***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 42
October 19, 2007
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* + World Radiocommunication Conference Set to Start Next Week in Geneva
* + ARRL On-Line Auction Preview Up and Running; Bidding Starts
Wednesday
* + Get On the Air with JOTA
* + USTTI Students Gain Knowledge of Amateur Radio Administration at
ARRL HQ
* + What's Upcoming in the November/December Issue of QEX
* + QST.org Web Address Now in the Hands of the ARRL
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
+ Thai Hams Now Authorized to Operate on More Bands
+ ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, Shares a Contest
Tip
ARRL DXCC Desk Approves 3V8SS Operation
New Public Service Announcements Available for Broadcast
ARRL Membership Newsletters, Bulletins and Notifications
Problems Receiving "The ARRL Letter"?
Let Us Know What You Think
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
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<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>;
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>;
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==> WORLD RADIOCOMMUNICATION CONFERENCE SET TO START NEXT WEEK IN GENEVA
The 2007 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-07) of the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is set to begin Monday,
October 22, running through Friday, November 16 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Among the more than 2700 attendees will be the IARU WRC-07 core team
headed by IARU President Larry Price, W4RA and including IARU Vice
President Tim Ellam, VE6SH; IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ; IARU
Region 2 President Reinaldo Leandro, YV5AMH; Ken Pulfer, VE3PU; Paul
Rinaldo, W4RI, and Hans Zimmermann, HB9AQS/F5VKP.
While most of the 28 agenda items under consideration at WRC-07 do not
directly affect Amateur Radio, several proposals of particular interest
to radio amateurs will be considered during the four weeks of the
conference. Heading the list is the possibility of a new, secondary
allocation to the Amateur Service just above 5 MHz.
The administration of Mexico has proposed modifying the Table of
Frequency Allocations to provide for a worldwide, secondary allocation
to the Amateur Service at 5.260-5.410 MHz, with the fixed and mobile
(except aeronautical mobile) services remaining primary. This frequency
range includes the five spot frequencies that amateurs in the US are
allowed to use under restrictions designed to protect federal government
operations. Recognizing the need to improve the reliability of amateur
communication in emergencies, several other administrations have made
similar provisions for their amateurs on a domestic basis.
"Recent natural disasters have again demonstrated the value of the
Amateur Service in providing communications in the affected area when
other communication infrastructures are unavailable," the proposal from
Mexico states. "This highlights the need for reliable amateur
communications round the clock, under changing propagation conditions
during solar cycles." When the Maximum Useable Frequency (MUF) is below
7 MHz and the Lowest Useable Frequency (LUF) is too far above 3.8 MHz,
it is difficult for communication to be supported in the 3.8 MHz band
using typical amateur power levels and antennas. The proposal cites
experiments demonstrating the value of the 5 MHz band and showing that
amateurs can operate there without causing harmful interference to the
primary services.
Some European administrations are taking a slightly different approach
toward the same objective. A European Common Proposal has been submitted
to add a footnote reading, "Administrations may allow stations in the
Amateur Service to operate in the band 5260-5410 kHz on a secondary
basis. Stations shall not use a radiated power exceeding 24 dBW [250
W]."
Cuba proposes addressing the need for an amateur allocation in the
vicinity of 5 MHz by placing it on the agenda of the next WRC, now
scheduled for 2011.
According to IARU Secretary Sumner, "The IARU is grateful to these
administrations for putting forward their proposals, as well as to other
administrations that already have expressed their support. Because of
renewed interest in HF communication among government agencies and the
military and pressure from HF broadcasters for more spectrum, we know it
will not be easy to achieve this allocation."
The conference will also consider a secondary allocation to the Amateur
Service of 135.7-137.8 kHz. The Amateur Service currently has no
frequency allocations lower than 1.8 MHz. With today's widespread use of
digital technology, Sumner said, amateurs can now make use of weaker
signals than ever before. "This opens a window of opportunity for
amateurs to conduct technical investigations in the low-frequency
range." More than 20 governments have already allowed individuals, most
of them Amateur Radio operators, to experiment on frequencies between 73
and 200 kHz; 15 European governments allow amateur operations on
135.7-137.8 kHz. There is considerable support for this allocation in
proposals from a large number of administrations.
Four items are on the IARU "wish list" of agenda items for consideration
at the next WRC, possibly in 2011:
* In IARU Region 1 (Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Africa),
allocate 50-54 MHz (6 meters), as is already done in Regions 2 and 3.
