*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 36 September 10, 2004 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +ARRL gets federal grants totaling nearly $267,000 * +Hams still involved in Hurricane Frances recovery * +Hurricane Watch Net, WX4NHC, SATERN put to the test * +FCC orbital debris rules will apply to amateur satellites * +Mystery signal remains unidentified * +Oldest US ham is 104 * +HPM/135 event wraps up this weekend * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration ARRL to sponsor free emergency communications seminar at PACIFICON +Stanley L. Burghardt, W0IT, SK Industry Canada soliciting comments on Morse requirement +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>ARRL GETS FEDERAL GRANT TO TELL AMATEUR RADIO'S STORY TO COMMUNITIES The ARRL has received new funding of nearly $90,000 from the Corporation for National & Community Service (CNCS) to execute a pilot program that will enlighten localities about the value of Amateur Radio to community safety and security. The one-year grant will enable ARRL to develop the Community Education Project (CEP) and carry ham radio's message to a dozen communities across the US. The CNCS also has renewed ARRL's Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course <http://www.arrl.org/cce> tuition reimbursement grant for a third--and final--year. The third-year emergency training grant is for $179,600. ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says the CEP will work with Citizen Corps--the League is a Citizen Corps affiliate--and ARRL personnel. "While our friends and major partners understand the power of Amateur Radio in an emergency, a clear understanding of what certified Amateur Radio operators can accomplish to enhance safety and security has not trickled down to the general community," Hobart said. "We know that our best work happens at the local level to keep communities safe and secure." As examples, Hobart cited Amateur Radio assistance following the recent one-two punch from Hurricanes Charley and Frances in Florida and a spate of wildfires in the Western US. The Community Education Project will be an extension of the role hams play as individuals, within local clubs and on Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams, she said. The CEP will work through local civic organizations, news media, faith-based groups, schools, food banks and a variety of other community organizations to get Amateur Radio's message across, Hobart explained. Hobart also said she was extremely gratified to see the third-year Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course tuition-subsidy grant come through. "This grant award--totaling $266,599 for two programs--is a vote of confidence for what hams have accomplished over the past two years by being responsive to national security needs and in times of emergency," she said. "We're thrilled that we got this." The third-year grant will place even greater emphasis on providing Amateur Radio emergency communications training to licensees age 55 or older and will provide training for 1700 volunteers. ARRL Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, will be traveling extensively to both Amateur Radio and emergency communications-related events and meetings to drive home the point that hams play a vital role in times of disaster and emergency, as recent events have demonstrated. "Please encourage everyone--especially seniors--to take the Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course," Miller urged. "With full reimbursement of the registration fee for ARRL members, the training is virtually free--but only for one more year." He encouraged those who have already completed Level I to further their knowledge by completing Levels II and Level III. Tuition is reimbursable for all three course levels. "The demand for trained Amateur Radio operators continues to grow at a phenomenal rate," he emphasized. "By completing the emergency communications training, you are reinforcing the lifeblood of Amateur Radio--emergency communications." Level I course registration <https://www.arrl.org/forms/cce> opens on the first Monday of every month. Registration is also available via regular mail. Send check or money order to ARRL, ATTN CCE, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. In the comment section, write EC-001 (for Level I) or the designator for the course you wish to enroll in. If you are 55 or older, write "senior" next to the course designator, and your name will be added to the next available class for that course, Miller said. "If you hold an ARRL Field Organization appointment," he said, "add that title in the comment section. Field appointees move to the top of the list." Registrants also should include a preferred e-mail address, telephone number, age and veteran status. Missing information will delay processing. A grant from ARRL's corporate partner, United Technologies Corp, will continue to subsidize Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course training until the end of 2005. ==>HURRICANE FRANCES RECOVERY CONTINUES WITH AMATEUR RADIO HELP As Florida recovers from Hurricane Frances, Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Emergency Service (RACES) members throughout the state this week continued to support communication for shelters, local emergency operation centers (EOCs) and anywhere else they were needed. From Palm Beach County, Southern Florida Assistant Section Manager Jeff Beals, WA4AW, reports that ARES/RACES activated September 2, prior to Frances' making landfall. "Over 50 amateurs assisted with communications support