*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 23, No. 48 December 10, 2004 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +BPL field trial must work with ham club, FCC says * +Georgia city legislates around CC&Rs for ham antennas * +Long Island, Quebec students speak with ISS via ham radio * +DXpedition puts rare Andaman and Nicobar Islands on the air * +FCC slaps former California amateur licensee with second fine * +SCAMP not just a conference topic anymore * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration ARRL holiday greeting cards still available Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, wins November QST Cover Plaque Award +Foundation For Amateur Radio solicits scholarship applications +FCC denies petition seeking to require licensed radio repairers Amateur Radio to have no role in 2005 Rose Parade Guinness World Records recognizes high-speed telegraphy achievement +Available on ARRL Audio News =========================================================== ==>FCC REQUIRES ARIZONA BPL FIELD TRIAL OPERATOR TO WORK WITH AMATEUR CLUB The FCC has required Electric Broadband LLC (EB), which is running a BPL field trial in Cottonwood, Arizona, to maintain contact with a local Amateur Radio club. The Commission granted EB a Part 5 Experimental license WD2XMB for the company's BPL pilot on November 19, although the ARRL earlier this year asked the Commission to withdraw its authorization for the operation. Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (VVARA) <http://www.vvara.org/> BPL Committee Chair Robert Shipton, K8EQC, believes it might be the first time the FCC has ever imposed such a requirement. "Our BPL committee in Cottonwood was surprised to see this stipulation," Shipton told ARRL. "Time will tell if it really matters or not." Under a "Special Conditions" section in the WD2XMB experimental license, the FCC stipulated that the licensee "must establish and maintain a liaison relationship with the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association." The Commission also required EB to respond to interference complaints "in a timely manner." System operators indicated earlier this fall that they would notch amateur frequencies, including 60 meters. Interference is still being experienced in the 60 meter band, VVARA says. Shipton said Mountain Telecommunications Inc, which handles system operations, has worked with the VVARA and "expressed sincerity" in resolving interference to any amateur frequencies affected by their equipment. "Although progress with notching has been made, the representative samples in a trial that is statistically too small in geographical area will not demonstrate any significant results," Shipton said. "Our club questions whether a buildout that involves many more HF segments would be able to avoid the use of amateur spectrum." EB and utility APS have been operating the BPL experiment at two Yavapai County, Arizona, sites since June, and relations with the amateur community have not always been so placid. The first Amateur Radio complaint, filed in June, cited VVARA testing at HF that asserted BPL interference was making attempts at ham radio communication useless. VVARA submitted a lengthy and comprehensive report to the two companies and the FCC in late July detailing interference issues. In support of the VVARA effort, the ARRL has twice asked the FCC to shut down the Cottonwood BPL field trial for interfering with Amateur Radio communication. The League's own testing of the Cottonwood system this past summer indicated "extremely high" levels of radiated RF energy on amateur HF allocations--well in excess of the FCC Part 15 levels with which EB told the FCC it would comply. The League's second shutdown request, sent October 11, accused the FCC of doing "absolutely nothing" to enforce its rules or to protect licensed services from interference. The ARRL said the Commission should not reinstate or extend the Special Temporary Authorization, under which the EB system had operated until the STA's expiration in September, and "no experimental authorization should be permitted for this system." In an accompanying 12-page technical analysis, the ARRL also cast serious doubt on the accuracy--and possibly the integrity--of the BPL system's FCC-required six-month report, filed more than two months late. The FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology, which handles grants applications for STAs and Part 5 Experimental licenses, has yet to respond to the League's assertions and requests regarding operation of the Cottonwood BPL field trial. Replying to FCC inquiries prompted by Amateur Radio interference complaints, Electric Broadband has claimed to have spent "significant time and effort" looking into interference complaints from hams, running tests and "taking steps to mitigate any possible interference" the system might be causing, and it invited the FCC to visit and see for itself. For additional information, visit the "Broadband Over Power Line (BPL) and Amateur Radio" page on the ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/bpl/>. To support the League's efforts in this area, visit the ARRL's secure BPL Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/bpl/>. ==>GEORGIA COMMUNITY TO ALLOW HAM ANTENNAS IN CC&R-GOVERNED SUBDIVISIONS Tim Richardson, W4IOU, an alderman in Acworth, Georgia, reports that his city has added language to its Residential Development Standards that allows antenna installations for amateurs living in subdivisions governed by deed covenants, conditions and restrictions (CC&Rs) and homeowners' associations. "While a special stipulation previously was added to each new residential zoning request before the city, this incorporates the language directly in the zoning and development standards," Richardson explains. According to the language incorporated into the ordinance November 5, "Antennas for amateur radio stations licensed by the Federal Communications Commission will not be prohibited by Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions or homeowners' association, and the installation of such antennas must be reasonably accommodated." Richardson emphasizes that the CC&R restriction only applies to residential development occurring on or after the ordinance's date of adoption. "Any neighborhoods with existing CC&Rs will not be affected, since those constitute a legal agreement accepted by the property owner at the time of purchase," he said. Nonetheless, he called the city's action "a step forward" and said he hopes other hams will work to get similar provisions enacted in their communities. He had help in Acworth. Bob Weatherford, KI4COP, also sits on the Board of Aldermen. A city of some 20,000, Acworth is about 35 miles northwest of Atlanta, and, Richardson says, one of the state's fastest-growing cities. ARRL CEO David Sumner, K1ZZ, said the Acworth ordinance was the first to come to his attention. "Congratulations to you and the City of Acworth for your vision," he told Richardson. The ARRL has supported the repeated introduction of a bill in Congress--"the Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Consistency Act," designated HR 1478 in the current session--to require private land-use regulators such as homeowners' associations to "reasonably accommodate" Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited federal preemption. Introduced by Rep Steve Israel (D-NY) the CC&R bill attracted 36 cosponsors during the current Congress, which is about to adjourn. ARRL discusses a variety of amateur antenna restrictions on its Web site <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/regulations/antenna-restrictions.html>. ==>SPACE CHATS EXHILARATE LONG ISLAND, QUEBEC SCHOOLS Teacher April Pokorny's fifth graders at Westhampton Beach Elementary School on Long Island, New York, had reason to be grateful the day before Thanksgiving. That's when they got a chance to speak via Amateur Radio with International Space Station Expedition 10 Commander Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, at NA1SS. Secondary school students in Quebec spoke with Chiao via ham radio on November 30. Both contacts were arranged via the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program. Pokorny said the Long Island school's November 24 contact provided a connection between classroom learning and real life. "What could possibly be more exciting than talking to an astronaut while he is in space," she told a reporter for TV Channel 12. In addition to TV coverage, one radio station and two newspapers reported the event. Among other things, Chiao told the Westhampton Beach pupils that the food aboard the ISS was pretty good, that the orbit of the ISS could be altered "a little bit," and that the 2003 shuttle Columbia tragedy, in which seven astronauts died, did not deter his desire to go into space. "We're all professional astronauts, and this is what we do, and we know what the risks are" he said. Chiao said he enjoys looking out the window and taking pictures, and he sometimes spends his spare time watching movies. "I also like floating around a lot," he said. Chiao told another youngster that it would be easier to pitch a fast ball on Earth than in zero gravity. Members of the Peconic Amateur Radio Club (PARC) set up the W2AMC Earth station and made other technical arrangements to enable the contact. PARC also assisted in a 2002 ARISS contact with Quogue School, also on Long Island. "Second time around was not as scary as the first time, but it was not without the usual need for backup planning," PARC President Roberta Keis, N2RBU, said. An auxiliary generator ended up running all the radio and videoconferencing equipment after power at the school kept cutting out due to damp, rainy conditions that day. PARC members also needed to make a last-minute antenna controller repair. "The after-contact comments were all positive," Keis said. "Words like 'amazing' and 'wow!' were mixed with tears of emotion and a general feeling of