ARRL Letters

[American Patriot]

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[American Patriot]

<center>The ARRL Letter

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The ARRL Letter Index · ARRL Audio News

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 36
September 8, 2006
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Hams want broadcasters' battle off amateur frequencies
* +League accepts Golden Antenna Award
* +SuitSat-1 deorbits; a SuitSat-2 is possible
* +Astronaut's niece, classmates talk to ISS via ham radio
* +Maine's governor gets ham radio ticket
* +Virginia's ham radio antenna law aids local ordinance revision
* +Mid-October ARRL On-Line Auction preview set
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio: ARRL September VHF QSO Party, NA Sprint
(CW)!
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+Reminder — vanity renewal fee now $20.80
+Virginia radio amateur not prosecuted on radio-related felony charge
Hydraulic malfunction faulted in CubeSat launch failure
Armin Henry Meyer, W3ACE, SK

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

================================================== =========
==>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: Rick Lindquist, N1RL,
<n1rl@arrl.org>;
================================================== =========

==>IARU, MEMBER-SOCIETIES WANT BROADCASTERS TO END "BATTLE ON THE HAM BANDS"

As the so-called "Firedragon" jammer continues to transmit in one or more
Amateur Radio bands, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and three
of its Region 3 member-societies so far have appealed to the jammer's target
to move elsewhere. The Firedragon's all-music transmissions from the
People's Republic of China (PRC) appear aimed at blocking the much-weaker
broadcasts of the clandestine "Sound of Hope" (SOH), located outside the
PRC. Responding via e-mail September 5 to an inquiry from IARU Region 1
Monitoring System (IARUMS) Vice Coordinator Uli Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, the SOH
said its supporters use various avenues "including Amateur Radio
frequencies" to get their message into the PRC.

"Through our investigation, we learned that the transmissions of SOH
programs through Amateur Radio frequencies come from areas around China, and
they each only target a local area of China with very low power, only for
the intended audience and would interfere with nobody else," said SOH's Yue
Chen.

Yue addressed the reply to "All Amateur Radio Community Members" and
indicated it was copied to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU),
although no ITU addressee was displayed. Yue encouraged the Amateur Radio
community to "openly urge the Chinese government to stop this outrageous act
of radio jamming" and to urge the ITU to take action as well.

Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) Director Glenn Dunstan, VK4DU, told
the Sound of Hope via e-mail this week that if it wants the support of the
international community, it should move its transmissions into legitimate
broadcasting spectrum.

"There is more than enough radio spectrum for you to use outside of the
Amateur Radio bands," Dunstan said September 5. "You are in breach of
international radio regulations."

A similar reaction came September 6 from Amateur Radio Society of India
(ARSI) Monitoring System Coordinator B.L. Manohar Arasu, VU2UR, who pointed
the finger at both the Sound of Hope and the Firedragon music jammer.

"We, the Indian Amateur Radio operators, condemn both of you for using
Amateur Radio frequencies," he said. "Please leave the frequencies clear at
the earliest." Arasu suggested the jamming not only was bothersome to
everyday hamming but could cause problems for emergency communication by
radio amateurs.

New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters (NZART) Monitoring Service
Coordinator Len Martinson, ZL1BYA, e-mailed the Sound of Hope September 6 to
say its "illegal broadcast transmissions" were causing unlawful and harmful
interference to the legal occupants of the Amateur Radio bands in question.

"Your transmissions are also attracting the attention of jamming stations,
which is increasing the interference to unacceptable levels," he said.
"Please cease transmissions in the exclusive amateur bands immediately."

Writing SOH on behalf of the IARU, Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, asked the
clandestine broadcaster to be more careful in its selection of transmitting
frequencies. "Your operations in the 14 and 18 MHz bands have caused serious
interference to the amateur radio service, which is allocated these bands
(14.000-14.350 and 18.068-18.168 MHz) for two-way amateur radio
communication," Sumner wrote. "Please do not operate in these or any other
amateur radio bands."

Bihlmayer said September 6 that the Firedragon was back on 14.050 MHz -- a
part of the 20-meter band allocated to the Amateur Radio Service on an
exclusive basis worldwide -- after spending two days on 14.400 MHz. Over the
past several months, the jammer also has been heard on 10.135 MHz, 14.260
MHz, 18.080 MHz and 18.160 MHz.

The music jammer takes apparent monitoring breaks on the hour. When the
jammer's carrier is off, Bihlmayer, who lives in Southern Germany, says he's
heard a weak carrier on 14.050 MHz broadcasting a Chinese program that
included speech.

ARRL Monitoring System/Intruder Watch Liaison Chuck Skolaut, K0BOG, says
he's been able to hear the jammer from W1AW. In July, when the same jammer
also was appearing on 18.160 MHz, Bihlmayer alerted telecom authorities in
Germany and Hong Kong, as well as IARU Region 3 and the PRC embassy in
Berlin to the situation. The 17-meter band also is a worldwide exclusive
Amateur Radio allocation. Skolaut says he's received reports about the music
jammer from all over the US, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

==>ARRL RECEIVES PRESTIGIOUS GOLDEN ANTENNA AWARD IN GERMANY

The ARRL is the recipient of the 2006 Golden Antenna Award in recognition of
the role the League and its members played in providing and supporting
emergency communication during the response to Hurricane Katrina. The city
of Bad Bentheim, Germany, sponsors the annual award. ARRL Chief Development
Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH, accepted the honor on behalf of the League on
August 25.

"It was a honor to represent ARRL and accept the Golden Antenna Award that
recognizes the role that hundreds of ARRL members played in the response to
Katrina in 2005," Hobart said. "The speeches were generous in their praise
of ARRL, and the cameras flashed as Bad Bentheim Mayor Günter Alsmeier
presented the award." The city paid all expenses for Hobart's visit to
Germany.

The August 25 presentation took place at formal flag-draped ceremonies in
the 12th century Bad Bentheim Castle to kick off the 38th annual Amateur
Radio Days. The event is a cooperative venture of the German-Dutch Amateur
Radio organization DNAT (Deutsch-Niederländischen Amateurfunker Tage/Duits
Nederlands Amateur Treffen) and the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club (DARC).

Hobart said the gracious and generous hospitality of both German and Dutch
members of the Amateur Radio fraternity made her visit special. Topping off
the weekend was a large flea market that drew hams from both countries and
from as far away as Spain.

