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ARRL Letter

 

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 11
March 16, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +WRC-07 preparations take a giant step forward
* +Field Day 2007 planning already under way
* +Food fights? In school QSO astronaut describes games in space
* +Application avalanche continues in ARRL VEC
* +Ham radio shut down in Iraq
* +FCC begins posting ham radio enforcement actions on its site
* +Army MARS updates its mission
*  Solar Update
*  IN BRIEF:
     This weekend on the radio
     ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
    +AMSAT and TAPR to hold joint Dayton Hamvention banquet
     CQ introduces HF Operator's Survival Guide
     Special events commemorate Jamestown's 400th anniversary
     Swain's Island is most-wanted DXCC entity on German list
     Cushcraft Corporation acquired by Laird Technologies

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

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<n1rl@arrl.org>;
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==>AMATEUR RADIO-RELATED WRC-07 TEXT SURVIVES CONFERENCE PREPARATORY MEETING

Technical report text on two World Radiocommunication Conference 2007
(WRC-07) agenda items of interest to Amateur Radio has survived the WRC-07
Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM-07). The nearly 600-page Conference
Preparatory Meeting Report (CPM Report) contains "methods" that satisfy the
International Amateur Radio Union's (IARU) desired options for allocations
in the vicinity of 136 kHz, 5 MHz and 7 MHz, thanks to the efforts of the
IARU delegation.

"The IARU was successful in retaining these options in the official report,"
said IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, who headed the IARU delegation to
CPM-07 February 19 until March 2. "Of course, it is a long step to actually
get an allocation at the WRC." Ken Pulfer, VE3PU, also served on the IARU
delegation.

Sponsored by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), CPM-07 drew to
Geneva some 1100 delegates from more than 100 countries to finalize and
adopt the massive technical report, in preparation over the past four years.
The CPM Report will guide the work of delegates attending WRC-07 October 22
through November 16. It provides background information on each WRC-07
agenda item, various methods of addressing the agenda items and the
advantages and disadvantages of each.

Agenda Item (AI) 1.13 addresses the allocation of HF spectrum between 4 and
10 MHz, including the possibility of allocation changes in the 40 and 60
meter bands, while AI 1.15 opens the possibility of a secondary ham radio
allocation in the vicinity of 136 kHz. IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ,
concedes that AI 1.13 is "one of the most complex and controversial items"
on the WRC-07 agenda.

"It's anyone's guess as to how the dust might settle come November," he
commented. The CPM Report presents eight methods to satisfy specific parts
of AI 1.13. Methods 6 and 7 are favorable to the Amateur Radio Service.

Method 6 would provide a worldwide secondary amateur allocation of 5.260 to
5.410 MHz "to allow communications at times when propagation conditions do
not permit the use of the presently allocated bands at 3.5 and 7 MHz." On
the down side, the CPM Report said, such a 5 MHz amateur allocation could
impact spectrum available for the Fixed and Mobile and the Broadcasting
services.

Method 7 provides a primary allocation at 7.200 to 7.300 MHz in Regions 1
and 3 "to globally harmonize the Amateur Service allocations." Among Method
7's disadvantages, the CPM Report said it could reduce spectrum now
allocated to HF broadcasting in Regions 1 and 3 and "significantly
complicates the problem of identifying" additional Broadcasting Service
spectrum.

Adoption of Method 7 at WRC-07 would achieve the IARU's goal of a worldwide,
300-kHz Amateur Radio allocation at 7 MHz, however. It essentially
implements the second phase of the work begun at WRC-03, which expanded the
Amateur Radio allocation at 7 MHz by 100 kHz (7.100 to 7.200 MHz) by March
2009. It would have no impact on the current 7.000 to 7.300 MHz 40-meter
allocation in Region 2 (the Americas).