floating on air." On November 30, youngsters at the Fernand Lefebvre Secondary School in Sorel-Tracy, Quebec, Canada, chatted with Chiao during a somewhat curtailed contact. Calls by Earth station operator Luc Leblanc, VE2DWE, were met with packet bursts during the first several minutes of the 10-minute pass. When Chiao's voice finally came through loud and clear, "all in the auditorium started to breathe again," said ARISS-Canada's Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA. Chiao told the students he had trained for about three years before going into space in October. In response to other questions, Chiao again said he enjoyed being able to float around, but that zero gravity did have its downside. "Everything's a little trickier in zero gravity because there's no gravity to help keep things in their place," he said. "It's easy to lose things. Just small, little things go floating away. You have to pay attention to what you're doing and know where everything is." Remarked Lamoureux afterward, "Despite the shortened contact, the ARISS spirit was present, and all will remember the event for a long time." Members of the Sorel-Tracy Amateur Radio Club, VE2CBS, set up the Earth station for the contact. An audience of some 450 parents, teachers and visitors looked on, and 1800 students outside the auditorium heard the contact via an intercom link. ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach with US participation from ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>RARE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS (VU4) DXPEDITION ON THE AIR! The National Institute of Amateur Radio-sponsored DXpedition to Andaman and Nicobar Islands (VU4) took to the air December 2 at 1831 UTC, generating a lot of HF excitement. The five-member NIAR team, headed by Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, will operate as VU4RBI and VU4NRO from the capital city of Port Blair through the end of December. Andaman and Nicobar Islands is considered among the top most-wanted DXCC entities--some listings put it at number 1. While the DXpedition's first and primary activity has been on 20-meter SSB, operation has begun to expand to other bands and modes. As of week's end, numerous US stations were still reporting trouble even hearing either VU4 station, much less working them. DX spot comments such as "zilch in Ohio" and "nuttin in NNJ" reflected the frustration of those witnessing the success of fellow amateurs elsewhere. An opening to the East Coast December 9 eased the pressure a bit. While some CW operation using the VU4 call signs early on was apparently the work of a pirate, the DXpedition did start up briefly on 15 CW on December 8. The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> this week had reported that US amateur Charly Harpole, K4VUD, might join the Andamans DXpedition as a guest op, but things did not work out. On December 10, The Daily DX reported Harpole would visit the DXpedition "as a tourist" to take photos and video, but not to operate. "However there is nothing that will stop him from listening, making suggestions or helping with any projects in order to keep the operators QRV around the clock," added The Daily DX Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR. McClenny, who also edits "How's DX?" for QST, said Dave Bernstein, AA6YQ, has generated PropView short and long-path propagation forecasts between each continental US call area and the Andamans <http://www.ambersoft.com/Amateur_Radio/VU4>. The projections used are optimistic, McClenny said. VU4RBI and VU4NRO are the only call signs authorized from Andaman and Nicobar Islands. QSL to NIAR, Rajbhavan Road, Hyderabad-500 082, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA. More information is available on the NIAR Web site <http://www.niar.org/>. ==>FCC PROPOSES ADDITIONAL FINE FOR FORMER CALIFORNIA AMATEUR LICENSEE Fast on the heels of a $10,000 Forfeiture Order (FO), the FCC has now proposed to fine Jack Gerritsen, ex-KG6IRO, of Bell, California, an additional $21,000 for interfering with Amateur Radio communications. Gerritsen has been the target of copious complaints of insistent interference to numerous ham radio repeaters. The FCC affirmed the $10,000 forfeiture in October. The latest proposed fine stems from further specific alleged instances of interference earlier this year. "Gerritsen's threats against other operators and his abusive use of amateur frequencies are the antithesis of good amateur practice and engineering," the FCC said in its December 2 Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL). The FCC concluded that Gerritsen willfully and repeatedly violated §333 of the Communications Act of 1934 by maliciously interfering with the communications of authorized Amateur Service users. In 2001, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau (WTB) swiftly rescinded its Amateur Radio license grant to Gerritsen after learning of his earlier state conviction for interfering with police