*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 12 March 19, 2004 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +BPL comment deadlines set * +ARRL on-line Technician course debuts * +NA1SS makes first school group contact with Scotland * +Hamvention 2004 award winners include past ARRL president * +Iowa ham club is "Daily Point of Light" for March 29 * +Ice destroys R0PA site; scientists rescued * +Les Moxon, G6XN, SK * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Bogus ARRL.net messages still circulating FCC proposes to correct VEC filing errors Amateur Radio represented at National Hurricane Conference AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and Annual Meeting set +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== NOTE: Because of vacation schedules, the March 26 editions of The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News will be distributed Thursday, March 25. =========================================================== ==>ARRL URGES "THOUGHTFUL, CONSIDERED COMMENTS" ON PROPOSED BPL RULES Comments on the FCC Broadband over Power Line (BPL) Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM) in ET Dockets 03-104 and 04-37 are due by Monday, May 3. The deadline for reply comments--comments on comments filed by others--is Tuesday, June 1. The ARRL will comment by the deadline on the FCC's proposals to amend its Part 15 rules to adopt new requirements and measurement guidelines for so-called "Access BPL" systems that provide broadband access via electric utility power lines. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, says the League recommends that members read the NPRM and develop their own thoughtful, considered comments that specifically address the FCC's BPL proposals, reflect positively on the amateur community and, if possible, offer alternative recommendations. He asked amateurs to keep four things in mind, however. "First, this is not a proceeding to 'permit' or 'authorize' BPL," he said. "BPL is already permitted under the existing Part 15 rules." Second, Sumner pointed out, the NPRM reaffirms that licensed services must be protected from harmful interference and are not required to protect BPL systems. "This is good, but we can't take it for granted that the principle will be honored in practice," he said. "Third," Sumner went on, "the NPRM proposes additional, new constraints on BPL to protect licensed services. The FCC did not go far enough, but at least the proposals aim in the right direction." Finally, while the League continues to believe firmly that BPL is "a very bad idea," arguing that the FCC should ban BPL "will not get us anywhere," he concluded. Instead, Sumner says, amateurs must document beyond any doubt the levels of protection that must be given to over-the-air services, then leave it for others to decide whether BPL is feasible within those limits. "We need to prove that the risk of interference is significantly greater than the BPL proponents say it is," Sumner said. He also asserted that the FCC's proposed "interference mitigation" requirements fall far short of providing real protection from harmful interference, and that the Commission is ignoring the practical problems that will arise when Amateur Radio transmissions disrupt BPL systems. Carrier current systems like BPL are subject to the FCC's Part 15 rules governing unlicensed devices, and the FCC has acknowledged that "amateur operations are likely to present a difficult challenge" to BPL deployment, especially in the case of hams--an estimated 150,000 of them--who use high-gain antennas sited near power lines. The proposed rules remain silent on the issue of mitigating BPL interference to the estimated 70,000 Amateur Radio HF mobile stations. Interference mitigation for mobile stations "is clearly impractical," Sumner asserted. "Since BPL systems operating at the present Part 15 limit cause harmful interference to mobiles, the only solution is an absolute limit on radiated emissions that is lower than the present limit." He said the ARRL was in the process of determining scientifically what the limit must be. Sumner further noted that the NPRM does not mandate a publicly accessible BPL database to facilitate interference mitigation for fixed stations. In addition, the League wants the FCC to establish performance standards for BPL interference mitigation. "There must be severe enforcement penalties for failure to resolve a complaint in real time and for failure to maintain the database," he said. The League encourages anyone, particularly radio amateurs, who has actually experienced BPL interference to file detailed comments documenting the interference. "BPL proponents claim they are not getting interference complaints," Sumner noted. "If we let them claim their systems are 'clean' when we know they aren't, shame on us." Interested individuals and organizations may file comments