*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 21, No. 33 August 23, 2002 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +Space walk reset for August 26 to install ham antennas * +ARRL members support frequency defense * +FCC audits W5YI-VEC California test session * +Ham leads team transatlantic model airplane attempt * +CITEL resolution a step closer to global ham ticket * +Incumbent Puerto Rico SM wins re-election * +Leonard award nominations open * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio Certification and Continuing Education course registration MOM and DAD to hold Kids' Forum at ARRL New England Division Convention ARRL welcomes new development associate FCC chairman launches FCC University DXCC reminder TRW September Swap Meet canceled +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== Editor's note: This week's editions of The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News are being distributed a day earlier than usual to accommodate convention travel schedules. The Solar Update is not included in this edition. It will be available August 23 on the ARRL Web site as well as to subscribers via W1AW bulletin. =========================================================== ==>NEW ISS HAM ANTENNA INSTALLATION RESCHEDULED There's been another switch in plans to install the last two Amateur Radio antennas aboard the International Space Station. NASA and Russian officials announced this week that the second space walk by members of the Expedition 5 crew was rescheduled for Monday, August 26. It had been set to happen August 23. Installation of the new Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) antennas on the Service Module--the crew's living quarters--paves the way for two separate ham stations in space. At least in the short term, one station would be for VHF operation, the other for UHF--on 70 cm. The antennas to be installed are capable of handling both VHF and UHF. Similar flexible tape antennas for VHF-UHF and for HF were installed in January by the Expedition 4 crew. NASA and Russian sources indicate the schedule shift was made to accommodate tasks that did not get done during the crew's first space walk on August 16. At least for now, the two Amateur Radio antennas are on the planned timeline for installation during the space walk or "EVA" (extra-vehicular activity). Expedition 5 Commander Valery Korzun, RZ3FZ, and Flight Engineer Sergei Treschev, RZ3FU, are slated to begin the six-hour spacewalk at 0500 UTC on August 26. A scheduled ARISS QSO August 24 with Scout Jamboree station PI4RIS in The Netherlands by US Astronaut Peggy Whitson, KC5ZTD, was postponed. It's not known if the change in space walk schedules was a factor, however. The two VHF-UHF flexible tape antennas--designated WA1 and WA2--will be installed along the perimeter of the aft end of the Zvezda Service Module, near the Soyuz docking port. The August 26 space walk is scheduled to be covered live on NASA Television, which is available via cable in many areas. NASA Television also is available via the Web <http://www.nasa.gov/ntv/ntvweb.html>. The live NASA Television coverage will include commentary on the space walk, which is expected to last about six hours. 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 MEMBERS DIG DEEPLY TO DEFEND FREQUENCIES ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, says ARRL members have been especially generous in supporting the ARRL Defense of Frequencies Fund. "Since October 2001, the Defense of Frequencies Fund has generated nearly $435,000 from more than 10,000 ARRL members," Hobart reported this week. "This vital annual giving campaign provides key revenue to support ARRL activities at Headquarters, in Washington and internationally." Hobart pointed out that administrative overhead is low--83 cents of every dollar raised goes directly for the defense of frequencies. But, while members are responding more generously than ever to calls for support, expenses for advocacy on behalf of Amateur Radio continue to far outstrip revenues, she said. "In fact, ARRL spends more than $1 million a year on efforts to defend the Amateur Radio spectrum, represent the service on regulatory and technical issues and participate in critical international conferences like World Radio Communication Conference 2003," she said. "The success of the 2002 campaign raised only about one-third of the funds needed to directly cover ARRL's advocacy efforts." Hobart estimated that if every ARRL member contributed just $8 a year to the Defense of Frequencies Fund, "we could fully fund ARRL's work to protect Amateur Radio spectrum." To donate to any ARRL fund or to find out more about how to support the future of Amateur Radio, visit the secure donation page on the ARRL Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/basic/>. ==>FCC AUDIT CONTINUES INTO W5YI-VEC CALIFORNIA TEST SESSION The FCC audit of a W5YI-VEC Amateur Radio test session in California is continuing. So far, the probe into a September 1, 2001, examination session in Yucaipa has led to the suspension of seven volunteer examiners and the cancellation of five Amateur Radio licenses. The FCC also is looking into other test sessions conducted by the same VE team. The W5YI-VEC's Larry Pollock, NB5X, said possible irregularities surfaced earlier this year in the form of an e-mail and a telephone call concerning two candidates at VE sessions in Yucaipa. "One of the reports was that they had purchased a license in California," Pollock said. "The other was that the individual in question could not copy code, and that if he