The United States is a part of Region 2.
* Allocate 495-510 kHz to the Amateur Service on either a primary or
secondary basis. This will permit the development of reliable groundwave
systems for disaster relief and provide a spectrum for experimentation
with digital signal processing.
* Continue to allow amateurs access to frequencies at regular intervals
above 275 GHz, keeping in mind allocations and protections to other
services. The IARU suggests providing specific allocations to the
Amateur Service, as established at WARC-79, of "relatively narrow,
primary bands adjacent to wider, secondary bands."
* If the ITU Member States decide to review HF allocations at WRC-11,
the IARU asks for consideration of expansion of the amateur bands near
10, 14 and 18 MHz in order to better accommodate increased activity.
Sumner notes that consideration of HF issues at WRC-11 is by no means
certain.
More information about WRC-07 Can be found on the ITU Web site
<http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/go/wrc-07>
==> ARRL ON-LINE AUCTION PREVIEW UP AND RUNNING; BIDDING STARTS
WEDNESDAY
The Second Annual ARRL On-Line Auction <http://www.arrl.org/auction>
went "almost live" this week with more than 160 items to gawk at, gaze
upon and drool over. Bidding for these items, with more to be added as
the auction progresses, will start Wednesday, October 24, with the final
gavel sounding Friday, November 2. No bids can be placed during the
preview week. More than 1000 people registered to bid on the first day
of preview week.
Items include a 1971 ARRL publication Operating an Amateur Radio
Station, which has an opening bid of $3, and at the other extreme, an
ICOM IC-7800 HF and 6 Meter Transceiver with an opening bid of $6865.
ARRL Business Services Manager Deb Jahnke, K1DAJ, encourages everyone to
come and peruse the wide variety of offerings: "Browse through the Web
site frequently, as items will be added on a daily basis. We also
encourage you to look through the 'Help' and 'About Us' sections. You'll
find useful information about bidding, FAQs and a host of other facts.
To ensure an enjoyable experience, please be sure to read all policies
under the 'About Us' section," she said.
"Due to many requests last year, all product review items in the On-Line
Auction include a link to a PDF file of the actual Product Review, as
well as a reference to the QST issue that the review appeared in,"
Jahnke said.
There are many one-of-a-kind items in the auction, too. Joe Walsh,
WB6ACU, guitarist for the rock band the Eagles, has donated an
autographed copy of the new Eagles album, "Long Road Out of Eden"; if
you are the winner, each member of the band will autograph the album
cover. This is the Eagles' first album of all new material since 1979.
Another rock-and-roll legend is part of this year's Auction: Peggy Sue
Gerron, K5PSG, the "Peggy Sue" from the famous Buddy Holly song. This
item, a framed 45 RPM record of "Peggy Sue," signed by the real Peggy
Sue, can be yours if you are the winning bidder.
One of the most popular items from last year's ARRL On-Line Auction is
making another appearance this year -- the famous ARRL Lab Junque Boxes.
These boxes have a starting bid of $50 and have almost anything you
could ever possibly imagine in them. No one, except the ARRL Lab staff,
knows what exactly is inside each box, but it is guaranteed to be full
of things that the Lab staff consider valuable (but keep in mind that
they collect just about anything).
John Dilks, K2TQN, author of QST's "Old Radio" column, donated a
Tuned-Grid Tuned-Plate 75 W Transmitter. This is truly a collector's
piece with its restored new knobs, new 52 tube, tube socket and new trim
moldings -- even the transmitter has been restored. You can download the
November 2007 "Old Radio" column
<http://www.arrl.org/public/prodrev/pdf/oldrad.pdf> to read about this
great piece of vintage equipment.
If you are interested in Emergency Communications, then the ARRL On-Line
Auction has a great deal for you: Emergency Starter Go Kits. These great
kits include an abundance of everything today's amateur needs when
heading out to assist served agencies. Each kit contains an ICOM IC-V82
Sport handheld transceiver, package of six AA batteries, a black tote
bag to hold all your gear, a reflective vest, an "ARRL Repeater
Directory" and an "ARES Field Resources Manual." The opening bid for
these kits is $105.