"Of course bratwurst and beer added flavor to the occasion!" Hobart quipped.

In her remarks during the presentation, Hobart expressed appreciation for
the award on behalf of all who helped following Katrina and said she'd find
a suitable location to display the award at ARRL Headquarters.

Bad Bentheim has presented The Golden Antenna Award since 1982 to recognize
outstanding Amateur Radio public service and humanitarian contributions. A
jury of five German and Dutch radio amateurs makes the final selection. The
2005 award went to the Radio Society of Sri Lanka for its performance in the
wake of the December 2004 South Asia earthquake and tsunami.

==>SUITSAT-1 (AO-54), RE-ENTERS EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE

SuitSat-1 (AO-54) is history. The surplus Russian Orlan spacesuit turned
satellite, which became one of the greatest public relations vehicles for
Amateur Radio in years, re-entered and burned up in Earth's atmosphere
Thursday, September 7, at 1600 UTC some 1400 km south-southwest of Western
Australia. The announcement came September 8 from Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station (ARISS) International Chairman Frank Bauer,
KA3HDO. Bauer expressed thanks to "all who made SuitSat-1 the phenomenal
event that it was." Launched February 3 during a spacewalk from the ISS,
SuitSat-1's 2-meter signal was heard around the world, although at a much
weaker signal strength than anticipated.

"Your hard work and dedication paid off," Bauer continued. "In just three
weeks the SuitSat team developed and delivered a safe satellite system that
has gained the confidence of the international space agencies." Bauer also
noted the "unprecedented press coverage" that included more than 9 million
hits on the SuitSat-1 Web site <http://www.suitsat.org/> during February
alone as well as several prominent mentions in the general news media.

"Students around the world had the opportunity to participate in a
seven-month 'school spacewalk' with the artwork, pictures, signatures and
voices onboard," Bauer pointed out. "And the 'super-sleuth' ham radio
operator extraordinaires were able to pull a significant amount of data from
the satellite, despite its low signal strength."

After SuitSat-1's VHF ham radio payload stopped transmitting earlier this
year, AMSAT initiated a "Chicken Little Contest," for participants to guess
when SuitSat-1 would deorbit. Winners and more information are on the AMSAT
Web site <http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ariss/suitsatContest.php>.

Bauer said plans for a potential SuitSat-2 will be a discussion topic at the
AMSAT/ARISS joint meeting in October
<http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/>.

Commented ARRL ARISS Liaison Rosalie White, K1STO: "This unique satellite
lasted longer than anyone ever expected, making the ARISS team proud."

==>ASTRONAUT'S KIN AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOLERS FOR SPACE CONTACT VIA HAM RADIO

ISS astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, got to answer questions about life in
space from his niece and several of her classmates August 28 during a
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with
Northeast Middle School in Clarksville, Tennessee. Williams told his niece,
Riley -- who asked the first question -- that he became an astronaut because
it involves excitement and discovery.

"And flying in space is the current frontier for exploration," Williams
remarked. If he were to pick another career, he said he'd return to the US
Army. A Wisconsin native, Williams is a graduate of the US Military Academy
at West Point, New York.

Another student wanted to know what an astronaut would do if the tether to
the ISS broke during a spacewalk or EVA -- extra-vehicular activity -- as
NASA calls it.

"Well, we're very careful, and our equipment is designed so that it won't
break," Williams replied. "If that were to happen, though, when we're doing
an American EVA -- in the American suits -- we have what we call 'safers.'
They're little jet packs that we have on the backpack of the space suit, and
we can fly back to the space station. They're only used for emergencies."

Responding to another question, Williams said it's not really known how long
a human being could remain in space before encountering medical or health
problems. He noted that the crew does keep a strict exercise regimen in
space.

"We're learning to understand what happens to the human body after a long
period of time [in space]," he continued. "Of course, most expeditions are
about six months." But he noted that back in the days of the Russian Mir
space station, one cosmonaut stayed aboard for 437 days "and he did well
when he got back to the ground."

Williams and ISS Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, will
return to Earth at the end of September. They've been in space since last
April. European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Reiter, DF4TR, will remain
aboard the ISS to help provide some crew continuity for the Expedition 14
team of NASA astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Russian cosmonaut
Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT.

In response to another question from his niece, Williams told the youngsters
that the ISS crew has been growing a variety of plants as part of its
scientific research. "The latest one we tried here was peas, and we had a
great survival rate initially, but we had some kind of a problem, which we
don't quite understand, and the peas all eventually died, so, we're still
working on that," he said. "It's a very important experiment, especially for
the future, to provide food, for example, when we go to Mars."

Northeast Middle School science teacher Sharon Fletcher said the ARISS
contact had inspired a lot of interest among her students in becoming
astronauts.

During the approximately 10-minute contact, the students had 18 questions
asked and answered before the ISS went over the horizon at Earth station
VK4KHZ in Australia. Verizon Conferencing donated a teleconferencing link to
provide two-way audio between the school and VK4KHZ.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach,
with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>MAINE'S GOVERNOR IS NOW KB1NXP

Maine Gov John E. Baldacci may now be the only sitting state chief executive
holding an Amateur Radio license. Following up on an effort begun a few
years ago, Baldacci took and passed his Technician license test September 6,
and the FCC issued his new call sign, KB1NXP, the following day. Bill
Crowley, K1NIT, is the liaison for the ARRL VEC volunteer examiner team that
administered Baldacci's Amateur Radio license examination.

"We heard that he was interested in getting his license," Crowley told ARRL.
"So I talked to a couple of other people in the Augusta Amateur Radio
Association and said, 'You know, we're the guys who could do this. We're
right here, right in his backyard, and I think we ought to help him get a
license.'"

Crowley said Baldacci expressed initial interest in becoming licensed after
learning of the Amateur Radio response following the 1998 ice storm that
devastated a wide area of the Northeast. At the time, Baldacci was
representing Maine's Second District in the US House. He renewed his
interest in 2003, shortly after becoming Maine's governor, promising to add
the goal of getting his ticket to his to-do list and seeking the
encouragement and help of Maine's hams to achieve it.

Former Maine State Treasurer Rod Scribner, KA1RFD -- a longtime radio
amateur and instructor -- was recruited to help make it happen. "Rod went up
there once a week, very early in the morning, and tutored him -- went
through all the material," Crowley recounted. But the pressures of office
compelled Baldacci to put the project on a back burner.