AI 1.15 Method A would establish a secondary amateur allocation at 135.7 to
137.8 kHz in all three Regions "with footnotes ensuring protection of other
services operating in the same band." One alternative footnote would set a
maximum radiated power limit of 1 W EIRP and would require that stations not
cause harmful interference to radionavigation stations in certain countries.
A second alternative footnote doesn't include the 1 W EIRP power limit.
Method B would make no changes to the allocations table. The CPM Report
lists no "foreseen" disadvantages to Method A.

The CPM Report notes that more than 20 countries have established either
domestic amateur allocations or authorized experimental and amateur
communication in the low-frequency range, including 135.7 to 137.8 kHz.

"We were able to achieve at CPM-07 the methods that would result in the
allocations we seek," Sumner explains. "However, it remains for
administrations to propose them if they are to be considered this fall at
WRC-07."

Radio amateurs served on some national delegations to CPM-07. Jon Siverling,
WB3ERA, and Walt Ireland, WB7CSL -- both of the ARRL's Technical Relations
Office near Washington, DC -- represented the League on the US delegation to
CPM-07. Jim Dean, VE3IQ, represented Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) on
Canada's delegation, while Jay Oka, JA1TRC represented the Japan Amateur
Radio League (JARL) on Japan's delegation.

==>FIELD DAY 2007 OFFERS A LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR HF NEWCOMERS

Although Field Day 2007 is still more than three months away, many ham radio
clubs and groups already have begun making plans for this year's event,
Saturday and Sunday, June 23-24. Field Day has always been an ideal time for
new hams to become more proficient operators and for prospective licensees
to get "bitten by the Amateur Radio bug." That may be even more the case
during Field Day 2007, as many radio amateurs gain new HF operating
privileges because of the rule changes that went into effect February 23.

"This is an opportunity to get new or upgraded licensees on the air for some
active mentoring and active learning," says ARRL Regulatory Information
Specialist Dan Henderson, N1ND. "Field Day 2007 will be a chance to learn
and grow, but above all, it will be a lot of fun -- and for many there is
perhaps nothing more fun in ham radio than ARRL Field Day."

The numbers support that claim. Last June, more than 32,500 operators took
part in ARRL Field Day -- some as individuals but many more as part of a
club or group. The League saw some 2200 Field Day log submissions for the
2006 event, during which nearly 1.24 million completed contacts went into
the log -- not a record but up a little from the previous year.

While no longer a licensing requirement, Morse code (CW) remains a very
popular Field Day operating mode, perhaps because CW QSOs are worth twice as
much as phone contacts. Last year some 56 percent of Field Day contacts took
place on SSB, while nearly 42 percent were on CW (the rest were digital
contacts).

Henderson points out two small changes in the Field Day rules starting this
year. First, participating stations may only complete one satellite contact
for bonus points via a single-channel FM-mode spacecraft (Rule 7.3.7.1), and
it must be an Earth-satellite-Earth contact. "This will allow more stations
to access this very limited resource," he says.

Second, an individual Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) station operators will earn 20
points for each 20 contacts, up to a maximum of 100 per GOTA operator.
Henderson notes that no partial point credit is available, and GOTA
operators may not "pool" contacts toward any 20-QSO GOTA station bonus.

"Amateur Radio stands at a juncture where we can embrace both the old and
new," Henderson says. He notes, too, that the variety of available operating
modes -- traditional and experimental -- contributes toward Field Day's
status as the most popular annual operating event.

"Field Day is truly the time where we bring Amateur Radio to Main Street USA
-- a great time for 'the Bug' to bite as many people as it can," Henderson
says. "Use Field Day 2007 to open up Amateur Radio to the next generation of
radio amateurs on your Main Street! It's up to us to make it happen."

Complete information on Field Day 2007 packet is available on the ARRL Web
site <http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/>.