If you would like to do a little DXing or just get away from it all,
then you will definitely want to check out the vacation spot on St
Croix, US Virgin Islands, donated by Vicky Thorland Oster and George
Oster, NP2N (air and ground transportation not included). This premier
Amateur Radio station is equipped with multiple transmitters/receivers,
amplifiers, antennas and on-site electrical generation capability and is
located about 100 meters above sea level with wonderful antenna views to
EU, USA and Asia. There are three operating stations with a triband beam
for 10/15/20 meters and a dipole on 40/80/160 meters. Internet access is
available, so feel free to bring your laptop. The "Pro Station" is a
station for the serious operator and contesters; it features an ICOM
757II and Ameritron AL 1280. The "DX Station" is a fun station for the
operator who wants ease of operation, combined with the fun of operating
as DX and features a Kenwood TS-440. The "Fun Station" features an
Alinco DX70 and is the place to be if you just want to have fun, try out
QRP from a DX location or spend as many hours as you wish rag chewing
around the world.
Accommodations include a one-bedroom cottage that is decorated with
island flair, and a huge dining/family room adds to the spaciousness.
There are vaulted ceilings throughout the cottage, which is cooled by
ceiling fans. The family room is also equipped with a sofa sleeper for
two. You'll be able to enjoy spectacular sunset views from your private
deck and in the evenings watch the lights from the valley below. Other
features include a full kitchen, supply of dishes, pots and pans, bed
linens and towels, a washer/dryer and cable television. You'll also find
"clean-up" basics and the on-site manager will make sure that you are
stocked with "first breakfast" staples -- milk, juice, cereal and bread
to tide you over until you go shopping. Other supplies for your use
include snorkeling equipment, coolers and two beach chairs for your
beach adventures. You'll also have use of the estate's magnificent 40
foot pool and lounge area. Landscaped with palm trees and green grass,
it's an ideal setting to relax in. All this for an opening bid of $1000.
Members and non-members may place bids, but each bidder must register
with the site. To maximize security, if you are an ARRL member who is
registered at the ARRL Web site, you will still need to create a new
registration and new Username and Password to log into the ARRL On-Line
Auction site. If you participated in last year's auction, and still have
your Auction User Name and Password, you are free to re-use them if you
choose.
Good Luck in the 2007 ARRL On-Line Auction!
==> GET ON THE AIR WITH JOTA
Jamboree on the Air will celebrate its 50th year this weekend when it
gets on the air October 19-21. Normally a 48 hour event, this year's
JOTA will be 50 hours long in recognition of the anniversary. The fun
begins at 2200 (local time) October 19 and ends at midnight (local time)
October 21.
An on-the-air operating event sponsored by the World Scout Bureau, JOTA
was founded in 1958 by Les Mitchell, G3BHK. It has grown to become the
largest international Scout event. More than half a million Scouts and
Guides in more than 100 countries participate in JOTA, involving as many
as 10,000 Amateur Radio stations. The event relies on the Amateur Radio
community and local hams for its success. Getting Boy and Girl Scouts
(including Cubs and Brownies) on the air to talk with other Scouts
around the world provides a great opportunity to expose youth to Amateur
Radio.
Some troops and clubs team up to make a big splash with lots of
activities, radios and antennas, offering a variety of modes to
experience. For others, JOTA provides an opportunity to coach a smaller
group of Scouts and to just have fun talking on the radio. Scouts
usually enjoy communicating by speaking into a microphone, but some
radio amateurs are able to provide other modes, such as slow-scan TV or
amateur TV, satellites, packet radio, RTTY or even EME!
For more information on the 2007 Jamboree on the Air, please visit the
ARRL JOTA Web site <http://www.arrl.org/scouts/jota> where you can find
general rules, suggested exchanges and recommended frequencies. There
will also be a place on the ARRL Web site to tell your JOTA stories at
<http://www.arrl.org/scouts/jota/Stories/>.
==> USTTI STUDENTS GAIN KNOWLEDGE OF AMATEUR RADIO ADMINISTRATION AT
ARRL HQ
ARRL Headquarters hosted students from Liberia, Thailand and Barbados
October 8-12 for the United States Telecommunications Training Institute
(USTTI) Amateur Radio Administration Course (ARAC). ARRL Technical
Relations Specialist Walt Ireland, WB7CSL, coordinated the session and
led the course, and ARRL Assistant to the Chief Executive Officer and
Meeting Planner Lisa Kustosik, KA1UFZ, coordinated with USTTI for the
ARRL. Although five students were scheduled to attend, two had
difficulty with the new US visa process.