via the Internet, using the FCC's Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS) <http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs/>. In an unusual move, the FCC has added another docket number to the BPL proceeding. That could complicate filing comments and may lead to some confusion. Although the original FCC BPL Notice of Inquiry last April bore ET Docket 03-104, the recent BPL NPRM carries an additional docket number--ET Docket 04-37. The ARRL advises those posting comments to use the main ECFS page and file their comments on both proceedings--ET Docket 03-104 and ET Docket 04-37. When submitting a comment or viewing filed comments, ECFS users should type "03-104" or "04-37" (without quotation marks but including the hyphen) in the "Proceeding" field of the ECFS on-line form. Do not use the NPRM's FCC document number when filing or searching for comments. The ECFS permits attaching a file containing detailed comments prepared off-line. ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, will discuss the various implications of BPL with overnight radio talk show host Art Bell, W6OBB, on the Saturday, March 20, edition of the syndicated interview and call-in program Coast to Coast AM <http://www.coasttocoastam.com/>. Their interview is scheduled to air during the show's first hour (Sunday, March 21, 0600 UTC). The toll-free call-in number for Western US listeners is 800-618-8255. For Eastern US listeners it's 800-825-5033. First-time callers may use 775-727-1222. The "Wild Card Line"--for any caller--is 775-727-1295. The popular program, distributed by Premiere Radio Networks, airs live nightly from 10 PM until 2 AM Pacific Time on 430 stations and is available in every state. It's also available via the Web <http://www.coasttocoastam.com/streamlink/about.html>. ==>ARRL LAUNCHES ON-LINE TECHNICIAN CLASS Thanks to the League's new on-line Technician Class Course for Ham Radio Licensing (EC-010) <http://www.arrl.org/cce/Tech.html>, prospective hams can study for their ticket wherever they can connect to the Internet and on their own schedule. The course is offered through the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) program. Two new classes will open each month, and students may sign up anytime via the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html#ec010> or by calling the New Ham Hotline, 800-326-3942. Class sessions begin April 6 and April 20. ARRL On-line Course Development Coordinator Howard Robins, W1HSR, says the new on-line Technician course will include everything needed to successfully pass the examination plus help with getting a foothold in ham radio. "The on-line approach to learning provides students a way to prepare for the exam at their own pace over an eight-week period with 24/7 access to the material," Robins said. The assignment of a very experienced "Elmer" or mentor to all students is one benefit of the on-line learning method. Another is a post-graduation on-line support group that's only available to course graduates. "This group will provide Elmering as the new ham gets started, as well as help with equipment and antenna questions or anything pertaining to Amateur Radio," Robins explained. Steve Ford, WB8IMY, Chuck Hutchinson, K8CH, and Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, developed the class material. The Technician course takes 20 to 25 hours to complete, and those finishing the class will take their tests at a volunteer examiner test session <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/examsearch.phtml>. Believed to be the first on-line Technician licensing class of its kind in the US, the course will closely follow the popular ARRL license manual Now You're Talking! The course fee--$99 for ARRL members and $139 non-members--includes a copy of the book. (Regular ARRL membership <http://www.arrl.org/join.html> is $39 per year, which includes QST, the official journal of ARRL--the national association for Amateur Radio.) Students taking the class will be introduced to everything from casual operating to emergency and public service communication and to radio technology. Students also will learn about the role of radio clubs and of the ARRL Field Organization. A course syllabus <http://www.arrl.org/cce/syllabus.html#ec010> and a list of student activities <http://www.arrl.org/cce/student-activities.html#ec010> are on the C-CE Web site. The Technician Class Course for Ham Radio Licensing and the virtual ham radio campus are available through ARRL's partnership with the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium, a nonprofit organization that specializes in developing on-line courses for Connecticut colleges and universities. For additional details, e-mail cce@arrl.org. ==>ISS COMMANDER TALKS VIA HAM RADIO WITH SCOTTISH SCHOOL It might have been St Patrick's Day, but the accents of the youngsters questioning International