During that lull, Crowley says he occasionally used his back channels at the
Department of Public Safety, where he works, to relay messages via
Baldacci's security guards to remind the governor the Augusta club was still
eager to give him his ham radio test. "It got to be a standing joke," he
said.

Crowley had an opportunity to deliver the message firsthand in July when he
greeted the Baldacci during an official occasion. "I said, 'You know, we've
got to get this going,'" he recalled telling the governor. Baldacci asked
Crowley to call his office and set up an appointment.

Baldacci was a little concerned at that point that he might be behind the
curve since the Technician question pool had changed since he'd worked with
Scribner, Crowley said. But he assured the governor that the club members
could get him back up to speed in short order.

Over coffee early on September 6, Scribner, Crowley and the other members of
the VE team -- Don Smith, AE1Q, and Tom Bailey, KB1EKY -- reviewed the
current Technician material. "Then, he sat down and took the test and did
very well," Crowley said.

Baldacci got a taste of Amateur Radio in 2003, when he checked into the
75-meter Maine Sea Gull Net during a visit with members of the Ellsworth
Amateur Wireless Association and other amateurs. On that occasion, the
governor assured the gathering that the Maine Emergency Management Agency
depends on Amateur Radio to support the statewide communications system and
said Maine would rely on Amateur Radio volunteers if primary
telecommunication systems go down.

Now, historic Blaine House in Maine's capital of Augusta could become the
only governor's residence to start sporting Amateur Radio antennas. Perhaps
because Maine's motto is Dirigo -- I lead, Crowley hopes Baldacci will serve
as a trendsetter among his gubernatorial colleagues across the US. In this
instance, the old saying from the world of politics, "As Maine goes, so goes
the nation," still may apply.

==>AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA LAW LEADS VIRGINIA COUNTY TO REVISE ORDINANCE

The existence of Virginia's Amateur Radio antenna statute recently was
instrumental in convincing the Stafford County Board of Supervisors to adopt
changes that make it easier for radio amateurs to erect antenna support
structures. Tom Gregory, N4NW -- a former Virginia Section Emergency
Coordinator who lives in Stafford -- says that before the amendments went
into effect, an Amateur Radio licensee wanting to put up a tower could have
been asked to apply for a conditional use permit (CUP) and pay a $7500
filing fee. Gregory says that's because the old county ordinance did not
distinguish between Amateur Radio and cellular towers. The county didn't
necessarily oppose ham radio antennas, he said, but the application earlier
this year of Lewis Cheek, K4HR, to erect a 120-foot antenna support
structure apparently caught county officials unawares.

"It was more of a situation that county staff was incapable of making a
decision without clear guidelines to say that they could or could not do
something," said Gregory.

Stafford County's revised ordinance permits Amateur Radio operation "by
right" throughout the county, situated roughly halfway between Richmond and
Washington, DC. The changes require ham radio antenna support structures to
comply with zoning requirements applying to accessory structures in a given
municipality.

Virginia's 1998 Amateur Radio antenna law
<http://leg1.state.va.us/cgi-bin/legp...od+15.2-2293.1> is among
the few that go beyond merely incorporating the language of the PRB-1
limited federal preemption
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/reg...cal/prb-1.html> into state
statutes. It also provides minimum regulatory heights of either 75 feet or
200 feet for antenna support structures, depending upon population density.

Gregory says just having an Amateur Radio antenna law on the Commonwealth's
books helped get the situation off the dime in Stafford County.

"The fact that the Virginia state code specifically had some numbers in it
and some clear language in it, that carried more weight with [county
officials] than what PRB-1 says, which basically says, 'you'll accommodate
the amateur,' but doesn't give any guidelines to localities," Gregory said.
It didn't hurt either when the specter of litigation was raised. The county
attorney told the Board of Supervisors that, given Virginia's Amateur Radio
Antenna statute, the Board would be on shaky legal ground in trying to
require a CUP and likely would lose if the case landed in court, Gregory
said.

Before even approaching the Stafford County Board of Supervisors with an eye
toward changing the ordinance, Cheek and Gregory boned up on antenna
restrictions via the ARRL Web site
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/reg...trictions.html> as
well as local codes and ordinances throughout the commonwealth. As a result,
Gregory said, they were able to educate county officials about ham radio and
its benefits to the community. Armed with extensive ARRL materials, a copy
of the Virginia Amateur Radio antenna law and the assistance of ARRL
Volunteer Counsel George Marzloff, K4GM, Gregory and Cheek testified before
the county Planning Commission to urge adoption of changes to permit Amateur
Radio by right.

Gregory, Cheek, and other radio amateurs, including Stafford County ARES
Emergency Coordinator Bart Bartholomew, N3GQ, also testified before the full
Board of Supervisors, which adopted the zoning ordinance revisions August 1.
The revised ordinance also specifically defines Amateur Radio for the first
time.

Gregory encouraged radio amateurs in the 27 states lacking Amateur Radio
antenna laws to work toward getting one on the books.

==>ARRL ON-LINE AUCTION "PREVIEW" SET FOR MID-OCTOBER

With a little less than two months to go and counting before the ARRL's
first On-Line Auction gets under way, ARRL Business Services Manager Deb
Jahnke, K1DAJ, says the League has received several generous donations from
a variety of sources. Auction proceeds will benefit ARRL educational
programs and services.

"I think you'll find a terrific variety of items when bidding kicks off on
October 23," she said. Jahnke says the On-Line Auction site will open for a
"preview" starting Monday, October 16.

"At that time, you'll be able to view many of the items that will be up for
bid the following week," she said. "You'll also be able to register at that
time, if you choose." Auction proceeds will help to support the League's
educational services and programs.

The auction will be open to all -- ARRL members and otherwise. Bidders just
need online access and must register prior to participating, which they may
do at any time during the auction.

The ARRL On-Line Auction will begin Monday, October 23, and will wrap up
Friday, November 3. Jahnke and her Business Services team are planning,
organizing and managing this premier event.

Jahnke said many ARRL members have inquired to ask if they could donate a
piece of vintage Amateur Radio gear or other item for the auction -- either
on their own behalf or in someone's memory.

