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	P. O. Box 9852 Daytona "Beach, FL 32120-9852 Information "Hotline" (386) 226-4618 Home of K4BV "the big voice of Daytona Beach"
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The ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 32 August 15, 2008

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IN THIS EDITION (our first ever back-to-school issue):

* + Educators Go "Back to School" at ARRL's Teachers Institutes

* + ARRL's "Big Project" Makes a Big Impact on Youth

* + FCC to Raise Vanity Call Sign Fees

* + The ARRL VC and VCE Programs: Hams Helping Hams

* + ARRL Executive Committee Approves Nine Education & Technology Program Grants

* + ARISS Team Looking for Ground Stations

* Solar Update

* IN BRIEF:

This Weekend on the Radio

ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration

+ No ARRL Audio News August 29

+ Harry Mills, K4HU (SK)

+ Nebraska Ham Couple Killed at Home

ARRL Lab Manager to Serve as Technical Session Chair at IEEE EMC Conference

DXCC Yearbook Includes Corrected DXCC Honor Roll

Chinese Olympic Special Event Stations On the Air

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

==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail <letter-dlvy@arrl.org>

==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, <k1sfa@arrl.org>

==> EDUCATORS GO "BACK TO SCHOOL" AT ARRL'S TEACHERS INSTITUTES

During a record six ARRL Teachers Institutes this summer -- Tampa, Florida; Rocklin, California; Tucson, Arizona; Dayton, Ohio, as well as two sessions at ARRL HQ in Connecticut -- instructors and participants found new ways to bring the excitement of wireless technology to classrooms across the country <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html>.

The ARRL Teachers Institute is a four day, in-service training opportunity for teachers to learn about wireless technology, including the science of radio, space technology, microcontrollers and basic robotics. It focuses on how to integrate these vital technologies into their regular classrooms. For the first time, the number of Teachers Institutes offered was expanded from four to six sessions that included 77 participants from 29 states. To help out with the expanded course load and number of sessions, two additional instructors were brought on board: Miguel Enriquez, KD7RPP, and Nathan McCray, K9CPO. According to Education and Technology Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, "These new instructors will allow the program to continue to expand in coming years. They also bring new perspectives and talent to the instructional staff."

Enriquez was first licensed as a Novice in 1976 and learned about electronics by building a Heathkit; he upgraded to an Amateur Extra class license in 2002. He teaches mathematics, statistics and psychology at Pueblo High School in Tucson, Arizona, and has 10 years of experience teaching at the community college and university levels. In 2005, Enriquez established an Amateur Radio club at Pueblo High School.

Through donations of equipment and support from individuals and the ARRL, the club grew to 26 members and five licensed students exploring satellite communications, ATV, robotics, HF, EchoLink and weather satellite imagery.

McCray, a former sixth grade teacher in Zion, Illinois, starts the 2008 academic year as an assistant principal at West Elementary School in the same town. As a teacher, he integrated Amateur Radio, electronics and robotics into his science and math curriculum. He plans to start an Amateur Radio club in his new school and is looking forward to developing clubs in his district's junior high and high school. McCray's knowledge areas include electronics, computer programming, communications, Amateur Radio, computer systems, leadership and teaching; his background includes instruction at the community college level, as well experience as a senior instructor at a US Navy technical school. McCray has been licensed for 24 years and holds an Amateur Extra class license.

The teachers who participated in this year's Teachers Institutes came from very diverse backgrounds: 63 percent were hams. The gender mix included 64 percent males and 36 percent females. The participants came from schools across the grade levels: 17 percent were elementary, 39 percent middle school/junior high, 40 percent high school and 4 percent university level instructors. During the Institutes, 10 participants studied for and obtained either their first ham license or upgraded their existing ham tickets.

Spencer said that the Teachers Institute curriculum is always being refined and improved: "This year, a new robotics instructor's activity board was added to the robotics unit, and a 24-hour clock kit was added to the Soldering 101 unit. We also added a new, more flexible seismometer that can be used not only to study earthquakes, but also to control the movements of the robot the participants build during the class. This component was added to connect the Science of Radio unit to the Robotics unit. A radio telescope and a sudden ionospheric disturbance (SID) exploration resource were also added, expanding the Space Technology unit. The 24-hour clock kit was a very popular 'homework' assignment that was completed during the first day of the Institute."

Funding for the ARRL Teachers Institutes for Wireless Technology and for the ham radio station grants for schools are supported solely by contributions from ARRL members and others in the Amateur Radio community. According to ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, in 2008 the educational mission of ARRL has expanded to provide additional support for volunteer instructors and the development of additional online courses, as well as curricula and tools for teachers.

"If you are one of the thousands of hams who has helped ARRL expand its education horizons, thank you!" Hobart said. "You may wish to make your contribution to ensure a bright future for the next generation of radio amateurs. Please do so by phone or mail to ARRL Headquarters, or on the Web <http://www.arrl.org/education>. Your generosity will make a big difference."

==> ARRL'S "BIG PROJECT" MAKES A BIG IMPACT ON YOUTH

Since 2001 when the Education & Technology Program -- also known as the "Big Project" -- started, ARRL has expanded the scope of its educational outreach programs by providing grants of station equipment and instructional resources for professional development to more than 300 schools (with more schools added each year) <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/>. The Education & Technology Program has expanded the highly successful teacher development program in electronics, robotics and space -- the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html>.

From humble beginnings in 2003, a single gathering of 12 educators came together at ARRL Headquarters to become the Teachers Institute, with the goal to promote wireless technology literacy. Since then, the Teachers Institute has provided teachers from elementary schools to the university level with the basic tools and teaching strategies to introduce the science of radio, space technology, weather, microcontroller basics and robotics in their classrooms. In 2008, the Teachers Institute program has expanded to six four-day sessions that now include ATV and radio astronomy, more hands-on instruction of project kits -- such as a seismometer, a 24-hour clock and A BOT Instructor's Board -- to enhance the teachers' ability to instruct basic robotics, a fox-hunt activity and satellite contacts.

Each year, the League receives gratifying reports from the schools that participate in the Education & Technology Program. The schools tell us that the resources we offer are bearing fruit -- both in terms of licensing students and teachers and engaging them in wireless technology, both in the classroom and in after-school activities.

"The Education & Technology Program is truly one of ARRL's most significant projects," said ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. "The contributions of ARRL members make a direct connection to teachers and their students, opening the door to Amateur Radio and other exciting areas of science."

==> FCC TO RAISE VANITY CALL SIGN FEES

On August 11, the FCC announced that the cost of an Amateur Radio vanity call sign will increase 60 cents, from $11.70 to $12.30 <http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-08-182A1.pdf>.

The fee will increase 30 days after notice of the increase is published in the Federal Register <http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html>; no date has yet been set for publication. The FCC is authorized by the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, to collect vanity call sign fees to recover the costs associated with that program. The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity call sign for a new 10 year term.

The vanity call sign fee has fluctuated over the 12 years of the current program -- from a low of $11.70 to a high of $50. The FCC said it anticipates some 15,000 Amateur Radio vanity call sign "payment units"

-- or applications -- during Fiscal Year 2009, collecting $184,734 in fees from the program.

The vanity call sign regulatory fee is payable not only when applying for a new vanity call sign, but also upon renewing a vanity call sign for a new term. The first vanity call sign licenses issued under the current Amateur Radio vanity call sign program that began in 1996 came up for renewal two years ago.

Those holding "personalized" call signs issued prior to 1996 are exempt from having to pay the vanity call sign regulatory fee at renewal, as Congress did not authorize the FCC to collect regulatory fees until 1993. Such "heritage" vanity call sign holders do not appear as vanity licensees in the FCC Amateur Radio database.

Amateur Radio licensees may file for renewal only within 90 days of their license expiration date. All radio amateurs must have an FCC Registration Number (FRN) before filing any application with the Commission. Applicants can obtain an FRN by going to the ULS and clicking on the "New Users Register" link <http://wireless.fcc.gov/uls/>. You must supply your Social Security Number to obtain an FRN.

The ARRL VEC will process license renewals for vanity call sign holders for a modest fee. The service is available to ARRL members and nonmembers, although League members pay less. Routine, non-vanity renewals continue to be free for ARRL members. Trustees of club stations with vanity call signs may renew either via the ULS or through a Club Station Call Sign Administrator, such as ARRL VEC.

League members should visit the "ARRL Member Instructions for License Renewals or Changes" page <http://www.arrl.org/fcc/memberlicenseinstructions.html>, while the "Instructions for License Renewals or Changes" page covers general renewal procedures for nonmembers <http://www.arrl.org/fcc/licenseinstructions.html>. There is additional information on the "ARRL VEC's FCC License Renewals and ARRL License Expiration Notices" page <http://www.arrl.org/arrlvec/renewals.html>.