Space Station Commander Mike Foale, KB5UAC, on March 17 definitely were Scottish. Nonetheless, the "luck of the Irish" was with the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact between the British-born Foale at NA1SS and Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN, at Sacred Heart Academy in Honolulu. An MCI teleconference link provided the two-way audio for pupils at the Sgoil a' Bhac <http://www.sgoilabhac.org.uk/>--the School of Back--on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides off Scotland's northwestern coast. Responding to one question, Foale explained that the ISS crew is not truly "weightless" in space. "What's actually happening is that we're all falling together," Foale explained, pointing out that the space station is continuously falling as it circles Earth. Because the spacecraft is moving rapidly horizontally, it misses Earth because of its curve. "So, we're falling around the earth--all of the things inside the space station are falling," he continued. "We actually think that we're weightless, but, in fact, the weight is still there, and gravity is still working on us." Apparent weightlessness in space has its pros and cons, Foale told the youngsters in response to another question. "In general, weightlessness causes problems because nothing stays put," Foale said. "You have to always have something sticky to hold things down." But, he went on to say, weightlessness does let the crew store things just about anywhere on the ISS. Foale said he was able to see some features of northern Scotland--including the Isle of Skye--when the ISS passed over that part of the world. "Yours is pretty easy to pick out too," he added. As he's said during past school group QSOs, one of his favorite leisure-time activities is to look at Earth. Other planets also were on the minds of the primary and secondary schoolers who attend the School of Back. The astronaut also told the Scottish students that he believes scientists may one day discover evidence of fossilized life on Mars. He also estimated that it would be "maybe 15 years" before humans are able to land on Mars. Sgoil a' Bhac has an enrollment of 190--the majority at the primary school level. Dating back to 1878, the school is committed to Gaelic language and culture. Foale visited the school last summer. The School of Back QSO--the first for a school in Scotland--marked the 130th ARISS school group contact since the arrival of the first ISS crew in late 2000. ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach with participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>PAST ARRL PRESIDENT IS AMONG HAMVENTION 2004 AWARD WINNERS Hamvention <http://www.hamvention.org/> has named ARRL President Emeritus George S. Wilson III, W4OYI, of Owensboro, Kentucky, the recipient of its 2004 Special Achievement Award. The Hamvention Awards Committee selected Wilson based on his decades of service to Amateur Radio through the ARRL, his public service and emergency communications work and his determination to overcome the debilitating effects of a 1995 stroke that left him partially paralyzed. A ham since age 16, Wilson--an attorney by profession--has remained active in Amateur Radio for more than 50 years. The ARRL's 11th president, Wilson suffered a stroke on February 11, 1995. During his rehabilitation in July of that year, he stepped down after serving just over three years in the League's top volunteer position. Wilson's legacy includes a near lifelong involvement in the League's emergency and public service communications programs. He remains active in public service and emergency communication, and he continues his League service as a Great Lakes Division Assistant Director. Honored with Hamvention 2004's top award--Amateur of the Year--is Dave Kopacz, KY1V/VP5X, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky. An ARRL member, Kopacz created and funded a program that gives young hams an opportunity each year to win an expenses-paid DXpedition trip to North Caicos Island. "The Awards Committee feels that it is this kind of support for young people that will assure the future of Amateur Radio," Hamvention's said in announcing the 2004 award winners. Kopacz developed the "Young Ham Contest Program" last year, and 14-year-old Daniel Bradke, W2AU, was the first DXpedition trip winner. As the selected applicant, Bradke operated as part of the VP5X Contest Group <http://www.vp5x.com/> for the CQ World Wide CW contest last November. "I hope to get other hams involved in the program and eventually sponsor kids for every major contest," he said. Barry Sanderson, KB9VAK, of Indianapolis has been named as recipient of the Hamvention 2004 Technical Excellence Award. The Awards Committee selected Sanderson for developing a multi-channel, multiphase slow-scan television modulation scheme known as Redundant Digital File Transfer (RDFT), formerly