS
> is awe inspiring. "It definitely changes your vision of the world. It's a
> very humbling experience to see the earth from this vantage point," 
> Williams
> responded. "The earth is a beautiful planet from above, and it definitely
> makes you more aware of what we've been given in our world and that we 
> need
> to be good stewards of it."
>
> One questioner wanted to know if Williams saw the flashes of light in his
> eyes -- believed due to cosmic rays -- that other space travelers have
> reported. Williams said he does see them, especially when he closes his 
> eyes
> to sleep, but they're not very bothersome. "It's just a very quick flash 
> out
> of the corner of your eye," he explained.
>
> Serving as the Earth station for the contact with NA1SS was W6SRJ at Santa
> Rosa Junior College in California. Verizon Conferencing donated a
> teleconference link to handle two-way audio between the ESC and 
> California.
> Contact audio was distributed worldwide via EchoLink and IRLP.
>
> Some 60 teenaged students and their teachers from Gillingham School, 
> Dorset,
> England, were at the ESC Space Camp the week the contact took place.
> According to ARISS-Europe's Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, youngsters from many
> European countries visit the space camp, which includes a permanent Space
> Expo and an Amateur Radio club station, ON4ESC.
>
> Twenty questions were asked and answered, and there was time left over for
> Bertels to express thanks on behalf of the students, and the youngsters 
> gave
> a resounding applause. Williams signed off by encouraging the students to
> make the most of their space camp experience and suggested that some of 
> them
> might contribute to space exploration in the future.
>
> Also visiting on the day of the event were 50 French schoolchildren. A
> teacher translated the questions and the answers into French for their
> benefit.
>
> After the contact, an ARISS member conducted a half-hour 
> question-and-answer
> session with the students. Six of their questions focused on ARISS
> activities.
>
> ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is a nine-nation international educational
> outreach, with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
>
> ==>FCC AFFIRMS FINE FOR MARKETING NON-CERTIFICATED CBs AS HAM TRANSCEIVERS
>
> The FCC has affirmed a $7000 fine it proposed to levy on TravelCenters of
> America in Troutdale, Oregon, for marketing uncertificated Citizens Band
> (CB) transceivers as 10-meter Amateur Radio transceivers. In a Forfeiture
> Order (NoF) released June 29
> <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-06-1334A1.pdf>, the
> FCC turned away TravelCenters' argument that the transceivers in question
> were not CB transceivers, which require FCC certification, but Amateur 
> Radio
> transceivers, which do not. The Commission says its Office of Engineering
> and Technology (OET) determined that the radios in question --  
> manufactured
> by Galaxy -- could be easily modified to operate on CB channels.
>
> "TravelCenters provides no evidence to show that the Galaxy models it
> offered for sale were not easily modified," the FCC said in its NoF.
> "Therefore, we find that the subject Galaxy models were CB transmitters
> pursuant to Section 95.603(c), regardless of the signs TravelCenters 
> placed
> near the point of purchase." The signs advised that the units were Amateur
> Radio transceivers, not CB radios, and a license was required.
>
> In May, an FCC Order concluded a similar case in which the Commission had
> imposed $125,000 in fines on Pilot Travel Centers LLC for continuing to
> market CB transceivers labeled as Amateur Radio gear but intended for use 
> on
> both CB and amateur frequencies. Under the terms of a consent decree, 
> Pilot
> agreed to make "a voluntary contribution" of $90,000 to the US Treasury
> "without further protest or recourse," but did not admit to any 
> wrongdoing.
> Pilot further agreed to refrain from marketing as "Amateur Radio" gear any
> transmitting devices with built-in features to facilitate CB operation.
>
> The FCC required Pilot to remove from sale Galaxy transceiver models
> DX33HML, DX66V and DX99V. Those units also were among the radios the FCC
> cited in the TravelCenters proceeding. Some of the Galaxy transceivers at
> issue in the TravelCenters' case have only CB-like channel knobs and
> indicators for tuning, although the more expensive models sport a digital
> frequency readout. Most of the units transmit only in AM and FM mode.
