[TCARC-NTX] ARRL Letter

[David Johnson]

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 22, No. 40
October 10, 2003
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Broadcasters express BPL concerns
* +It's Round 2 in the Morse code debate
* +3C0V DXpedition ends abruptly and mysteriously
* +Concerted effort to track down unlicensed 10-meter operations
continues
* +73 Amateur Radio Today ceases publication
* +Legendary DXpeditioner Danny Weil, ex-VP2VB, SK
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Emergency Communications Course registration
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
     ARRL to sponsor ARECC/ARES seminar in Minnesota
    +Florida group poses "Tampa Bay Challenge" to raise funds to fight
BPL
     ARRL Recognizes Special Donors
     Attention clubs! Time to check your ARRL affiliation status
     Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award

+Available on ARRL Audio News

===========================================================

==>WORLD'S BROADCASTERS JOIN ANTI-BPL CHORUS

A subcommittee of an International Telecommunication Union (ITU)
<http://www.itu.org/> panel of technical experts responsible for
terrestrial broadcasting issues has joined a growing chorus of concern
about the interference potential of power line telecommunication
(PLT)--better known in the US as Broadband over Power Line (BPL). ITU
Radiocommunication Sector (ITU-R) Sub Working Group (SWG) 6E1 expressed
the view that interference produced by systems employing PLT as well as
by Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) equipment and short-range
devices, would compromise broadcast reception.

"SWG 6E1 is of the opinion that any increase in the amount of noise due
to these systems is unacceptable," said a statement from the group's
chairman to the chairman of Working Party 6E (WP 6E). "In particular,
broadcast services should be protected from unwanted emissions from PLT
systems," the panel asserted, "as these emissions are a byproduct of a
system that is not itself a user of the radio spectrum." The panel
recommended the formation of a group representing all users of the radio
spectrum "to coordinate development of limits to be imposed on the
radiation from these systems."

WP 6E says it will continue to study the effects of PLT/BPL, ISM
equipment and short-range devices on terrestrial broadcasting and send
the results to ITU-R Working Party 1A, which is responsible for spectrum
engineering techniques. WP 1A is scheduled to meet in Geneva October 30
to November 5.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, expressed strong
support and appreciation for the SWG's conclusions and the ongoing
efforts of parent Working Party 6E to study the issue. "If BPL is a
problem for broadcasters," Sumner said, "it's easy to see that it would
be a disaster for us."

Broadcasters themselves also have exhibited increased concern about the
potential of PLT/BPL to prevent their signals from reaching listeners.
The Research and Development branch of the highly regarded British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has released a White Paper
<http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd/pubs/whp/whp067.html> reporting on a brief
trial in Scotland. The two competing PLT/BPL systems in operation in the
town of Crieff both interfered with HF reception. Tests were conducted
at four locations.

"The forms of access PLT that were tested in Crieff were found to have
demonstrable potential to cause interference to indoor reception of
broadcasting in relevant bands," the White Paper concluded. Significant
interference even occurred in one residential area with an underground
power distribution cable. BBC engineers described the interference as
varying between "annoying" and "a level sufficient to make the broadcast
completely unintelligible." Before commercially licensing PLT, the
report advised, regulators need to undertake further study of other PLT
systems and, among other issues, look into possible ways to make the PLT
systems compatible with radio reception.

A report prepared by the Australian Communications Authority (ACA),
Broadband Powerline Communications Systems--A Background Brief
<http://www.aca.gov.au/radcomm/frequency_planning/spps/0311spp.pdf>,
concluded that "a potential risk to HF radiocommunications services from
the widespread use of broadband powerline communications systems"
appeared to exist. Citing BPL trials in the US, Europe and Asia, the ACA
brief said, "The results of these trials have not alleviated concerns
over the potential interference risk to radiocommunications."

ARRL's comments <http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/>,
reply comments
<http://www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/et03-104/reply-comments-index.h
tm
l > and technical exhibits filed with the FCC in response to the
Commission's Notice of Inquiry (ET Docket ET 03-104) are available on
the ARRL Web site. See also the article "BPL is a Pandora's Box of
Unprecedented Proportions, ARRL Tells FCC"
<http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2003/07/08/1/>. Additional
information and video clips are on the ARRL "Power Line Communications
(PLC) and Amateur Radio" page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>.