during the Frances operation," Beals said of the Palm Beach response. "Some positions were manned by their operators for the first 36 hours before relief was available." He worked with Palm Beach Emergency Coordinator Dave Messinger, N4QPM, in the county emergency operations center (EOC). Like much of Southern Florida, Palm Beach County remains in the recovery stage, and some areas still were without commercial power or telephone service at week's end. While shelters there have closed, the EOC remained up and running to handle logistical communications. Over the Labor Day weekend, hams were called on to help back up the county's public safety radio system after it went down for about 11 hours. While most of the traffic was routine, hams did relay a fire call. The Melbourne Hamfest, scheduled for September 11 and 12, was canceled due to the effects of Hurricane Frances. Southern Florida Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, said at week's end that relief operators still were needed in Brevard County. West Central Florida SM Dave Armbrust, AE4MR, also was looking for volunteers for standby relief duty. In Volusia County, ARES/RACES was active in the Daytona Beach area. Mike Glennon, KB4JHU, came from Tullahoma, Tennessee, with his communications trailer to pitch in. Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, of Amateur Radio//Video News, reports that seven hams from Tennessee and Georgia turned out to relieve exhausted Florida locals. "Mike was stationed at one of five assistance centers in the county where residents could pick up ice and supplies," Pearce said, adding that Volusia County ARES/RACES EC Fred Magliacane, KF4VRS, managed to keep going despite very little sleep during the activation. In Clay County, southwest of Jacksonville in northern Florida, Vern Ferris, W4NEK, reports that his ARES team provided shelter communications over the Labor Day weekend until telephone service there was restored. In a comments posted on the ARRL mentor reflector, Gary Johansan, WD4NKA, in Deltona, Florida, said even Hiram Percy Maxim would be impressed by the "old fashioned hamming" he monitored on the emergency nets. His family evacuated to Orlando, and he's still awaiting the restoration of electrical power. He said cell phones were useless in large areas of Volusia County until well after Frances left the peninsula. "Ham Radio may be a lot of things," Johanson said, "but one thing the twin storms have proven to us on the peninsula is this: Ham radio is absolutely relevant." ==>HURRICANE WATCH NET FACING STORMS' CHALLENGES With hurricanes threatening almost at the rate of one per week since mid-August, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) has had a busy time of things. Following a brief respite after seven straight days in operation, the HWN reactivated on 14.325 MHz at week's end for Hurricane Ivan--a powerful and dangerous storm that attained Category 5 level this week before throttling back to a Category 4 storm. After wreaking havoc in the Windward Islands, Grenada, Trinidad and the northern coast of Venezuela, Ivan was expected to hit Jamaica by early September 11--if not sooner. Reports to the net from maritime mobiles, primarily in Grenada, indicated severe damage from Ivan, which was packing 145 MPH winds as it approached Jamaica. "We will be listening for reporting stations in Jamaica before turning our attention to Cuba, which is next in the path," HWN Manager Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, said. He said he anticipates the HWN will remain active during 20-meter band openings until Ivan no longer represents a threat to populated areas. If Ivan continues on its current track as of week's end, it will be in the Straits of Florida by September 13, according to National Hurricane Center projections. Pilgrim, who lives in Boca Raton in southern Florida, said the storm appears to be a threat to the entire state. Authorities already have issued a mandatory evacuation order for tourists and mobile home dwellers in the Keys, he said, but given the chancy logistics of evacuating, Pilgrim is planning to hunker down for the storm, should it arrive. Pilgrim says he just got electricity back September 6--he has an auxiliary generator for his household and a deep-cycle battery for his ham gear--but he didn't have telephone service, including cellular, until September 8. He says half of his community remains in the dark. The HWN works hand-in-hand with WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami to gather ground-level weather data and damage reports from Amateur Radio volunteers in a storm's path. The net relays these to forecasters via WX4NHC, which regularly checks into the net and also disseminates weather updates. The recent hurricane activations also have generated an unprecedented level of activity on the HWN Web site, Pilgrim said. As a result, the HWN has issued a plea for contributions to purchase additional Web capacity <http://www.hwn.org/home/hwn-newsletter.html#help>. The Hurricane Watch Net Web site <http://www.hwn.org/> offers access to the latest weather forecasts as well as storm graphics. The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) on 14.265 MHz closed down at September 7 at 2100 UTC following five straight days of operation in response to Hurricane Frances. During that time, the net handled 181 health-and-welfare inquiries. "I continue to marvel at the stellar effort that amateur operators give across the nation when catastrophe strikes," said SATERN National Coordinator Pat McPherson, WW9E. Some SATERN volunteer operators put in 