>
> In affirming the $7000 fine, the FCC cited a 1999 letter from the FCC's
> Office of General Counsel (OGC) on the importation and marketing of ham
> radio transceivers. The OGC's letter clarified that transmitters having "a
> built-in capacity to operate on CB frequencies and can easily be altered 
> to
> activate that capacity, such as by moving or removing a jumper plug or
> cutting a single wire" fall within the definition of a CB transmitter and
> must obtain FCC certification prior to importation or marketing.
>
> The FCC also turned away TravelCenters' argument that Commission efforts 
> 10
> years ago to clarify the definition of a CB transceiver in an OET Public
> Notice violated the Administrative Procedures Act. The FCC countered that 
> it
> had relied on the OGC's letter and its interpretation of §95.603(c) as 
> well
> as the OET's recent determination regarding the specific transceiver 
> models
> in question. The Commission further noted that §95.655(a) of its rules
> states that no transmitter will be certificated for CB use if "equipped 
> with
> a frequency capability" not listed in Part 95 as CB transmitter channel
> frequencies.
>
> The TravelCenters case dates back to the fall of 2001, when an FCC agent
> visited the TravelCenters' retail store in Troutdale and observed six 
> models
> of "CB transceivers" that had not received FCC certification. The FCC's
> Portland, Oregon, Field Office issued a Citation to TravelCenters' 
> Troutdale
> store later that fall for selling non-certificated CB transceivers. It
> warned TravelCenters that future violations could lead to fines and 
> seizure
> of equipment.
>
> In July 2005 the FCC's Enforcement Bureau issued a Notice of Apparent
> Liability (NAL) proposing the $7000 fine for "apparently willfully and
> repeatedly" violating §302(b) of the Communications Act and §2.803(a)(1) 
> of
> its rules "by offering for sale a non-certified CB transceiver."
>
> ==>ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO ARES TEAMS KEEP CLOSE EYE ON WILDFIRES
>
> As firefighters gained the upper hand with the Brins Fire near Sedona,
> Arizona, and some evacuation orders have been lifted, Amateur Radio
> Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers were in a holding pattern at week's 
> end.
> The fire burned more than 4300 acres and was 90 percent contained by
> midweek.
>
> "We are essentially just in a standby mode if something should change," 
> ARRL
> Arizona SEC Rick Aldom, W7STS, told ARRL Headquarters. Two Red Cross
> evacuation centers closed over the June 24-25 weekend.
>
> Evacuations for some Oak Creek Canyon residents remained in effect at
> midweek, impacting nearly 600 homes and 40 businesses. State Rte 89A
> remained closed to the general public, but authorities reopened the 
> highway
> to residents, business owners, service providers and emergency vehicles 
> June
> 27. Individuals entering the area must provide identification.
>
> Officials believe the Brins Fire, some two miles north of Sedona in the
> Coconino National Forest, resulted from an escaped campfire. "The
> firefighters who responded to this fire have done an incredible job of
> saving not only one of the more scenic areas of Arizona, but nearly 500
> structures that were threatened," Aldom commented. "Had this fire jumped 
> the
> fire lines, it would have become really ugly, really fast."
>
> In New Mexico, Sandoval County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (SCARES) 
> was
> well into its Field Day exercise on Saturday, June 24, when Sandoval
> County's emergency manager notified District Emergency Coordinator Mike
> Scales, K5SCA, of a forest fire north of Cuba, near Gallina, in the Santa 
> Fe
> National Forest. The SCARES Field Day ended abruptly, and members went on
> standby until Scales could assess the needs at the Bear Paw fire scene.
>
> By 7 PM, Scales and Vance Loen, WV5L, were in Sandoval County's Emergency
> Communication Vehicle - "Command 7" - en route to assist with any
> evacuations and to coordinate communication among Sandoval and Rio Arriba
> counties and the US Forest Service. Until then Command 7 had been used for
> Field Day.