To support the League's efforts in the BPL fight, visit the ARRL's
secure BPL Web site
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>.

==>FCC INVITES COMMENTS ON ADDITIONAL MORSE CODE-RELATED PETITIONS

The FCC has sounded the bell to begin Round 2 of the Morse code debate
by inviting public comment on another group of seven Morse-related
petitions for rulemaking. The FCC put the petitions on public notice
October 8, and comments are due by November 7. Members of the amateur
community may make their opinions known on any or all of these filings
using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. The petitions are RM-10805 through
RM-10811. To summarize:

* Charles L. Young Jr, AG4YO, asks the FCC to delete the 5 WPM Morse
code test (Element 1) for Technician-plus-Element 1 privileges (formerly
"Tech Plus"). Designated RM-10805, his petition would retain Element 1
as an examination requirement for General and Amateur Extra applicants
and give Technicians limited HF SSB privileges.

* Describing CW as "the purest, most accurate, efficient, reliable and
economical form of radio communications ever devised," Frank Napurano,
K2OKA, requests that the FCC retain the 5 WPM Morse requirement "in the
interest of public safety, the preservation of a radio art and as a
tribute of support for a prized and respected avocation." The FCC
designated his filing as RM-10806.

* A petition by Robert G. Rightsell, AE4FA and Harry A.M. Kholer, N0PU,
designated RM-10807, would continue Morse testing but give applicants up
to 24 points of exam credit according to their success on Element 1. The
final exam score would be the sum of earned Element 1 points and the
written test score for a possible total of 100 points. Their petition
also calls on the FCC to consolidate the Novice and Technician and the
Advanced and Amateur Extra licenses, boost the number and range of
written test questions and give new Technicians CW and data privileges.

* Joseph Speroni, AH0A, seeks to have the FCC delete Element 1 for
applicants who want to operate phone on HF but retain Element 1 at 5 WPM
for applicants who want to operate CW. Designated RM-10808, his petition
would restructure the Amateur Radio testing regime to require specific
knowledge of "RTTY, data, image, spread spectrum, pulse/test, RACES/ARES
and space communications only for those wishing to operate these modes."
Under Speroni's plan, applicants would be under no obligation to pass
mode-specific examination elements for mode privileges they don't wish
to operate.

* The Puerto Rico Amateur Radio League (PRARL) asks the FCC to delete
Element 1 for Technician and General classes but to increase the rigor
of the written elements for those two license classes. The PRARL would
keep the 5 WPM Morse exam for Extra applicants. The PRARL also would
eliminate same-session retesting and require 30 days between retakes.
The petition is designated RM-10809.

* James Roux, W4YA, proposes in his petition, designated RM-10810, that
the FCC cut the number of license classes to two--General and Amateur
Extra--and the number of written examination elements to one--at the
General level. Roux's petition would eliminate the 5 WPM Morse code exam
for General but require Extra applicants to pass a 15 WPM test. Roux
also would give Generals all currently available amateur privileges
except the Extra-class CW subbands.

* A petition filed on behalf of FISTS CW Club <http://www.fists.org>
would delete the requirement to pass Element 1 to obtain Technician plus
Element 1 (ie, "Tech Plus") HF privileges. Designated RM-10811, it would
merge Tech and Tech Plus into a single class, emphasize technical
content, including digital modes, on written examinations and extend
digital mode privileges within Novice/Tech Plus subbands. It would not
provide additional HF phone privileges for Technicians, however. The
FISTS petition would retain a 5 WPM Morse exam for General applicants
and raise the Morse exam to 12 WPM for Amateur Extra applicants while
increasing the technical level on written examinations for both classes.

The FISTS CW Club petition had attracted more than 230 comments by
week's end. In all, the FCC had recorded a total of approximately 500
comments on the seven petitions as of October 10.

Interested parties may file comments on any or all of these petitions
using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS)
<http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>, which also permits users to view all
comments on file.