The students -- Sylvan Ronald Kennedy, of Barbados; Eva Marie Flomo, of
Liberia, and Oros Chattanond, of Thailand -- all work in their
respective government telecommunications offices dealing with
telecommunications and Amateur Radio testing, licensing and monitoring.
Ireland said that this year's students were especially interested in
both Amateur Radio regulations and the International Telecommunication
Union's (ITU) process of submitting drafts and recommendations. "It was
a most interesting group because of the questions they asked, their
sincere interest in the subject matter and the feedback they provided.
For example, Mrs Flomo stated that Liberia was starting its
communications agency 'from scratch' as a result of the recent past
governmental turmoil, and she was particularly interested in every step
of US Amateur Radio regulations and the FCC," Ireland said. The
curriculum also covered the ITU and ITU regulations as well as the
upcoming World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07).
The USTTI/ARRL course was a learning experience for Ireland, as well. He
said that he put a lot of emphasis on disaster communications, the
Amateur Radio operator as a national asset during disasters and
processing issues through the ITU. ARRL HQ staff assisted with the
course, too. Assistant VEC Manager Perry Green, WY1O, covered US Amateur
Radio Licensing Structure and the VEC program. Dan Henderson, N1ND,
presented FCC changes to the Amateur Service and international
licensing. Dennis Dura, K2DCD, presented the Disaster Communications
module. ARRL Publications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY,
spoke on HF digital and Amateur Radio satellites.
ARRL Laboratory staff members -- Mike Gruber, W1MG, Mike Tracy, KC1SX,
Zack Lau, W1VT, and Ed Hare, W1RFI -- also contributed to the training
effort. Hare delivered presentations on RFI and RF safety, while Lau
demonstrated 10 GHz equipment. Gruber and Tracy assisted the students in
assembling 40 meter receivers.
The ARRL and USTTI have been working together for more than 20 years.
The Amateur Radio Administration course is designed for those in
developing countries who regulate and manage their country's Amateur
Radio Service and will help participants create, administer and foster
an Amateur Radio Service in their home countries. Now in its 25th year,
USTTI is a nonprofit venture involving leading US-based communications
and information technology corporations and leaders of the federal
government cooperating to provide tuition-free management, policy and
technical training for talented professionals from the developing world.
==> WHAT'S UPCOMING IN THE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER ISSUE OF QEX
The November/December issue of QEX is out, and it is full of theoretical
and practical technical articles.
In this issue, Cornell Drentea, KW7CD, introduces his "Star-10
Transceiver," a high performance, fully synthesized, continuous
coverage, coherent HF transceiver. Ralph Gaze, W1RHG, describes an
easy-to-build piece of test gear in "A Direct-Reading Reflection
Coefficient and Power Meter." Roland Cordesses, F2DC, shows how to
connect an old spectrum analyzer to a computer in "SAN2PC: A Spectrum
Analyzer to PC Interface."
Steve Gradijan, WB5KIA, explains how to use the free Delphi Turbo
Explorer software described in the the September/October QEX in "Program
Your Own Voice Keyer/Recorder." Daniel Crausaz, HB9TPL, helps select a
digital mode for keyboard-to-keyboard chats in "Signal Resilience to
Ionospheric Distortion of HF Digital Chat Modes." John Raydo, K0IZ,
found a rubidium oscillator on eBay, and built "A Low-Cost Atomic
Frequency Standard." Peter Anderson, KC1HR, gives us a fun way to use a
paddle with his ASCII Keyer in "Tech Notes."
Contributing Editor L. B. Cebik, W4RNL, looks at some compact choices
for horizontally polarized omni-directional antennas in "Antenna
Options." Contributing Editor Ray Mack, W5IFS, shares news of new filter
design software and several new components in "Out of the Box."
QEX is edited by Larry Wolfgang, WR1B <lwolfgang@arrl.org>;, and is
published six times a year. The subscription rate for ARRL members in
the US is $24. For First Class US delivery, it's $37; elsewhere by
surface mail (4-8 week delivery) it's $31. In Canada by airmail it's
$40; elsewhere by airmail it's $59. Nonmembers add $12 to these rates.
Subscribe to QEX today <http://www.arrl.org/qex>.
==> QST.ORG WEB ADDRESS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE ARRL
Long-time ham and ARRL member David Lien, W6OVP, of Battle Ground,
Washington, has transferred the Web address www.QST.org
<http://www.qst.org/> to the ARRL. If you head to that URL, you'll now
find yourself in the QST section of the ARRLWeb.