"If this is something that you wish to do, please contact me
<djahnke@arrl.org>; to discuss it further," she said.

Jahnke says the link to the ARRL On-Line Auction site will become available
via the ARRL Web home page during the October 16 preview and once bidding
begins October 23.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Propagation prognosticator Tad "Sunshine Superman" Cook, K7RA, Seattle,
Washington, reports: Average daily sunspot numbers were down only slightly
this week -- from 27 to 25.3. There were two days this week when the sunspot
number was zero, and as we move closer to the bottom of Sunspot Cycle 23, we
should see more zero sunspot days than we're currently experiencing.

The last solar minimum was centered near October 1996, and prior to that was
week after week of no sunspots. Currently we're observing average daily
sunspot numbers in the 20s and 30s. According to weekly NOAA Space
Environment Center sunspot predictions
<http://sec.noaa.gov/ftpdir/weekly/Predict.txt>, these averages are above
the high end for this month and last, and the minimum is about six months
away.

Right now is a fairly good time for long-distance HF communication, because
the geomagnetic field is mostly stable, sunspots haven't disappeared and
we're close to the autumnal equinox. Best bets appear to be 40, 30 and 20
meters.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical
Information Service <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

Sunspot numbers for August 31 through September 6 were 39, 32, 27, 0, 0, 26
and 53, with a mean of 25.3. 10.7 cm flux was 83.2, 76.9, 75.6, 76.5, 79,
80.4, and 84, with a mean of 79.4. Estimated planetary A indices were 8, 13,
7, 6, 23, 8 and 7, with a mean of 10.3. Estimated mid-latitude A indices
were 6, 8, 6, 6, 15, 7 and 6, with a mean of 7.7.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The ARRL September VHF QSO Party, the North
American Sprint (CW), the Worked All Europe (WAE) DX Contest (SSB), the
International G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest, the Swiss HTC QRP Sprint,
the SOC Marathon Sprint, the Tennessee QSO Party and the ARCI End of Summer
Digital Sprint are the weekend of September 9-10. JUST AHEAD: YLRL Howdy
Days are September 12-14. The North American Sprint (SSB), the ARRL 10 GHz
and Up Contest, F.I.S.T.S. Get Your Feet Wet Weekend, the SARL VHF/UHF
Contest, the Scandinavian Activity Contest (CW), the South Carolina QSO
Party, QRP Afield, the Washington State Salmon Run and the QCWA Fall QSO
Party are the weekend of September 16-17. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
and the 144 MHz Fall Sprint are September 18. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug
Sprint is September 21. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
<http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
<http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday, September 24, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) program online courses: Amateur
Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency
Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog
Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Classes begin on
Friday, October 6. These courses will also open for registration Friday,
September 22, for classes beginning Friday, November 3. To learn more, visit
the CCE Course Listing page
<http://mymail.arrl.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.arrl.org/cce/co
urses.html> or contact the CCE Department <cce@arrl.org>;.

* Reminder — vanity fee now $20.80: The regulatory fee to obtain or renew a
post-1995 Amateur Radio vanity call sign is $20.80 for applications received
by the FCC on or after Wednesday, September 6. The new fee covers the
10-year license term. See <http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/08/01/3/>
for more information.

* Virginia radio amateur not prosecuted on radio-related felony charge:
Dennis Alford, KC4VGA, of Wythe County, Virginia, is breathing a bit more
easily now that he's no longer facing a felony charge of possessing an
unlawful communication device. According to a news report in The Wytheville
Enterprise, a misdemeanor charge of unlawful interfering with a two-way
radio was taken under advisement. It will be dismissed after a year if no
similar charges are brought against Alford, a 60-year-old longtime radio
amateur. The newspaper says a Wythe County General District Court judge
accepted an agreement worked out by Alford, his attorneys and a local
prosecutor. A disabled truck plant worker who had been employed as a
Wal-Mart greeter, Alford still must forfeit three of the radios police
confiscated last March. One of Alford's attorneys told the court that Alford
had bought the confiscated radios used and didn't realize they'd been
modified. Following his August 31 court appearance, authorities returned
other confiscated radio equipment to Alford. Police had searched Alford's
home after the Wytheville Police Department in January reported extensive
interference on its dispatching system that was traced to Alford's
transmissions. Police subsequently arrested him at work and confiscated
several pieces of his radio equipment as well as a computer that since had
been returned to him. He had been on bond pending the hearing. Alford denied
making any illegal transmissions and said afterward he was satisfied with
the resolution of his case.

* Hydraulic malfunction faulted in CubeSat launch failure: The commission
probing the July 26 Dnepr-1LV rocket launch vehicle failure that resulted in
the loss of more than a dozen CubeSats with ham radio payloads believes it
knows why the vehicle didn't reach orbit. A brief malfunction of a hydraulic
drive in a first-stage propulsion unit caused a deviation in the rocket's
trajectory and "the issuance of a command to abort the flight," said a news
release from Kosmotras, the company responsible for the rocket's launch.
Kosmotras said the cause of the hydraulic malfunction has been determined,
and the committee is "working up recommendations for its rectification."
Russia, meanwhile, has suspended further Dnepr-1 LV launches. Fourteen of
the tiny spacecraft that were lost carried Amateur Radio VHF or UHF beacon
or telemetry transmitters. Various accounts indicated that the mission went
awry less than two minutes after liftoff. The CubeSat project was a
collaboration between California Polytechnic State University-San Luis
Obispo and Stanford University's Space Systems Development Laboratory. All
of the CubeSats were designed and built by students at various universities
around the world.--some information from AMSAT News Service

* Armin Henry Meyer, W3ACE, SK: Former US Ambassador Armin Henry "Hank"
Meyer, W3ACE, died August 13 following a long illness. He was 92. An ARRL
Life Member, Meyer, an expert on the Middle East, served as US ambassador to
Lebanon in the Kennedy Administration after postings in Iraq and
Afghanistan. He later was the US envoy to Iran and Japan. In 1972, he headed
President Richard Nixon's terrorism unit following the killing of Israeli
Olympic athletes in Munich. Amateur Radio went around the globe with him. He
operated over the years as YI2AN, OD5AX, YA1AM, EP3AM and JH1YDR, and he
especially enjoyed operating on the low bands. Meyer was a member of the
National Capitol DX Association. As W3ACE, he had 325 DXCC entities
confirmed (mixed and phone) and at one point achieved No 1 Honor Roll. He
also earned DXCCs as OD5AX, EP3AM and JH1YDR.

