*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 21, No. 30 August 2, 2002 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +HR 4720 CC&R bill attracts more cosponsors * +ARRL staff member Steve Mansfield, N1MZA, SK * +ARES teams on alert as wildfires threaten * +RACES team activated following train derailment * +New ham antennas set for installation on space station * +ARRL HQ welcomes new staff members * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program update New Sacramento Valley SM announced ARRL Technical Relations Office continues busy schedule KD5MDT in for KC5FVF on next ISS mission Michael "Father Mike" Mullen, WB2GQW, SK Robert E. Baird, W9NN, SK Mobile Ham Radio Museum to visit New England Division, AWA conventions +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>MORE COSPONSORS SIGN ABOARD CC&R BILL HR 4720 Additional cosponsors have signed aboard HR 4720, the bill in Congress aimed at providing relief to amateurs faced with private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions--CC&Rs--in erecting antennas. The list of 18 members of Congress who have agreed to cosponsor the measure includes two amateurs. They are Oregon Republican Greg Walden, WB7OCE--one of the two original cosponsors of HR 4720 with Texas Republican Pete Sessions--and Arkansas Democrat Mike Ross, WD5DVR. Walden and Ross are believed to be the only Amateur Radio licensees in the US House of Representatives. The House now is in recess until after Labor Day. Arkansas Section Manager Bob Ideker, WB5VUH, who ran into Ross at the Little Rock airport while both were waiting for flights, claims at least some credit for getting the Arkansas Fourth District representative to sign onto the bill as a cosponsor. Ideker also has invited Ross--a Novice licensee and ARRL member--to visit some club meetings in his district. New York Democrat Steve Israel introduced HR 4720--the "Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act"--on May 14. The measure would require private land-use regulators--such as homeowners' associations--to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio communication consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. PRB-1 now applies only to states and municipalities. In addition to Walden, Sessions and Ross, the list of HR 4720 cosponsors now includes Representatives JD Hayworth (R-AZ), Patrick Tiberi (R-OH), Patsy Mink (D-HI), Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rick Boucher (D-VA), Joseph Hoeffel (D-PA), John Duncan Jr (R-TN), Dennis Moore (D-KS), Charles Stenholm (D-TX), David Price (D-NC), Bob Schaffer (R-CO), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bart Gordon (D-TN), Charles Taylor (R-NC), and Ralph Hall (D-TX). Visit the US House of Representatives Write Your Representative Service Web page <http://www.house.gov/writerep/> for information on how to contact your representative. The ARRL requests those writing or e-mailing members of Congress--whether or not they are supporting this legislation--to copy ARRL on their correspondence--via e-mail to ccr-bill@arrl.org or via US Mail to CC&R Bill, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111. Correspondents should include the bill number, HR 4720, as well as their name and address on all correspondence. ==>ARRL LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER STEVE MANSFIELD, N1MZA, SK ARRL Legislative and Public Affairs Manager Steve Mansfield, N1MZA, of West Hartford, Connecticut, died July 29 following a spirited battle with brain cancer. He was 55. With the League for 11 years, Mansfield was the ARRL's representative on Capitol Hill and managed the League's public relations efforts. Although he initially bounced back following a diagnosis of brain cancer and subsequent surgery in 2000, he had suffered several setbacks in recent months. "I shall remember his wit and enthusiasm when we worked together in Washington," ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, said of Mansfield--an avowed "political junkie" who'd accompanied Haynie on official trips to DC. "He loved his job and he will be missed." Among Mansfield's most notable accomplishments was his behind-the-scenes effort to facilitate introduction of the Amateur Radio Spectrum Protection Act, HR 817. The measure--still before Congress--would ensure that amateurs receive equivalent replacement spectrum for any frequencies lost to other services. Mansfield also was deeply involved in the effort to promote HR 4720, the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act, which would provide relief to amateurs prevented by deed covenants, conditions and restrictions--CC&Rs--from installing outdoor antennas. HR 4720 would make such private land-use regulations subject to the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. Mansfield also wrote and edited "DC Currents," which detailed the League's Washington efforts in QST. As part of ARRL's "Washington Team," Mansfield gave a face to Amateur Radio as he shared its story with members of Congress and their staffers. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, remembered Mansfield as "a consummate professional and team player" with "a keen, probing intellect." ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, said Mansfield "did an extraordinary job for the League in Washington." Mansfield came aboard in 1991 with "the right stuff," Sumner recalled, and, although not a ham when he joined the staff, Mansfield rekindled the passion for Amateur Radio he'd felt after building a shortwave receiver as a youngster in Indiana, and he soon became N1MZA. Mansfield, who held degrees from Wabash College and Columbia University, was an avid runner, rock climber, hiker and kayaker. He also had an affection for Ireland, its landscape, its people and its music. In QST for February 1995 he wrote a feature, "Hams at the New York City Marathon," <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/spevman/9502027.pdf > which reflected his enthusiasm for running and personal fitness. ARRL Public Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, worked for Mansfield for eight years. "Steve was my mentor and my friend," she said. "I'll never forget the day he hired me, or the lessons he's taught me, professionally and personally. I will miss him deeply." Roanoke Division Director Dennis Bodson, W4PWF, called Mansfield "a very dedicated, and hard-working individual who loved his work and the League." Mansfield leaves his wife, Ellyn, two daughters, Ramona and Elizabeth, two sisters and a brother. Condolences may be sent c/o Ellyn Mansfield, 102 Clifton Ave, W Hartford, CT 06107-1720. A memorial service was set for Saturday, August 3, in Hartford. In lieu of flowers, the family invites memorial contributions to a food bank of your choice or to The Burris School, Ball State University Foundation, PO Box 672, Muncie, IN 47308. ==>ARES TEAMS ON ALERT AS WEST COAST WILDFIRES THREATEN West Coast Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) teams were on alert at week's end to provide emergency communication as the Florence and Sour Biscuit wildfires in southwestern Oregon threatened to merge, creating a "mega fire." ARRL Oregon Section Manager Marshall Johnson, KK7CW, said local hams were helping to curb rumors regarding evacuations and supporting local public service agencies. "ARES and served agencies are still assessing the resources necessary to keep homes from being destroyed and residents as safe as possible," he told ARRL. "Pray for us." Johnson says resources in Oregon to fight more than a dozen fires are being stretched to the limit. "Municipal and Regional fire departments are sending mutual aid personnel to help fight the blazes," he said. According to Johnson, nearly one-half million acres have burned so far this summer, although August 1 was the first official day of fire season in Oregon. Meanwhile, ARRL San Francisco Section Manager Len Gwinn, WA6KLK, said ARES teams from Crescent City and Humboldt, Mendocino and Sonoma counties in California were standing by to assist. Gwinn also was in contact with Sacramento Valley Section Emergency Coordinator Dave Thorne, K6SOJ, to arrange ARES mutual aid between the two ARRL sections. "Everyone is still on standby to evacuate," Gwinn said August 1, adding that shelters in Crescent City, California, and Grants Pass, Oregon, were quiet for the moment. Residents in the Illinois Valley in Oregon's Josephine County have been warned to be ready to voluntarily evacuate on 30 minutes notice. Officials also have been encouraging voluntary relocations of the elderly, families with children and of those having medical conditions or needing special assistance. At risk are the communities of Selma and Cave Junction and the surrounding areas. The Florence Fire has covered more than 145,000 acres, while the Sour Biscuit fire has claimed more than 35,000 acres. The two fires were within a couple of miles of each other on July 31 and only about 5 percent contained. Firefighters have been attempting to bulldoze a firebreak. While ARES operation typically has been on VHF, Gwinn said the Crescent City and Grants Pass centers