To file a comment, click on "Submit a Filing" under "ECFS Main Links."
In the "Proceeding" field, type the full RM number and complete the
required fields. "RM" must be in capital letters, and you must include
the hyphen between "RM" and the five-digit number. You may type your
remarks into a form or attach a file. ECFS also accepts comments in
active proceedings via e-mail, per instructions on the ECFS page.

To view filed comments, click on "Search for Filed Comments" under "ECFS
Main Links" and type in the complete RM number, including the hyphen, in
the "Proceeding" field. "RM" must be in capital letters.

==>ANNOBON ISLAND DXPEDITION SHUT DOWN

The Annobon Island 3C0V DXpedition
<http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/ea5yn/> ended abruptly October
4. Local officials reportedly ordered the operators to shut down and
vacate the tiny, mountainous South Atlantic island. The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com> reports that at least three of the 3C0V
operators have left Annobon--a part of Equatorial Guinea and located in
the Gulf of Guinea off Africa's west coast--while one remained at last
report. The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, got word of a very
brief telephone call October 6 from the DXpedition to pilot station Gaby
Mardiros, OD5NJ.

"Gaby received a 10 second phone call from EA5BYP, Elmo [Bernabe], who
reported that 'the military soldiers allowed only the three operators to
go back to Spain,'" McClenny said, adding that it appeared that that
Franz Langner, DJ9ZB, Victor Polo, EA5FO, and Vicente Pastor, EA5YN, had
been released but that EA5BYP--the team leader--would be remaining on
the island. McClenny said the telephone call was cut off before Mardiros
could obtain additional information. At week's end, The Daily DX
reported that Langner was safely back in Germany, but there was no word
concerning the other three operators.

Some initial reports indicated that local authorities had given the
DXpeditioners 24 hours to pack up and get off Annobon "or else,"
McClenny said. The details surrounding the shutdown remain a mystery,
however.

The 3C0V operation took to the air September 26. Although struggling
with technical, antenna and weather issues, it was expected to remain
operational until October 11. The team had managed to log numerous
contacts on 20, 17, 15, 12 and 10 meters but had not yet activated the
lower bands.

Also known as Pagalu, Annobon was the site of the 1999 3C0R DXpedition
<http://web.jet.es/lynx/annobon/annobon.htm> in which EA5BYP and EA5YN
also participated.

==>PUSH TO IDENTIFY UNLICENSED 10-METER OPERATORS CONTINUES

A concerted effort begun last spring to monitor for and possibly
identify unlicensed operators on 10 meters will continue through
October. The FCC already has asked the ARRL Amateur Auxiliary/Official
Observers <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/oo.html> for assistance.
Now, FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth is inviting hard
information on suspected interlopers from all amateurs.

"If I don't receive reports, we'll have to conclude that unlicensed
operation on 10 meters no longer is a problem," Hollingsworth said this
week. Hollingsworth's initial request to beef up monitoring came in the
wake of complaints from the amateur community that rose to the level of
a major enforcement headache. He's expressed some disappointment,
however, that the number of solid reports received so far has been few,
although he's aware that a problem exists.

Hollingsworth asks amateurs to be specific in what they report.
"Everybody should police their own neighborhood," he suggested. "Turn on
the radio, and take a listen on the band. If you hear a loud signal
that's obviously an unlicensed interloper, see if you can track it
down."

Hollingsworth said that in the case of a suspected unlicensed trucker on
the highway, amateurs should try to get the license plate number of the
tractor--not the trailer--or at least the company name and, if possible,
the DOT number.

The FCC does not require direction-finding data but would appreciate,
where possible, names and addresses of alleged or suspected operators.
Audio recordings of apparently illegal transmissions also can prove
helpful.

Individual amateurs with solid information on alleged unlicensed
operation on 10 or even 12 meters should report it to the FCC via e-mail
<fccham@fcc.gov>. Official Observers should file their reports through
normal ARRL channels.

ARRL Field and Regulatory Correspondent Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, says the
FCC wants to pin down specific areas where unlicensed operation is
prevalent in the US. He and Hollingsworth concede, however, that not all
illegal 10-meter operation is of domestic origin.

