***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 22
June 1, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* +League demands FCC shut down Ambient BPL pilot project
* +"Lighten up" on the ham bands, Hollingsworth recommends
* +Lots of new gear at Dayton 2007
* +FCC plans hearings on three ham radio applications
* +Nevada ham instrumental in road rescue
* +Contest club concedes November SS gavel
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This weekend on the radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
+National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC sets On-The-Air Station Test
+Canada ending 136 kHz and 5 MHz special authorizations
FCC Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence posted
Aiieeee! My BS7H QSO is not in the log!
Yasme Foundation announces address change
UK Six Metre Group marks Silver Jubilee with special call signs
Clarke Cooper, K8BP, wins May QST Cover Plaque Award

+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

==Editorial questions or comments only: Khrystyne Keane,
================================================== =========

==ARRL TO FCC: SHUT DOWN "GROSSLY NONCOMPLIANT" AMBIENT BPL PILOT PROJECT

The ARRL has again demanded that the FCC shut down Ambient Corporation's
broadband over power line (BPL) pilot project in Briarcliff Manor, New York.
On May 21 the FCC called on the BPL equipment maker and system operator to
demonstrate it's complying with all terms of the Part 5 Experimental license
http://www.arrl.org/news/bandthreat/BriarcliffManorResponse20070521.pdf
authorizing the system, or face possible enforcement action. In a May 31
letter to FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Kathryn S. Berthot, ARRL
General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, contended that it's "long past time that
the Commission enforce its own rules," and again objected to the
Commission's "inexplicable inaction" in the face of evidence the system is
noncompliant. Imlay pointed out that the FCC's May 21 letter made no mention
of Condition #1 of Ambient's Part 5 Experimental license.

"That condition requires that if any interference occurs, the holder of the
authorization will be subject to immediate shutdown," Imlay wrote.
"Interference has repeatedly occurred, and it has been witnessed and
verified by a member of the Commission's Enforcement Bureau staff. Yet no
action has been taken whatsoever to terminate this experimental
authorization over a period of more than two and one-half years. This is
inexcusable."

Ambient operates the Briarcliff Manor BPL pilot program under Experimental
license WD2XEQ. ARRL testing as recent as late May indicated the system is
operating outside of the parameters of its FCC authorization.

The League called the FCC's most recent push to get the company to comply
with the terms of its Experimental license "too little, too late and an
abdication of the Commission's responsibility to protect its licensees from
interference from unlicensed RF devices."

"The Commission's obsessive compulsion to avoid any bad news about BPL has
clearly driven its multi-year inaction," the League continued. "Had this
been any other experimental authorization dealing with any technology other
than BPL, the experimental authorization would have been terminated long
ago."

The League's complaints regarding interference to Amateur Radio
communication from the Briarcliff Manor system date back to October 2003 and
included supportive technical reports and test results.

As it stands, the League maintained, the FCC should have shut down Ambient's
BPL system a long time ago. The ARRL further objected to Ambient's "repeated
misrepresentations in its six-month reports claiming that its Briarcliff
Manor BPL system meets FCC emission limits."

New measurements done May 24 by ARRL Laboratory Manager Ed Hare, W1RFI,
conclusively establish that the Ambient BPL system, in Hare's words,
"continues to operate well above the Part 15 emission limits that are
stipulated as a condition of its Experimental license." Hare said his latest
excursion marked the third time his emissions testing in Briarcliff Manor
showed the system to be operating significantly above Part 15 emissions
limits.

"The spectral masks in this system intended to protect some radio services
from interference work poorly enough in this generation-1 equipment, but
when the system is operated at excessive levels, strong interference is an
inevitable outcome," he commented. "By operating this system above the Part
15 emissions limits, Ambient is making it impossible for any electric
utility to use results from this experiment to reach any conclusions about
the technical and commercial viability of BPL."

The ARRL further argued that the Ambient BPL system should not be permitted
to continue operating under the radar with an Experimental license instead
of under the FCC's Part 15 BPL rules, adopted in 2004. The Briarcliff Manor
system does not even appear in the FCC's BPL database, the League noted.

