***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 36
September 12, 2008
***************
IN THIS EDITION:
* + Hurricane Ike Eyeing Galveston Island
* + Tropical Storm Hanna Made Presence Known on Eastern Seaboard
* + ARRL Presents New Membership Benefit
* + 2008 Field Day Logs Received, Posted Online
* + IEEE Section to Honor First Voice Transmission
* + ARRL, TAPR Prepare for Digital Communications Conference
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
+ ITU Leadership Visits Asian Amateur Radio Exhibit
+ VHF Society to Hold Conference Next Month
+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>
ATTENTION ALL AMATEURS: With Hurricane Ike fast approaching landfall in
the Gulf Coast area, Net operations in the upper portions of 80, 40 and
20 meters have been activated. The ARRL asks Amateur Radio operators to
be considerate of these Nets -- if you are asked to change frequencies
because you're on a Net for Hurricane Ike operations, please cooperate.
===========================================================
==>Delivery problems: First see FAQ
<http://www.arrl.org/members-only/faq.html#nodelivery>, then e-mail
<letter-dlvy@arrl.org>;
==>Editorial questions or comments only: S. Khrystyne Keane,
<k1sfa@arrl.org>;
===========================================================
==> HURRICANE IKE EYEING GALVESTON ISLAND
Hurricane Ike -- currently a Category 2 hurricane, but expected to reach
Category 3 status sometime today -- is poised to make landfall near
Galveston Island around 3 AM early Saturday, if it keeps on its current
track and speed. Hams in Texas and Louisiana have had a bit of a
breather since Hurricane Gustav
<http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/09/03/10311/?nc=1> came through
two weeks ago. ARRL Section leadership in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma,
Mississippi and Arkansas reported in ongoing conference calls with ARRL
Headquarters that they are ready for Ike.
* South Texas
According to ARRL South Texas Section Emergency Coordinator Mike
Schwartz, KG5TL, the following counties in South Texas have received
mandatory evacuation orders: San Patricio, Aransas, Matagorda, Brazoria,
Galveston, Chambers, Jefferson, Hardin and Orange. Calhoun, Victoria and
Jackson have been issued voluntary evacuation orders, while certain ZIP
codes in Harris County -- home of Houston, the country's fourth largest
city -- received mandatory evacuation orders. Schwartz said that
Emergency Management Officials in New Braunfels have requested Amateur
Radio communications support.
"People are heading out of town, up Interstate 45, out of Houston, and
Interstate 290, to San Antonio," Schwartz said. Austin, the state
capital, is in the South Texas Section, and Schwartz said that that city
will serve as the State's marshalling center. Schwartz also reported
that ARES and RACES groups have been working in tandem "very well" with
each other.
In September 1900, Galveston experienced the worst hurricane (a Category
4 storm in today's measurements) -- some say the worst natural disaster
-- in US history; more than 8000 people perished in that storm
<http://www.1900storm.com/>.
* North Texas
In ARRL's North Texas Section, Section Emergency Coordinator Bill Swan,
K5MWC, said approximately 15 American Red Cross shelters are already
open. "ARES members will be providing communications at these
locations," he said. "Many coastal residents escaping from Ike are
expected to head up to the North Texas Section."
According to Swan, Emergency Management Agencies in the Section will
move up to Condition 3 -- an alert status -- as soon as the storm comes
through. "Right now, there are agreements in place throughout the area
for county-to-county aid."
Amateur Radio operators are providing support to FEMA Region VI during
Hurricane Ike, Swan said, "through the establishment of a coordination
communications link that state agencies can request FEMA support, as
well as to respond to requests from FEMA for information that agencies
can use in their response to those impacted by Hurricane Ike." FEMA
Region VI covers the states of Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and
Louisiana. "FEMA has been very pleased with the activity and support of
Amateur Radio here in the North Texas Section," Swan said.