planned to test 40 and 80-meter midday conditions. "This is because if the linked repeaters between the cities go down for any reason, they will have to resort to HF to get over the hill between the cities," Gwinn explained. He said Family Radio Service (FRS) radios also were being used in areas near the centers also. "These are major fires, and there is at least two and a half months of fire season remaining," outgoing ARRL Sacramento Valley SM Jerry Boyd, K6BZ, said in a message this week to members in his section. "Let's keep our preparedness high." ==>DC AREA TRAIN DERAILMENT TESTS RACES READINESS Activated following a July 29 Washington, DC, area passenger train derailment, the Montgomery County, Maryland, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) team proved itself ready but--at least this time--not essential to the rescue and recovery. More than a dozen RACES members stood down after approximately three hours on duty. "All's well that ends well," said Montgomery County Deputy RACES Officer John Creel, WB3GXW. "We were ready, but it didn't happen." Creel said the group mostly passed "get ready" messages. County officials called out the RACES team after 11 cars of an Amtrak train bound for the nation's capital from Chicago went off the tracks. There were dozens of injuries, some serious, but no deaths as a result of the mishap, which occurred in Kensington, Maryland, just north of Washington. Montgomery County RACES Officer Howard Gorden, W3CQH, was at the scene of the crash, and RACES members staffed the Hospital Radio Net on the area's 146.955 repeater. Other operators were stationed at the Montgomery County Emergency Operations Center as well as at two local hospitals to handle possible traffic on mass casualties. Additional operators stood by for deployment to local shelters as well. As it turned out, no shelters were needed, and hospitals were able to accommodate the injured without problems. Passengers not hospitalized were bussed to Washington's Union Station, which was their ultimate destination, Creel said. ==>NEW AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNAS TO BE INSTALLED ON ISS The last two Amateur Radio antennas are scheduled to be installed this month on the International Space Station's Zvezda Service Module--the crew's living quarters. The specially designed flexible-tape antennas will support Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) VHF and UHF operation and are similar to an antenna installed last January 14 by the Expedition 4 crew. ARISS International Group Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says current plans call for Expedition 5 crew members to carry out space walks (called extra-vehicular activities or EVAs) August 16 and August 22. The two ARISS antennas could be installed during one or both of those EVAs. The all-ham Expedition 5 crew members are commander Valery Korzun, RZ3FK, cosmonaut Sergei Treschev, RZ3FU, and US astronaut Peggy Whitson, KC5ZTD. Bauer said ARISS was working with its Russian partners on EVA procedures. "Once these antennas are installed and some tests planned for September are completed in Russia, additional ISS ham radio equipment will be installed in the Service Module," he said. ARISS initial ham station gear--a single-band Ericsson 5-W hand-held transceiver for 2 meters--is installed in the Zarya Functional Cargo Block (FGB) using an antenna initially installed to aid docking operations and EVAs. The new VHF-UHF antennas and a flexible-tape HF antenna also installed January 25 are designed for and dedicated to ARISS operations. There is no HF gear aboard the ISS at this point. Installation of the new antenna on Zvezda makes possible two separate ham stations aboard Space Station Alpha. Bauer said the additional gear due to be installed in the Service Module is one of the 5-W 70-cm transceivers already aboard the ISS. The ARISS 2-meter transceiver now in use from the FGB will remain operational. "This will provide multiband operation," he said. Plans down the road call for installing HF gear at the ARISS station as well as higher power VHF and UHF equipment. While the ARISS schedule of school contacts has been at a lull during the summer, Korzun has taken time to make some casual contacts. In addition, Bauer reported, Korzun logged nearly 140 ARRL Field Day contacts in June. He also connected a computer to the ARISS packet module and got the system running again after it was down for several weeks. Bauer advised packet operators to stick with UNPROTO operations whenever possible and to use the Packet Mailbox