==>GAMES ASTRONAUTS PLAY IN SPACE AMONG ISS HAM RADIO CONTACT TOPICS

ISS Expedition 14 Commander Mike Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Flight Engineer
Suni Williams, KD5PLB, recently discussed their experiences in space with
students at two schools. The Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station (ARISS) program arranged the direct VHF contacts with Boulder Hill
Elementary School in Montgomery, Illinois, March 6, and with Mission Viejo
High School, in Mission Viejo, California, March 9. Williams told the
youngsters at Boulder Hill that the dress code in space is strictly
informal.

"People don't understand that up here it's just like being in your house,"
Williams explained, "so we can wear a T-shirt and shorts or a pair of pants
if it gets a little bit cool." She pointed out that crew members need to
wear pressure suits during launch and spacesuits when working outside the
space station.

Among activities the crew engages in for recreation involves something
resembling a food fight in microgravity. Williams said crew members "throw
food and see how long we can throw it through one part of the module to the
next without hitting anything." Throwing in microgravity is interesting, she
said, because the tendency is to throw slightly upward "because you're used
to gravity." As a result, she added, "you usually hit the ceiling."

As for the food, beyond its recreational value, Williams -- after a moment's
hesitation -- rated it as merely "okay," adding that the space cuisine "sort
of just gets old after a while because I've been up here three months, and
the menu is starting to repeat." The Boulder Hill contact was Williams' 12th
ARISS event.

As NA1SS and the school's club station W9BHB established communication,
Williams surprised teacher Maureen Jorgensen, greeting the soon-to-be
retiree by name. W9BHB control operator John Spasojevich, K9COE, said it
marked the high point in Jorgensen's 35-year career. "Our retiring teacher
is still in orbit," he remarked afterward.

With between 600 and 700 parents, teachers and fellow pupils looking on,
each of the 23 participating youngsters got to ask a question during the
pass. At least one newspaper reported on the contact the following day.
Assisting Spasojevich with Earth station duties were members of the Fox
River Radio League (FRRL). Spasojevich and Greg Braun, N9CHA, mentored the
youngsters in the school's ham radio club for the past year and a half.

Commented School Superintendent David Behlow in a note to Spasojevich after
the event: "What a great day for our kids, Boulder Hill, the radio club,
parents and the community!"

On March 9, Lopez-Alegria took questions from students at his alma mater,
Mission Viejo High School. After an abortive attempt to complete the contact
between NA1SS and K6UCI at the school a day earlier, ARISS was able to
reschedule it promptly. Lopez-Alegria answered 13 questions during the
approximately eight-minute pass, along the way offering some thoughts on how
he became an astronaut.

"Y'know, I was a guy who was not really good at anything, but pretty good at
a lot of things, and I think that's what an astronaut is . . . is a
generalist," Lopez-Alegria said. "And I feel I wasn't going to make my mark
in the world by inventing a cure for cancer or becoming a professional
athlete or anything that took a lot of talent, but I thought I could parlay
some of my talents into something good, along with having a lot of fun. So
that's what kind of did it for me."

Lopez-Alegria told the high schoolers, "Space is better than I thought it
would be," and he said he'd do it all over again if he had the opportunity.
The contact marked his fourth ARISS event, which was mentored by Kerry
Banke, N6IZW. Members of the South Orange Amateur Radio Association (SOARA)
and the University of California -- Irvine Amateur Radio Club (K6UCI)
handled Earth station duties for the Mission Viejo QSO. Matt Bennett,
KF6RTB, was the K6UCI control operator.

A model United Nations School, Mission Viejo High School used its ARISS QSO
to help teach a module on negotiation, communication and conflict resolution
with others around the world.

ARISS is an international educational outreach, with US participation by
ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>ARRL VEC STILL "BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!"

The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator (VEC) reports business continues to
be brisk following the FCC's deletion of Morse code as a ham radio licensing
requirement.

"Busy, busy, busy!" is how ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, described
the situation in her department. She says nearly 800 exam sessions are on
the schedule for March with another 600 for April, "and it doesn't look like
test session activity will be slowing down any time soon," she added.