License application and renewal information and links to the required forms are available on the "ARRL Amateur Application Filing FAQ" Web page. The FCC's forms page also offers the required forms <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/application-filing-faq.html> .

==> THE ARRL VC AND VCE PROGRAMS: HAMS HELPING HAMS

Invariably, when an amateur wants to erect a tower and more antennas, there will be questions about zoning and building ordinances. According to ARRL Regulatory Branch Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, some questions are simple, while others may lead to a long battle with town officials.

"Rule number one in any of these cases," Henderson said, "is to make sure you know the legal landscape you are facing before you start any project."

Henderson said there are many tools to assist amateurs in navigating the perils of zoning and restrictions: "Among the most important resources are fellow amateurs who have stepped forward to serve as either an ARRL Volunteer Counsel (VC) or an ARRL Volunteer Consulting Engineer (VCE)."

ARRL VCs are fellow amateurs who are attorneys. They have agreed to provide a free initial consultation to hams facing town zoning issues related to the erection of Amateur Radio towers and antennas. ARRL VCEs are registered Professional Engineers (PE) who have likewise agreed to give hams an initial consultation when facing antenna support installation issues required by the town. Henderson notes that VCs and VCEs provide their initial consult for free: "If you do need to retain them further to help you navigate through the 'red tape,' you need to be prepared to pay them for their professional services, though many VCs and VCEs do provide discounted rates if they assist long term."

The role of the VC and VCE is to assist amateurs with antenna and zoning issues, but Henderson said that some provide advice on other topics, such as helping a club through the process of incorporating, or a VCE serving as an expert witness before a town zoning meeting. "When facing an antenna fight, remember that VCs and VCEs -- along with other resources -- are there to assist you, but their role is secondary to yours," Henderson advised. "The amateur seeking to erect the tower has to take the lead, making sure that all required information from the town is provided promptly and as required. This includes bearing any costs associated with the permitting process or legal fees. If you follow the steps required by the city or town, and you don't take any shortcuts and are reasonable in your approach, you should end up prevailing in the end."

The ARRL is looking for qualified and interested attorneys and registered Professional Engineers to step forward to serve as VCs and VCEs. "There is no better time to consider serving in these important but unsung volunteer positions than now," Henderson said. Right now, the ARRL has VCs in only 44 states and VCEs in 33 states. Applications for VCs <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/local/vcapp.html> and VCEs <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/local/vceapp.html> can be found online on the ARRL Web site. For more information on how you can assist as a VC or VCE, contact Henderson via e-mail <n1nd@arrl.org>.

If you need the services of a VC or VCE to help with your zoning problem, contact the Regulatory Information desk via e-mail <reginfo@arrl.org>. "We are happy to help you sort through the first steps or try to hook you up with a nearby VC or VCE. The ARRL VC/VCE programs are here to serve you, but we need your help."

==> ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE APPROVES NINE EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM GRANTS

In May, the ARRL Executive Committee reviewed grant applications for the ARRL's Education & Technology Program (ETP), awarding nearly $14,000 to nine schools <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/>. More than 300 schools across the country have received support from the ETP in the form of grants for equipment, curriculum and resources, as well as teacher in-service training through the Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/ti.html>. The Executive Committee reviews applications for equipment and resource grants twice each year, in December and May.

The following schools recently received equipment grants:

* Hamburg High School, Hamburg, New York: The lead teacher for this program is a recent graduate of the ARRL Teachers Institute and has some experience with practically applying ham radio in her classroom.

* Pioneer High School, Yorkshire, New York: The program articulated in the grant application has an EmComm theme and is an extension of an existing program.

* Pell City High School, Pell City, Alabama: The lead teachers for this program were participants in this summer's Teachers Institute. The program articulated in the grant application was thought to be aggressive and far reaching, and is supported by the local ham community, as well as by long term financial commitments on the part of the State and local governments.

* Washington Technical Middle School, St Paul, Minnesota: The lead teacher for this program attended the Teachers Institute this summer.

The program in the grant application is supported by the local ham community, including a retired Vice Director, Twila Greenheck, N0JPH.

The school has already started on their program development by obtaining and using the Soldering 101 24-hour Clock Kit that is part of the ETP resource portfolio.

* Glenn Raymond School, Watseka, Illinois: The program suggested in this application is more broad and general, and suggests using ham radio as a support to other curricular areas. The Executive Committee felt this was a healthy approach to the use of ham radio and indicates a well thought out use of ham radio as a resource.

* Sayreville Memorial High School, Parlin, New Jersey: This application articulates a program that is based on setting up a ham radio station in the school that is part of an EmComm component of the school's county Office of Emergency Management.

The following schools received Progress Grants. These grants consist of resources, curriculum materials and instructional materials such as software or building kits:

* Egg Harbor Township High School, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey: The lead teacher for this program has taken a different approach to making the connection between the science of radio and robotics fundamentals by focusing on basic electronics. He requested the parts and pieces to make a robotic arm resource for use in his class.

* Emanuel County Institute, Twin City, Georgia: The lead teacher for this program is a recent Teachers Institute graduate. He wants to expand the use of the activity board resources he learned about during the Institute into his regular curriculum.

* Gateway Technical Community College, Sturtevant, Wisconsin: This applicant is requesting assistance in obtaining licensing resource materials for the college radio club. The resources obtained through this grant will be housed in a club library for multiple users.

ETP participants continue to sing the praises of the ARRL and the Education & Technology Program. Here is what a few of them had to say:

* The ARRL has made our year! Words cannot express the gratitude that we feel because of the ARRL grant so generously provided to us. On behalf of the Rambler Radio Club of LaFayette Middle School, thank you. By the way, we are hosting Field Day for our sponsor club (Tri-State ARC). This will be their first Field Day in three years. They plan to have a GOTA station to encourage more people to get involved. Thanks to you and the thousands of ARRL members who have made the entire year seem like Christmas for us!

* Today, I received a phone call from our calculus teacher who introduced me to one of our senior students. She has been accepted to the University of Arizona and will be taking courses for electrical engineering; her ultimate plan is to someday work for NASA and become one of the astronauts. She was excited when I told her about being able to talk to the space shuttle -- sounds like she came to the right place for the "right stuff." I happened to have the "Hello Radio" pamphlet available for her and also gave her an old copy of the Radio Amateurs Astronomy book. I wanted you to know how grateful I am to you and the ARRL for all you have done in helping Mohave High School get this off the ground, and as always, thank you for the great satellite images you send to us. One of the kids at school is using them to do an Independent Study course on weather.

* I just demonstrated the BOE-BOT's telemetry powers to my math students and BINGO! They were excited. One of them immediately demonstrated how the data on the spreadsheet could be graphed using three dimensional graphics, a lesson she had just had in her computer class last week.

Another student set up different barricades to test the BOT's ability to get out of the maze. The BOT did it and then they started accusing each other that the BOT was smarter than them. The radio club members in the math class wanted to know what the schematic looked like for the design.

The goal of the Amateur Radio Education & Technology Program is to improve the quality of education by providing an educationally sound curriculum focused on wireless communications. The project emphasizes integration of technology, math, science, geography, writing, speaking and social responsibility within a global society.

==> ARISS TEAM LOOKING FOR GROUND STATIONS

Do you want to be part of the international network of ground stations that help support Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) operations? ARISS is looking to add numerous ground stations capable of relaying ISS Amateur Radio sessions with schools and also serve as back-up communications relays should they be needed. Locations all over the world will be considered, but the greatest need for stations is in Central America, South America, Falkland Islands, Western Australia, Canada and Alaska.

The following are guidelines for stations wanting to be considered:

Third Party agreement with United States or waiver from their telecom agency; ability to speak and understand English; minimal horizon obstructions; 24/7 access and availability of station; operator(s) willing to support scheduled contacts at various times; phone patch; AZ/EL tracking satellite system, preferably an auto tracking system with the capability for manual override; multi-element Yagis for 2 meters and 70 cm (circular polarization preferred); pre-amps and transmit output greater than 70 W. If you can specify your station's EIRP and receive sensitivity (thereby taking into account cable losses, pre-amps and antenna gain), it would be greatly appreciated.

Stations that can support the following will be given special consideration, but these items are not required: Auto Doppler adjustment of frequencies; ability to speak and understand languages other than English; 1.2 and 2.4 GHz satellite hardware; Packet; SSTV; Digital ATV; redundant power system, and high-speed Internet.

If you or your club would like to be considered for selection as one of the new ARISS ground stations, send an e-mail to ARISS with details about your station and contact information <ARISS-telebridge@amsat.org>.