communications. His application remains on hold for now. As a result of the conviction, which he's appealed, Gerritsen ultimately spent some time in jail. But he continues to maintain erroneously that the FCC can't take away his operating privileges without a hearing, and that he still has a ham ticket. The NAL cites three specific instances of interference attributed to Gerritsen and mentioned several others in proposing the huge fine, which includes an "upward adjustment" from the base forfeiture amount of $7000. "Despite warnings and a prior NAL and Forfeiture Order, Gerritsen's unauthorized willful and malicious interfering radio operations have been ongoing for several months," said the NAL, signed by FCC Los Angeles Office District Director Catherine Deaton. In one instance in September, the FCC said, a complaint from an ARRL Official Observer alleged that Gerritsen "deliberately and maliciously interfered with the Young Hams Net" on a 2-meter repeater. On other occasions, an individual identifying himself as Jack Gerritsen and/or using the KG6IRO call sign, has monopolized various LA-area repeaters for long periods, the FCC said, preventing other users from accessing the machines. Several times, FCC agents have tracked interfering transmissions to Gerritsen's residence. Commission representatives have advised him that he does not have authority to transmit on amateur frequencies and warned him to keep off the ham bands. Gerritsen has not been heard on LA-area repeaters for more than three weeks now, and there's evidence he's staying south of the US border--at least for the time being. The FCC gave Gerritsen 30 days to pay or appeal the proposed fine. ==>SCAMP ON-AIR TESTING COMMENCES The Sound Card Amateur Message Protocol--or SCAMP--is not just a conference paper topic anymore. On-the-air testing of the digital communication protocol began in late November, and the first transcontinental communication using SCAMP occurred on December 4. SCAMP is designed to eliminate the need for pricey external hardware for passing e-mail traffic on relatively narrow-bandwidth channels. Rick Muething, KN6KB, prepared a presentation on SCAMP for the ARRL-TAPR Digital Communications Conference in September. "SCAMP is an example of what is now possible with sound card, computer and software technology using cooperative amateur efforts," he says. "SCAMP and similar programs like DIGTRX for image transmission offer low-cost alternatives to dedicated or proprietary hardware." As Muething explains, SCAMP is intended for transmitting messages--text with binary attachments--via 2-kHz bandwidth HF and VHF voice channels. The program is compatible with Winlink2000. SCAMP uses the Redundant Digital File Transfer (RDFT) transport layer, developed by Barry Sanderson, KB9VAK, with the addition of Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ)--the technique all "linked" modes use to ensure error-free transmission--and message layer protocols that Muething developed. He says SCAMP offers a moderate-throughput, error-free protocol that works using conventional sound cards and modestly powered computers. The RDFT utilities and documentation for the Windows and Linux operating systems have been released under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Muething says a dozen dedicated testers began initial on-air testing on HF and VHF November 27 using the alpha version of a Windows-based SCAMP client called Paclink SCD that he and Vic Poor, W5SMM, developed. In addition to Muething and Poor, alpha testers included Scott Thile, K4SET; Bud Thompson, N0IA; Bill Hickey, AB7AA; Howard White, VE3GFW; Dave Wagner, WA2DXQ; Lor Kutchins, W3QA; Larry Trullinger, KB0EMB; Mike Burton, N6KZB; Bill Kearns, WB6JAR, and Steve Waterman, K4CJX. Primary testing was done on 40, 30 and 20 meters, and VHF testing was carried out on 2-meters using both FM and SSB. Alpha testing will continue over the next several weeks, and beta testing is set to crank up in February, Muething says. The first successful transcontinental exchange of Amateur Radio e-mail messages using SCAMP took place December 4 on 20 meters between N6KZB in Temecula, California, and W3QA in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Each station ran 70 W. "Several other two-way exchanges were also made over the weekend as operational and protocol bugs were fixed in the alpha software," Muething reports. "The throughput of SCAMP adjusts to the channel quality, reaching a current net maximum of about 4800 bytes per minute before compression gains." Muething says SCAMP doesn't require anything more than a 1-GHz class Pentium or Celeron processor with a minimum of 128 MB of memory to reach full throughput. Lesser systems may be used at reduced throughput. The complete SCAMP specification is available and will be released under the GPL as a blueprint for client developers to insure compatibility across different implementations. Muething says further protocol optimization continues to up system throughput and improve its robustness in poor HF multipath channels. He'd also like to see some band plan restructuring to "open up spectrum for digital modes and encourage new experimentation and development like SCAMP." The ARRL has sought comment from the amateur community on draft proposals <http://www.arrl.org/announce/bandwidth.html> seeking to regulate subbands by emission bandwidth rather than by mode. At this point, the proposals remain a work in progress, and the ARRL has not petitioned the FCC for any changes. Muething has more information on SCAMP. Contact him via e-mail <kn6kb@arrl.net>. Information on RDFT is available on the Web <http://www.svs.net/wyman/examples/hdsstv/index.html>. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Astral aficionado Tad "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: This weekend is the ARRL 10-Meter Contest. Conditions aren't great at this point in the solar cycle, but this can be a fun single-band operating activity. Unfortunately, we may see a recurrence of some unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions from the last solar rotation. Predicted planetary A index for December 10-13 is 8, 20, 30 and 12, so that suggests some rough conditions on Sunday. The predicted solar flux for those same days is 85-90, with the values rising gradually and peaking around 105 from December 22-25. Average daily sunspot numbers for this week were 46, down from 55.1 for the previous week. Average daily solar flux dropped nearly 14 points to 97. Sunspot numbers for December 2 through 8 were 62, 58, 43, 46, 47, 26 and 40, with a mean of 46. The 10.7 cm flux was 105.6, 100.8, 97.4, 95.9, 93.2, 89.7 and 96.5, with a mean of 97. Estimated planetary A indices were 4, 3, 1, 8, 19, 15 and 10, with a mean of 8.6. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 1, 0, 7, 11, 9 and 9, with a mean of 5.9. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The ARRL 10-Meter Contest, the Fall NA Meteor Scatter Rally and the Great Colorado Snowshoe Run are the weekend of December 11-12. JUST AHEAD: The Russian 160-Meter Contest is December 17. The OK DX RTTY Contest and the RAC Winter Contest are December 18. The MDXA PSK DeathMatch, the Croatian CW Contest, the Stew Perry Topband Challenge and the International Naval Contest are the weekend of December 18-19. The RAEM Contest and the DARC Christmas Contest are December 26. ARRL Straight Key Night is January 1, 2005 (UTC). See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration for the Technician Licensing course (EC-010) remains open through Sunday, December 12. Classes begin Friday, December 24. With the assistance of a mentor, EC-010 students learn everything they need to know to pass the FCC Technician class license examination. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/> or contact the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program Department <cce@arrl.org>. * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level II on-line course (EC-002) opens Monday, December 13, 1201 AM EST, and remains open until all available seats have been filled or through the December 18-19 weekend. Class begins Friday, December 31. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the Corporation for National and Community Service and United Technologies Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be reimbursed after successful completion of the course. Radio amateurs 55 and up are strongly encouraged to participate. During this registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>. For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan Miller, K3UFG, cce@arrl.org; 860-594-0340. * ARRL holiday greeting cards still available: For the first time, the ARRL is offering holiday greeting cards for those radio amateurs on your list. It's not too late to order 20 cards/envelopes for just $9.95. These colorful greeting cards feature a design based on the December 2004 QST cover composed by ARRL Graphic Designer Sue Fagan. The Santa Claus illustration and type design by Harry R. Hick, 1ESS, appeared on the December 1954 cover of QST. The message on the front reads "Season's Greetings to All." The inside is blank for you to add your own message or personal greeting. Order Item # 9536 via the ARRL Web catalog <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9536>. * Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, wins November QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the QST Cover Plaque Award for November is Louis F. Linden, KI5TD, for his article "Winlink 2000 in the Jungle." Congratulations, Lou! 