had passed the exam, he had done so fraudulently." After considerable investigation on his own, Pollock said he saw "enough questionable things" that he felt retesting was in order "and that's what we proposed to Riley," he said, referring to FCC Special Counsel for Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth. Pollock identified the VEs as team leader Carl A. Alford, WB6RUF; Irene L. Alford, KM6GT; Renato P. Songco, N6UAN; Ana Luz V. Saycon, W6LUZ; Khanly V. Saycon II, KQ6OP; Mharloun V. Saycon, KQ6OR; and Khanly F. Saycon Jr, KS6X. All were suspended as VEs last January 3, pending the outcome of the FCC inquiry. Pollock said all had been VEs for more than two years. Hollingsworth said the FCC would continue to investigate other examinations administered by the VEs involved in the September 1, 2001, session in Yucaipa. In July, Hollingsworth announced that five W5YI-VEC exam candidates--four from the September 1 Yucaipa session--had not appeared for retesting as requested and had been stripped of their Amateur Radio licenses. Pollock said the four September 1 candidates were current licensees seeking upgrades that included the Element 1 5 WPM Morse code examination. All had passed Element 1 during the original test session with perfect copy. Cancelled by the FCC for failing to appear for retesting were Camito E. Lopez, KG6GJG, of Los Angeles, a Technician licensee seeking HF privileges; Marcial S. Rivas, KG6HCP, of Salem, Oregon, who had upgraded to General; Manuel M. Vega, KG6GSP, of Anaheim, California, who had upgraded to General; and Marcelino G. Llanes, KG6HBR, of Oxnard, California, who had upgraded to General. "They were no shows for the re-exam, and if they had actually done as well in the original code test as it appeared, they should have had no problem passing it," Pollock said this week. He added that there was no reason to believe there were any irregularities involved in the written examination elements administered at Yucaipa. Also failing to reappear for retesting and cancelled by the FCC in mid-July was Eddie C. Bartolome, N6YAG, of Los Angeles. Bartolome, an Extra-class licensee, had been an examination candidate at earlier VE sessions conducted by the now-suspended W5YI-VEC team. According to Hollingsworth, Bartolome was alleged to have told another complainant that he could get him an amateur license for $100. Hollingsworth praised the W5YI VEC for acting promptly in the case. "W5YI-VEC really did their homework on this one," he said, "picking up on some comments and complaints on Internet newsgroups about the exam session and, doing a little further research, found some good reasons to refer the matter to us. We really appreciate the vigilance of the W5YI VEC in this case." ==>HAM-LED TEAM ATTEMPTING TRANSATLANTIC MODEL AIRPLANE FLIGHT A team of model airplane enthusiasts led by Maynard Hill, W3FQF, is attempting a record-breaking crossing of the Atlantic by a model aircraft. A model plane dubbed "The Spirit of Butts Farm" was launched August 20 and was on its way to Ireland. Monitoring the flight, TAM-3, the third in a series, from Newfoundland, Canada, Hill's team reports the plane was last heard from August 21 at 0428 UTC. "We are still uncertain what happened," said a terse announcement on the team's Web site. The Transatlantic Model Aircraft--or TAM--project is Hill's brainchild as the president of the Society for Technical Aeromodel Research. Hill and his design team have spent four years on the ambitious project. The TAM aircraft are hand-launched and guided to an altitude of 1500 feet by radio remote control. Upon reaching that altitude, a sophisticated GPS-based autopilot system takes over. The aircraft sends periodic position reports to the flight team, and these are posted on the TAM Web site <http://tam.plannet21.com/index.html>. The first two TAMs failed soon after launch. The last position report for TAM-3 indicated that it had completed better than one-fourth of its journey before contact with the airplane was lost. TAM-4 will be the final attempt--at least for now. A successful flight would mark the first transatlantic crossing by a true model airplane--an aircraft weighing 11 pounds or less with an engine with no more than 10 cc displacement, as specified by the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) <http://www.fai.org/>. It would also set a new world record for straight-line distance by a radio-controlled, piston-powered model airplane. More information on this historic effort is available on the TAM Web site <http://tam.plannet21.com/index.html>. An article on the flight appeared in the on-line edition of National Geographic <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/08/0805_020805_transatlantic .html> ==>PENDING CITEL RESOLUTION IS A STEP TOWARD GLOBAL HAM TICKET Ham radio has moved another step closer to an internationally recognized license. Delegates to the Third Regular Assembly of the Inter-American Telecommunication Commission (CITEL) this month approved a resolution that would extend reciprocal recognition of the International Amateur Radio Permit (IARP) Convention to member states of the European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT). The resolution includes as a goal "to promote the development of a global Radio Amateur Permit working with other regional organizations within the framework of the International Telecommunication Union." ARRL Technical Relations Specialist Jon Siverling, WB3ERA, attended the CITEL Assembly August 12-16 in Washington, DC, as a member of the US delegation. "In an ideal world, we'll one day