-- Information provided by Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chairman

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Under the light of five hundred Suns" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: Our Sun is still not producing any sunspots. As mentioned in previous bulletins, the peak of the last Solar Cycle was a double peak, so perhaps we are in the midst of an extended bottom. Sunspot numbers for August 7-13 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 66.1, 65.5, 65.5, 65.6, 65.7, 65.2 and 65.3 with a mean of 65.6. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 18, 13, 7, 6 and 5 with a mean of 8.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 3, 3, 16, 9, 6, 6 and 3 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>. To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by Allen Ginsberg's "America."

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, be sure to check out the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest on August 16-17. The NCCC Sprint is August 15. The Feld Hell Sprint and the ARCI Silent Key Memorial Sprint are August 16.

On the weekend of August 16-17, look for the SARTG WW RTTY Contest, the Russian District Award Contest, the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest and the North American QSO Party (SSB) to be on the air. The New Jersey QSO Party is August 16, 17 and 18. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is August 18. Next weekend, the NCCC Sprint is August 22. The Hawaii QSO Party and Ohio QSO Party are August 23-24. The SKCC Sprint is August 27.

All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains open through Sunday, August 24, 2008 for these online course sessions beginning on Friday, September 5, 2008: Technician 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).

Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>.

* No ARRL Audio News August 29: There will be no ARRL Audio News on Friday, August 29; ARRL Audio News will resume production on Friday, September 5. The ARRL Letter will be distributed as usual.

* Harry Mills, K4HU (SK): Harry Judd Mills, K4HU, passed away Saturday, August 9 at the Cardinal Care Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina after a period of declining health. He was 100 <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/09/20/102/>. Mills was a resident of Hendersonville since his retirement in 1971 after a 30 year worldwide career with RCA as an engineer and manager. First licensed in 1922 as 8VHX, he was a 72 year member of the ARRL, a founder and past president of the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) Chapter 76 of Hendersonville and a fellow of the Radio Club of America (RCA). Mills was active on the air up until his death. He could be heard twice weekly checking into the AM net on 3810 kHz, as well as the Chapter 76 QCWA SSB net on Saturday mornings on 3930 kHz. Mills credited a crystal receiver project from "The Boy Scout Handbook," given to him by his parents when he was 12, for his interest in wireless and radio. Featured on the NPR program "All Things Considered" in 2001, Mills had this to say about the magic of radio: "To me it is difficult to describe the fascination of it. I know I use it all the time. How does it happen? Can't see the fella. There are no wires going from here to there. But you can talk to him. It was a phenomenon that interested me from the beginning. I presume that it is safe to say I've never gotten over it"

<http://www.radiodiaries.org/transcripts/OtherDocs/conrad.html>.

ARRL Regulatory Information Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, remembered Mills fondly: "I can't remember a time in Amateur Radio when I didn't know Harry. A visit to his shack was always a learning adventure. He could regale you with stories of his own hands-on experiences from spark gap to today's modern equipment. His shop was a veritable wonderland of learning. If you needed work done on your radio, he was the man.

Whenever Harry was the speaker at a radio club meeting, the attendance would always swell. You would never know what trinket or treasure he would bring with him. I have frequently said that Harry had forgotten more about radio and electronics than I ever knew. I will miss his knowledge and friendship. He was the best of the best." No memorial services are planned. An online register book is available for those wishing to express condolences <http://www.thosshepherd.com/>.

* Nebraska Ham Couple Killed at Home: Carolyn, N0LAL, and Steven Baily, N0US, were found dead in their home -- located in a rural area just north of Lincoln, Nebraska -- on Sunday, August 9 <http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10403953>. Police believe the deaths occurred after a string of home invasions; a suspect, Brandon Crago, is in custody on suspicion of murder. In a court appearance on August 14, a judge set Crago's bail at $5 million for robbery, use of a weapon to commit a felony and being a felon in possession of a firearm; murder charges are pending <http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10405594>. According to the "Omaha World-Herald," authorities believe Crago, a man with a history of drug abuse, acted alone. The Bailys, who helped found the Ashland Amateur Radio Club (AARC), served as storm spotters and helped out with club events; Steven maintained the club's repeater. Neighbor Linda Graham, KC0IOQ, told the ARRL, "We're going to be lost without Steve. He was our repeater guy. He had just bought a new power supply and ammeter for the repeater." The Bailys have two daughters, Jennifer and Heather, KL2AK. A memorial service is still being planned.

* ARRL Lab Manager to Serve as Technical Session Chair at IEEE EMC

Conference: ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI, will chair a Technical Session at this year's Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) <http://www.emc2008.org/>. It will be held at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan, August 18-22. Mark Steffka, WW8MS, a member of the ARRL EMC Committee <http://www.arrl.org/announce/reports-2008/july/>, invited Hare to chair the session due to Hare's involvement with a number of international committees on EMC standards. The session, covering the topic of EMC emissions and immunity, will take place on Thursday afternoon, August 21. Hare said he was pleased to receive the invitation: "ARRL has been an active and regular participant in a number of industry EMC committees, ensuring that Amateur Radio is represented and has a seat at the table. I've helped at most of the Symposium events held over the past few years, peer reviewing submitted papers and providing support to the ham radio luncheon that is held there every year." The IEEE EMC Society's Standards Development Committee (SDCom) is also meeting at the event on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Hare serves as the elected Secretary of SDCom. Hare said the event is not just meetings -- "There is a fun part of the event, too. The Motor City Radio Club <http://www.w8mrm.org/> will activate W8MRM August 19-21, giving Amateur Radio a special presence at this industry event. Look for them starting at 1500 UTC on 7.040, 7.240, 14.040 and 14.240 MHz."

* DXCC Yearbook Includes Corrected DXCC Honor Roll: According to DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, the 2007 Honor Roll list published in the August 2008 issue of QST was inadvertently produced from a "corrupted report feature" in the DXCC software. "Since the DXCC Honor Roll report is too large for a line-by-line review, random samplings [of the list] were checked and many [listings] were found to be okay," Moore said. "It was not until the complete report was published that we found the report had more errors than originally thought. Publishing a simple correction in an upcoming issue of QST is not possible. We have expanded the 2007 DXCC Yearbook to accommodate a complete reprint of the 2007 Honor Roll list. This is something many of you have suggested in previous years.

The 2007 Honor Roll list will also be published on the DXCC Web site and this list will be separate from the current 'live' online Honor Roll list. We regret any inconvenience caused by this and we appreciate your patience and understanding." The 2007 DXCC Yearbook is the largest ever, with an additional 16 pages, and features articles about the year's DXing activities, the Clinton B. DeSoto Cup and DXCC Challenge standings. The DXCC Yearbook is mailed free to all ARRL members who have submitted a DXCC application between January 1 and December 31 of the prior year or are current on the DXCC Honor Roll. Copies are also available for $5 plus postage. To get your issue, please send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC desk <dxcc@arrl.org>.

* Chinese Olympic Special Event Stations On the Air: Special Event stations for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games began operating on May 18 and are scheduled to continue through September 17 <http://www.bj2008ses.com.cn/>. Five special calls -- representing the five official mascots of the 2008 Beijing Olympic games -- are on the

air: BT1OB, BT1OJ, BT1OH, BT1OY and BT1ON. The last letter of the call sign corresponds to the first letter of the name of each mascot -- Beibei (fish), Jingjing (panda), Huanhuan (flame), Yingying (Tibetan antelope) and Nini (swallow). A QSL card <http://www.bj2008ses.com.cn/bt1ox.jpg>, reserved for special use incorporating all five symbols, has also been designed. Zheng Feng, BA4EG, will be the QSL manager for all stations. QSLs can be sent either direct or via the bureau and will begin to be answered in October. A Web site supporting the Special Event stations include an online log search and QSL card received and sent status, as well as other information. An award for contacting each of the five stations on 10-160 meters a minimum of five times (using CW, SSB or RTTY, as well as SWL) is also available. The Games of the XXIX Olympiad began Friday, August 8 and run through Sunday, August 24. -- Thanks to Chris Parker, VE6PKR, and The Daily DX for some information

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.

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The ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 31 August 8, 2008

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IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL Board of Directors Names 2007-2008 Award Recipients

* + NCVEC Holds Annual Conference via Telephone

* + Look for the September Issue of QST in Your Mailbox

* + Former ARRL HQ Staff Member Glenn Swanson, KB1GW (SK)

* + Station Manager Explains NN3SI's Silence

* + Fifth Annual National Preparedness Month Coming in September

* Solar Update

* IN BRIEF:

This Weekend on the Radio

ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration

+ New ARRL Section Manager Appointed in Nevada

+ Jack B. Morgan, KF6T, Wins July QST Cover Plaque Award

October is Radiosport Month in QST

Georgia Hams Meet with FEMA

AMSAT-UK Colloquium Lectures Now Online

International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2008

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

==> ARRL BOARD OF DIRECTORS NAMES 2007-2008 AWARD RECIPIENTS

The ARRL Board of Directors named six ARRL award recipients at its July 18-19 meeting in Windsor, Connecticut. The six awards conferred were the 2008 Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award; the 2007 Herb S.