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 December issue by December 31. * Foundation For Amateur Radio solicits scholarship applications: The Foundation for Amateur Radio Inc (FAR) <http://www.amateurradio-far.org/>, a non-profit organization headquartered in Washington, DC, plans to administer more than 55 scholarships for the 2005-2006 academic year to assist radio amateurs. Awards range from $500 to $2500. FAR invites Amateur Radio licensees now enrolled in or accepted for enrollment at an accredited university, college or technical school to compete for these scholarships. Preference in some cases goes to residents of specific geographical areas or to those pursuing certain programs of study. FAR encourages Amateur Radio clubs--especially those in Delaware, Florida, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin--to announce these scholarship opportunities at meetings, in newsletters, during training classes, on nets and on Web pages. Additional information and an application form is available by sending a letter or QSL card postmarked prior to April 30, 2005, to FAR Scholarships, PO Box 831, Riverdale, MD 20738. The Foundation for Amateur Radio is an IRS 501(c)(3) organization. * FCC denies petition seeking to require licensed radio repairers: The FCC has turned down a June 2003 Petition for Rule Making filed by Dale Reich, K8AD, of Seville, Ohio, asking the Commission to permit only licensed commercial radio operators to maintain and repair radios operating under Part 90, 95 and 97 rules, which would have included the Amateur Radio Service. The FCC's December 1 Order denied Reich's latest petition for failing to demonstrate that such a requirement would be in the public interest or that unauthorized radio modification is enough of a problem to require such action. The Commission also deemed Reich's petition "procedurally defective" because he failed to provide text for the various modifications to the five FCC rule parts his petition covers. The FCC last year denied a similar petition from Reich requesting the Commission to require licensing of technicians who program frequencies for radios operating under Parts 90, 95 and 97. * Amateur Radio to have no role in 2005 Rose Parade: The Tournament of Roses Radio Amateurs (TORRA) <http://torra.us/> will not be providing any support for the New Year's Day 2005 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. The traditional event precedes the Rose Bowl college football game. Although TORRA and the Tournament of Roses were unable to agree on 2005 Amateur Radio communication support arrangements, TORRA initially intended at least to provide some Amateur Television coverage. Now, the group now says the Tournament of Roses has decided not to use ATV either. A November 17 statement from the TORRA Steering Committee to TORRA members outlined the chain of events that led to the eventual disconnect, beginning with the Tournament's reallocation of building space after the 2004 event and the consequent removal of TORRA's equipment from the net control position and ATV storage facilities. While TORRA and Tournament personnel did sit down to explore the role of Amateur Radio and changes necessary for 2005, TORRA eventually concluded that "there was still too much to do and not enough time to do it" for a successful operation. TORRA announced November 22 that ATV coverage was out as well. TORRA indicated it will meet with Tournament officials in January "to restructure our role and the communication services we provide." Amateur Radio has had a communication support role in the Tournament of Roses parade since the 1970s. "We have a longstanding relationship with the Tournament of Roses, and both organizations wish to maintain that relationship," the November 17 TORRA letter said. * Guinness World Records recognizes high-speed telegraphy achievement: Guinness World Records Ltd has recognized the high-speed telegraphy achievement of Andrei Bindasov, EU7KI. "On 6 May 2003 Andrei Bindasov (Belarus) transmitted 216 marks of mixed text per minute during the 5th International Amateur Radio Union World Championship in High Speed Telegraphy in Belarus," the Guinness database listing states. Witnessing the accomplishment in Minsk were HST International Referee Oscar Verbanck, ON5ME, Region 1 Executive Committee member Panayot Danev, LZ1US, and IARU Region 1 HST Coordinator Oliver Tabakovski, Z32TO. Bindasov says he received the official certificate from Guinness November 24. Bindasov also sent 271 letters per minute and 230 figures per minute during those phases of the 2003 HST competition <http://www.qsl.net/yo4kca/hstrules.htm>. =========================================================== The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the American Radio Relay League--The National Association For Amateur Radio--225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Jim Haynie, W5JBP, President. The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential news of interest to active amateurs. The ARRL Letter strives to be timely, accurate, concise, and readable. Visit ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest news, updated as it happens. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> offers access to news, informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast" compiled from The ARRL Letter. 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