Swan said that the coordination link "will provide the basis for future
interfaces with FEMA as the amateur community in Region VI seeks ways to
provide support as a part of the National Response Framework,
specifically to the Emergency Support Function #2 of that Framework that
deals with communications. It will also serve to identify those areas
where Amateur Radio can provide a service to FEMA. The role of Amateur
Radio is still evolving, but it is clear that the amateur community can
assist in providing interoperability between agencies at the local,
state and national level." A 2 meter link has been opened to FEMA
Regional Headquarters in Denton, just north of Dallas.
* West Texas
ARRL West Texas Section Manager John Dyer, AE5B, said that while his
Section isn't expected to feel the storm as his counterparts in the
other two Sections will, hams in West Texas are ready for whatever is
needed. He said that three shelters for those with special medical needs
are being set up in the West Texas Section in Lubbock, El Paso and
Amarillo, as well as Oklahoma. "The State is considering using the
airport in Midland as a way to get in and out of the area. With the
storm coming in, they don't think that the airports in Dallas [NTX] or
Houston [STX] will be very usable."
Section Emergency Coordinator for the ARRL West Texas Section J. T.
Caldwell, WA5ZFH, reported that portions of Presidio County are more
than 11 feet above flood stage after persistant rains over the last few
days. Presidio County sits on the banks of the Rio Grande, the natural
border that separates Texas from Mexico. "Reservoirs in Mexico are 106
percent full," Caldwell said, "and authorities there are dumping water
from their reservoirs that feed into the Rio Grande, and we are looking
at that to cause some major flooding."
Public Information Officer Steven Polunsky, KE5GDR, reported that the
water being released into the Rio Grande is causing major problems. "We
do not know at this point how long the release [from the reservoirs to
the Rio Grande] will continue," he said. "It is creating a hazardous
situation affecting Presidio and Brewster Counties. Redford, a town in
Presidio County, has been isolated for three days. Food is being
airdropped. The road to Lajitas is under five feet of water."
Lubbock, Caldwell said, is being "inundated with remnants of Tropical
Depression Lowell in the Pacific," and there is "some concern" how much
rain the area will receive when the storms meet up with each other. "The
ground here is completely saturated. We're in trouble if we get rains
from Hurricane Ike. It could turn into a severe flooding event, since
the water has virtually no place to go," he said.
* Louisiana
In Louisiana, Section Manager Gary Stratton, K5GLS, said that Cameron
Parish is "completely underwater," and that mandatory evacuation orders
have been issued for Cameron, Calcasieu, Lafayette, Iberia, Lafourche,
Jefferson and St Bernard Parishes; Beauregard, Allen, St Martin,
Iberville, St Mary, Livingston, Terrebonne and Plaquemines Parishes have
receive voluntary evacuation orders.
"Eighteen shelters, including a special needs shelter in Shreveport,
have been opened," Stratton reported. "ARES is providing communications
support in each of these shelters."
* Arkansas
Arkansas Section Manager Dave Norris, K5UZ, said his main concern is
flooding. "The ground here is over saturated from Hurricane Gustav," he
said. "In tracking the storm, we're on the 'bad side' of it. Tornados
are a big concern, so SKYWARN is in a 'wait and see' mode and doing what
we can to get everything prepared."
Amateurs in the Arkansas Section are on standby, waiting to see if their
assistance is needed in the Louisiana and South Texas Sections, Norris
said.
* Mississippi
Mississippi Section Manager Malcolm Keown, W5XX, reported that there is
one shelter open on the coast, but there has not been a request for
Amateur Radio support for that shelter. "Hancock County - the county
closest to Louisiana on the coast - has been issued mandatory evacuation
orders, and the National Guard has been deployed to assist with anything
needed down there," Keown said. "Highway 90, which runs parallel to the
coast, has been closed."
* Oklahoma
Oklahoma Section manager John Thomason, WB5SYT, said he has been in
contact with that state's Emergency Operations Center. "We have two
concerns right now in Oklahoma," he said, "Flooding and preparations to
host evacuees fleeing Ike. We're in a state of readiness." Saying that
the governor has declared a state of emergency, Thomason said that
Oklahoma Section leadership is in contact with the Salvation Army and
American Red Cross.