Brier Instructor of the Year Award; the 2007 Hiram Percy Maxim Award; the 2007 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award; the 2008 ARRL Technical Innovation Award, and the ARRL Technical Merit Award.

* The Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award <http://www.arrl.org/pio/mcgan/>

The recipient of the 2008 McGan Award is Walter Palmer, W4ALT, of Lewes, Delaware. Palmer, the ARRL Delaware Section Public Information Coordinator (PIC) <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/pic.html>, has demonstrated outstanding volunteer public relations success on behalf of Amateur Radio at both the local and state levels. Palmer wrote a television script for the Sussex County (Delaware) Emergency Operations Center, providing the public with an awareness of Amateur Radio and its relationship with Emergency Preparedness. This show was broadcast on the largest television station in the Delaware market. Through his positive messages and commitment to Amateur Radio, membership in the Sussex Amateur Radio Association increased almost 200 percent, gaining 69 new members; participation in ARES grew from just one lone member to 60.

The McGan award is named for Philip J. McGan, WA2MBQ (SK), the first chairman of the ARRL's Public Relations Committee. After his death, friends in the New Hampshire Amateur Radio Association joined with the ARRL Board of Directors to pay a lasting tribute to the important contributions he made on behalf of Amateur Radio. The McGan Award goes to that ham who has demonstrated success in Amateur Radio public relations and best exemplifies the volunteer spirit of Phil McGan.

Public Relations activities for which the McGan Award is presented include efforts specifically directed at bringing Amateur Radio to the public's attention (and most often the media's) in a positive light.

This may include traditional methods, such as news releases, or non-traditional methods, such as hosting a radio show or being an active public speaker.

* Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/award/herb-tor.html>

The recipient of the 2007 Herb S. Brier Instructor of the Year Award is Doug Loughmiller, W5BL, of McKinney, Texas. Since 2003, Loughmiller has worked to bring together the Fannin County Amateur Radio Club and the Fannin County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) by creating and teaching ongoing Amateur Radio classes. Loughmiller advertises the classes and recruits students; graduates of the classes usually end up joining both clubs. He mentors his many students about the wide-ranging facets of Amateur Radio, including high altitude balloon flights and real-world emergency response in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Loughmiller's classes are so popular, it is common for licensed amateurs to re-enroll or even take his class for a first time knowing they will walk away from it having learned something new.

Herb S. Brier, W9AD, long-time CQ Novice Editor, represented the spirit of effective, caring Amateur Radio instruction. The ARRL, in conjunction with the Lake County (Indiana) Amateur Radio Club, sponsors this award in his memory to recognize the very best in volunteer Amateur Radio instruction and recruitment.

* The Hiram Percy Maxim Award <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/awards/hpm.html>

The recipient of the 2007 Hiram Percy Maxim Award is Jim Fagan, KE7IDC, of Tucson, Arizona. Fagan, an ARRL Life Member, is the ARRL Arizona Assistant Section Manager for Youth; he also serves as secretary/treasurer of the Tucson Repeater Association. He is 13 years old. Fagan teaches the Radio and Electronics merit badges, as well as hands-on radio demonstrations and kit building in his Scouting activities. Outside of Boy Scouts, Fagan helps out with bike races, walkathons and Red Cross drills. He serves as the Tucson Repeater Council's representative to the Arizona Radio Council. Every month, he writes a Youth and Scouting article for the ARRL Arizona Section newsletter.

This award, given annually to a licensed radio amateur under the age of 21, takes into account the nominee's most exemplary nature of accomplishments and contributions to both the community of Amateur Radio and the local community.

* The Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award

The recipient of the 2007 Doug DeMaw, W1FB, Technical Excellence Award is John Stanley, K4ERO, of Rising Fawn, Georgia, for his article "Observing Selective Fading in Real Time with Dream Software" published in the January/February 2007 issue of QEX <http://www.arrl.org/qex>.

Stanley was first licensed as KN4ERO more than 50 years ago, gradually working his way up to Amateur Extra class. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a degree in electrical engineering in 1962 and did six years of graduate studies in theology and foreign languages. With Ruth, WB4LUA, his wife of 40 years, Stanley has visited 62 countries and operated from about a dozen of them while working as a broadcast engineering consultant and educator. He has taught in several universities and has worked for all of the major religious broadcasters, but spent the majority of his time with HCJB in Quito, Ecuador where he oversaw the use of a 24-element quad antenna for broadcasting on the 21 MHz shortwave broadcast band. While at HCJB, Stanley designed and built several transmitters and did major work on the 20 kW unit presently used by HCJB for SSB and Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) broadcasts.

Established in 1975 as the ARRL Technical Excellence Award, the name was changed in 1997 to honor the late Doug DeMaw, W1FB, a former ARRL Headquarters technical editor and well-known Amateur Radio author. The award consists of an engraved 9 inch pewter cup.

* The ARRL Technical Innovation Award

The recipient of the 2008 ARRL Technical Innovation Award is Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ, of Wayland, Massachusetts. Bernstein authored and published the DXLab suite of programs for radio amateurs <http://www.dxlabsuite.com/>; he has placed these programs in the public domain for free use and collaboration. Bernstein, an avid DXer, was one of the earliest logging program authors to investigate functions for ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW) <http://www.arrl.org/lotw>, as well as programs for other developers. His DXLab suite consists of eight programs that cover every aspect of station operation. Bernstein goes beyond simply supporting DXLab; he mentors users in other aspects of programming and Amateur Radio.

The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted annually to the licensed radio amateur or to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs whose accomplishments and contributions are of the most exemplary nature within the framework of technical research, development and application of new ideas and future systems in the context of Amateur Radio activities.

* ARRL Technical Merit Award

The ARRL Technical Merit Award, last given in 1976, is awarded to ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. Since 2003, Hare has diligently and skillfully led the ARRL laboratory staff in studying the detrimental effects of Broadband over Powerline (BPL) usage on the Amateur Radio community <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/HTML/plc/>. Going beyond the dictates of his job, Hare conducted field studies of geographically dispersed BPL deployments in his personal HF-equipped car, interfacing with amateurs in many different areas of the country to provide them with reliable and objective technical advice in identifying and addressing harmful interference from BPL systems.

Hare's extensive technical studies and solid factual data effectively supported ARRL's Court of Appeals submissions against the FCC, thus contributing substantially to the League's success in causing the FCC's flawed BPL rules to be remanded to the FCC. This action positively impacts ARRL membership and the whole amateur community.

Hare has earned the respect of technical representatives in the BPL industry and standards organizations, such as the IEEE P1775 BPL EMC Committee; the IEEE EMC Society Standards Development Committee (serving as Chairman of the BPL Study Project), and the ASC 63 EMC Committee (serving as Chairman of Subcommittee 5 -- Immunity and the Ad hoc BPL Working Group). Through these committees, Hare has contributed to the implementation of advancements in BPL technology, directly resulting in the capability of current generation BPL systems to reduce interference potential to acceptable levels.

==> NCVEC HOLDS ANNUAL CONFERENCE VIA TELEPHONE

On July 25, the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC) held their annual meeting via teleconference. ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, and Assistant Manager Perry Green, WY1O, represented the ARRL VEC. Representatives from 12 of the nation's 14 VECs (either in person or via proxy), as well as the FCC's Bill Cross, W3TN, took part in the teleconference.

Elections

NCVEC held elections for 2008/2009. Moving up from vice chairman, Larry Pollock, NB5X, of W5YI VEC was elected Chairman, replacing Tom Fuszard, KF9PU, of the MRAC VEC; John Johnston, W3BE, of the LARC VEC, was elected as Vice Chairman. Roland Royal, K3RA, of LARC VEC, was elected as Chairman of the Question Pool Committee (QPC). The ARRL's Green, W5YI's Pollock, MRAC's Fuszard and Anchorage VEC's Jim Wiley, KL7CC, were appointed as members of the QPC; Royal, Green and Pollock are returning QPC members.

The following amateurs were re-elected to their position by acclimation:

Michelle Cimbala, WK3X, of LARC VEC, as Secretary and Custodian of Records; Gene Wright, WA6ZRT, of the GEARS VEC, as Assistant to the Custodian of Records; Ray Adams, W4CPA, of the WCARS VEC, as Treasurer; Willard Sitton, W4HZD, of WCARS, as Assistant to the Treasurer, and Fred Maia, W5YI, of W5YI VEC, as Rules Reporter.