ARRL VEC hosts 450 exam sessions in a typical month. Despite the hectic
pace, Somma says personnel have been able to process most test session
paperwork promptly. "The majority of our VE teams are returning the sessions
in good order and with all the needed forms," she noted. "Thank you!"

While new call signs or upgrades typically appear in the FCC's ULS database
within 15 days, processing times are down a bit, and for a variety of
reasons, it may take longer than that. Somma advises applicants to allow 15
days from the testing date before checking on application status. To follow
up, first use the FCC Universal Licensing System (ULS)
<http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/> "Search Licenses" tab, or check the ARRL Web
license search engine <http://www.arrl.org/fcc/fcclook.php3>. To contact the
FCC, call toll-free during business hours 888-225-5322.

Anyone who tested at an ARRL VEC session and whose application has not been
granted within 15 days may call ARRL VEC, 860-594-0300 (this is not a
toll-free number).

As of week's end, there were approximately 320,000 Technician licensees in
the US -- still more than any other license class but dipping a bit as the
number of Generals rises due to upgrading under the new rules.

==>AMATEUR RADIO ACTIVITY SHUT DOWN IN IRAQ

Iraq Amateur Radio Society (IARS) President Diya Sayah, YI1DZ, has informed
ARRL that all Amateur Radio activity in Iraq has been suspended until the
security situation there improves. The ham radio blackout began this week.

Sayah says the suspension affects both Iraqi citizens as well as any
foreigners, including military personnel and contractors -- who have been on
the air from Iraq identifying with YI9-prefix call signs. It does not affect
the operation of Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) stations, however,
since they operate on military frequencies, not amateur frequencies. The
IARS is informing its member to stay off the air, although some Voice over
Internet Protocol (VoIP) modes like IRLP and EchoLink still are okay to use,
as long as they don't involve transmitting a signal over the air.

The request to halt all ham radio activity and the issuance of licenses in
Iraq originated with a letter from the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to Iraqi
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki as part of the new Baghdad security plan,
Sayah said. He received subsequent confirmation via the Ministry of Higher
Education and Scientific Research to shut down ham radio activity, although
he allows for a possible misunderstanding on the part of government
officials as to the nature and purpose of Amateur Radio.

"I'm waiting an answer from the Office of Prime Minister, because I
requested a meeting with him through e-mail," Sayah told the League. He said
the government expressed concerns over the difficulty of identifying "enemy"
as opposed to "friendly" radio traffic, the potential for revealing military
movements via radio and eavesdropping.

Sayah said the government also wanted radio amateurs in Iraq to send all ham
radio equipment to the IARS until the security situation improved, but he's
advising hams in Iraq to hang onto their gear. "Because we had the security
plan going, no one can carry his equipment, and all checkpoints belongs to
the Ministry of Defense," he said. "Besides, the location of our Society is
not safe to keep members' equipment in one place."

Sayah also has reached out to the worldwide Amateur Radio community to use
its influence to reverse the Iraqi government policy.

==>FCC NOW POSTING AMATEUR RADIO ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS

Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence -- with some exceptions -- now is
available to the public on the FCC's "Amateur Radio Service Enforcement
Actions" Web site <http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html>. The
listing will be cumulative, and Special Counsel in the FCC Spectrum
Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth anticipates updating it every 7 to
10 days.

The site will not be a comprehensive listing of enforcement correspondence.
For example, it will not include letters requiring retesting pursuant to
§97.519(d) of the FCC's rules, letters regarding radio frequency
interference to amateur licensees and letters requesting an initial response
to a complaint.

As a result of irregularities detected by ARRL VEC in examination sessions
in Clinton, South Carolina, in June and July 2006, Hollingsworth has issued
retest orders to Technician licensees in Simpsonville, Greenwood, and
Clinton, South Carolina, to an Amateur Extra licensee in Joanna, South
Carolina (Elements 3 and 4), and to a General licensee in Laurens, South
Carolina (Element 3).