System (PMS) only sparingly, if at all, for brief messages. ARISS is an international project sponsored jointly by ARRL, NASA and AMSAT. A paper entitled "2001: an Amateur Radio Space Odyssey on the International Space Station," which details the development of ARISS and discusses the four new ARISS antennas, is available via the ARISS Web site <http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/EVAs/amsat01.pdf>. ==>ARRL WELCOMES NEW STAFF MEMBERS ARRL this week welcomed Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, as the newest member of the Headquarters staff. Skolaut joined ARRL Field and Educational Services July 30 as a field and regulatory correspondent. He'll be working with the Amateur Auxiliary to the FCC and the ARRL Official Observer program as well as assisting with field organization and regulatory information matters. "Amateur Radio has played an important part of my life," says Skolaut, 59, who came to ARRL Headquarters from Great Bend, Kansas, after a career in television broadcasting. As a part of the Field Organization/Public Service Team, Skolaut will work closely with Team Leader Steve Ewald, WV1X, and with Regulatory Information Branch Correspondent John Hennessee, N1KB. Skolaut says Amateur Radio captured his attention while he was in high school in 1960. "I can still remember my first CW contact," he said. Skolaut attended Wichita Technical Institute. As part of the Kansas Air National Guard, he learned radioteletype repair and later went on active duty as a radio operator. Back home, he was employed in engineering and operations by TV stations in Great Bend and Wichita. Skolaut says his older daughter Elizabeth, now KA0YSP, acquired her dad's interest in ham radio while she was in the fifth grade and soon worked her way from Novice to General. His wife, Mary, now N0TIK, and younger daughter, Angie, now N0UAI, soon followed. His brother, Vernon, is WA0NHS. Skolaut says he's looking forward to serving the ARRL membership in his daily activities. In his new position, he replaces Brennan Price, N4QX, who has assumed new duties as QST "Product Review" editor and as managing editor of National Contest Journal--NCJ. Price, who joined the ARRL Headquarters staff in April of 2000, also maintains editorial responsibility for the ARRL Repeater Directory. He also occupies the National Frequency Coordinators' Office. In his "spare time," he's pursuing a law degree at the University of Connecticut School of Law. He expects to graduate in 2005. Also new to Field and Educational Services is Jerry Ellis, WS1K. A native of Long Island, New York, Ellis, 57, came aboard in late May as ARRL Certification and Continuing Education (C-CE) Program Assistant, working under ARRL C-CE Program Coordinator Dan Miller, K3UFG. First licensed in 1992, Ellis says he was involved in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service on Long Island, where he held the call sign KG2LL and served as Assistant Emergency Coordinator for Smithtown Township. He relocated to Connecticut about two years ago to be near his fiancée (and now wife) Kim. When he upgraded to Extra earlier this year, he obtained WS1K. Ellis says he considers it an honor to be working at ARRL Headquarters. "Employment with ARRL is a milestone in my life, and I really respect the privilege of contributing to Amateur Radio through my employment here," he said. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Solar solon Tad "You Are My Sunshine" Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Sunspots keep growing and growing, and one wonders if the peak of the solar cycle has really passed. With sunspot numbers topping 300 this week, it almost seems like a third peak in a cycle with a double peak so far. Sunspot numbers peaked on Saturday at 323--the highest number since March 2001. The mean daily sunspot numbers for the week were 122 points higher than the previous week. Average daily solar flux was up by nearly 39 points. Average daily sunspot numbers for all of July were 183.5. This is much higher than June, which was 146, but not as high as May's average, at 204.1. Average daily solar flux for July was 174.4, higher than then 148.7 for June and around the same as May's 178.4. Over the next few days solar flux values should decline a bit. Solar flux predicted for Friday through Monday is 185, 180, 170 and 165. Current helioseismic readings suggest several active regions on the sun's far side, so more excitement may be in store. There is the possibility of aurora on Friday morning. The predicted planetary A index for Friday through Monday is 15, 10, 12 and 10. Sunspot numbers for July 25 through 31 were 299, 319, 323, 300, 304, 297 and 265, with a mean of 301. The 10.7-cm flux was 217.7, 241.5, 230.8, 238.8, 234, 227.2 and 208.5, with a mean of 228.