Question Pool Committee

Wiley presented the QPC report. Wiley, who served as QPC Chair for 2007/2008, stated that the committee strived to make the questions in the Amateur Extra class license question pool easier to understand <http://www.ncvec.org/page.php?id=351>. A few changes were made after the release of the pool, and the implementations of those changes seem to be going smoothly, he said. He reminded the Conference that there will be no question pool releases in 2009.

Win Guin, W2GLJ, proxy for the GLAARG VEC, asked Wiley why the QPC released a second version of the Extra class pool. Wiley replied that the QPC sent a copy of the pool to VECs before its release; only a few VECs responded with comments. Only after the release of the pool to the public, Wiley said, did the QPC receive a substantial number of comments for corrections and changes.

Royal confirmed this, saying that most of the comments received after the release were not major, but there were a significant number of them.

The QPC carefully reviewed the comments, and the second release of the pool was seen as a way to clarify the way the questions were worded.

Pollock agreed, noting that only eight questions were removed from the pool, and about 12 typographical errors were corrected in the re-release.

FCC Matters

Bill Cross, W3TN, an analyst in the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau -- Mobility Division, told the Conference that from an FCC perspective, the VEC system was working quite well. He said they had received very few complaints about test sessions or the availability of test sessions.

Cross also notified the Conference that his office has received some complaints from hams who have let their licenses expire. These hams, Cross said, are upset that they have to take a new test after their two year grace period has expired.

Cross then spoke of items pending in Washington that may impact exam question pools. He mentioned a petition filed by the ARRL, asking the FCC to amend rules relating to the amount of RF power that stations may use when transmitting spread-spectrum emissions. Cross said this petition is being handled by the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology (OET); he said a decision on this petition has the possibility to affect a few questions in the pools. He also told of a petition dealing with the 5 MHz (60 meter) band; the ARRL is requesting that a channel substitution be made. If approved, this would also change a few questions. Cross said that the Commission would need to solicit comments on both petitions before a decision is reached, and a Report and Order would need to be released if the rules are changed. He said he felt that no question pool changes would need to be made before next summer at the earliest.

Cross mentioned that his office has had some difficulties with club call sign applications. It seems, Cross said, that some hams are sending in applications requesting to change the trustee of a club station, but these hams are not authorized to change either the trustee or the station address. He called on Club Station Call Sign Administrators (CSCSA) to watch this carefully and try to head off any potential problems. He suggested that administrators get documentation that the person requesting the change is actually the new trustee of the club license and is acting with the authority of the club.

1x1 Call Signs

Royal said he was concerned about the possible misuse of 1x1 -- or special event -- call signs, saying that he had received reports of a large number of these special call signs showing up in radiosport contests. He said in looking at the Special Event Call Sign System guidelines -- posted on the NCVEC Web site <http://www.ncvec.org/1x1.php> -- he did not think contests fit the FCC's definition of a special event as something of general or widespread interest. He said that if the Conference decides that it is not in their purview to provide guidance on what should be a special event, the Conference should delete the definition from the NCVEC Web site.

Cross said that the NCVEC has no responsibility for the 1x1 call sign program. He told the Conference that when the FCC devised the 1x1 program, they left the definition of a special event -- an event of interest to the ham radio community -- vague on purpose. He said the Commission envisioned 1x1 call signs being used at open houses, fairs, parades, celebrations of anniversaries of local events and the like. He said a contest does not commemorate an event; rather, those with a 1x1 call sign in a contest have an advantage with a short call sign. He said contest sponsors could have a rule not allowing 1x1 call signs.

Pollock said that after the 1x1 database was developed, they had to find a place to host it; as a matter of convenience, it was placed on the NCVEC Web site. Somma, Green and Pollock urged that the 1x1 database and related Web pages be moved to its own site, with Pollock heading up this project. Somma said the FCC rules state that the database must be maintained, but does not state on what Web site it is to be maintained.

To clarify issues with the 1x1 call signs, language on the NCVEC Web site will be changed to reflect that the Conference has nothing to do with the 1x1 call sign program, and pages associated with the program will be moved to their own site as soon as possible.

The 2009 meeting of the NCVEC was tentatively set for July 24 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

==> LOOK FOR THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF QST IN YOUR MAILBOX

The September issue of QST -- our annual Emergency Communications issue -- is jam-packed with all sorts of things today's Amateur Radio operator needs, with a special focus on Public Service. From product reviews to experiments to contesting, the upcoming issue of QST has something for just about everyone.

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, provides details on how hams can use APRS and GPS in Emergency Communications (and other applications) for more than simply tracking the position of another user in his article "Maximizing the Mobile Motorist Mission." William McMurray, K4SG, takes a look back at some resourceful young amateurs' radio EmComm and homebrewing adventures in his article "World War II Emergency Radio." Mike Kionka, KI0GO, tells about "Project 25 for Amateur Radio," an open digital standard used by many public service agencies.

ARRL Contributing Editor Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, reviews ICOM's IC-92AD dual band handheld transceiver. According to Pearce, "The IC-92AD is a very capable radio for analog and D-STAR digital VHF/UHF operation. It's expensive compared to analog-only dual-bRoyal, and you'll need to spend some time learning the digital features. In return, D-STAR offers many capabilities not available in the analog world."

Contest season is right around the corner, so ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, takes a look at his mailbag and answers a few questions he has received in "This Month in Contesting." The results of the 2008 ARRL DX Phone Contest are in. Did you top your score from last year? How did your closest rival do? Also, find out about upcoming contests in Contest Corral.

Of course, there are all the columns and features you know and love in September QST: Hints & Kinks, The Doctor Is IN, How's DX, Old Radio, Technical Correspondence, ARRL VEC and Emergency Communications Honor Rolls, Hamspeak and more. Look for your September issue in your mailbox.

QST is the official journal of ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. QST is just one of the many benefits of ARRL membership.

To join or renew your ARRL membership, please see the ARRL Web page <http://www.arrl.org/join>.

==> FORMER ARRL HQ STAFF MEMBER GLENN SWANSON, KB1GW (SK)

Former ARRL Headquarters staffer, Glenn P. Swanson, KB1GW, of North Granby, Connecticut, died August 1 after a brief illness. He was 54. In the mid-1990s, Swanson was very active in contesting activities, and served a term as Yankee Clipper Contest Club (YCCC) Connecticut Area Manager and was a contributor to the YCCC newsletter <http://www.yccc.org/>. Swanson was extremely interested in new Amateur Radio equipment and products -- especially transceivers -- and authored several QST product reviews.

First licensed in 1987 as a Novice, Swanson credited Peter Budnik, KB1HY - who became a fellow ARRL staffer -- for getting him involved in Amateur Radio. Swanson told then-QST Product Review Editor Rick Lindquist, WW3DE (ex-N1RL) in 1996 that "Peter was my best friend, and he was really into CB. I became involved, too. Later, when Peter decided to take an Amateur Radio licensing class, it was natural that I'd go along with my buddy and take the class, too!" Swanson said he and Budnik "climbed the licensing ladder together," from Novice to General. "And here we are years later, both Advanced class and both working at ARRL HQ -- in the same department."

Swanson first came to the ARRL in January 1993 as the Assistant to Bart Jahnke, KB9NM, then-ARRL VEC Manager. Two years later, Swanson moved to the former Educational Activities Department (EAD) -- later merged with Field Services -- for several years. In his role in EAD, Swanson was involved with the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX -- the predecessor to the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station ARISS), scouting's Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) and the ARRL Instructor of the Year Award.

"Glenn was an enthusiastic ARRL staff member and Amateur Radio operator," said Lindquist. "He would even stay after hours to assist me in the product review process, and he made me feel at home when I first arrived at ARRL HQ. In addition, he got me involved with YCCC and serious contesting. Glenn was a great guy." Swanson wrote more than a dozen articles and product reviews for QST between 1995 and 1997.

Former EAD Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, his former supervisor, said, "I always liked Glenn and was happy to have him in the department. His death was such a shock!"

Swanson left ARRL HQ in 1998, going to work for the West Hartford (Connecticut) public school system as a technology support specialist.

He was employed there at the time of his death. A memorial service was held August 7 in Granby, Connecticut.

==> STATION MANAGER EXPLAINS NN3SI'S SILENCE

ARRL has received numerous e-mails asking for information on why NN3SI <http://americanhistory.si.edu/events/programdetail.cfm?newskey=48>, the Amateur Radio station at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History (NMAH) was closed after more than 32 years of operation <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/07/30/10231/?nc=1>.