He also wrote to Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Azle, Texas; Northfork
Electric Cooperative, Sayre, Oklahoma; Bit-by-Bit Horse Farms, Wind Gap,
Pennsylvania, and to a resident of Gallipolis, Ohio, requesting they work
with Amateur Radio licensees regarding RF interference generated by power
line hardware and other devices.

Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio Service Enforcement
Actions Web postings via e-mail only to Riley Hollingsworth in the FCC
Spectrum Enforcement Division <fccham@fcc.gov>;.

==>KATRINA LESSONS LEARNED DRIVING UPDATED ARMY MARS MISSION

Following an 18-month analysis of its performance in the wake of Hurricane
Katrina, the US Army Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS)
<http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/> is reshaping its mission. Army MARS Chief
Stuart S. "Stu" Carter has told the MARS membership of some 2600 Amateur
Radio volunteers that priorities and procedures have been reshuffled.
Retraining and the building of tighter bonds with the federal and state
agencies MARS supports in emergencies are getting special attention.

"The challenges we face are new and more demanding than those we've prepared
for in the past," Carter told MARS members. "We need to know that all of our
members are well trained, ready, capable and willing to meet those
challenges."

Voicing his intent to make the organization relevant to the 21st Century,
Carter assumed leadership of Army MARS last December, succeeding Kathy
Harrison. In addition to his role as chief of Army MARS, Carter continues as
deputy director of current operations for the US Army Network Enterprise
Technology Command (NETCOM), headquartered at Ft Huachuca, Arizona. As MARS
chief, he inherits the post's AAA9A call sign.

Among other initiatives, Carter has ratcheted up MARS training requirements
to include National Incident Management System (NIMS)
<http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm> training courses. He's also
directed a doubling of the on-air drill requirement in regional and state HF
radio nets. Beyond that, he also plans an aggressive informational campaign
to make MARS better known within the federal establishment as an
emergency/disaster resource.

He also reiterated that Army MARS will seek a "defined relationship" with
the ARRL. "We need to know each other better," said Carter, a retired US Air
Force lieutenant colonel with 30 years' service in communications and
information technology. "The objective would be to enhance the amateur
community's overall emergency readiness while minimizing duplication of
effort." MARS sees its own regional and national HF capability as a natural
fit with the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES).

The updated MARS program builds on the emergency readiness mission begun
during the 16-year tenure of former Army MARS Chief Bob Sutton, N7UZY. Army
MARS already has been realigned so regional boundaries coincide with Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) districts. Carter has appointed 10
volunteer regional directors to facilitate responses to multi-state
emergencies.

Under Carter's leadership, MARS also is moving away from a paradigm where
members mostly just relay emergency traffic from fixed stations. Under a
more mobile MARS model, a few specially-trained volunteers also will be
available to deploy to disaster areas along with the US Army and federal
agencies, such as FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security and the
Transportation Security Administration.

In addition, Army MARS has replaced its longstanding digital message network
with a Winlink 2000 system that combines radio and Internet links to ensure
swift and dependable message delivery.

Army MARS also will continue to emphasize collaboration among the Air Force
and Navy-Marine Corps MARS organization.

Carter has tapped Lawrence Hays, WB6OTS, to fill the new post of chief of
operations, with responsibility for planning, emergency activations liaison
with external agencies and training materials development. He's named fellow
NETCOM headquarters staffer James Banks as director of regional operations.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Sun Dude Tad "SPF 15" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: We just had
more zero-sunspot days, followed by the brief emergence of small spots, then
more days with no sunspots. The average daily sunspot number for the past
week was down nearly 70 percent from the previous week, to 5.9.

A solar wind hit Earth Tuesday, March 13, resulting in a rise in geomagnetic
indices. The planetary A index went up to 26, while the A index measured at
Fairbanks, Alaska -- the college A index -- rose to 50. The next period of
higher geomagnetic activity is predicted for March 27, then April 9 and
April 23.