The FCC's initial request last May request was made in accordance with
the Communications Act and a longstanding agreement between ARRL and the
FCC regarding the use of Amateur Radio volunteers to assist in
enforcement.

==>73 MAGAZINE SAYS "73 AND QRT"

After completing 43 years of publication, 73 Amateur Radio Today
magazine is calling it quits. Plans to publish a joint October/November
issue fell through this week, and the September 2003 issue was the
magazine's last. According to self-proclaimed "El Supremo and Founder"
Wayne S. Green II, W2NSD, it was a simple matter of economics.

"After failing a last minute effort to collect on some larger accounts
receivable we decided yesterday to throw in the towel--that the
September issue will have to be the last," Green told ARRL October 9.
"SK after 43 years of publishing."

The first issue of 73 was published in October 1960 from what Green--a
former editor of CQ--once described as "a small, dingy apartment" in
Brooklyn, New York. Since the summer of 1962, 73 has been based in
Peterborough, New Hampshire--Green's home state. The magazine was a
pioneer promoter of SSB, FM, solid-state, easy construction projects and
the marriage of personal computing and Amateur Radio. His interest in
microcomputing led Green in 1975 to found Byte, a magazine devoted to
the then-nascent and largely do-it-yourself computer hobby.

At the peak of its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s, individual issues
of 73 totaled more than 300 pages of ads, articles and commentary.
Heading each issue was Green's inimitable "Never Say Die"--some would
say never-ending--editorial, in which he rarely missed an opportunity to
tweak the ARRL and his magazine competitors for their perceived
shortcomings.

QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, says 73 published his first article in
the 1970s. "I was saddened to hear that 73 has ceased publishing," Ford
said. "Wayne's excitement about the growing amateur FM repeater
phenomenon at the time was infectious."

Green's 73 editorials and regular round of personal appearances
originally concentrated on Amateur Radio and his ideas to improve,
advance and grow it. In recent years, however, they've veered into
conspiracy theories, cures for cancer, AIDS and other ailments and
Green's proliferation of book titles on those topics.

Green says he'll continue his essays on his Web site
<http://www.waynegreen.com> "for those subscribers who mainly bought the
magazine for them." He told ARRL that no definite arrangements have been
made yet about how to handle outstanding 73 subscriptions.

CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, said he takes no joy from the passing of
73. "The loss of any publication serving Amateur Radio leaves all of us
a bit poorer," he said. "Thank you, Wayne, for 43 entertaining,
informative, sometimes infuriating, and always interesting years of 73.
We'll genuinely miss it."

==>LEGENDARY DXPEDITIONER DANNY WEIL, ex-VP2VB, SK

DXer Danny Weil, ex-VP2VB, of YASME fame died October 3. He was 85. The
British-born Weil was active under a variety of call signs in the 1950s
and early 1960s while sailing one of three YASME yachts. His adventures
inspired a generation of Amateur Radio DXers as he operated from various
exotic ports of call. Late last year, Weil suffered a stroke and had
been living in an extended-care facility in San Antonio, Texas.

The DXploits of Weil and of Lloyd and Iris Colvin, W6KG and W6QL, are
the subject of the book YASME, The Danny Weil and Colvin Radio
Expeditions <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?category=&words=Yasme>, by
James D. Cain, K1TN. Commissioned by the YASME Foundation
<http://www.yasme.org/> and published by ARRL, the book became available
for the first time last spring at the International DX Convention in
Visalia, California.

A veteran of the Royal Air Force and inspired by Thor Heyerdahl's
Kon-Tiki voyages of the late 1940s, Weil completed his first solo
crossing of the Atlantic in 1954, landing in Antigua. He came to
appreciate the potential value of Amateur Radio as a means of
communication on future voyages and at one point contacted the ARRL
about getting a ham ticket. As it turned out, Weil--a watch and
clockmaker by trade--ended up largely teaching himself the radio theory
and Morse code he needed to know to obtain a British Amateur Radio
license.

As Cain's book relates, among Weil's early ham radio acquaintances was
Dick Spenceley, KV4AA--an Amateur Radio legend in his own right--who
mentored Weil during his studies. It was Spenceley who also first
appreciated the potential benefits for Amateur Radio if Weil could get
on the air from various rare spots as he sailed the globe.
Spenceley--who died in 1982--eventually secured the ham gear that Weil
would use on the first YASME voyage, which began in 1955 and took him to
the South Pacific.