================================================== =========
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!):
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==>Editorial questions or comments: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, n1rl@arrl.org
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==>ARRL Audio News: <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> or call
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==>How to Get The ARRL Letter

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</pre>
<hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> Page last modified: 04:21 PM, 08 Sep 2006 ET
Copyright © 2006, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[American Patriot]

<center>The ARRL Letter

</center>

The ARRL Letter Index · ARRL Audio News

***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 25, No. 35
September 1, 2006
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +Ham radio can ride out any storms, League president says
* +ARRL Midwest Division Director Wade Walstrom, W0EJ, SK
* +Ernesto puts ARES/RACES on alert in the East
* +Japanese youngsters make ham radio contact with ISS
* +September 16 is Amateur Radio Awareness Day
* +Solar Cycle 24 could already be under way
* +ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager signs on with Yaesu
* 1942 QST reproduction a bonus with early Handbook orders
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+Digital Communications Conference 2006 will be silver anniversary event
2006 ARRL teachers institutes help boost "The Big Project"
participation
Clarification

+Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/>

================================================== =========
==>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: Rick Lindquist, N1RL,
<n1rl@arrl.org>;
================================================== =========

==>AMATEUR RADIO CAN RIDE OUT THE STORM, ARRL PRESIDENT TELLS NEW ENGLANDERS

Making his first visit to the ARRL New England Division Convention August
26-27, League President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, said Amateur Radio has a
notable history of riding out stormy weather. Addressing the convention
banquet, Harrison cited former ARRL staff member and ham radio historian
Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, who in 1928 expressed the opinion that Amateur
Radio is not utopia, never has been and never will be. Harrison suggested
it's worth looking at ham radio's past when considering the issues it faces
today, and there are no easy answers.

"There is no one cure-all for whatever you think is wrong with Amateur
Radio," Harrison asserted.

Offering a thumbnail review of Amateur Radio's history, Harrison pointed out
that ham radio has always had to deal with the controversies and tensions
that technological, regulatory and societal changes have sparked over the
years. Nonetheless, it's survived for nearly 100 years, and some ideas keep
resurfacing. For example, a no-code license was proposed in the 1930s, he
said, although it wasn't accepted until about a half-century later.

"But we still can't seem to get beyond that point," he added, noting the
more recent controversies surrounding the elimination of the Morse code
requirement for all license classes and license restructuring.

"When you look at the history of Amateur Radio, you kind of have to wonder:
Where are we going?" Harrison said. The ARRL president went on to offer some
of his own thoughts on the subject.

"Digital is the wave of the future," he predicted. "Our ability to provide
public service will expand." In any case, he said, ham radio will always be
in a storm, just coming out of a storm or heading into another storm.

Where Amateur Radio goes is up to those who enjoy the many facets it has to
offer, he suggested. In closing he quoted ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim,
W1AW: "Make sure everything you do is for the general good."

Harrison said it's up to today's radio amateurs to make sure that "DX Is"
never becomes "DX Was," and that "Public Service" never becomes "Public?
Sorry."

Earlier in the day at an ARRL forum, Harrison shared the spotlight with ARRL
New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Vice Director Mike
Raisbeck, K1TWF. Much of the discussion dealt with how to reinvigorate
Amateur Radio and make it more enticing to newcomers.

"There is an unlimited number of possibilities in Amateur Radio," Harrison
told the gathering. "If you get bored with one thing, there's another you
can look into." Amateur Radio promotion should focus on "this buffet of
possibilities," and not just on one activity, such as contesting or public
service.

Frenaye pointed out that while Amateur Radio gains some 20,000 new licensees
each year, it's not keeping pace with attrition by up to 10,000 licensees
annually.

Harrison reiterated his mantra that the Main Street USA of today is much
different than the Main Street of 30, 40 or 50 years ago, when many of
today's hams got started in the hobby. Today's Technician license has proven
for many to be a dead end for Amateur Radio, he said, because it has not
provided enough of an introduction to the wider world of ham radio to
maintain interest.

On the other hand, the old Novice license, Harrison noted, provided "a
connection to the outside world" through its limited HF privileges. "Opening
up an avenue to HF privileges opens up an unlimited number of
possibilities," he said. "It's time to expand the entry-level license."

The FCC has turned away proposals to establish a new entry-level license
with limited HF privileges.

At a second ARRL forum on Sunday, Harrison told one member he believes the
League would always support CW as an operating mode, even if the Morse
requirement goes away. "CW is popular, and I can't envision the ARRL taking
a position that would not support CW as a mode," he assured the questioner.

==>ARRL MIDWEST DIVISION DIRECTOR WADE WALSTROM, W0EJ, SK

ARRL Midwest Division Director Robert W. "Wade" Walstrom, W0EJ, of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, died August 31 during a surgical procedure. He was 59. An ARRL
Life and Diamond Club member, Walstrom was elected in 1999 to succeed
retiring Midwest Division Director Lew Gordon, K4VX. He won a third term
(2006-2008) as Midwest Division Director last fall. Born in Nebraska,
Walstrom grew up in South Dakota. He'd been an Amateur Radio licensee for 46
years and previously held the call signs K0ZTV and WA6TXE.

"Wade's sudden and unexpected passing is deeply shocking to all of us who
worked with him during his many years of service to the ARRL," said ARRL
Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ.

A member of the ARRL Executive Committee, Walstrom -- an electrical engineer
and recently retired Rockwell-Collins project manager -- was a three-term
Iowa Section Manager before becoming a director. He'd previously chaired the
ARRL Board of Directors' Volunteer Resources and Programs and Services
committees, and he'd served on the Membership Services and Election and
Ethics committees.

Walstrom was instrumental in the effort to end interference to Amateur Radio
from a broadband over power line (BPL) pilot project in Cedar Rapids. He not
only worked with local radio amateurs but co-authored a technical report
that pointed out BPL's harmful interference in the amateur bands and the
inadequacy of "notching" techniques.

An active and serious DXer and contester, Walstrom was a member of the
Eastern Iowa DX Association, QCWA, AMSAT and the Cedar Valley Amateur Radio
Club.

ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, worked with Walstrom on the
Volunteer Resources Committee, which, in 2003, revised the rules and
regulations governing the ARRL Field Organization.

"He could always find the right words when I got stuck for how to phrase
something," Craigie recalled. "It was a pleasure to work with him, and I am
very sad that there won't be any more opportunities for us to benefit from
his intelligence and good sense."

ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, said he was shocked and
saddened to learn of Walstrom's untimely death. "He was a very fair and
intelligent individual," Fallon said. "I think I can speak for all of us on
the Board when I say we admired him and the values he stood for."

ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, has succeeded
Walstrom as the division's Director. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN,
will appoint someone to fill the now-vacant Vice Director's seat.

Survivors include Walstrom's wife, Solveig, and their sons Robert and Steve,
KC0LGE. Members of the ARRL Board of Directors will represent the League at
a memorial service Tuesday, September 5, at 10 AM at St Mark's Lutheran
Church, Cedar Rapids.

The family invites memorial donations to the ARRL or to St Mark's Lutheran
Church.--some information from The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/>

==>ARES/RACES DEAL WITH ERNESTO IN FLORIDA, CAROLINAS, VIRGINIA

At week's end, Tropical Depression Ernesto was poised to put a damper on the
long Labor Day weekend for many East Coast residents. Heavy rain resulting
in flash flooding, isolated tornadoes and gale-force winds were the major
threats remaining from Ernesto. Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio
Amateur Civil Emergency Service (ARES/RACES) volunteers were on alert in the
Carolinas and Virginia. After strafing Florida earlier in the week, Ernesto
went out over open water but again made landfall at near-hurricane strength
the evening of August 31 near Wilmington, North Carolina. ARRL Official
Emergency Station Keith Deringer, WA4KD, in Richmond said September 1 the
Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) had requested Amateur
Radio volunteers to support a communication watch at the state emergency
operations center.

Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Henry Wyatt, K4YCR, told ARRL that
Chesterfield County ARES -- in the Richmond area --was standing by to
support the American Red Cross in the event of heavy flooding in the
Richmond area.

The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and other states in the Middle
Atlantic region declared emergencies, and state emergency management teams
on September 1 were preparing for possible evacuations and sheltering.

ARRL North Carolina SEC Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK, said his state seemed to have
weathered Ernesto pretty well, although there was "lots of street and
highway flooding" and some roadways had to be closed to traffic. Nobles told
ARRL that the Eastern Branch EOC in Kinston (NC4EB) was maintaining a
listening watch on local and regional repeaters at week's end. "We are
getting some reports of evacuations of small communities, due to rising
water," he said.

With Ernesto threatening to become a Category 1 hurricane, the Hurricane
Watch Net (HWN) activated August 31. "After a 3-1/2 hour net, we had a great
turnout of reporting stations," said HWN Assistant Manager Bobby Graves,
KB5HAV. HWN members gather and report ground-level storm data via WX4NHC at
the National Hurricane Center in Miami to assist forecasters in better
understanding a storm's behavior.

In its final advisory on TD Ernesto, the National Hurricane Center was
predicting rainfall totals of from 4 to 7 inches over the Mid-Atlantic
states, including the central Appalachians from Virginia northward through
September 3, and up to a foot in some areas.

"Life-threatening flash floods and mud slides are possible with these
rains," the NHC warned.

Earlier in the week, ARES/RACES teams in Florida, the HWN and WX4NHC and the
VoIP Hurricane Net went on alert as Ernesto, still a tropical storm, drew a
bead on Southern Florida and later lashed the region with heavy rains and
strong winds.

==>JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLERS IN JAPAN SPEAK WITH ASTRONAUT VIA HAM RADIO

Youngsters attending Yoshinari Junior High School in Sendai City, Japan,
spoke August 25 with US astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, at NA1SS on the
International Space Station. The Amateur Radio n the International Space
Station (ARISS) program arranged the direct VHF contact between 8J7YJH and
NA1SS. One student had a new twist on the often-asked "food question." She
wanted to know if the food aboard the ISS could be better.

"The food is actually very good. We have a wide variety of food that's both
United States and Russian," Williams said. He explained that sometimes he'll
get a craving for something that's not available in space, but "overall the
food is pretty good."

Another student wondered if heated food in space gives off "steam" and if
you can smell foods in space.

"We don't see steam up here too much because the food doesn't get that hot,
I guess, plus the humidity is pretty low here, but you can smell it,"
Williams responded. He explained that the crew warms up its meals either by
injecting hot water or by using an oven in the ISS galley.

As had occurred during the previous ARISS school QSO with students gathered
at Reece High School, in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, Williams repeatedly
experienced difficulty copying Earth station 8J7YJH, despite multiple
attempts by control operator Toshiji Miyagawa, JE7KQU, to reestablish
contact. At other times, the NA1SS signal appeared to experience strong
interference that rendered Williams unreadable.

A change to a backup VHF channel late in the approximately 10-minute pass
permitted the students to have another two questions asked and answered.
Williams said that in his free time aboard the ISS, he enjoys looking out
the window, making telephone calls home, reading and listening to music. He
said that he and Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, exercise
approximately two and a half hours daily to counteract the effects of the
weightless environment on the human body.

ARISS-Japan mentor Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ, said some 240 people were on hand
for the contact, which received media attention from four television
stations -- including national network NHK -- and five newspapers.

ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach
with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.

==>AMATEUR RADIO AWARENESS DAY IS SEPTEMBER 16

September is US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Preparedness
Month, and Saturday, September 16, is Amateur Radio Awareness Day. For the
third straight year, the ARRL and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES)
groups across the US will join a coalition of more than 200 national,
regional, state and local organizations taking part in Preparedness Month
activities. ARES is a partner with DHS through the Citizen Corps program.
ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says local ARES
groups and clubs will be making presentations to civic organizations, at
schools and at regional fairs to showcase Amateur Radio.

"More than 4000 ARRL 'Hello' campaign <http://www.hello-radio.org/>
brochures have gone out in the past few weeks alone to prepare for the
month-long initiative," he said.

To highlight Amateur Radio Awareness Day, ARRL public information officers
(PIOs) will promote the DHS's "30 Tips for Emergency Preparedness"
<http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interap...orial_0711.xml> to
attract news media coverage. Some tips on promoting National Preparedness
Month are on the ARRL public relations Web pages
<http://www.arrl.org/pio/contact/2006/08/SEPTEMBER>.