have an international Amateur Radio permit that's like an international driver's license--good around the world," Siverling said. He conceded that CITEL-CEPT reciprocity will not benefit US amateurs, however. Only licensees elsewhere in the Americas would be affected, since US licensees already enjoy automatic or nearly automatic reciprocal licensing in many countries throughout Europe and the Americas. Since the resolution requires modification of an existing agreement, the next step is approval by the Organization of American States General Assembly, which meets next June, Siverling explained. The resolution builds on existing CITEL and CEPT arrangements. A CITEL convention already provides for temporary amateur station operations in one member state by individuals holding an IARP and licensed by another member state "without further review." A similar CEPT mutual-recognition arrangement in many European signatory countries--Recommendation T/R 61-01--makes possible operation by amateurs from CEPT countries during short visits to other CEPT member countries or to non-CEPT participating countries--including the US--without having to obtain a temporary license. Among other things, the CITEL proposal, called Resolution 32, would encourage CITEL member states to adhere to the IARP convention. It further calls upon those member states to approve the draft protocol to the IARP convention to extend to CEPT license holders from countries that have implemented CEPT Recommendation T/R61-01 the same privileges IARP holders enjoy. International Amateur Radio Union <http://www.iaru.org> Region 2 President Pedro Seideman, YV5BPG, represented the IARU at the CITEL assembly. ==>INCUMBENT SECTION MANAGER RE-ELECTED IN PUERTO RICO ARRL Puerto Rico Section Manager Victor Madera, KP4PQ, has been re-elected for another two-year term. He defeated challenger William T. Genter, KP3O, 173 to 48. Ballots were counted August 20 at ARRL Headquarters. Madera has served as Puerto Rico Section Manager since January 2000. He was first appointed to fill the term of a previous SM who resigned and was the only nominee to run for SM for the October 2000 to October 2002 term. He joins seven other incumbent ARRL section managers who did not face opposition and will continue in their present positions when new terms in the current SM election cycle begin on October 1. Other incumbent SMs returning for new terms were Betsey Doane, K1EIC, Connecticut; John Cline, K7BDS, Idaho; Randy "Max" Wendel, KM0D, Minnesota; Kent Olson, KA0LDG, North Dakota; Joe Phillips, K8QOE, Ohio; John Ellis, NP2B, Virgin Islands; and Scott Bauer, W2LC, Western New York. Two newcomers also will join the ranks of ARRL SMs on October 1. Sherri Brower, W4STB, of Vero Beach, will succeed Phyllisan West, KA4FZI as SM of Southern Florida. Brower, who's served as the section's Public Information Coordinator, was this year's ARRL Philip J. McGan Memorial Silver Antenna Award winner. In South Dakota, Richard Beebe, N0PV, of Sioux Falls, will take over for outgoing SM Roland Cory, W0YMB. West and Cory did not seek new terms. ==>ARRL 2002 BILL LEONARD, W2SKE, PROFESSIONAL MEDIA AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN The ARRL is accepting nominations for the annual Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award--a tribute to the late CBS President Bill Leonard, W2SKE. The award will go to a professional journalist whose outstanding coverage in TV, radio, print or multimedia best reflects the enjoyment, importance and public service value of Amateur Radio. The deadline for entries is December 27, 2002. Nominations will be judged by the League's Public Relations Committee, and that panel's recommendation will go before the ARRL Board of Directors at its January 2003 meeting. The winner receives a plaque and a cash award of $500. Leonard was an avid Amateur Radio operator and was most active on the air during the 1960s and 1970s. In 1958, Leonard's contribution to Sports Illustrated, "The Battle of the Hams," covered the "sport" of DX contesting. To this day, the article remains one of the best Amateur Radio feature stories ever published. Bill Leonard was inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1996. For more information about the award or to obtain a nomination form and official rules for entry, contact Media Relations Manager Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, jhagy@arrl.org; 860-594-0328. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The TOEC Worldwide Grid Contest (CW), the SCC RTTY Championship, the Ohio and Hawaii QSO parties, the SARL HF CW Contest, and the CQC Summer QSO Party are the weekend of August 24-25. JUST AHEAD: The YO DX HF Contest, the Michigan QRP Labor Day CW Sprint are the weekend of September 1-2. 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. * Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the Level III Amateur Radio Emergency Communications (EC-003) and HF Digital Communications (EC-005) courses remains open through the weekend of August 24-25. Registration for the Satellite Communications course (EC-007) opens Monday, August 26. All registrations open at 4 PM Eastern Time. ARRL Emergency Communications courses must be completed in order, starting with Level I. Watch the ARRL Web for updates on the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) grant training. 