According to Hal Wallace, NN3SI Station Manager and Associate Curator for the Museum's electricity collections, there will be no appropriate place to house the station once the Museum reopens this fall after undergoing an extensive renovation.

"NN3SI ceased operating from the National Museum of American History on July 31," Wallace told the ARRL. "As you may know, NMAH has been undergoing a renovation of the building's infrastructure and interior for some time. The renovation forced us to remove the Information Age exhibition -- the station's home since 1990. We placed the station in a temporary location for the duration of the renovation but it cannot remain there when we reopen to the public later this year. The Information Age exhibit will not be reinstalled, and since we have no other appropriate exhibition areas within the Museum, the station had to cease operations at NMAH. Various alternate locations throughout the Smithsonian have been considered but none are viable at this time."

Wallace said that the station's license is valid until 2013 and its equipment will go into storage: "John Johnston, W3BE -- NN3SI's trustee -- assures me that a renewal of the license would not be an issue if we need one. Should a suitable exhibition area elsewhere in the [Smithsonian] Institution be found, we will be able to reactivate the NN3SI activity."

==> FIFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH COMING IN SEPTEMBER

The US Department of Homeland Security announced in July that more than 1200 national, regional, state and local businesses and organizations -- including several Amateur Radio groups -- have pledged their support and joined the 2008 National Preparedness Month Coalition <http://www.ready.gov/america/npm08/intro.html>. Sponsored by the department's "Ready" campaign, National Preparedness Month helps to raise awareness and promote action by Americans, businesses and communities on emergency preparedness.

"As we approach our fifth National Preparedness Month, I want to thank the hundreds of coalition members who are making a difference in their communities by helping raise the basic level of preparedness in our country," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "Individual preparedness is the cornerstone of emergency preparedness. Experience shows that if Americans take steps ahead of time, they stand a much better chance of coming through an emergency unharmed and recovering more quickly."

"The 'Ready' campaign and Citizen Corps <http://www.citizencorps.gov> are specifically encouraging individuals across the nation to take important preparedness steps," said ARRL Public Relations and Media Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP. "These steps include getting an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed about the different emergencies that may affect them, as well as taking the necessary steps to get trained and become engaged in community preparedness and response efforts."

National Preparedness Month Coalition members have agreed to distribute emergency preparedness information and sponsor activities across the country that will promote emergency preparedness. Membership is open to all public and private sector organizations. Sign up your club or ARES group now! Groups and individuals can register to become members by visiting the Ready Web site <http://www.ready.gov> and clicking on the National Preparedness Month banner.

For more information on the Ready Campaign and National Preparedness Month, please visit <http://www.ready.gov> or <http://www.listo.gov> for information in Spanish. Information is also available by phone at 1-800-BE-READY or 1-888-SE-LISTO (in Spanish).

According to Pitts, linking up with the Ready.gov people and participating in September's National Preparedness Month is "an easy win. The federal people are already doing all the hard work. All you really have to do is sign up. Most clubs and ARES groups are already doing activities which fit into their structure, so why not get credit for your actions? Of course, if you do something more with this opportunity, so much the better! But you have to sign your group in and no one can do that for you. There are hundreds of ARES groups and clubs in the country. Wouldn't it be fun to have even 70 percent of them sign up and get noticed?"

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Substituting for Tad Cook, K7RA, Carl "The bright Suns I see and the dark Suns I cannot see are in their place" Luetzelschwab, K9LA, this week reports: For the reporting period August 1-7, solar activity was at very low levels and the geomagnetic field was at quiet levels. Solar activity is expected to continue to be very low for the next several days. As for geomagnetic field activity, the Australian Space Forecast Centre issued a geomagnetic disturbance warning on August 6 for quiet to unsettled, and then unsettled to active conditions (with possible minor storm periods) on August 8 and August 9, respectively. Sunspot numbers for July 31-August 6 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 65.5, 66.1, 66.2, 65.5, 66.2, 66.5 and 67 with a mean of 66.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 3 and 4 with a mean of 3.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3 and 5 with a mean of 3.1. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass."

==>IN BRIEF:

* This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, the WAE DX Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are August 9-10. The SKCC Weekend Sprintathon is August 10 and the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is August 13. Next weekend, be sure to check out the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest on August 16-17. The NCCC Sprint is August 15. The Feld Hell Sprint and the ARCI Silent Key Memorial Sprint are August 16. On the weekend of August 16-17, look for the SARTG WW RTTY Contest, the Russian District Award Contest, the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest and the North American QSO Party (SSB) to be on the air. The New Jersey QSO Party is August 16, 17 and 18. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is August 18. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

* New ARRL Section Manager Appointed in Nevada: Joe Giraudo, N7JEH, has been appointed Section Manager of the Nevada Section effective August 15. ARRL Membership and Volunteer Programs Department Manager Dave Patton, NN1N, made the appointment after Dick Flanagan, K7VC, announced his resignation for health related reasons. Flanagan, of Minden, has served as Nevada Section Manager since January 2003. Giraudo, who lives in Spring Creek, will complete the current term of office that continues through June 30, 2009. A Professional Engineer and graduate of the University of Nevada, Giraudo is an experienced licensing instructor and ARRL Volunteer Examiner. He is currently Nevada Assistant Section Manager, as well as a District Emergency Coordinator; he also holds appointments as Net Manager, Public Information Officer and Official Emergency Station within the Nevada Section. Giraudo served as Nevada Section Emergency Coordinator from 1994-2000.

* Jack B. Morgan, KF6T, Wins July QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for July is Jack B. Morgan, KF6T, for his article "Portable Two Element 15 Meter Yagi." Congratulations, Jack! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>. Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the August issue by Sunday, August 31.

* October is Radiosport Month in QST: We here at ARRL HQ are excited over the theme of October's QST -- radiosport! In addition to feature and technical articles focusing on contesting -- ranging from the history of radiosport to a product review of a rig geared for the avid contester and DXer -- ARRL Contributing Editor H. Ward Silver, N0AX, has put together an 8 page insert focusing solely on radiosport. This section features such articles as how to interpret your Log Checking Report (LCR), guidelines for the upcoming contest season and a list of resources that no contester should be without, as well as a listing of major contests throughout the year. Of course, no issue of QST would be complete without "Contest Corral" and "This Month in Contesting." Look for an announcement by ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, about how 2009 is the Year of the State QSO Party. Be sure to check out October QST -- in your mailbox in September -- to find out more about this exciting new event.

* Georgia Hams Meet with FEMA: On July 30, representatives from the ARRL Southeastern Division and Georgia Section participated in the FEMA Region IV, Regional Emergency Communications Coordination (RECC) Working Group meetings near Atlanta. Southeastern Division Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK; Georgia Section Manager Susan Swiderski, AF4FO, and Georgia Section Official Observer Coordinator Michael Swiderski, K4HBI, represented ARRL and Amateur Radio. In the meetings, Sarratt talked about ARRL, ARES, Amateur Radio and their value to FEMA, while Susan Swiderski gave a talk on MARS. "We are proud to be a part of FEMA's RECC," Sarratt said. "This will help to enhance FEMA and ARRL's working partnership. It is very beneficial to meet any of the communications leadership of FEMA and other agencies in the region. These meetings, coordination and learning about each other are critical elements before the disaster strikes. I was also very happy to meet several Amateur Radio operators attending the meeting in their professional capacity."

Headquartered in Atlanta, FEMA's Region IV territory includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Region IV is FEMA's largest geographic region and the most common challenges are tornados, hurricanes and other storms that can cause flooding and flash flooding. -- Thanks to Greg Sarratt, W4OZK

* AMSAT-UK Colloquium Lectures Now Online: AMSAT-UK held their 23rd Annual International Space Colloquium July 25-27 at the University of Surrey in Guildford <http://www.uk.amsat.org/content/view/32/42/>. This annual event <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/07/21/10219/?nc=1>

is a chance to talk to satellite designers and builders, as well as a place to discover how to use Amateur Radio satellites. The British Amateur Television Club (BATC) streamed the Colloquium live on the Internet and has placed videos of nine lectures on their Web site <http://www.batc.tv/channelphp?ch=1>.

* International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend 2008: More than 380 lighthouses in more than 51 countries -- from Argentina to Wales -- will be on the air for 2008 International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW) <http://illw.net/> organized by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group (AARG) in Scotland <http://www.gm0ayr.org/>. The event, held for the 10th year in a row, takes place from Saturday, August 16 0001 UTC to Sunday, August 17 2359 UTC. While not a contest, the ILLW is more of a QSO Party and Amateur Radio demonstration. The ILLW aims to raise public awareness of lighthouses and lightships and the need for their preservation and restoration, promote Amateur Radio and foster international goodwill.