The vernal equinox is coming up in a few days. On Wednesday, March 21, at
0007 UTC (Tuesday, March 20 in North America) the sunlight hitting the
northern and southern hemispheres will be equal. With an equal measure of
sunlight striking both hemispheres, the equinox is a good time for HF
propagation, with the possible exception that we have very low sunspot
activity.

Sunspot numbers for March 8 through 14 were 0, 0, 16, 14, 11, 0 and 0, with
a mean of 5.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 72.5, 71.6, 71.2, 71, 71.2, 71.4, and
70, with a mean of 71.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 2, 4, 8, 9,
26 and 8, with a mean of 8.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 1, 2,
6, 7, 18 and 9, with a mean of 6.6.

For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The 10-10 International Mobile Contest, the
BARTG Spring RTTY Contest, the Russian DX Contest, the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest,
the Virginia QSO, the UBA Spring Contest (6 meters), the ARCI HF Grid Square
Sprint, and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest are the weekend of March
17-18. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint and the RSGB 80-Meter Club
Championship (SSB) are March 22. JUST AHEAD: The CQ World Wide WPX Contest
(SSB), and the QRP Homebrewer Spring are the weekend of March 24-25. See the
ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM
Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday, March 25, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses beginning on
Friday, April 6: The ARRL Ham Radio License Course (EC-010), Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference
(EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics
(EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). These courses will also open for
registration Friday, March 23, for classes beginning Friday, May 4. To learn
more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
<http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department
<cce@arrl.org>;.

* AMSAT and TAPR to hold joint Dayton Hamvention banquet: TAPR and AMSAT are
teaming up to sponsor a joint banquet in conjunction with Dayton Hamvention
2007. "Dinner Under the Wings" will take place Friday, May 18, at the
National Museum of the United States Air Force. Doors open at 6 PM in the
Air Power Gallery (World War II). A buffet dinner will be served at 7 PM in
the Cold War area. Attendees will have the opportunity to browse the museum.
Reservations *are* required. Tickets are $35 per person and will be
available until May 14. Tickets will *not* be sold at the TAPR booth at
Hamvention. To order tickets and for additional information, visit the AMSAT
Web site <http://www.amsat-na.com/item.php?id=100133>.

* CQ introduces HF Operator's Survival Guide: In response to recent changes
in licensing rules and operating privileges for all hams, the editors of CQ
Amateur Radio magazine have prepared an HF Operator's Survival Guide, a
16-page getting-started guide for newcomers to high-frequency (shortwave)
Amateur Radio communications. Written by CQ Contesting Editor John Dorr,
K1AR, Contributing Editor Gordon West, WB6NOA, and CQ Editor Rich Moseson,
W2VU, the booklet is a practical, hands-on guide to success in HF ham radio.
"Starting out on HF can be pretty intimidating, especially now, at the
bottom of the sunspot cycle, when DX opportunities are harder to find," said
Moseson, who also oversaw the guide's overall production. "This practical
guide will help the new HF operator, regardless of license class, hit the
air running." Among other topics, the book discusses the characteristics of
each HF ham band and explains which is best and when, basic HF operating
practices, choosing your first HF transceiver, antenna basics, and various
HF modes and operating activities. There's also an HF band chart. The HF
Operator's Survival Guide is $2 (plus shipping), with discounts available
for bulk purchases. To order, or for more information, contact CQ
Communications Inc, 800-853-9797 (toll-free) weekdays 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern
Time.