>
> By June 28, the Bear Paw Fire had consumed 3200 acres in sage and 
> ponderosa
> and full containment was expected by June 29. A downed power line 
> apparently
> caused the fire, but the circumstances remain under investigation. At one
> point, the fire threatened the communities of Gallina Plaza and Bear Paw,
> prompting a mandatory evacuation order for Gallina Plaza and a voluntary
> evacuation advisory for Bear Paw. State Road 96 was closed, and an
> evacuation shelter was set up in Cuba.
>
> SCARES members remained on stand-by at the scene in Command 7, while Bill
> Kauffman, W5YEJ, and Marlin Allison, K5MHA, kept an ear on the SCARES
> repeater on Pajarito Peak from Rio Rancho.
>
> At week's end, no ARES/RACES personnel were on active fire duty in New
> Mexico. "Fire season is not over," New Mexico SEC Rick Sohl, K5RIC, has
> reminded all ARES members nonetheless. Although several of the state's
> forest and range fires have been doused with rains over the past week, new
> ones continue to break out.-Charlie Christman, K5CEC; National Fire
> Information Center
>
> ==>POST YOUR FIELD DAY 2006 PHOTOS AND EXPERIENCES ON THE CONTEST SOAPBOX
>
> ARRL invites participants in ARRL Field Day 2006 to post photos and
> narratives to its Contest Soapbox <http://www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox/>
> for all to see. It's not only fun and easy, but your photos and writeup
> could become part of the annual Field Day summary that appears in December
> QST.
>
> Several participants have already taken the opportunity to tell their 
> Field
> Day tales on the ARRL Contest Soapbox, which is open to ARRL members and
> non-members alike. Narratives should focus on your or your club's or 
> group's
> involvement in Field Day.
>
> The League reserves the right to edit or even to decline postings it
> considers inappropriate for this forum. The potential audience for your 
> post
> is broad, so good taste is a must. Responsibility for all posted material
> rests solely with the author, and the ARRL staff assumes no responsibility
> for errors, omissions or accuracy of items appearing in the Contest 
> Soapbox.
>
>
> Direct any questions and comments on to the author of the post. If you 
> have
> questions or comments about using Contest Soapbox, contact the ARRL 
> Contest
> Branch <contests at arrl.org>.
>
> ==>FOLLOW WRTC-2006 VIA THE NCJ WEB SITE BLOGS
>
> The year's premier global contesting event, World Radiosport Team
> Championship 2006 (WRTC-2006) <http://www.wrtc2006.com/site/home.asp>, 
> takes
> place July 8-9 in conjunction with the IARU HF World Championship
> <http://www.iaru.org/contest.html>.
>
> Via Web logs (blogs), the National Contest Journal (NCJ) is giving you a
> front-row seat as top-notch contesters in two-person teams from around the
> world compete on HF from Brazil on as level a playing field as possible. 
> The
> contest period is 1200 UTC Saturday, July 8, until 1200 UTC Sunday, July 
> 9.
> Winners will be announced Monday, July 10, at the awards dinner.
>
> The NCJ WRTC-2006 blogs will include the musings and general comments of
> WRTC-2006 competitors, referees and log checkers. We invite NCJ readers to
> post their comments as well.
>
> Access the blogs from the NCJ home page <http://www.ncjweb.com/> or from 
> the
> WRTC-2006 coverage section <http://www.ncjweb.com/wrtc2006blogs.php>.
> Postings have already begun and will continue -- on a time-available 
> basis,
> since the contributors do have WRTC-2006 responsibilities -- until 
> WRTC-2006
> wraps up.
>
> Blog contributors are: Doug Grant, K1DG; Randy Thompson, K5ZD; Jeff 
> Briggs,
> K1ZM; Ann Santos, WA1S; Tim Duffy, K3LR; Eric Scace, K3NA; Glenn Johnson,
> W0GJ; Ward Silver, N0AX; Dean Straw, N6BV; Tree Tyree, N6TR; Rusty Epps,
> W6OAT, and Dale Green, VE7SV.
>
> The National Contest Journal thanks these contributors for being willing 
> to
> share their personal WRTC-2006 experiences with the Amateur Radio 
> community.