* Hurricane Ike's Progress
At 10 AM (CDT) Friday, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported that
Ike was heading toward the west-northwest near 12 MPH, with its center
about 295 miles east of Corpus Christi, Texas and about 195 miles
southeast of Galveston, Texas. A turn toward the northwest is expected
later today, with a turn toward the north expected on Saturday.
Forecasters at the NHC said that Ike's center will be very near the
upper Texas coast by late Friday or early Saturday. Because Ike is a
very large tropical cyclone, weather will begin to deteriorate along the
coastline soon.
Isolated tornadoes are possible on Friday over portions of Southern
Louisiana and extreme Southern Mississippi, the National Weather Service
said. Isolated tornadoes are possible Friday night over portions of
Southwestern Louisiana and Southeastern Texas.
If Ike keeps on its current track, forecasters are calling for the storm
to make landfall along the Central Texas coast early Saturday morning as
a major hurricane. A hurricane warning is in effect from Morgan City,
Louisiana, to Baffin Bay, Texas. A tropical storm warning remains in
effect south of Baffin Bay to Port Mansfield, Texas. A tropical storm
warning is also in effect from east of Morgan City to the
Mississippi-Alabama border, including the city of New Orleans and Lake
Pontchartrain.
==> TROPICAL STORM HANNA MADE PRESENCE ON KNOWN EASTERN SEABOARD
Tropical Storm Hanna made its way up the East Coast of the United
States, making landfall on the North/South Carolina border at 3:15 AM
(EDT) Saturday, September 6. The storm produced tropical storm-force
winds gusts, with some locations experiencing sustained tropical
storm-force winds. Amateur Radio operators in the Carolinas and
northward were prepared for the storm.
According to ARRL North Carolina Section Manager Tim Slay, N4IB, hams in
his state were ready for Hanna, with personnel in place at the Amateur
Radio Station at the State Emergency Operations Center. Slay said plans
called for the hams to start operating from there Friday evening, going
until about mid-day on Saturday when the EOC was secured at 12:30 PM.
The Tarheel Emergency Net, North Carolina's HF ARES Net that meets on
3.923 MHz, was on stand-by status Friday night, going active at 6 AM
Saturday. North Carolina Section Emergency Coordinator Bernard Nobles,
WA4MOK, said the Net remained active "until Emergency Management
[officials] release Amateur Radio. The Tarheel Net received reports from
across the state, mostly about the amounts of rainfall, which are
anywhere from 1 to 5 inches."
Nobles said that the Amateur Radio station at the North Carolina Eastern
Branch Emergency Operations Center in Kinston began operations at 6 AM
Saturday. Later that morning, the EOC lost commercial power and the
amateur station went on battery power until power was restored, about an
hour later. Operations at the Eastern Branch were secured around noon.
According to Nobles, Hanna has not been as bad as expected, but there
were several thousand people without power in North Carolina's coastal
region. "We have been incredibly fortunate," North Carolina Emergency
Management spokeswoman Jill Lucas said. "We have had no significant
damage. We have had some trees down and local flooding, but nothing
significant."
ARRL South Carolina Section Emergency Coordinator Charlie Miller, AE4UX,
reported that on Friday evening, the South Carolina Emergency Management
Division had the State Emergency Operations Center at Operations
Condition 1 (OPCON 1) -- the highest level of alert -- with the SEOC
manned 24 hours a day. "All normal communications modes are
functioning," he said. At 9:30 AM on Saturday, the SEOC closed and all
county EOCs returned to normal operations. "During Hanna, no
communications outages -- beyond normal day-to-day outages -- were
reported," he said.
On Saturday, "Port buoys are being inspected by the Coast Guard, and all
three South Carolina ports are anticipated to be opened this morning,"
Miller said. "During Hanna, 22 Red Cross shelters received 650 people;
eight people sought shelter in a shelter designated for 'special medical
needs.'"
Miller said that there were no reports of injuries or "significant
damage" in South Carolina.