* Special events commemorate Jamestown's 400th anniversary: Special event
stations W4V, K4V and N4V will commemorate the 400th anniversary of the
Jamestown Colony. On May 24, 1607, the Virginia Company of London
established the first permanent English settlement in North America at
Jamestown Island, near present-day Jamestown, Virginia. The Central Virginia
Contest Club (CVCC) says W4V will be on the air during the Virginia QSO
Party <http://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/QSOParty.htm> March 17-18
and during the CQ World Wide WPX (SSB) Contest March 24-25 as well as May
12-27. CVCC members will use W4V at other times. QSLs for the March and May
operations go to NW4V (US stations, include an SASE). WA4PGM will operate as
K4V March 16-21, including the Virginia QSO Party (QSL to WA4PGM). N4V will
also be on during the Virginia QSO Party, mostly on RTTY and PSK-31 (QSL via
KT4U). These operations count toward The Virginia Quadricentennial
Commemorative Amateur Radio Award
<http://www.dxawards.com/inet2007.htm#Virginia>. -- The Daily DX
<http://www.dailydx.com/>

* Swain's Island is most-wanted DXCC entity on German list: Cited by more
than 83 percent of survey respondents, Swain's Island (KH8/S) tops the
German DX Foundation (GDXF) 2006 "mixed" list of most-wanted DXCC entities.
Continuing down the Top 10: 2. Scarborough Reef (BS7H), 3. Navassa Island
(KP1), 4. Bouvet Island (Y/B), 5. Lakshadweep Islands (VU7), 6. South Orkney
Islands (VP8/O), 7. Kermadec Islands (ZL8), 8. Desecheo Island (KP5), 9.
North Korea (P5) and 10. Marquesas Islands (FO/M). North Korea, Swain's and
Scarborough were the top-three most wanted on the CW list. The GDXF
conducted its poll <http://www.gdxf.de/mostwanted.html> in December. -- The
Daily DX

* Cushcraft Corporation acquired by Laird Technologies: Cushcraft
Corporation, a manufacturer of antennas for Amateur Radio, commercial and
industrial applications has been acquired by Laird Technologies. A February
26 announcement put the purchase price at $89.75 million. Headquartered in
St Louis, Laird Technologies designs and manufactures antenna systems,
electromagnetic interference shielding products and wireless systems, among
other products. Cushcraft has design and manufacturing centers in New
Hampshire, California and Utah.

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American
Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association For Amateur Radio, 225
Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259;
<http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general news
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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or
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==>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. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for e-mail
delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
<http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the "Member
Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify membership
data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change your e-mail
address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all automatically sent
email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.) Then, click on "Submit
modification" to make selections effective. (NOTE: HQ staff members cannot
change your e-mail delivery address. You must do this yourself via the
Members Only Web Site.)

The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
sources:

* ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will be
posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)

* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur Radio
Club: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this listserver.)


 

The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter offers a weekly summary of essential news of interest to active amateurs that is available in advance of publication in QST, our official journal. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise and readable.

Much of the ARRL Letter content is also available in audio form in ARRL Audio News.

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.

Back issues published since 2000 are available on this page. If you wish to subscribe via e-mail, simply log on to the ARRL Web site, click on Edit Your Profile at the top, then click on Edit Email Subscriptions. Check the box next to The ARRL email newsletter, the ARRL Letter and you will receive each weekly issue in HTML format. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org

Editorial questions or comments: John E. Ross, KD8IDJ, at news@arrl.org.

Plain-Text

The ARRL E-Letter e-mail is also available in plain-text version:

Outlook Express

1. From the Inbox view, select the Tools menu and the Options selection.

2. Click the Read tab

3. Check the Read All Messages In Plain Text box.  When you open the e-mail, it will be in plain text without images. Other e-mail programs may be able to make a Mail Rule for e-mail received from the address memberlist@www.arrl.org so that the plain-text-only display is selected automatically.

Outlook 2007

Use the same procedure as for Outlook Express, although the global option is under "Tools/Trust Center/E-mail Security".

Thunderbird

Use the menu item "View/Message Body As/Plain Text" or "View/Message Source" options.

OS X Mail (Mac)

Use the "View/Message/Plain Text Alternative" menu item.

GMail

Use the "Message text garbled?" link in the drop-down menu at the upper right of the displayed message block. pine, alpine Set "prefer-plain-text" in your ~/.pinerc configuration file: feature-list=..., prefer-plain-text, ...

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