ARRL Public Service Team Manager Steve Ewald, WV1X, notes that the
underlying theme of National Preparedness Month is to encourage everyone to
be aware of and prepare for emergencies all year long.

"Amateur Radio operators, led by ARRL Field Organization leaders across the
country, are encouraged to consider this year's ARRL Simulated Emergency
Test (SET) -- as well as all preparations and post-SET evaluations -- as a
demonstration of your participation in National Preparedness Month," Ewald
said. The target weekend for the 2006 SET is October 7-8
<http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/setguide.html>.

A major ham radio presentation during September will take place on the West
Coast. ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, says Amateur
Radio Expo 2006 <http://lafair.b2v.org/> will be held in conjunction with
the Los Angeles County Fair. "They will staff the exhibit over four
weekends," Norton said, noting that the fair annually attracts hundreds of
thousands of visitors.

Amateur Radio Expo 2006 will get under way the weekend of September 9-10 and
will feature a special event station plus interactive presentations to
demonstrate the many facets of ham radio.

In a related vein, Pitts says he'd like to see a tighter relationship
between ARES organizations and the League's corps of volunteer PIOs.

"Too often something happens, and everyone grabs a radio. No one grabs a
camera or laptop and gets the word of ARES actions out to the media until
long after the story becomes stale," he observed. "We have wonderful stories
to tell, but we are too busy to tell them when they are fresh."

Pitts said he and the ARRL Public Relations Committee are working on ways to
better integrate public relations and emergency response actions at the
local level.

Pitts says that according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
families should plan on being totally on their own for up to four days.
"That's like being back in ancient times: no cell phone, no Internet, no
911," he said.

==>"BACKWARD SUNSPOTS" MAY HERALD START OF SOLAR CYCLE 24

The recent appearance on the sun of two so-called "backward sunspots" may
mean solar Cycle 23 is drawing to a close and Cycle 24 now is under way or
soon will be. At least that's the thinking of some scientists.

"We've been waiting for this," said Solar Physicist David Hathaway of the
Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, after the first
backward spot showed up. "A backward sunspot is a sign that the next solar
cycle is beginning."

The term "backward" refers to the sunspots' magnetic polarity. One such
sunspot appeared briefly July 31, then disappeared, but its significance was
that its magnetic polarity was just the opposite of current Cycle 23 spots.

Another more robust backward spot, Sunspot 905, appeared in late August --
although it subsequently began to dissipate -- and some sungazers are saying
Cycle 24 already has begun. ARRL propagation guru Tad Cook, K7RA, this week
called it "the second sunspot of the new Solar Cycle 24."

"Eventually there will be more of the new reversed sunspots than old ones
from Cycle 23, and that occurrence is one way to mark the beginning of the
next sunspot cycle," he said. Radio conditions will not improve any time
soon but over a period of several years of the course of the 11-year cycle,
perhaps peaking around 2010.

==>WORLD WAR II-ERA QST IS BONUS WITH 2007 ARRL HANDBOOK ADVANCE ORDERS

The 84th edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications -- the 2007
edition -- is set to begin shipping in early October. ARRL Marketing Manager
Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, says now's the time to place orders for the reference
manual, which has proven popular both within and outside the Amateur Radio
community. Those placing advance Handbook orders by September 30 will
receive a reproduction January 1942 issue of QST as a bonus.

"The special QST reissue is filled with World War II-era remembrances,
including the FCC Order suspending Amateur Radio operation in the US, issued
December 8, 1941," Inderbitzen says. "Sixty-five years later, this
commemorative reproduction of QST is a time capsule -- a tribute to the
perseverance and patriotism of radio amateurs." Inderbitzen says the QST
reissue bonus will remain available to those placing advance orders while
supplies last.

Since 1926, generations of hams, engineers and technicians have relied on
The ARRL Handbook for its thorough coverage of theory, references and
practical projects. "The content of this new edition reflects the latest
aspects of today's Amateur Radio -- fundamental electronics concepts,
components and building blocks, analog and digital radio design,
troubleshooting techniques, antennas and more," Inderbitzen said.

Former ARRL Chief Operating Officer Mark Wilson, K1RO, edited the 2007
Handbook edition. Wilson continues to serve the League as QST "Product
Review" editor. A handful of additional editors contributed updates, new
content, and many new projects, building on the major 2005 revision.

Some examples: Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, has freshened the propagation
chapter, while Tom O'Hara, W6ORG, has updated the Amateur Television section
and Paul Danzer, N1II, has revised the computer hardware information. Former
Headquarters technical editor Stu Cohen, N1SC, has added a vintage radio
section.

Projects new to The Handbook for 2007 include the HiMite, a simple
single-band CW transceiver by Dave Benson, K1SWL; a 12 V dc boost regulator
for mobile or portable operation by Dan Kemppainen, N8XJK, and a top-loaded
low-band antenna from Dick Stroud, W9SR. Stroud also contributed details of
a high-power 6-meter low-pass filter.

The 2007 Handbook also includes several new station accessories you can
build: a digital communication interface by Larry Coyle, K1QW; a PIC-based
HF/VHF power meter by Roger Hayward, KA7EXM, and a remote antenna switch by
Bill Smith, KO4NR.

As with recent previous Handbook editions, an included CD-ROM contains all
text and illustrations in the hard-copy publication plus companion software,
PC board templates and other support files.

"Although most people prefer to sit and read the printed book, the
electronic version has a powerful search feature for looking things up,"
Inderbitzen points out, "and it offers a convenient way to print out a few
pages to bring to your workbench or mark up with notes and comments."

The 2007 edition is available in hardcover ($59.95) and softcover ($44.95)
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=no-hb2007>. Order direct from the ARRL
online catalog, by toll-free telephone (888-277-5289, US only) or from
select ARRL publications dealers
<http://www.arrl.org/catalog/dlrsearch.phtml>.

==>ARRL'S DENNIS MOTSCHENBACHER, K7BV, ACCEPTS EXECUTIVE POSITION WITH YAESU

ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, has accepted a
position with Vertex Standard (Yaesu) as Executive Vice President of its
Amateur Radio Sales Division. ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer,
WJ1B, announced Motschenbacher's departure August 28 "with regret" and
congratulated him on his new position.