"I bought the rights to it about nine years ago," he said. "I was just
trolling -- I own quite a few [Web addresses]. I came across QST.org and
grabbed it. It's so important to ham radio, and there's only one use for
it."
An aerospace engineer for many years, Lien is also a prolific author. Of
his many books, the majority of which helped computer neophytes learn
the ins and outs of the TRS-80 and other early personal computers and
systems, his best-known were "Learning IBM BASIC" and "The BASIC
Handbook." In fact, Lien was a consultant on the development of the
ground-breaking TRS-80, which was among the first mass market personal
computers.
"I was pleased I was in the right place at the right time to rescue the
name and hold it for the League until they were ready [to request it],"
he said.
ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, who first contacted
Lien about the address, commented: "We really appreciate David's
generosity in transferring QST.org back to us. It will make it easier
for our members and others interested in Amateur Radio to find
information about QST and its content on the Web. We have some other
exciting plans in the works for QST.org that we will be implementing in
the upcoming months."
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "Looking for Another Chance to Ride into the Sun" Cook, K7RA, this
week reports: Our Sun is still blank. The past week has shown no
sunspots, and we will probably see more of nothing. Geomagnetic
conditions have been very quiet, which means lower absorption of HF
radio signals and lower noise. But this will become more active in the
near future due to a returning solar wind. Planetary A index for October
19-26 is predicted to be 15, 12, 8, 5, 8, 18, 20 and 25. Things should
settle down during the CQ World Wide DX Phone Contest next weekend.
Geophysical Institute Prague predicts unsettled conditions for October
19-21, quiet to unsettled October 22, quiet conditions October 23, and
unsettled to active October 24-25. Sunspot numbers for October 11-17
were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 68.8,
68.6, 67.6, 67.1, 67.2, 67.1 and 67.4 with a mean of 67.7. Estimated
planetary A indices were 1, 4, 2, 5, 2, 2 and 1 with a mean of 2.4.
Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 0, 3, 2, 3, 1, 1 and 0, with a
mean of 1.4. 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/>.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, the NCCC Sprint (CW) is
October 19. October 20 is the Feld Hell Sprint, while the weekend of
October 20-21 hosts the JARTS Worldwide RTTY Contest, the ARCI Fall QSO
Party, the Worked All Germany Contest, the Stew Perry Topband Challenge,
the W/VE Islands QSO Party, the 070 Club 160 Meter Great Pumpkin Sprint
and the 50 MHz Fall Sprint. The Asia-Pacific Fall Sprint (CW) and UBA ON
Contest (2 Meter) are October 21. The Illinois QSO Party is October
21-22 and the Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is October 22. Next week,
the ARRL International EME Competition is October 27-28. The NCCC Sprint
(CW) is October 26. The CQ Worldwide DX Contest (SSB) and the 10-10
International Fall Contest are October 27-28. The SKCC Weekend
Sprintathon is October 28. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more
information.
* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday, November 4 for these online courses beginning on
Friday, November 16: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2
(EC-002); Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2);
Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital Communications (EC-005); VHF/UHF
-- Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008), and Radio Frequency Propagation
(EC-011). 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>;.
* Thai Hams Now Authorized to Operate on More Bands: On October 12,
radio amateurs in Thailand were granted permission to operate on 12, 17
and 30 meters and in the CW portion of the 80 and 160 meters on a
permanent basis. Before this time, Thai hams had only been able to
operate on 80 and 160 meters on weekends during international contests;
authorization to operate on 12, 17 and 30 meters was only granted on a
few occasions for certain special event stations. These new privileges
are part of a complete revision and consolidation of Amateur Radio
regulations by Thailand's National Telecommunications Commission (NTC),
and follows more than five years of lobbying by the Radio Amateur
Society of Thailand (RAST), Thailand's IARU Member-Society.