known as HDSSTV. "Not only did Sanderson 'do the math,' but he also wrote the core software routines that allow RDFT to run on personal computers using sound card DSP capabilities," Hamvention said in its announcement. "This allows error-free transmission of computer files via standard Amateur Radio equipment." Sanderson has been a Hamvention forum presenter for the past three years. Hamvention 2004 is Friday through Sunday, May 14-16, at Hara Arena near Dayton, Ohio. Awards will be presented at a recognition program Saturday, May 15. ==>IOWA HAM CLUB DESIGNATED A "DAILY POINT OF LIGHT" The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network <http://www.pointsoflight.org/> has designated The Tri-State Amateur Radio Club (TSARC) <http://www.qsl.net/w0cvj/> of Cresco, Iowa, as the Daily Point of Light for Monday, March 29. The Foundation recognized the ARRL-affiliated club for voluntarily providing communication during emergencies and for supporting Red Cross and The Salvation Army relief efforts. President George W. Bush and former President George H. W. Bush, have endorsed the Daily Points of Light Award, and each will send a congratulatory letter to the club. "Through your service you join the ranks of America's true unsung heroes--volunteers," said Points of Light Foundation President and CEO Bob Goodwin. "The spirit and energy of America's volunteers inspire us all," he said. "Your work is a shining example of this spirit." TSARC's designation as a Daily Point of Light did not escape the notice of ABC Radio Networks' commentator Paul Harvey <http://www.paulharvey.com/>, who mentioned it during his noontime broadcast on March 12. Harvey said the nation still relies on Amateur Radio operators to get the message through in an emergency or disaster. "For all of our sophisticated technology, in any real disaster, our country still relies heavily on its hams--Amateur Radio hobbyists," Harvey said in the approximately one-minute spot. Among citizen volunteers in the US, he concluded, there are "none more unsung and certainly none more unpaid, than the hams--standing by around the clock." TSARC's Ernie Martin, WA0AUU, said it marked the first Point of Light Award to an Amateur Radio club. TSARC serves as a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) <http://www.citizencorps.gov/programs/cert.shtm>--a Citizen Corps program. A small club with just over a dozen members, TSARC still has managed to equip itself with two mobile emergency communication units and even a couple of parasail units--used in search-and-rescue work. While the club is in Iowa, its "tri-state" label derives from the fact that it serves parts of Minnesota and Wisconsin as well. The TSARC communications van--which the club resurrected from an aged auto junkyard candidate--contains equipment for both Amateur Radio and public safety frequencies. The unit can even beam a UHF Amateur TV signal from a disaster scene to a remote post--giving incident command personnel a firsthand look at what's happening. In 2002, TSARC was the beneficiary of a $1500 ARRL Foundation <http://www.arrl.org/arrlf> grant to assist its emergency communication efforts. The money helped to supplement the club's own fund-raising efforts toward covering the approximately $6500 cost of a 16-foot equipment trailer. Martin says TSARC's communications trailer is packed with everything the participating amateurs will need when they get to a disaster site. "We take everything five people will need for five days," he said. The Daily Point of Light Award is given by The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network in partnership with the Knights of Columbus and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) <http://www.cns.gov/>, which currently subsidizes ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course <http://www.arrl.org/cce> training. The Award honors individuals and organizations "who have made a commitment to connect Americans through service to help meet critical needs in their communities and in the nation." ==>RESEARCHERS RESCUED FROM ICY OUTPOST, SITE OF R0PA A dozen Russian scientists were rescued March 6 from an Arctic research station near the North Pole that was nearly destroyed by what's being described as "a freak wall of ice." The North Pole Drifting Station SP-32 had been the site of the R0PA Amateur Radio operation. Russian news media said helicopter teams facing frigid sub-zero conditions managed to reach the stranded researchers and saved all 12 explorers and two dogs. Hams around the world have reported working R0PA, for which DL5EBE is listed as QSL manager. The station's researchers reportedly were unharmed after being forced to huddle for three days in the remains of the outpost, some 450 miles from the nearest solid ground. According to Russian TV reports, a wall of ice pushed up from the surrounding ice floe March 3. Little now