"This is an incredible opportunity for Dennis, who will be relocating to
Yaesu's Corporate Office in Cypress, California," Kramer said.

In addition to his comprehensive knowledge of the Amateur Radio industry and
extraordinary marketing and sales skills, Motschenbacher "also brought us an
unbridled passion about Amateur Radio and a vision for the ARRL's future,"
when he arrived at League Headquarters four years ago, Kramer said.

"The ARRL will miss him," he added. "We have become a better organization
because of him."

At Vertex Standard, Motschenbacher will be responsible for Yaesu Amateur
Radio equipment sales and marketing in the US and Canada. He'll leave the
League in mid-September.

"I dreamed of working at ARRL HQ ever since I was a teenager, never really
believing I would actually get here," Motschenbacher said. "It has been a
terrific four and half years packed with lots of change and new friendships.
I am deeply honored to now have this opportunity to work for Mr. Hasegawa
and Yaesu, serving the Amateur Radio community in a different but equally as
important manner."

First licensed in 1962 at age 13 as WV6WTD, Motschenbacher -- a Minnesota
native -- has operated under various US and foreign call signs over the
years. Well known as a DXer and top-tier contester, he's operated from 35
different countries and competed at World Radiosport Team Championship 2000
in Slovenia.

Motschenbacher is an ARRL Life and Diamond Club member and belongs to the
ARRL Legacy Circle. He's also a past president of the Texas DX Society.
Before joining the ARRL Headquarters staff, Motschenbacher served as editor
of National Contest Journal (NCJ) for four years. In his current position at
ARRL Headquarters, he oversees the League's publication and advertising
sales as well as product marketing and membership recruitment activities.

A year ago, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Motschenbacher was among those
HQ staff members who were instrumental in coordinating the procurement and
shipping of equipment to aid radio amateurs responding in the field. He also
traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, to assist Alabama Section Manager Greg
Sarratt, W4OZK, who was overseeing the intake of American Red Cross ham
radio volunteers supporting communication at its 250 shelters and kitchens
along the devastated US Gulf Coast.

==>SOLAR UPDATE

Ra the Sun god Tad "Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the
sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Despite the decline in the
sunspot cycle, we will see improved HF propagation over long distances in
September.

Expect rising sunspot numbers and solar flux over the next few days, with
mostly quiet geomagnetic conditions. The predicted planetary A index for
September 1-7 is predicted to be 10, 10, 20, 12, 10, 5 and 5.

For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical
Information Service <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>.

Sunspot numbers for August 24 through 30 were 22, 23, 21, 26, 48, 30 and 19,
with a mean of 27. The 10.7 cm flux was 78.2, 77.2, 75.7, 78.6, 76.4, 73,
and 74.2, with a mean of 76.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 2, 3,
18, 11, 9 and 6 with a mean of 7.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4,
0, 2, 12, 9, 9 and 5, with a mean of 5.9.

__________________________________

==>IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The All Asian DX Contest (SSB), the Russian
RTTY World Wide Contest, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, RSGB SSB Field Day, IARU
Region 1 Field Day (SSB) AGCW Straight Key Party and the DARC 10-Meter
Digital Contest are the weekend of September 2-3. the Michigan QRP Labor Day
CW Sprint is September 4-5. The ARS Spartan Sprint is September 5. JUST
AHEAD: The ARRL September VHF QSO Party, the North American Sprint (CW), the
Worked All Europe (WAE) DX Contest (SSB), the International G3ZQS Memorial
Straight Key Contest, the Swiss HTC QRP Sprint, the SOC Marathon Sprint, the
Tennessee QSO Party and the ARCI End of Summer Digital Sprint are the
weekend of September 9-10. YLRL Howdy Days are September 12-14. See the ARRL
Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday, September 24, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education(CCE) program online courses. Classes
begin on Friday, October 6: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1
(EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and
Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics
(EC-013). These courses will also open for registration Friday, September
22, for classes beginning Friday, November 3. To learn more, visit the CCE
Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the
CCE Department <cce@arrl.org>;.

* Digital Communications Conference 2006 will be silver anniversary event:
The 2006 TAPR/ARRL Digital Communications Conference (DCC)
<http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html> Friday through Sunday, September 15-17, at
the Clarion Airport Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, will mark the 25th anniversary
of the founding of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) and of the DCC! It
also will host the 10th annual APRS National Symposium. This is a
must-attend event for all technically inclined radio amateurs. A
just-updated schedule of forums and speakers is available on the TAPR Web
site and includes sessions for beginners and experts alike. ARRL
Publications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, will represent the
League at the 2006 DCC. Register for the conference online
<http://www.tapr.org/registration>.

* 2006 ARRL teachers institutes help boost "The Big Project" participation:
This year's teachers institutes helped the ARRL Education and Technology
Program (ETP -- "The Big Project") <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/> to
reach a milestone of more than 200 schools that have received some form of
grant from the program, says ETP Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME. "The
institutes continue to provide the much needed in-service training teachers
need to help their students understand wireless technology and in turn
become more productive citizens," Spencer said, "but there is still a lot of
work to do." The ETP receives very generous support from donors and the ham
community at large, Spencer says. "The outcome of that generosity may not be
immediately apparent, but the impact of what the ETP is doing is real,
helping real kids, teachers, and schools." The program recently added
another 36 schools in 20 states to push the total to 207. The list includes
15 high schools, 6 middle schools and 4 elementary schools as well as two
post-secondary schools, a vo-tech school, two tech institutes and 4 K-12
schools. Support the ETP via the ARRL's secure Web site
<https://www.arrl.org/forms/developme...education.html>.


* Clarification: To amplify and clarify a statement in the story "ANOUSHEH
ANSARI IS A "GO" AS FIRST FEMALE CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVELER" that appeared in
The ARRL Letter, Vol 25, No 34 (Aug 25, 2006): Ansari would be the fourth
civilian -- and the first female civilian -- to fly to the ISS. She would
not be the first female civilian to fly into space.

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<hr noshade="noshade" size="1"> Page last modified: 06:37 PM, 01 Sep 2006 ET
Copyright © 2006, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

[Ryan Ruck]

Interesting bit about the jamming coming out of China. I really love how some people were blaming SOH rather than the Chinese for the jamming! LOL!

I'm wondering if it is possible for those affected to simply up the power on their transmitters and overpower the Chinese transmissions?