14-hour days to guarantee that people were helped, he said. As of week's end, SATERN was standing by to assist if needed in response to Hurricane Ivan ==>NEW ORBITAL DEBRIS MITIGATION RULES WILL APPLY TO HAM SATS New FCC Amateur Radio space station rules will impose requirements to mitigate orbital debris. The FCC adopted a Second Report and Order (R&O) in IB Docket 02-54 on June 9. The new rules, appearing September 9 in the Federal Register, affect Parts 5 (Experimental Service), 25 (Satellite Communications) and 97 (Amateur Service) of the FCC's rules and regulations. In general, they require submission of an "orbital debris mitigation plan" to the FCC with each license application. AMSAT-NA--the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation--had wanted Amateur Radio exempted from any orbital debris mitigation requirements that went beyond what the FCC initially proposed for Part 97 in 2002. AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, said the organization is discussing the implications of the R&O but has no formal position yet. "While AMSAT does not like to be restricted--we are free enterprise people--we do acknowledge that even space is not limitless," Haighton told ARRL. "The more debris there is, particularly in lower orbits, the more danger there is of collisions and eventually the greater the difficulty in defining launch windows." Haighton said that between now and the AMSAT-NA Symposium and Annual Meeting in October, the AMSAT Board of Directors "will have a chance to evaluate the FCC position and try to develop our own guidelines and requirements for building AMSAT satellites." The AMSAT-NA president said that while he personally agrees with the notion of limiting space debris, "the application of this principle may be a problem." In its formal comments in 2002, AMSAT-NA commended the FCC for initiating the proceeding and agreed that the growing quantity of space debris "presents a potential problem to all who wish to use space" and that "methods of controlling and reducing it are called for." The new rules the FCC has ordered will significantly expand §97.207(g) in the Amateur Service rules governing space stations. The additional provisions will require "a description of the design and operational strategies the space station will use to mitigate orbital debris" that include statements covering several specific areas. Space station license grantees will have to state, among other things, that they have "assessed and limited the amount of debris released in a planned manner during normal operations" as well as the probability that the space station itself could become a source of debris through collisions with other debris or meteoroids. In its comments, AMSAT took "strong exception when it comes to meteors." Those launching satellites, AMSAT said, can assess the orbital parameters of known objects but "no such information is available for meteors." Satellite licensees also must state that they have assessed and limited the probability of accidental explosions during and after completion of mission operations. "This statement must include a demonstration that debris generation will not result from the conversion of energy sources on board the spacecraft into energy that fragments the spacecraft," a new 97.207(g)(1)(ii) rule section specifies. Such a scenario occurred in the case of AO-40, which apparently suffered a catastrophic onboard event not long after it went into orbit in 2000. AO-40 went silent earlier this year. AMSAT has commented that as a practical matter, the objective of minimizing debris from accidental explosions "is unlikely to be met by additional failure-mode analysis." The demonstration would have to address whether "stored energy" would be removed at the end of the spacecraft's life "by leaving all fuel line valves open, venting any pressurized system, leaving all batteries in a permanent discharged state and removing any remaining source of stored energy." Satellite licensees will have to include a statement disclosing the "accuracy--if any--with which orbital parameters of non-geostationary satellite orbit space stations will be maintained." AMSAT has asserted that "state-of-the-art practices do not allow specification of the Keplerian orbital elements of spacecraft with sufficient accuracy to predict or avoid the collision of two space objects." AMSAT pointed out that many smaller satellites of the type most likely to be launched for Amateur Satellite use lack propulsion systems to maintain a certain orbital tolerance or to deorbit the spacecraft when its mission is over. Most, AMSAT told the FCC, would burn up in the atmosphere. AMSAT had suggested in its reply comments that the issue of orbital debris needed more study and broader participation by stakeholders, "because of the complexity of the matter and the economic impact regulations might have on future satellites." The FCC has not yet announced an effective date for the new Part 97 rules. ==>"INTRUDER SIGNAL" ON 40 METERS REMAINS A MYSTERY FOR NOW An unidentified signal that's been showing up on the 40-meter phone band on or about 7238 kHz has mystified amateurs in the western US and Canada, where it's been heard frequently for the past few weeks. Although it resembles a steady carrier, a closer inspection suggests that the intruding signal actually is a series of closely spaced signals. Don Moman, VE6JY, in Edmonton, Alberta, says the signal is quite loud at his QTH. "This signal looks a lot more interesting than it would sound--just a broad tone/hum/buzz, depending on where you tune," he said. One spectrogram from VE6JY