Specifically, the Amateur Radio HF spectrum in Thailand increased to the
following: 1.800 to 1.825 MHz, 3.500 to 3.540 MHz, 10.100 to 10.150 MHz,
18.068 to 18.168 and 24.890 to 24.990 MHz. RAST advises Thai amateurs to
respect the IARU Region 3 band plan
<http://www.jarl.or.jp/iaru-r3/r3bandplan.doc>. No changes were made to
the VHF/UHF bands -- 6 meters (50-54 MHz) and 1240 MHz are still off
limits. No transmissions are allowed on the 70 cm band (430 MHz), but it
can be monitored or used to listen to satellite downlinks; 2 meters (144
MHz) is channelized and minor amendments were made to repeater
allocations. The full 37 page announcement of the NTC's "Amateur Radio
Act of 2007" is published at RAST's Thai language Web site
<http://www.rast.or.th/>. According to RAST's English language Web site
<http://www.qsl.net/rast/>, an unofficial translation will soon be made
available.Under the new regulations of the new Act, all club stations in
Thai provinces were given 180 days to register as a society. Each
society must have a minimum of 20 members. Club stations must operate
for at least three hours a day, a reduction from eight hours under the
previous regulations. The syllabus for the Amateur Radio examination has
also been revised. Intermediate class operators must now be at least 15
years old to operate on the HF bands. Intermediate class operators must
also continue to demonstrate sending and receiving Morse code at 8 words
per minute.
* ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, Shares a Contest Tip:
One of the most common questions I've heard from hams new to contesting
is: what's the best way I can make more contacts in a contest?" The
answer is simple: call CQ. Nothing brings more QSOs in the log faster
than finding a frequency and calling "CQ Contest!" Scanning the bands
looking for new stations, while very important, is time-consuming; the
successful contester finds a balance between scanning the band looking
for new QSOs or multipliers and having stations come to THEM. Casual
stations not concerned with the time limit in a contest will scan the
bands all day and night. This technique works no matter what your power
level is; many a QRPer has held a frequency for a time and worked
stations much faster this way. If you're looking to take your contesting
to the next level, find a frequency and call CQ; by making the casual
stations come to YOU, you'll get more QSOs in your log, and improve your
score. Remember, ARRL Sweepstakes (Phone and CW) is next month - are you
ready?
* ARRL DXCC Desk Approves 3V8SS Operation: ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore,
NC1L, reports that the 2007 3V8SS DXpedition to Tunisia has been
approved for DXCC credit. "If you had cards rejected for this operation,
please send an e-mail <dxcc@arrl.org>; to the ARRL DXCC Desk and you will
be placed on the list for update," Moore said
* New Public Service Announcements Available for Broadcast: ARRL Media
and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, announced that there is
a suite of seven Public Service Announcements (PSAs) available that can
be used on broadcast radio. "These PSAs are a matched set that positions
Amateur Radio in a positive light in the minds of people and creates a
mental image of ham radio. Parallels are on your TV or broadcast radio
every evening -- they show the car and an attribute of it. They want to
put a positive emotion linked to their car in your mind. Like much of
modern advertising, there is no specific 'call to action.' None is
needed as the purpose is to create positive ideas and feelings in the
mind of the public about Amateur Radio, irrespective if they will ever
become hams themselves or not. In an age of antenna restrictions and
frequency challenges, positive images about the Service in the minds of
people can be critical." Pitts said that he hopes hams will distribute
these PSAs to local radio stations, acting for benefit of ALL Amateur
Radio operators. They can be downloaded from the ARRL Web site at
<http://www.arrl.org/pio>. A special "thank you" goes out to Don
Carlson, KQ6FM, and Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, who aided in making the
collection.
* ARRL Membership Newsletters, Bulletins and Notifications: Did you know
the ARRL offers more newsletters than just "The ARRL Letter"? One of the
many ARRL membership benefits includes other newsletters, such as the
"ARRL Contest Rate Sheet" (a bi-weekly contest newsletter), the "ARES
E-Letter" (sent monthly, containing public service and emergency
communications news), the "ARRL Club News" (monthly club news), the
"ARRL Instructor/Teacher E-Letter" and the "IARU 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>.
* Problems Receiving "The ARRL Letter"?: ARRL has been hearing from more
and more members who are not receiving "The ARRL Letter," W1AW/ARRL
bulletins, membership renewal reminders and other automatically
delivered e-mail products they have subscribed to. More often than not,
the problem is on the recipient's end, not at ARRL's. For example,
members with new e-mail addresses must update this information via their
Member Data Page <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/memdata.html> (users
must first be logged onto the ARRL Web site). Click on "Modify
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* Let Us Know What You Think: What's your favorite part of The ARRL
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===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published Fridays, 50 times each year, by the
American Radio Relay League: ARRL--the National Association for Amateur
Radio, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax
860-594-0259; <http://www.arrl.org/>. Joel Harrison, W5ZN, President.
The ARRL Letter offers a weekly e-mail digest of essential and general
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Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
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860-594-0384
==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
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