Weil personally described some of his adventures in his only QST
article, "Yasme II to Aves Island," which appeared in the December 1958
issue. He operated from a tent on the beach as YV0AB.

One of the original inductees into the CQ DX Hall of Fame, Weil
eventually gave up Amateur Radio. In the 1960s, he married an
American--his wife, Naomi predeceased him--settled in Texas and became a
US citizen.

A memorial service was held October 8 in San Antonio. Memorial
contributions are invited to the Wild Animal Orphanage, PO Box 690422,
San Antonio, TX 78269. More information about Danny Weil is available on
the Danny Weil, VP2VB, page <http://www.qsl.at/common/weil.html>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Propagation prognosticator Tad "Hey, Mister Sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
Washington, reports: Average daily solar flux and sunspot numbers
dropped this week. The average daily sunspot number was 86.7, and the
average daily solar flux was 115.8. This week also represents the second
in a row in which geomagnetic indices have dropped, indicating a quiet
and stable Earth environment for HF radio propagation.

Currently we are within a solar windstream, but a north-pointing
interplanetary magnetic field keeps geomagnetic activity to a minimum.
Current projections from the US Air Force show stable geomagnetic
conditions over the next few days, with planetary A index around 10 from
October 10-12. Following this weekend on Monday, it shows planetary A
index rising to 30 for October 13-14.

Predicted solar flux from the Air Force is 105 for October 10-11, 100
for October 12, and 95 for October 13-14. Following this is a rise in
solar flux, passing 110 around October 16, 120 on October 18, 130 on
October 21, and 135 on October 25-26. These are rough estimates based
upon the last solar rotation.

Sunspot numbers for October 2 through 8 were 75, 104, 89, 101, 93, 76
and 69, with a mean of 86.7. The 10.7-cm flux was 124.8, 120.1, 119,
109.6, 112.1, 111.9 and 113.3, with a mean of 115.8. Estimated planetary
A indices were 9, 16, 9, 9, 10, 13 and 9, with a mean of 10.7.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The North American Sprint (RTTY), Oceania
DX Contest (CW), Autumn Sprint (CW), Pennsylvania QSO Party, FISTS Fall
Sprint, Iberoamericano Contest are the weekend of October 11-12. The
YLRL Anniversary Party (SSB) is October 15-17. JUST AHEAD: The JARTS
World Wide RTTY Contest, the ARCI Fall QSO Party, the Worked All Germany
Contest, the W/VE Islands QSO Party, the Asia-Pacific Sprint (CW), the
RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (CW) and the Illinois QSO Party are the weekend
of October 18-19. 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 Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration opens
Monday, October 13, 12:01 AM Eastern Daylight Time (0401 UTC), for the
Level II Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-002). Registration
remains open through the October 18-19 weekend or until all seats are
filled--whichever occurs first. Class begins Tuesday, October 28. Thanks
to our grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community
Service and the United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration
fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion
of the course. During this registration period, approximately 50 seats
are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis.
To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education
(C-CE) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page and the C-CE Links found
there. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course
Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org, 860-594-0340.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration for the ARRL Antenna Modeling (EC-004) course opens Monday,
October 13, 12:01 AM EDT (0401 UTC), and remains open through Sunday,
October 19. Class begins Tuesday, October 21. Those interested in taking
an ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) course in the
future can sign up receive advance e-mail notification of registration
opportunities. To take advantage, send an e-mail to prereg@arrl.org. On
the subject line, indicate the course name or number (eg, EC-00#) and
the month you want to start the course. In the message body, provide
your name, call sign, and e-mail address. Please do not send inquiries
to this mailbox.  To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and
Continuing Education <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce> and the C-CE links found there.