showed perhaps a half-dozen or more discrete signals. "It's certainly loud enough out here, peaking broadly south-southwest from Edmonton," he said. Moman was using a 5-element Yagi and was hearing the signal at 10 dB over S9. That conforms with observations reported by Bob Gonsett, W6VR, at Communications General Corp (CGC). He says engineers at the CGC lab in Fallbrook, California took a quick look at the intruder September 6 at around 2120 UTC and found "several close-spaced CW carriers--perhaps from one specially modulated transmitter, perhaps from transmitters at different locations," he reported. CGC reported the signals appeared on 7238.063, 7238.150, 7238.237 and 7238.412 kHz, with the 7238.237 kHz signal being "the strongest of the group." While no one's sure what it is, the FCC HF Direction Finding Facility has been able to determine that it's coming from somewhere north of Prescott, Arizona, and west of Interstate 17. FCC monitoring indicates the "buzz" is centered on 7238.1 kHz with a bandwidth of about 1 kHz and spikes spaced at about 90 Hz apart. Reports to the International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 Monitoring System indicate the signal has been heard from about 1700 to 2130 UTC, although Moman reported hearing it at around 0300 UTC and said the signal even went off the air for a few seconds while he was listening to it. Jack Roland, KE0VH, in Colorado also heard the signals for a couple of evenings this week. "Something is not right there," he remarked. High Noon Net Manager Bill Savage, N5FLD, in Albuquerque, New Mexico said several net participants--in Nebraska, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, Minnesota and Arizona--were able to hear the mystery signal. ==>OLDEST AMATEUR RADIO OPERATOR, ARRL MEMBER IN THE US IS 104 William F. "Bill" Diaper, KJ6KQ, of Union City, California, appears to hold the honor of oldest radio amateur in the US--and quite possibly the world. Diaper, who turned 104 years old August 12, is a native of Great Britain. He now lives in a long-term care facility, but an acquaintance, Thomas "Fergy" Ferguson, N6SSQ, reports that Diaper remains alert and active and occasionally has gotten on the air from a ham shack in the facility's basement. "He said the shack, located in the basement next to the laundry room, is damp, dark and not user-friendly," Ferguson said after speaking with Diaper by telephone. He said Diaper needs assistance operating the equipment but has been on the air within the past year, checking into the Pacific Amateur Radio Guild (PARG) net on one occasion. According to Ferguson, Diaper has been a radio amateur for a relatively short time--considering his longevity--apparently first licensed when he was around 75 years old. An Advanced class licensee, Diaper is an ARRL member. Byrl "Tex" Burdick, W5BQU, of El Paso, Texas, who died at age 103 last May 30, generally had been regarded as the nation's oldest Amateur Radio licensee. Diaper actually was born 44 days earlier than Burdick in 1900, although Burdick--a ham for decades--had a solid claim on ham radio seniority. Fellow residents of the Masonic Homes where Diaper lives gathered August 12 to celebrate his birthday. "He was the man of the hour," a staff member of the facility told ARRL. Members of PARG also sent many birthday cards and letters, and Diaper called Ferguson to relay his appreciation. "It really cheered him up to get such a flurry of mail," Ferguson said, adding that he hopes Diaper will have the opportunity to get on the air again in the near future. "When I talked to Bill, he was very clear and had excellent recall of events, places, dates etc," Ferguson recounted. "An amazing man to chat with, but it just took me a few minutes to get used to his accent." The apparent crown prince as the oldest ham in the US is Robert Galbasin, W0MHN, of Lakewood, Colorado. He'll turn 104 on December 27. ==>HPM/135 EVENT CONTINUES THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 The HPM/135 on-the-air event to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the birth of the ARRL's co-founder and first president Hiram Percy Maxim concludes at 2400 UTC on Sunday, September 12. Stations may be contacted on any band or mode--including repeaters--for credit. ARRL Life Members, Headquarters staffers, present or past ARRL directors, presidents, vice presidents, honorary vice presidents and the League's extended family of elected and appointed volunteers (see eligibility list <http://www.arrl.org/qst/2004/09/field-positions-135.html> or September QST, p 40) may identify by appending /135 to their call signs. The object is to work as many HPM/135 stations as you can. Putting at least 25 in the log will make an operator eligible for an attractive certificate, so spread the word! HPM/135 stations transmit signal report, appointment (or position) and name. All others transmit signal report and name. See September QST, p 40, or "Amateur Community Invited to Celebrate Maxim Birthday Anniversary" <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/08/26/1/> for additional details and how to apply for a certificate. Entries must be postmarked by October 16, 2004. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Astral aficionado Tad "Sun King" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Sunspot numbers and solar flux rose during the past week. The average of the daily sunspot number for the reporting period compared to the previous seven days rose nearly by 30 points to 57. Average daily solar flux was up more than 16 points to 106.1. Solar flux is predicted to rise over the next few days. Predicted solar flux is 135 for September 10 and it's expected to remain around 140 for the next four days or so. Fortunately, the planetary A index is expected to remain low, with predicted values September 10-13 at 5, 8, 8 and 10. Sunspot numbers for September 2 through 8 were 25, 25, 28, 59, 82, 95 and 85, with a mean of 57. The 10.7 cm flux was 93.9, 96.7, 99.3, 103.2, 106.5, 118.9 and 124.5, with a mean of 106.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 9, 3, 4, 7, 14, 16 and 9, with a mean of 8.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 8, 1, 2, 5, 9, 11 and 4, with a mean of 5.7. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The ARRL September VHF QSO Party, the North American Sprint (CW), the WAE DX Contest (SSB), the CIS DX Contest (RTTY), the Swiss HTC QRP Sprint, the Tennessee QSO Party and the ARCI End of Summer PSK31 Sprint are the weekend of September 11-12. JUST AHEAD: The North American Sprint(SSB), the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, the SARL VHF/UHF Contest, the Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW), the Collegiate QSO Party, the Mediterranean Islands Award Contest, the South Carolina QSO Party, the QRP Afield event, the Washington State Salmon Run and the QCWA QSO Party are the weekend of September 18-19. The 144 MHz Fall Sprint is September 20. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open through Sunday, September12. Classes begin Friday, September 24. With the assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know to pass the FCC Technician license class test. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page or contact the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program Department <cce@arrl.org>. * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line course (EC-002) opens Monday, September 13, at 1201 AM EDT and will remain open through the September 18-19 weekend or until all available seats have been filled--whichever comes first. Class begins Friday, October 1. 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. Seniors are strongly encouraged to participate. During this registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, cce@arrl.org; 860-594-0340. * ARRL to sponsor free emergency communications seminar at PACIFICON: The ARRL will offer a free Amateur Radio Emergency Communications course seminar Saturday, October 16, in conjunction with PACIFICON 04 in California. The seminar will not include the Level I course itself. It's open to all interested hams. ARES/RACES volunteers, ARECC course participants and ARRL Field Organization leadership (SMs, SECs, DECs and ECs) are especially encouraged to share experiences and brainstorm ideas for motivating volunteers and coordinating activities. A PowerPoint presentation will be followed by group discussion of multiple disaster scenarios, comments from emergency communications leadership, discussion about the ARRL Amateur Radio emergency communications courses, the status of grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service and corporate partner United Technologies Corporation, updates on emergency communications tools and a quiz to determine personal preparedness. The seminar takes place Saturday, October 16, 1:15 PM until 4:45 PM, in Salon F at the San Ramon Marriott, 2600 Bishop Drive, San Ramon, California. Seating is limited. If you plan to attend, contact Dan Miller, K3UFG, <k3ufg@arrl.org>; 860-594-0340; fax 860-594-0259. More information on PACIFICON 04 is on the convention Web site <http://www.pacificon.org/>. Seminar attendance does not include admission to the convention. * Stanley L. Burghardt, W0IT, SK: Stan Burghardt, W0IT (ex-W0BJV), of Watertown, South Dakota, died August 22. He was 93. He was the founder of Burghardt Radio Supply Inc (now Burghardt Amateur Center). Licensed in 1931 as W9BJV (which became W0BJV in 1946), Burghardt remained active on the air--especially on 6 meters--until his death. He also had been active in satellite work and was a member of ARRL, AMSAT and SMIRK. Burghardt started out selling ham radio parts in 1937 and in the 1950s expanded his Watertown operation into a popular Amateur Radio equipment supplier. The company has been a regular QST advertiser for the past 50 years, and many early ads featured a photo of Burghardt with his signature. Burghardt sold the business to Jim Smith, W0MJY, but he remained active in the company until January 2002. A service was held September 1. * Industry Canada soliciting comments on Morse requirement: Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) says Industry Canada (IC) is seeking comments from Canada's amateur community on recent RAC proposals dealing with Morse code as a qualification for Amateur Radio HF operation. RAC has proposed that IC delete the mandatory requirement for Morse testing but leave it as a voluntary qualification, since some countries retaining a Morse requirement may require Morse credit for reciprocal operation. The RAC recommends that Canadian amateurs endorse the proposal, Gazette Notice DGRB-003-04, Consultation on "Recommendations from Radio Amateurs of Canada to Industry Canada Concerning Morse Code and Related Matters," released August 28. Canadian amateurs have 60 days to comment. =========================================================== 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. 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@arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@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. 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