remains of the scientific and educational facility, set up last April by the non-profit Center Pole organization with support from the Russian government and the Russian Academy of Sciences. It had been expected to remain in operation for several years. Information on SP-32 is available on the Polus Arctic and Antarctic Expedition Centre Web site <http://www.polus.org/cgi-bin/sborka.cgi?name=sp2003>. ==>LESLIE A. MOXON, G6XN, SK Leslie A. "Les" Moxon, G6XN, of Surrey, England, died March 3. He was 95 and among the oldest Amateur Radio operators in the UK. Licensed in 1928, Moxon was well-known among the amateur community for his writings on antennas, in particular his 1982 book HF Antennas for All Locations, now in its second edition. ARRL antenna specialist Dean Straw, N6BV, called Moxon a "radio pioneer" and said he'd been a fan of his work for years. "His insights into the effects of terrain were one of the factors that got me interested years ago in this aspect of HF radio work," Straw said. During World War II Moxon was involved in top-secret work to develop radar. He worked for the government as a radio specialist after the war, retiring in 1969. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said Moxon's book "set the standard for practical antenna books and remains a classic." Moxon's son, David, recalls that his father's gardens grew antennas the way others grew plants and shrubs, and a new antenna design was always taking shape. "He always liked to live on the top of a hill--good for propagation of radio waves," he said. "And when moving to their final house in Hindhead, real estate agents were bemused to be asked about 'the long path to Australia.'" Moxon authored a July 1952 QST article, "Two-Element Driven Arrays." Several other of his articles appeared during the 1970s and 1980s in Ham Radio magazine. "A 6 Meter Moxon Antenna" by Allen Baker, KG4JJH, is among the antenna articles featured in April 2004 QST. In later years, Moxon developed an interest in theology, and he was not active on the air in the months prior to his death. A service was held March 10. Survivors include his wife Nancy and his son. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Ra the Sun god Tad "Sunny Boy" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Average daily sunspot numbers rose nearly 13 points March 11-17 to 66.1. Average daily solar flux rose by a negligible amount from 106.3 to 106.8. A solar wind stream caused geomagnetic disturbance from the last reporting week into the early part of this week, but conditions quieted. Mildly unsettled conditions may return over the weekend, with Friday through Monday, March 19-22, planetary A index predicted at 8, 12, 15 and 10. Solar flux is expected to moderately peak this weekend around 120 on both March 19 and 20, then 115 and 110 on March 21 and 22. Remember that huge solar flare that occurred last November 4? Estimated at the time as an X28 flare, it now appears to have been more than twice as large as the previous record and has been adjusted upward to X45. See the report "Sun's massive explosion updated" on the BBC News Word Edition Web site <http://tinyurl.com/22tpk>. Sunspot numbers for March 11 through 17 were 67, 71, 61, 61, 49, 53 and 101, with a mean of 66.1. The 10.7 cm flux was 113.2, 107.5, 103.8, 102.5, 101.4, 109.6 and 109.8, with a mean of 106.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 26, 23, 15, 16, 13, 8 and 6, with a mean of 15.3. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The RSGB 80 Meter Club Championship (SSB) is March 18. The Virginia QSO Party, the 10-10 International Mobile Contest, the BARTG Spring RTTY Contest, the SARL VHF/UHF Contest, the Russian DX Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, the CLARA and Family HF Contest, the UBA Spring Contest (6 M), the 9K 15-Meter Contest, the Spring QRP Homebrewer Sprint are the weekend of March 20-21. JUST AHEAD: The CQ World Wide WPX Contest (SSB), the Spring Break RTTY Sprint. and the UBA Spring Contest (2 meters) are the weekend of March 27-28. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the ARRL VHF/UHF--Beyond the Repeater (EC-008) and HF Digital Communication (EC-005) courses remains open through Sunday, March 21. Classes begin Tuesday March 30. Registration for the ARRL Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009) and the Technician Class for Ham Radio Licensing (EC-010) courses is open through Sunday, March 28. Classes begin Tuesday April 6. Students taking Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006) will learn how to identify and take steps to cure various kinds of interference. Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009) covers basic antenna theory and practical construction techniques. With the assistance of a mentor students in the Technician Licensing course will learn everything they need to learn to pass the FCC Technician license class test. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/>. For more information, contact Certification and Continuing Education Program Department, cce@arrl.org. * Bogus ARRL.net messages still circulating: E-mail messages purporting to be from the ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/emailfwd.html>, "The ARRL.net team" or some variation continue to show up in members' inboxes. The messages, which often carry a subject line along the lines of "Warning about your e-mail account," indicate that the recipient's ARRL E-Mail Forwarding Service <call sign>@arrl.net address will be closed within three days because of an alleged violation of acceptable practices. These messages are false and did not come from The ARRL Forwarding Service. They are the result of one of the variants on a number of viruses now permeating the Internet. A file usually is attached to these messages. As always, do not open any attachments that you cannot identify. Opening the file could result in your computer being infected by a virus. This is only one of the several virus-laden messages currently propagating across the Internet. The ARRL advises its members to be cautious in opening any message and/or attachment, even if it appears to be from someone you know. All of these viruses use e-mail addresses from the address book of an infected computer to falsify the "From:" address in the header to make it appear that the message is from someone the recipient knows. * FCC proposes to correct VEC filing errors: The FCC plans to correct inadvertent filing errors on the part of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (VECs). In a Memorandum Opinion and Order (MO&O) released March 4, the FCC said it would reinstate the former call sign of Clifford S. Zipnick of Boynton Beach, Florida. A Technician class operator, Zipnick now holds KI4BSJ, a call sign issued in response to an application filed via the ARRL-VEC that erroneously asked the FCC to assign Zipnick the next available sequential call sign. Zipnick says he only wanted to modify his mailing address, not request a new call sign. The FCC has proposed to modify Zipnick's license to reflect his original call sign, KE4FGA. In another MO&O released March 4, the FCC has proposed modifying the license of Robert W. Rhodes, KG4RTN, of Hixson, Tennessee, from General to Technician class. Following a volunteer examination session in which Rhodes was an examinee, the Western Carolina Amateur Radio Society VEC (WCARS VEC) inadvertently filed an application indicating that Rhodes had qualified for General. It later realized that Rhodes had passed Element 3, the written exam, but not Element 1, the 5 WPM Morse code exam. WCARS VEC notified the FCC of the error. Unless Rhodes protests within 30 days, the FCC said it will issue a modification order to return his license to Technician class. The FCC blamed the situation on "an error made in reviewing the license examination data," and not on any wrongdoing by Rhodes. * Amateur Radio represented at National Hurricane Conference: The 26th annual National Hurricane Conference <http://www.HurricaneMeeting.com/> this year will again feature a training session involving Amateur Radio. The National Hurricane Conference is the nation's forum for education and professional training in hurricane preparedness, and programs are scheduled April 5-9. The Amateur Radio session will be Tuesday, April 6, at the Wyndham Palace Resort and Spa in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Amateur Radio operators may attend the Amateur Radio session at no charge and without registering for the full conference. ARRL section leadership from Northern Florida, Southern Florida and West Central Florida will be among the guest speakers to explore the role of Amateur Radio in hurricane communications. Representatives from WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio Station at the National Hurricane Center, and the Hurricane Watch Net will be on hand. ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, will represent the League at the session, and, for the first time, an ARRL Amateur Radio booth will be included with other displays. Thanks to ARRL's grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service, hams will be present to answer questions and provide information about the benefits of Amateur Radio, with a focus on emergency communications. * AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and Annual Meeting set: The 22nd annual AMSAT-NA Space Symposium and Annual Meeting will take place October 8-10, 2004, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. Additional details will be available on the AMSAT-NA Web site <http://www.amsat.org/>. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President. 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. 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