Stations at more than 40 US lights are expected to be on the air for the event, and several stations will identify with special event call signs.

Participating lighthouse/lightship stations do not have to be inside the structure or on the vessel itself; a Field Day-type setup at or adjacent to the light is sufficient. More information about the event, including a registration form, is available on the ILLW Web site <http://illw.net/2008_list.htm>.

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/American Radio Relay League.

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

==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, k1sfa@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:

(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 ARRL Letter Vol. 27, No. 30 August 1, 2008

***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Amateur Station at Smithsonian QRT after 32 Years

* + German Radio Manufacturer Halts Transceiver Production

* + HF Digital Voice Programs Once Again Available for Download

* + Dutch Amateur Radio Satellite Now Live

* + MARS Lends a Hand with Hurricane Dolly Operations

* + ARRL Membership Newsletters, Bulletins and Notifications

* Solar Update

* IN BRIEF:

This Weekend on the Radio

ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration

+ Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX/G4JVG, Wins June QST Cover Plaque Award

+ W1AW/KL7 Now QRV

From the DXCC Desk

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

==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail <letter-dlvy@arrl.org> ==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane, <k1sfa@arrl.org>

==> AMATEUR STATION AT SMITHSONIAN QRT AFTER 32 YEARS

After more than 30 years on the air from the nation's capital, NN3SI <http://americanhistory.si.edu/events/programdetail.cfm?newskey=48>, the Amateur Radio station at the National Museum of American History <http://americanhistory.si.edu/index.cfm> -- part of the Smithsonian Institution <http://www.si.edu/> -- became silent on Thursday, July 31.

Originally located in the Nations of Nations exhibit, the station first went on-the-air in 1976 in celebration of the US Bicentennial. The FCC caught the patriotic spirit, giving the station a temporary call sign -- NN3SI -- standing for Nation of Nations, Smithsonian Institution. The Commission later made the call sign allocation permanent.

According to NN3SI volunteer Carl Lagoda, W3CL, a Special Event operation was planned for earlier this week, with certificates available to those who contacted NN3SI. DX Summit <http://www.dxsummit.fi/> spotted NN3SI on 75, 40 and 20 meters SSB.

NN3SI has been situated in several different exhibitions in the Museum; it was most recently housed in the former Information Age exhibit. This exhibit chronicled the birth and growth of the electronic information age -- from Samuel Morse's invention of a practical telegraph in the 1830s through the development of the telephone, radio, television and computer. The Museum has been closed since 2006 while undergoing a major renovation and is scheduled to reopen to the public this fall.

The station participated in many special events throughout its history.

During the dedication of the World War II Memorial on the National Mall, station operators made many contacts and taught children visiting the Museum how to spell their names in Morse code. Over the years, operators at NN3SI -- who hailed from the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia (and the occasional guest operators from various parts of the globe) -- have logged contacts with amateurs in all parts of the world and with astronauts and cosmonauts in orbit. By operating the station, NN3SI ops promoted Amateur Radio as a national resource for emergency communications, trained operators, technicians and engineers -- as well as an outstanding hobby -- to the more than 4 million people who visit the Museum each year.

QSL via NN3SI, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of American History, 17701 Bowie Mill Rd, Derwood, MD 20855.

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==> GERMAN RADIO MANUFACTURER HALTS TRANSCEIVER PRODUCTION

In a surprise move, Hilberling GmbH <http://www.hilberling.com/> has stopped production on the much anticipated PT-8000 series of HF/VHF Amateur Radio transceivers. Apparently due to CE marking regulations <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CE_mark>, Hilberling had to make constant adjustments to the design of the radio and was unable to repeat the performance of prototypes in production models and was not able to justify the expense involved with further redesign work. The CE mark certifies that a product has met European Union health, safety and environmental requirements, ensuring consumer safety. Array Solutions <http://www.arraysolutions.com> -- which had been set to be the North American distributor for the transceiver series -- featured the PT-8000 at its booths at the 2008 Dayton Hamvention.

Hans Hilberling, DK7LG, explained in German on the company's Web site why the company canceled production of the PT-8000 series:

"Production of the PT-8000 equipment series has been halted. Due to the persistent challenges we've had to overcome in the process of bringing the official EU-wide manufacturer's model to fruition, it became necessary to make more and more adaptations in the design of this cutting-edge transceiver. The lofty design goals of the PT-8000 could be attained in some prototypes. We encountered difficulties that we could not overcome at justifiable expense in guaranteeing, without reservation, a high standard of mass production involving many suppliers. We appreciate the great interest this project has attracted over its entire course." -- Translation by Rick Lindquist, WW3DE

The PT-8000 was featured in a 4-page pull-out advertisement in the May 2007 issue of QST. The ad stated that Hilberling had not yet received approval by the FCC to market the radio in the US. All digital devices -- including Amateur Radio equipment -- must be approved by the FCC, meeting the requirements of FCC Part 15 and RSS 210 (Radio Standards Specifications, Industry Canada) to ensure its compliance as an unintentional radiator and as a generic receiver. Approval was granted in May 2008. Testing was done in April and May 2008 by Professional Testing (EMI) of Round Rock, Texas.

According to the QST ad, the PT-8000 was set to feature:

* An automatically tuned preselector

* Precision matched first and second mixers, designed by Synergy Microwave, with third intercept points at 40+ dBm

* Three roofing filters at 2.7, 6 and 12 kHz

* Six hybrid amplifiers from LF to VHF with third intercept points at

50+ dBm

* Seven 16-pole ladder filters working in combination with DSP filters in the 10.7 MHz second IFs of each filter

* 13.8 V HF MOSFETs (metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor) in the 100 W power amplifier; high efficiency (70 percent) SD3933 HF MOSFETs in the 600 W final amplifier

* Three additional 70.7 MHz roofing filters in the transmitter stages for clean output

* Designed with UHF and microwave transverters in mind, 1 Hz frequency resolution with the ability to connect transverters to both receivers simultaneously

* Taps at the first and second IFs for analysis, monitoring and experimentation

* Easily updatable firmware

The price for a 10 W PT-8000 started at $12,000, going up to $16,000 for the 600 W model. Commercial and military grades were priced at an additional $10,000.

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==> HF DIGITAL VOICE PROGRAMS ONCE AGAIN AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD

Citing codec (coding/decoding) licensing issues, three free Windows programs for sound card-based HF digital voice were yanked from their download site for a short time recently, surprising hams who are interested in HF digital voice operation; several online groups that supported the software were also closed for a short time.

WinDRM, DRMDV and FDMDV, all written by Cesco Lanza, HB9TLK, used a codec that was developed for the US Department of Defense and NATO.

Rights to various forms of the codec are held by several companies.

According to Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, the companies have "winked" at ham radio use for several years, but a recent complaint caused the programs to be pulled from the download site. "Lanza did a quick rewrite to use an open-source codec, and now WinDRM and FDMDV are back," Pearce said.

"DRMDV, an intermediate program between the other two, has been abandoned. WinDRM could always use the open-source Speex codec, but FDMDV users will need to download the new version."

Pearce said these three programs all allow hams to transmit and receive digital voice by connecting their PC sound card to an ordinary SSB

transceiver: "The result has been surprisingly high quality audio, with virtually no noise -- sort of like listening to FM, but in the narrow bandwidth of a sideband signal. WinDRM, the best sounding program, uses

2.5 kHz of spectrum. FDMDV sounds a little rougher, but uses only 1.1 kHz of spectrum. They both use OFDM modulation, a set of close-spaced carriers that are each modulated with a little bit of data to add up to the final digital signal. The main problem with HF digital voice is that it needs fairly strong signals. FDMDV works better with weaker signals than WinDRM."

Pearce said that none of the available open-source codecs work as well as the old one: "MELP <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MELP>, or Mixed Excitation Linear Prediction, was designed specifically for high-quality, low data-rate voice communication. So the on-air audio might suffer some with the new version. Digital voice users have been waiting and hoping for someone to concentrate on developing a codec optimized for ham radio use, but none has been forthcoming."

FDMDV and WinDRM can both be downloaded from Jason Buchanan's, N1SU, Web site <http://www.n1su.com/>.

The AOR digital voice modems and D-STAR radios both use the AMBE 2020 vocoder, and are not affected by the coding changes; the AMBE 2020 vocoder is a proprietary chip that is embedded in each unit.

For more information on WinDRM, check out QST Editor Steve Ford's, WB8IMY, article ["Life Could Be a DReaM," pages 38-40] in the April 2007 issue of QST.