ARRL Sections up the coast to Maine were notified on Friday on reporting
protocols if ARES was activated in response to Hanna. From Friday
evening throughout Saturday, status reports were received from the
Eastern Massachusetts, Eastern New York, New York-Long Island, Northern
New Jersey, Southern New Jersey and Virginia Sections.
==> ARRL PRESENTS NEW MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT
With just a mouse click or two, ARRL members can now access the online
QST magazine archive <http://www.arrl.org/members-only/qqnsearch.html>.
This new benefit -- a service of the ARRL Technical Information Service
(TIS) <http://www.arrl.org/tis/> -- provides PDF copies of all QST
articles from December 1915 through December 2004, enabling members to
view and print their favorite article, project and more. For many years,
the TIS has provided members with assistance researching ARRL
periodicals and publications, as well as providing members and
non-members with article reprints for a small fee. Access to the new
online digital QST archive is free for ARRL members, and is for their
personal use only -- material in the archive may not be freely
distributed or copied.
"Having access to every issue of QST through 2004 is absolutely
incredible!" said ARRL Lab Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI. "The best of the best
of QST from every era is now at the fingertips of every ARRL member with
a keyboard and an Internet connection. Members can research articles on
any subject that interests them, or just browse the past issues. This
will be a popular membership benefit that will be of special value to
new and long-time hams alike. This valuable content will help radio
amateurs who use QST as a technical resource -- for projects, equipment
'hints and kinks' -- and for other research contributing to the
advancement of the radio art. We know many hams will simply enjoy
perusing these pages of history, too."
The ARRL Periodicals Archive and Search lists every article for QST from
1915 to the present, QEX from 1981 to the present, Ham Radio from 1968
to 1990 and NCJ from 1973 to the present (please note that beginning in
1998, each issue of QEX covers two months). Only ARRL members will be
able to download and print copies of the QST articles.
QST magazine is the official journal of ARRL, the national association
for Amateur Radio. An interest in Amateur Radio is the only essential
qualification of membership. ARRL membership is $39 per year in the US.
For a complete list of membership benefits and dues, please visit the
ARRL Membership Web page <http://www.arrl.org/join>.
==> 2008 FIELD DAY LOGS RECEIVED, POSTED ONLINE
All 2008 Field Day logs that have been received have been posted to the
Claimed Scores page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/claimed> on the ARRL
Web site. They reflect all applications sent from the b4h.net Web applet
<http://b4h.net/cabforms/>, as well as those received via the US Postal
Service and usable electronic submissions sent via regular e-mail
(non-Web applet submissions).
According to Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND, "In some cases we
did not receive sufficient information, so we can't post them at this
time. A follow-up e-mail was sent to those concerned that included a
blank summary sheet and a request to please complete the form and
resubmit. In cases where we have not heard back from those requests, the
entries are currently not on the list and can't be included until
complete information is received back by the ARRL."
Those with missing entries, who have questions or who find errors in
their listing should contact Henderson via e-mail <n1nd@arrl.org>; or by
phone at 860-594-0236 after Tuesday, September 16. When you call, please
have your receipt number available -- if sent via the b4h.net Web applet
-- or other means to verify the submission was made before the July 29
deadline.
==> IEEE SECTION TO HONOR FIRST VOICE TRANSMISSION
On Saturday, September 13, the Boston Section of the Institute of
Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) <http://www.ieee.org/> will
commemorate the first wireless radio broadcast in 1906 by Reginald A.
Fessenden at Brant Rock, Massachusetts. IEEE members will award an IEEE
Milestone in Electrical Engineering and Computing in recognition of this
landmark innovation
<http://www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/history_center/milestones_intro.html>.
IEEE President Lewis Terman will be on hand to award the IEEE Milestone
Plaque during a one-day program honoring early radio innovations and
commemorating the accomplishments at Brant Rock. The award ceremony will
take place in Marshfield, close to where the original radio tower once
stood. After welcoming remarks, there will be a presentation by radio
historian Jack Belrose, VE2CV; Belrose, recipient of the Radio Club of
America's Armstrong Medal for his contribution to the radio art and
science, is with the Radio Sciences Communications Research Centre in
Ottawa, Canada.