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 13, 17, 19, 12, 11, 8 and 9, with a mean of 12.7. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The North American QSO Party (CW), the ARRL UHF Contest, the 10-10 International Summer Contest (SSB), and the European HF Championship are the weekend of August 3-4. JUST AHEAD: WAE DX Contest (CW) and the Maryland-DC QSO Party are the weekend of August 10-11. 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 Program update: Attention Connecticut Amateurs! Don't miss the opportunity to take one of the United Technology Corporation-funded seats in the ARRL Level I Amateur Radio Emergency Communications on-line course (EC-001). Two class sections are now open. Register for classes starting either August 5 or September 2 by visiting the secure ARRL Course Registration Page <https://www.arrl.org/forms/cce> and clicking on the blue hypertext link "Register" next to the class section you prefer. As ARRL implements nationwide emergency communications training funded by the recently announced $181,900 Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) grant, please be patient. No new Level I on-line classes will be offered in August except to Connecticut amateurs. There is no waiting list for the federally funded emergency communications training. Updates will be posted as soon as crucial details are worked out and information become available. All other ARRL Certification and Continuing Education courses will remain open for registration as normally scheduled. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce> and the C-CE Links found there. For more information, contact Certification and Continuing Education Program Coordinator Dan Miller, K3UFG, cce@arrl.org. * New Sacramento Valley SM announced: ARRL Field and Educational Services Manager Rosalie White, K1STO, has appointed Jettie Hill, W6RFF, of Roseville, California, to succeed Jerry Boyd, K6BZ, as ARRL Sacramento Valley Section Manager. Boyd is moving out of the section. The appointment of Hill, who had previously served for more than 10 years as Sacramento Valley SM, was effective August 1. Boyd was appointed in 2000 to replace Hill, who has continued to serve the section as Affiliated Club Coordinator and as an Official Relay Station. Hill previously served as Santa Clara Valley Section Communications Manager from 1978 until 1982 and as ARRL Pacific Division Vice Director in 1982 and 1983. * ARRL Technical Relations Office continues busy schedule: Members of the ARRL Technical Relations Office staff have attended numerous meetings in preparation for the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Conference Preparatory Meeting (CPM), the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, studies related to World Radiocommunication Conference 2003 (WRC-03) and the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL--Comisión Interamericana de Telecomunicaciones). ARRL Technical Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, attended meetings in Fortaleza, Brazil, where he chaired the CITEL group developing input to Chapter 5 of the CPM Report (containing Amateur Radio and other items). ARRL Technical Specialist Walt Ireland, WB7CSL, worked with ITT Industries on simulation of amateur systems and synthetic aperture radars (SARs). Initial results showed that some sharing may be possible between Amateur Radio and SARs, but not with the higher power SARs. The Technical Relations Office continues to study the characteristics of proposed radio local area networks (RLANs) and their interaction with amateur systems in the vicinity of 5.8 GHz. ARRL Technical Relations Manager Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, was in Geneva, Switzerland, for two weeks as a member of the US delegation to the ITU Special Committee on Regulatory and Procedural Matters related to WRC-03. * KD5MDT in for KC5FVF on next ISS mission: Astronaut Don Pettit, KD5MDT, has been named to replace Don Thomas, KC5FVF, as a member of the Expedition 6 International Space Station crew. Pettit had been training as backup flight engineer for the increment six team. NASA said the reassignment resulted from a medical issue that affects Thomas' long-duration space flight qualifications. "The demanding nature of long-term space flight requires a conservative approach to crew health