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==> DUTCH AMATEUR RADIO SATELLITE NOW LIVE

The linear transponder aboard the new Dutch OSCAR 64 satellite <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/05/22/10117/?nc=1> (otherwise known as Delfi-C3 <http://www.delfic3.nl/>) is now open for CW and SSB operation.

The spacecraft boots into transponder mode whenever it is in full sunlight. Ground controllers will briefly switch the satellite to either "basic" or "science" configuration once every two weeks; otherwise, the linear transponder will be the default mode. The transponder uplink passband is from 435.530-435.570 MHz with a downlink passband from 145.880-145.930 MHz. The transponder CW beacon can be heard at 145.870 MHz.

Delfi C-3 was successfully launched April 28, 2008 from India aboard a Polar launch vehicle <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/28/10067/?nc=1> and was successfully commissioned, currently transmitting telemetry on the 2 meter amateur band. In addition to its 2 meter downlink, Delfi C-3 has an uplink on the 70 cm band.

The satellite was developed by a team of some 60 students and facility members from various polytechnic schools in The Netherlands. Delfi C-3 carries two experiments -- one involving thin film solar cells developed by Dutch Space, and an autonomous wireless Sun sensor from the Dutch Government Research Institute (TNO). E-mail reports are welcome <info@delfic3.nl>.

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==> MARS LENDS A HAND WITH HURRICANE DOLLY OPERATIONS

When Tropical Storm Dolly turned into Hurricane Dolly <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/07/22/10221/?nc=1>, various Amateur Radio Emergency Communications groups, such as WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) and the VoIP WX Net (VOIPWX), began tracking the storm. One other group -- the Army's Military Amateur Radio Service (MARS) -- also helped out with storm communications.

According to Texas State MARS Director Dave Martin, MARS leadership began to track the storm while it was still in the Atlantic. MARS established a liaison with the Texas Military Forces (TXMF) and the Texas State Operations Center (SOC). An Alert Notification message was sent to all MARS members on July 18, informing Texas Army MARS that the SOC was at full operations and would announce when they would request full mobilization of all agencies. This decision was made just two days later and an additional Alert Notification was sent to the membership to begin emergency net operations on July 22 at 8 AM.

"Our mission was to support the TXMF and the SOC with HF communications by expanding the normal net schedule and establishing a full-time liaison," Martin said. "In addition, requests were sent to the other MARS services in the region asking for liaison stations to participate in the Army nets. Fortunately, a hurricane exercise had been completed a week before and the exercise operations order was used to execute this mission. We reacted to the storm the same way we trained for the emergency."

Beginning on July 22, Texas MARS opened E-nets at 8 AM, 1 PM, 7 PM and 10 PM, with a 6 AM net opening the next day. While the Net Control Stations were in Texas, support was received from Oklahoma and Louisiana Army MARS. TXMF was notified that Texas Army MARS had received permission from Army MARS Headquarters to deploy HF communications teams with their deploying elements as was done during a previous exercise.

During the emergency, the nets had an average of 25-30 check-ins; all traffic was sent via MT63 or Winlink 2000.

Martin said that all MARS stations in the affected area were off the air during the height of the storm. MARS member Tom Whiteside, N5TN/AAR6CQ, was able to facilitate the use of the Winlink network, exchanging traffic with the Harlingen Emergency Operations Center; Harlingen is about 27 miles north of the Mexican border, in Texas's southern tip.

This area was one of the hardest hit areas in the state.

As Hurricane Dolly approached Harlingen, Sergeant Gerald Manthey, KC6CNN, Harlingen's Director of Emergency Communications, was on duty at the EOC. Manthey has been the driving force in the Rio Grande Valley for Winlink, as well as pushing amateur voice capabilities in the area with surrounding agencies. Harlingen became the South Texas ARES' fifth EMCOMM PMBO in December of 2007 with both local VHF Packet and HF PACTOR capability.

Due to a localized power failure, the EOC was soon running on generator power. During the storm, Manthey kept in touch with both the SOC and the Emergency Operations Center in San Antonio. He also kept in touch with other hams in the valley via both voice and Winlink.

"Winlink is the perfect tool for this sort of thing," said Manthey. "You can send messages and get them when you have time. The system works very well even without the Internet."

Manthey communicated with the City of Brownsville EOC, the Cameron County EOC, the Valley Baptist Medical Center and individual amateurs via Winlink throughout the storm. One of those hams was ARRL West Gulf Division Vice Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV, who operates a Winlink RMS Packet station in Harlingen. The AE5R station was the first test of the new RMS Relay program that provides for local message hubbing during an Internet outage.

MARS emergency operations continued until 10 PM on July 24 when Kevin Lemon, the State RACES officer, stood down the Amateur Radio operation.

Army MARS also ceased operations at the SOC, but remained on call in case of a flooding event. "Hurricane Dolly was a serious but not major storm," Martin said. "Even at that, there were times when communications were out due to winds or flooding. Volunteers in MARS and the Amateur Radio community provided what was needed to get through the storm and are standing by for any after effects." -- Thanks to Texas State Army MARS Director Dave Martin, K5YFO/AAA6TX, and Tom Whiteside, N5TW/AAR6CQ, for the information

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==> ARRL MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTERS, BULLETINS AND NOTIFICATIONS

Did you know the ARRL offers more newsletters than The ARRL Letter? One of the many ARRL membership benefits includes other newsletters, such as the ARRL Contest Update (a bi-weekly contest newsletter), the ARES E-Letter (sent monthly, containing public service and emergency communications news), the ARRL Club News and the ARRL Instructor/Teacher E-Letter.

You can also elect to receive news and information from your Division Director and Section Manager (keep in mind that not all Divisions/Sections send notices), as well as W1AW bulletins that relate to DX, propagation, satellites and Keplerian reports. The ARRL also offers a free notification service to members, letting them know when their membership and license are due to expire.

Sign up for these newsletters, bulletins and notifications on the Member Data page of the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html>.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "Lost in a shaft of sunlight" Cook, K7RA, this week reports: July ended with no sunspots at all -- save for three days, July 18-20, when one weak sunspot group appeared and faded from view. Sunspot numbers for those days were 11, 12 and 11. Sunspot numbers for July 24-30 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 65.4, 65.8, 66.1, 66.3, 66.3, 66 and 66.5 with a mean of 66.1. Estimated planetary A indices were 11, 3, 5, 7, 7, 3 and 5 with a mean of 5.9. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 7, 2, 4, 4, 6, 2 and 4 with a mean of 4.1.

The outlook from the US Air Force Space Weather operations for many weeks now has shown a predicted solar flux of 66; their prediction from July 31 shows the same for the next 45 days. This tells me that there isn't any period where we might expect more sunspot activity, or at least no way to foresee it. They predict the next geomagnetic activity of any note for August 10, with a planetary A index of 20. They predict a planetary A index of 8 for August 1, then 5 for August 2-6 then 8 again on August 7. Geophysical Institute Prague echoes that prediction with quiet to unsettled conditions for August 1 and 7, and quiet conditions August 2-6. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought to you by "The Dry Salvages," one of the poems by T. S. Eliot known as The Four Quartets.

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==>IN BRIEF:

* This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, look for the the ARRL UHF Contest August 2-3. The TARA Grid Dip Shindig and the European HF Championship are on August 2. On August 2-3, look for the 10-10 International Summer Contest (SSB), the National Lighthouse Weekend QSO Contest and the North American QSO Party (CW). The RSGB RoPoCo 2 and the SARL HF Phone Contest are both August 3. Next weekend, the WAE DX Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are August 9-10. The SKCC Weekend Sprintathon is August 10 and the NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is August 13. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update <http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.

* Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX/G4JVG, Wins June QST Cover Plaque Award:

The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for June is Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX/G4JVG, for his article "The FSDXA 3B7C St Brandon DXpedition." Congratulations, Steve! The winner of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST Cover Plaque Poll Web page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html>.

* W1AW/KL7 Now QRV: Special event station W1AW/KL7 will be on the air from grid square BP56 July 26-August 10 on all bands from 160-6 meters.

This ARRL 2008 Alaska State Convention Special Event Station <http://www.akhamfest.com/arcticcirclespecial.php> plans to run two HF stations operating CW, SSB and digital, one satellite station and one station devoted to 146.52 MHz. The Convention itself runs from August 1-4 in Anchorage.

* Notes from the DXCC Desk: Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, reports that the 5X4X operations in Uganda -- from 2007 to present -- have been approved for DXCC credit. "If you had cards rejected for this operation, please send an e-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk <dxcc@arrl.org> to have your DXCC record updated," Moore said.

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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/American Radio Relay League.

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

==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, k1sfa@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:

(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:

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Updated: Monday, August 18, 2008

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