> Also, thanks to Bruce Horn, WA7BNM, for suggesting this blog and putting 
> it
> on the NCJ Web site, and to the ARRL for shipping 300 copies of the 
> special
> WRTC-2006 July/August NCJ issue to Brazil.
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Solar swami "You Are My Sunshine" Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
> reports: There were no sunspots for Field Day weekend, but a big new 
> sunspot
> (897) rotated into view this week. Followed by sunspot 898, it looks like 
> a
> moderately rising solar flux and sunspot number will be with us through 
> July
> 6.
>
> A solar wind stream caused elevated geomagnetic numbers on June 28 and 29,
> and this may happen again around July 3-5. Geophysical Institute Prague
> predicts quiet conditions over June 30 to July 3, quiet to unsettled on 
> July
> 4, unsettled to active on July 5, and unsettled on July 6.
>
> For more information concerning propagation and an explanation of the
> numbers used in this bulletin see the ARRL Technical Information Service
> Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.
>
> Sunspot numbers for June 22 through 28 were 0, 0, 0, 13, 14, 33 and 38, 
> with
> a mean of 14. The 10.7 cm flux was 72.1, 71.8, 73.6, 74, 76.4, 78.5, and
> 83.5, with a mean of 75.7. Estimated planetary A indices were 6, 2, 4, 5, 
> 3,
> 6 and 18, with a mean of 6.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 6, 1, 
> 2,
> 3, 1, 7 and 12, with a mean of 4.6.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The RAC Canada Day Contest is July 1. The
> Venezuelan Independence Day Contest, the DL-DX RTTY Contest, the Original
> QRP Contest, the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of July 
> 1-2.
> The RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW) is July 3. The ARS Spartan Sprint
> is July 4. The MI QRP July 4th CW Sprint is July 4-5. JUST AHEAD: The
> VK/Trans-Tasman 160-Meter Contest (phone) is July 8. The IARU HF World
> Championship, the FISTS Summer Sprint, the Six Club Contest and the ARCI
> Summer Homebrew Sprint are the weekend of July 8-9. The RSGB 80-Meter Club
> Championship (SSB) is July 12. The Thursday NCCC Sprint Ladder is July 14.
> 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 Friday July 7, 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-003R2) Antenna Modeling (EC-004) HF
> Digital Communications (EC-005) VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the Repeater 
> (EC-008)
> and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011) Classes begin Friday, July 21. To
> learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
> <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department
> <cce at arrl.org>.
>
> * ARRL, IARU HQ mults will be on the air for IARU HF World Championship:
> During the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HF World Championship
> Contest July 8-9, W1AW/4 will provide the ARRL Headquarters multiplier 
> from
> Tennessee, with the Tennessee Contest Group hosting the operation. 
> Supplying
> the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) HQ multiplier will be 
> NU1AW/8,
> operating from sites in Michigan and Ohio, hosted by Dave Pruett, K8CC, 
> and
> friends from the Mad River Radio Club and the North Coast Contesters. The
> World Radiosport Team Championship 2006 (WRTC 2006) in Brazil takes place
> concurrently with the IARU HF World Championship, although WRTC rules 
> differ
> in some respects from those of the IARU event, and scoring is separate. 
> IARU
> HF World Championship Contest rules are on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2006/iaru.html>.
>
> * WRTC-2006 requests IARU HF World Championship logs: World Radiosport 
> Team
> Championship 2006 (WRTC-2006) <http://www.wrtc2006.com/> officials want as
> many logs as possible from IARU HF World Championship
> <http://www.iaru.org/contest.html> participants within six hours of the
> event's end. The WRTC-2006 competition among 47 top contesting teams from
> around the globe takes place in Brazil July 8-9, coinciding with the IARU 
> HF
> World Championship event. Because WRTC-2006 winners will be announced on
> July 10, event organizers want IARU contest logs enhance the accuracy of
> WRTC-2006 log checking. WRTC-2006 is especially interested in logs from HQ
> stations, since these serve as multipliers for both events. E-mail 
> complete
> IARU HF World Championship logs in Cabrillo format by 1800 UTC Sunday, 
> July
> 9, to <logs at wrtc2006.com>. WRTC-2006 has announced a lottery and prizes 
> for
> early receipt of IARU contest logs 
> <http://www.wrtc2006.com/release52.html>.