issues, especially this early in the program," said Astronaut Office Chief Charlie Precourt, KB5YSQ. Thomas--a SAREX veteran who's flown on four space shuttle flights and logged more than 1040 hours in space--has been training for his ISS assignment for more than three years. Pettit will join Expedition 6 Commander Kenneth Bowersox, KD5JBP, and Russian cosmonaut Nikolai Budarin, RV3DB. A chemical engineer who holds a PhD, Pettit served as a staff scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico before joining the astronaut corps. Pettit, Bowersox and Budarin all are experienced Amateur Radio operators. This will mark the third all-ham crew aboard the ISS. * Michael "Father Mike" Mullen, WB2GQW, SK: The Rev Michael "Father Mike" Mullen, WB2GQW, of Jamaica, New York, died June 13 after a lengthy illness. He was 87. The long-time president of St John's University Radio Club, Father Mike most often was heard on the air using the club's call sign, WA2KUX. For many years, he also served as the editor of the International Missionary Radio Association (IMRA) newsletter. "His tireless dedication to the charter of IMRA, providing communications to missionaries, made him stand out as one of the true moral forces in the world and in Amateur Radio," said ARRL Hudson Division Vice Director Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML. Father Mike discovered Amateur Radio during a 1966 trip to Panama and obtained his license in 1968. He joined IMRA that same year and served nine terms as its president. During his tenure, he was instrumental in developing an emergency preparedness plan to help The Salvation Army, Church World Service and Catholic Relief Service to help expedite the flow of information about local conditions during emergencies--primarily focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean. He also raised funds to supply generators to IMRA members in Latin America. In recognition of his efforts, Father Mike was named the winner of the Dayton Hamvention Special Achievement Award in 1986 and the ARRL International Humanitarian Award in 1988. A service was held June 18. * Robert E. Baird, W9NN, SK: Bob Baird, W9NN, of Plover, Wisconsin, died August 1. He was 96. Baird was one of the longest-licensed amateurs in the US, having been a ham for more than eight decades. "Bob was an icon, and he will be missed by many in Wisconsin and around the world," said ARRL Wisconsin Section Manager Don Michalski, W9IXG. Baird remained active on the air until shortly before his death and was often heard on 40-meter CW. He reportedly died peacefully in his sleep with his niece, Betty Johnson, WD9AUC, at his side. A native of Dayton, Ohio, Baird was first licensed as a youngster in 1920 as 8BTI. He was engineering supervisor for WGN radio in Chicago, retiring after 36 years of service. Baird was a founder and charter member of the Quarter Century Wireless Association, and he's on the QCWA Honor Roll. In addition, Baird founded the W9DXCC gathering. He also was a member of the ARRL, the Old Old Timers' Club, the First-class CW Operators Club, the Central Wisconsin Radio Amateurs at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and the Rib Mountain Repeater Association. A QCWA memorial scholarship fund will be established. Donations payable to "QCWA Scholarship Fund" may be sent in care of Betty Johnson, 4820 Love Creek Ave, Plover, WI 54467-9526. * Mobile Ham Radio Museum to visit New England Division, AWA conventions: QST "Old Radio" editor John Dilks, K2TQN, says he plans to have his Mobile Ham Radio Museum at this year's ARRL New England Division Convention <http://www.boxboro.org>, August 23-25, in Boxboro, Massachusetts, and at the Antique Wireless Association annual conference <http://www.antiquewireless.org/otb/2002conf.htm> August 28-31 in Rochester, New York. Dilks says the museum-in-an-RV features some new exhibits for its fourth anniversary, including a scanning disk TV receiver that dates back to around 1932, a Hallicrafters S-1 receiver, the first model the company produced, and a 1927 tuned-grid, tuned-plate (TGTP) transmitter featured on the cover of the January 2002 issue of QST and discussed in that month's "Old Radio" column. For more information about Dilks' museum on wheels, visit the Mobile Ham Radio Museum Web site <http://www.eht.com/oldradio/museum>.--The Old Timer's Bulletin/AWA =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; http://www.arrl.org. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest to active amateurs. 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