"Causing Ambient to operate in accordance with the BPL rules rather than
allowing it to hide behind its experimental authorization would at least be
consistent with the Commission's regulatory plan for BPL, however inadequate
that plan is in terms of interference avoidance," Imlay's letter concluded.

==RILEY REITERATES RECOMMENDATION TO "LIGHTEN UP" ON HAM BANDS

FCC Special Counsel in the Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley
Hollingsworth's main message at the Dayton Hamvention®
http://www.hamvention.org 2007 FCC Forum may not have been a new one. But
it's certainly one he believes bears repeating -- at least until it starts
cutting through the QRM and QRN that pervade more communication channels
than our Amateur Radio bands.

"Well, you could have gone to the flea market, but you came to church
instead," Hollingsworth quipped to his Dayton forum audience. "I've got you
now."

Hollingsworth repeated what for many Riley Watchers has become a familiar
refrain: That the Amateur Radio community needs to "lighten up" on the air.
Acknowledging that he was repeating himself, Hollingsworth urged his
audience to take his message more to heart. "All of you can learn from each
other," he said, "and you need to work together more and show a little more
respect for your diverse interests and for the Amateur Service as a whole.
It isn't about you. It isn't about enforcement. It's about Amateur Radio."

As radio amateurs take to the airwaves, he continued, they need to decide
what's most important -- the best interests of ham radio or their ego, pride
or perceived "rights."

"I realize I may be preaching to the choir here, but on the air you need to
be more cooperative and less argumentative -- and I need you to take this
message with you when you go home," he continued.

As a "homework assignment," Hollingsworth encouraged his listeners to read
the "It Seems to Us . . ." editorial, "Most Effective Use"
http://www.arrl.org/news/features/2007/05/01/1/, by ARRL Chief Executive
Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, in May 2007 QST. In his commentary, Sumner
stressed that interference occurring as a side effect of legitimate Amateur
Radio activities in crowded bands "is simply a fact of life" and that it's
"unfair to your fellow amateurs to assume that every instance of
interference you may encounter is a hostile act."

Hollingsworth offered good news and bad news. "The good news: Nothing is
wrong with Amateur Radio," he allowed. "It is a good service that is showing
its value to the public on a daily basis."

The bad news, he asserted, making a comparison to "road rage," is "that
there is an element of Amateur Radio that too often reflects present society
generally."

Hollingsworth urged all radio amateurs to cooperate more and depend less on
the FCC to solve their operating issues.

"We live in a rude, discourteous, profane, hotheaded society that loves its
rights, prefers not to hear about its responsibilities, and that spills over
into the ham bands," he said.

Hollingsworth's bottom line: Be flexible in your frequency selection and
make regular use of the "big knob" on the front of your transceiver to shift
to any of the "thousands of frequencies and hundreds usable at any given
time of day or year" as necessary to avoid problems. "The world is ugly
enough -- don't add to it," Hollingsworth advised.

"We can enforce our rules, but we can't enforce kindness and courtesy or
common sense," Hollingsworth concluded. "And a very wise person, who happens
to be standing to my left [FCC Wireless Telecommunications Bureau staffer
Bill Cross, W3TN -- Ed] once told me: 'You can't regulate stupid.' If we
could, we'd be working for the United Nations instead of the FCC."

In his comments, Cross singled out the controversy that erupted recently
over fears that automatically controlled digital stations would overwhelm
the amateur bands, eclipsing most other modes. Cross cited §97.7 of the
rules, which requires each amateur station to have a control operator and,
in essence, to employ a "listen-before-transmit" protocol."

When a station is under automatic control, regardless of the transmission
mode, Cross explained, the control operator need not be at the control
point, but must employ station control devices and procedures while
transmitting that ensure compliance with the FCC rules and does not cause
harmful interference to ongoing communications of other stations.

The operational rule, Cross said, is: "Your call sign, your responsibility."