* ARRL to sponsor ARECC/ARES seminar in Minnesota: The ARRL will offer a
free Amateur Radio Emergency Communications seminar Saturday, October
25, in conjunction with Hamfest Minnesota
<http://www.hamfestmn.org/index.htm>
at the Wilkins Auditorium at River Center in St Paul. The seminar will
not include the Level I course itself. This program is designed to
explain in greater detail the duties of all Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Course participants and how their volunteer efforts are
essential to the ARES field organization. "This seminar will explain the
importance of every team player with emphasis on using lessons learned
to effectively move Amateur Radio emergency communications to the next
level," said ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller,
K3UFG. All ARES volunteers, ARECC course participants, and ARRL field
organization leadership are invited. Course participants at every ARECC
level--mentors, certification instructors, certification examiners and
current students--will be encouraged to come and share with everyone
their experiences with the ARECC Program. "We will focus on coordination
between ARECC volunteers and students, and their integration into the
field organization, helping us to provide the community impact stressed
by CNCS for Year 2," Miller added. The seminar will be held from 12:30
to 4:30 PM on Saturday, October 25. Seating may be limited. Those
planning to attend should contact Dan Miller <k3ufg@arrl.org>,
860-594-0340; fax 860-594-0259. Seminar attendance does not include
hamfest admission.

* Florida group poses "Tampa Bay Challenge" to raise funds to fight BPL:
The Florida Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Council (FGCARC) has voted to
donate $1 to the ARRL's Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Defense Fund
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/> for every person
attending the West Central Florida Section Convention (Tampa Bay
Hamfest) <http://www.fgcarc.org/> on December 6-7. "The theme of the
hamfest this year is 'In protection of Amateur Radio,' and the entire
back of each ticket will be dedicated to this donation and the need to
raise money for the BPL Defense Fund," said ARRL West Central Florida
Section Manager Dave Armbrust, AE4MR. The Council has issued a challenge
to all other major hamfests to make similar pledges. Armbrust said he
anticipates the donation from the FGCARC to be in the vicinity of $2500.

* ARRL Recognizes Special Donors: ARRL's Development Office held its
second donor recognition event of the year September 15 at the Kellogg
Conference Center of Gallaudet University in Washington DC. ARRL
President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, and host, Robert
Weinstock, W3RQ, were among those on hand to greet donors and the guest
of honor, US Rep Mike Ross, WD5DVR, of Arkansas. Ross is one of two
Amateur Radio licensees serving in Congress. The other is Rep Greg
Walden, WB7OCE, of Oregon. In his remarks, Ross talked about the
importance of Amateur Radio while he was growing up in Prescott,
Arkansas, where, he said, he learned two things: How to ride a unicycle
and how to be a radio amateur. Among the 680,000 voters Ross represents
are many hams, whom he encounters as he tours his district, covering up
to 5000 miles each month. Ross also discussed his commitment to
education, based on his parents' careers as teachers, a message that
resonated with attendees, some of whom are contributors to the ARRL
Education and Technology Program ("The Big
Project") that funds Amateur Radio in some 50 schools across the US.
Ross also expressed his dedication to advocating on Amateur Radio's
behalf and to working with ARRL to expand the reach and voice for
Amateur Radio in "Official Washington."

* Attention clubs! Time to check your ARRL affiliation status: It's time
for ARRL-affiliated clubs to check and update their ARRL affiliation
status. Don't let your club affiliation lapse! To report changes in club
data, visit "The Affiliated Club Annual Report Form" page on the ARRL
Web site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/forms/fsd2/>. Follow the
instructions under the heading "How to submit an update for your club
records." ARRL will update its club affiliation database as soon as it
receives new data, and updated listings typically appear on the ARRL Web
site within 24 hours. Renewing Special Service clubs should complete
Form FSD-7--Application for Renewal as an ARRL Special Service Club
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/forms/fsd7/renewal.html>. For
more information, visit the ARRL Club Companion Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/> or contact Margie Bourgoin,
KB1DCO, kb1dco@arrl.org; 860-594-0267.

* Vote on QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque
Award for September was H. Ward Silver, N0AX, for his article "Amplifier
Care and Maintenance." Congratulations, Ward! The winner of the QST
Cover Plaque award--given to the author--or authors--of the best article
in each issue--is determined by a vote of ARRL members. Voting takes
place each month on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qstvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your
favorite article in the October issue of QST. Voting ends October 31.