According to organizers, more than 100 people representing the radio
broadcasting industry, local officials, historic communities, educators,
students and Amateur Radio associations are expected to attend; a
portion of the program will address the role of Amateur Radio
enthusiasts in developing this great industry. While at the event,
students between the ages of 10-12 will be able to build crystal sets
during the afternoon session; they will be able to take these sets home
with them.
Attendance is free and open to the public. More information is available
on the IEEE's Boston Section Web site
<http://fessendenmilestone.quartomese.com/> or by calling the IEEE
Boston headquarters at 781-245-5405.
==> ARRL, TAPR PREPARE FOR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE
Aficionados of digital communications are gearing up for the 27th annual
ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) September 26-28 in
Chicago, Illinois <http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html>. The ARRL/TAPR Digital
Communications Conference is an international forum for radio amateurs
to meet, publish their work and present new ideas and techniques.
Presenters and attendees will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and
learn about recent hardware and software advances, theories,
experimental results, and practical applications. The DCC is for all
levels of technical experience -- not just for the expert. Not only is
the conference technically stimulating, it is a weekend of fun for all
who have more than a casual interest in any aspect of amateur digital
electronics and communications; introductory sessions are scheduled
throughout the conference to introduce new technical topics for both
beginners and experts.
Topics at the DCC include, but are not limited to: Software defined
radio (SDR); digital voice (D-STAR, P25, WinDRM, FDMDV, G4GUO); digital
satellite communications; Global Position System (GPS); precision
timing; Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS); short messaging (a
mode of APRS); Digital Signal Processing (DSP); HF digital modes;
Internet interoperability with Amateur Radio networks; spread spectrum;
IEEE 802.11 and other Part 15 license-exempt systems adaptable for
Amateur Radio; using TCP/IP networking over Amateur Radio; mesh and
peer-to-peer wireless networking; emergency and Homeland Defense backup
digital communications; using Linux in Amateur Radio; updates on AX.25,
and other wireless networking protocols.
QEX Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, will represent the ARRL at the
Conference. He will also be giving a talk "Writing for Publication --
It's Not Rocket Science (Even if You Are Writing About Rocket
Science!)." Retired ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI,
will also represent the League. Rinaldo will speak on "SDR Outlook."
The DCC provides a separate (and lockable) room for participants to
bring and show off their latest projects. Tables and power will be
provided. Participants are encouraged to bring their own equipment and
display for all to see, learn, and ask questions about, as well as a
small sign and/or flyer naming and describing their project.
D-STAR digital voice and data will be the focus of the DCC Friday
evening session. Pioneers and leaders in D-STAR digital voice and data
technology will be presenting the technical innovations in D-STAR and
how it is being used worldwide. In addition to the Friday evening
session, ICOM will be at the DCC demonstrating D-STAR radios in the
demonstration room, and TAPR's 70 cm and 23 cm D-STAR digital voice and
data repeaters (KT7APR) with Internet gateway will be on the air.
WINMOR, an HF digital protocol designed for use with the Winlink 2000
network, is set to be unveiled at the DCC. According to developer Rick
Muething, KN6KB, WINMOR will effectively eliminate the need for external
PACTOR hardware. "This new protocol is implemented through a Windows
application that uses a computer sound card for all the
analog-to-digital conversion. It provides error-free ARQ transfers
within 200, 500 or 2000 Hz bandwidths," Muething said. In terms of
throughput, Muething said that the 200-Hz WINMOR mode appears to equal
the performance of PACTOR I. In WINMOR's 2000 Hz mode, its performance
rivals PACTOR III. "WINMOR is a work in progress," Muething said. "We
won't be pulling the wraps off a finished application at the conference.
We're close, though. I'd like to see on-air testing in 3 to 6 months."