> Note that submission of IARU contest logs does not constitute an official
> entry for the IARU HF World Championship. That is an entirely separate
> entry, and the usual deadline and submission requirements apply.
> [WRTC-2006-logo.jpg]
>
> * ARRL "DXCC Dialog" blog debuts: The ARRL DXCC Desk has inaugurated the
> "DXCC Dialog Weblog" <http://www.arrl.org/blog/DXCC%20Dialog> - containing
> news and notes about the ARRL DXCC program. "This page will have 
> up-to-date
> information about the DXCC program," says ARRL Membership Services Manager
> Wayne Mills, N7NG. "It does not provide for users to post responses, but
> authors and e-mail addresses are listed." The blog will be updated as 
> needed
> to inform and update the DXing community regarding news of interest.
>
> * Field Day at W1AW slide show available: A slide show, "Field Day at 
> W1AW,"
> now is available on the ARRL Web site
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/FD2006-W1AW/>. Photographed and produced
> during Field Day 2006 by ARRL Web/Software Development Manager Jon Bloom,
> KE3Z, the 4-1/2 minute presentation "was created to give members a feel 
> for
> what happens at W1AW on Field Day," he says. It also provides a peek 
> inside
> W1AW for those who have never visited. "The slide show is presented using
> Adobe Flash format. Adobe Flash Player 7 or later and a compatible Web
> browser are needed to play the slide show," he notes, adding that most
> computers already have a copy of Flash Player installed. If not, Flash
> Player is a free for download from Adobe
> <http://www.adobe.com/go/gntray_dl_getflashplayer>. The show can be played
> directly from the Web site in either a large format - suitable for 
> broadband
> Web users - or in a smaller format more attuned to dial-up Internet
> connections.
>
> * Educator astronaut gets on the air for Kids Day: NASA Educator Astronaut
> Dottie Metcalf-Lindenburger, KE5DAT, spent an hour or so on the air June 
> 17
> talking to youngsters around the US during ARRL Kids Day. She spoke with
> about a dozen kids and ham radio operators from W5RRR at the Johnson Space
> Center in Houston. Assisting her at the microphone was Kent Castle, W5OJ,
> who spent several hours on 20 meters before and after KE5DAT's visit,
> chatting with youngsters taking part in the twice-a-year activity.
> Metcalf-Lindenburger joined the NASA Astronaut Corps in 2004.--Kenneth
> Ransom, N5VHO
>
> * New IRC available July 1: The Universal Postal Union (UPU) has announced
> that a new International Reply Coupon (IRC) design
> <http://www.dailydx.com/2007irc.jpg> has been selected. Radio amateurs 
> often
> enclose IRCs when QSLing DX stations directly to cover the cost of return
> postage. The new design, known as "Beijing Model No. 2," was submitted by
> Volodymyr Taran, a graphic artist from Ukraine. Chosen by a jury of 40 UPU
> member countries, the coupon design was inspired by Michelangelo's 
> painting
> on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel -- two fingers about to touch framed 
> in
> a postage stamp, representing the notions of communication and exchange. 
> The
> new IRC will be valid until December 31, 2009. The current IRC is valid
> through December 31, 2006. For more information on IRCs, see the June 1999
> issue of QST (page 83).--The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>
>
> Correction regarding Director/Vice Director eligibility: The July QST "It
> Seems to Us . . ." editorial misstates the eligibility requirements to run
> for ARRL Director and Vice Director. The membership/licensing requirements
> are four years of continuous full membership and four years of continuous
> holding of a valid authorization as a radio amateur in accordance with the
> applicable laws and regulations of the United States immediately preceding
> nomination.
>
> ===========================================================
> 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.
>
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