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 Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, dmiller@arrl.org. * MOM and DAD to hold Kids' Forum at ARRL New England Division Convention: Kid's Day regulars Peter and Jeanne Schipelliti, W1DAD and K1MOM, will host a one-hour Kids' Forum at the New England Division Convention August 24 at 10 AM, in Boxboro, Massachusetts. The one-hour discussion will introduce Amateur Radio;, review a typical QSO, complete with a hands-on demonstration; and discuss QSL cards and Kid's Day. Free K1MOM Amateur Radio Coloring Books for children will also be distributed. For more information and a complete program schedule visit the Boxboro Web site, <http://www.boxboro.org>. Children age 15 and younger are admitted free-of-charge. As Kid's Day promoters, the Schipellitis and their own youngsters activate special event station K1D every January and June to introduce children to Amateur Radio. * ARRL welcomes new development associate: Debra Johnson of Glastonbury, Connecticut, joined the ARRL staff August 19 as a development associate in the office of Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. Johnson came to ARRL from Connecticut Public Broadcasting, where she was executive assistant to the president/CEO and to the chief financial officer and handled some project management work. Johnson cited her past working relationship with Hobart--also previously employed at CPB--as a factor that attracted her to ARRL. "I know how dynamic she is," she said. "She was willing to offer me an opportunity to contribute and to learn." In her new role, Johnson will support Hobart's efforts in building the League's development program. A graduate of Princeton University, Johnson holds a degree in philosophy and religion and has completed some graduate-level classes in counseling and social work. "I look forward to working in a new department where I can contribute to shaping the future of ARRL's development efforts," she said. "This is an incredible opportunity." * FCC chairman launches FCC University: FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell is encouraging Commission employees to go back to school so they can keep up with current technology and trends. In a standing room-only ceremony on August 15 for agency staff, Powell launched the FCC University. According to the announcement, the FCC University was created to ensure that FCC staff possess the cutting-edge knowledge and skills to respond to the challenges of the communications field in the 21st century. "For the Commission to function effectively and carry out its current and future mission, it must build a first-class operation that is fluent in the language of new and emerging technologies, in economics and market analysis, and in the legal framework governing Commission activities," Powell said. "The FCC University is an exciting initiative that will enable us to achieve that objective." Powell called for a major training and development initiative at the FCC as part of his larger FCC reform efforts since becoming chairman in 2001. The Office of Managing Director will oversee the continuing professional development effort. Employees can choose from a vast range of courses on generally applicable subjects as well as sections specifically geared to meet the educational needs of engineers, economists and lawyers. Courses are available in several ways, including on-site through FCC staff and guest lecturers and off-site through universities, professional associations and vendors/providers as well as through self-directed or distance-learning programs. "When we first conceived this idea last year, I wanted the FCC University to be the very best employee development program that anyone can find in the United States government," Powell said. "As we launch it today, I'm confident that it is."--FCC news release * DXCC reminder: The ARRL DXCC Desk reminds all DXCC program participants that the September 30, 2002, deadline to submit items for the next DXCC Annual List is rapidly approaching. The DXCC Annual List will include all stations submitting an application to DXCC between October 1, 2001, and September 30, 2002. To appear in the Annual List, you must submit an application between those dates or be current on the DXCC Honor Roll. No submission is necessary if you are now on the DXCC Honor Roll, but only those modes that are Honor Roll will be shown. Applications must be postmarked by September 30, 2002. For more information, contact the ARRL DXCC Desk <dxcc@arrl.org>; 860-594-0234. * TRW September Swap Meet canceled: The W6TRW Amateur Radio Club's September Swap Meet in the Los Angeles area has been canceled because of a conflict with a corporate event at the Space Park Facility. There will be no swap meet or Amateur Radio license testing in September. The remaining 2002 swap meets will be held on their usual dates--the last Saturday of the month.--submitted by Art Goddard, W6XD =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; http://www.arrl.org. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb at http://www.arrl.org for the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRLWeb Extra at http://www.arrl.org/members-only/extra offers ARRL members access to informative features and columns. Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be given to The ARRL Letter and The American Radio Relay League. ==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!): letter-dlvy@arrl.org ==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org ==>ARRL News on the Web: http://www.arrl.org ==>ARRL Audio News: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/ or call 860-594-0384 ==>How to Get The ARRL Letter The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly from ARRL HQ. 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