Each year, the DCC hosts an in-depth 4 hour seminar on Sunday. Past
seminars have included such topics as Software Defined Radios, Spread
Spectrum Design and Theory, RD Design and Deployment, PICmicro MCU
Design and Development, Packet Radio Networks with Millions or Billions
of Stations and others. Seminars are given by experts in their field --
this year is no different. Phil Harman, VK6APH, will present "Software
Radio Through the Looking-Glass."
Harman, licensed for more than 40 years, has worked on leading-edge RF
techniques related to receivers and transmitters. His current passion is
the development of fully digital HF radios. Harman co-writes the
Software Defined Radio column in the "RSGB Radio Communications" journal
and also co-authored the SDR chapter in the latest "RSGB Handbook." He
will guide participants through the basics of SDRs right up to the very
latest techniques that digitize signals directly at the antenna socket.
Using diagrams and a minimum of math, Harman will cover such subjects as
front end design, mixers, I and Q signals, digital up and down
conversion, AGC techniques, noise blanking and high efficiency power
amplifiers. The presentation will be highly interactive, so be sure to
bring along that question that has been puzzling you for so long!
Conference presentations, meetings, and seminars will be held at the
Holiday Inn Hotel Elk Grove Village, Illinois. It is highly recommended
that participants book rooms prior to arriving. A block of rooms at the
special DCC room rate of $89.00 single/double is available; this rate is
good until the block is all sold out. The hotel provides a complimentary
shuttle to and from O'Hare Airport.
==>SOLAR UPDATE
Tad "Close bosom-friend of the maturing Sun" Cook, K7RA, this week
reports: A new sunspot -- number 1001 -- emerged on Thursday, September
11. It is actually a single group with two small magnetic disturbances;
we hope it is not another like the last sunspot, a weak one that barely
emerged on August 21-22. That spot was so small that some observatories
didn't count it, but it was a Solar Cycle 24 spot. August was much
ballyhooed as the first time since 1913 that there was a month or more
between the most recent sunspot appearances. Actually, it was the first
time that a whole calendar month went by with no spots. Of course, this
doesn't really mean anything more than any other 30 day period with no
spots because the calendar is based on arbitrary beginnings and endings.
Sunspot numbers for September 4-10 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a
mean of 0. The 10.7 cm flux was 65.9, 65.2, 65.8, 66.6, 67.1, 67.1 and
67.2 with a mean of 66.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 33, 7, 7,
8, 8, 6 and 4 with a mean of 10.4. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were
17, 7, 7, 7, 9, 4 and 2 with a mean of 7.6. The US Air Force predicts
planetary A index for September 12-17 at 5, 8, 20, 12 and 8. Geophysical
Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions September 12, unsettled
September 13, unsettled to active September 14, unsettled September 15,
quiet September 16, quiet to unsettled September 17 and quiet September
18. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL
Technical Information Service Propagation page
<http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. To read this week's
Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin
page <http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/>. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought
to you by John Keats' "To Autumn" <http://www.bartleby.com/126/47.html>.
__________________________________
==>IN BRIEF:
* This Weekend on the Radio: This weekend, check out the ARRL September
VHF QSO Party on September 13-15. The NCCC Sprint is September 12 and
the PODXS 070 Club 80 Meter Autumn Sprint is September 12-13. The FISTS
Get Your Feet Wet Weekend is September 12-14. The Swiss HTC QRP Sprint
is September 13. The WAE DX Contest (SSB) and the Arkansas QSO Party are
both September 13-14. The North American Sprint (SSB), the SKCC Weekend
Sprintathon and the ARCI End of Summer Digital Sprint are September 14.
The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is September 18. Next weekend is the
ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest and the ARRL International EME Competition on
September 20-21. YLRL Howdy Days are September 18-20. The NCCC Sprint is
September 19 and the Feld Hell Sprint is September 20. Be on the lookout
for these contests on September 20-21: The Colorado QSO Party, the SARL
VHF/UHF Contest, the Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW), the CIS DX
Contest, the South Carolina QSO Party, the Washington State Salmon Run
and the QCWA Fall QSO Party. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest and the
144 MHz Fall Sprint are both on September 22. The SKCC Sprint is
September 24 and the BCC QSO Party is September 25. All dates, unless
otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/>, the ARRL Contest Update
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. Looking
for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event
Station Web page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html>.
* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday, September 21, 2008 for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday, October 3, 2008: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 1 (EC-001); Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006);
Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009); Technician License Course
(EC-010); Analog Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013).
Each online course has been developed in segments -- learning units with
objectives, informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses
are interactive, and some include direct communications with a
Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may
be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the
course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons
and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors
assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and
activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with
mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the
student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student
to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE
Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact
the Continuing Education Program Coordinator <cce@arrl.org>;.
* ITU Leadership Visits Asian Amateur Radio Exhibit: For four days
earlier this month, members of Asia's information and communications
technology (ICT) sector convened at ITU Telecom Asia
<http://www.itu.int/ASIA2008/>, focusing on core issues relating to ICT
expansion across the region. The event featured the latest technologies
and innovations -- including Amateur Radio -- as well as an extensive
forum that explored key technologies, policies and applications. The
IARU <http://www.iaru.org/>, in an effort to promote the benefits of the
Amateur Radio Service throughout the region, participated in the event.
The IARU booth was organized by IARU Region 3 <http://www.iaru-r3.org/>
with assistance from the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST)
<http://www.qsl.net/rast/>, the IARU Member-Society in that country.
IARU Region 3 Director Gopal Madhavan, VU2GMN, said that while at ITU
Telecom Asia, ITU Secretary General Dr Hamadoun Toure, HB9EHT, and Dr
Eun-Ju Kim, Head of the ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific,
visited the IARU booth, staying and talking with hams and visitors for
more than half an hour.
* VHF Society to Hold Conference Next Month: The Pacific Northwest VHF
Society (PNWVHFS) <http://www.pnwvhfs.org/> will host their 15th annual
conference <http://www.pnwvhfs.org/administration/conference.htm> in
Moses Lake, Washington, on October 3-5. ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean
Kutzko, KX9X, will travel to the conference to represent the League. An
avid 6 and 2 meter operator, he will give a general update on Contest
Branch issues that affect VHF+ operators, speak about the ARRL's new
Fred Fish Memorial Award <http://www.arrl.org/awards/ffma/> and check
QSLs for VUCC <http://www.arrl.org/awards/vucc/> and other ARRL awards.
Joe Taylor, K1JT -- Nobel Laureate and developer of WSJT
<http://www.physics.princeton.edu/pulsar/K1JT/>, software for VHF meteor
scatter communications -- will be the keynote speaker. Along with social
events throughout the conference, a formal program of speakers,
presentations, technical programs and round-table discussions will take
place Saturday morning and afternoon. Following a brief society annual
meeting that afternoon, there will be an informal swap meet in the
parking lot. Society members and non-members are encouraged to attend
the conference. For more information, please visit the PNWVHFS
conference Web site. -- PNWVHFS Secretary Steve Pack, WB7VAS
===========================================================
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
news of interest to active radio amateurs. Visit the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/> for the latest Amateur Radio news and news
updates. The ARRL Web site <http://www.arrl.org/> also offers
informative features and columns. ARRL Audio News
<http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> is a weekly "ham radio newscast"
compiled and edited from The ARRL Letter. It's also available as a
podcast from our Web site.
Material from The ARRL Letter may be republished or reproduced in whole
or in part in any form without additional permission. Credit must be
given to The ARRL Letter/American Radio Relay League.
==>Delivery problems (ARRL member direct delivery only!):
letter-dlvy@arrl.org
==>Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,
k1sfa@arrl.org
==>ARRL News on the Web: <http://www.arrl.org/>
==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
860-594-0384
==>How to Get The ARRL Letter
The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly
from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for
e-mail delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
<http://www.arrl.org/members/>. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the
"Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify
membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change
your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all
automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.)
Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective.
(NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You
must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.)
The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
sources:
* ARRLWeb <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/>. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will
be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)
* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
Radio Club: Visit Mailing Lists@QTH.Net
<http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list>. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this
listserver.)
Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