==ARRAY OF NEW GEAR DEBUTS AT DAYTON 2007

It's always a treat to get your first look at a new HF transceiver at
Dayton. This year, there were no fewer than six to drool over. Here, in
alphabetical order, is a rundown:

Elecraft http://www.elecraft.com/ announced its new K3 HF and 6 meter
transceiver. It includes many upgrade options, so many, in fact, that you
can configure anything from a kit-built 10 W portable QRP radio to a
full-featured, contest-ready 100 W rig with *two* high-performance
receivers. It is scheduled to ship starting in July.

FlexRadio Systems http://www.flex-radio.com/, a pioneer in
high-performance software defined radios (SDRs), introduced its Flex-5000 HF
plus 6-meter transceiver series that promises higher performance and more
features than its earlier model. Included are the Flex-5000C, a fully
integrated system in a single box, and the Flex-5000D, which includes a
second receiver.

Hilberling, the first Amateur Radio transceiver maker from across the
Atlantic for some years, announced its PT-8000 transceiver. It's offered as
a full-featured HF and VHF transceiver available in 10, 100 or 600 W
versions. The North America distributor is Array Solutions
http://www.arraysolutions.com/.

ICOM http://www.icomamerica.com/ unveiled its IC-7700 HF + 6 meter
transceiver. It appears to be a single-receiver version of its top-tier
IC-7800, sharing the 200 W transmitter, high performance receiver and 7-inch
display of its sibling. Contesters are the market target, but the IC-7700
may be of interest to anyone who covets the features of the IC-7800 but
doesn't need two receivers or the higher price tag.

Ten-Tec http://www.tentec.com/ has its new Omni-VII HF + 6 meter
transceiver on display. The unit's "distributed roofing filter architecture"
promises ham-band-only receive performance with a general coverage receiver.
Stay tuned for the "Product Review" in July QST.

Finally, Yaesu http://www.yaesu.com/ showed its new FT-450 HF + 6 meter
offering. The FT-450 bears some similarities to the Yaesu FT-2000, but with
fewer features and a correspondingly lower price.

What else?

Array Solutions is distributing the SPE Expert 1K-FA solid-state linear
amplifier. It is a compact light weight (44 pounds) fully automated, full
break-in capable amplifier that puts out 1000 W PEP on 160 through 10 meters
(700 W PEP on 6 meters). It has an internal 120 or 240 V ac power supply and
antenna tuner.

Dishtronix http://www.dishtronix.com/ showed off its 100% duty cycle, 1500
W output (on all modes) solid-state linear. This is a "serious" amplifier at
65 pounds with the choice of a separate 120 pound linear power supply or a
54 pound switcher.

Tokyo Hy-Power http://www.thp.co.jp/ enjoyed a great debut at Dayton this
year, showing three HF amplifiers newly introduced to the US market. On
display were the HL-1.2KFX 750 W output, HL-1.5KFX 1 kW output and HL-2.5KFX
legal limit amplifiers as well as the HL-500V 2 meter linear. All are solid
state. THP also offers a new legal-limit automatic antenna tuner.

Kenwood http://www.kenwood.com/ announced a new V/UHF mobile transceiver,
the TM-71A. Of particular note is free software that allows downloading
repeater data from ARRL's Travel Plus
http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=9930 directly into radio memories. It
also can function as a crossband repeater.

Yaesu introduced a new V/UHF transceiver especially for hams on the go! The
FTM-10 is designed to mount on the handlebars of your bike or motorcycle so
that you don't even need a mic! Just talk into the front panel, and you're
on the air!

Radio accessories are always popular at Dayton and MFJ can always be counted
on to have new products. Topping the list this year is the MFJ-998 1500 W
Intellituner. This legal-limit auto tuner is designed to handle loads from
12 to 1600 ohms from 160 to 10 meters and includes two outputs and
sophisticated memory, protection and control features.

West Mountain Radio http://www.westmountainradio.com/, the RigBlaster and
RigRunner folk, have branched out into the audio side of your radios. They
introduced a DSP-equipped speaker designed for the HF operator who would
like more signal and less noise.

Palstar http://www.palstar.com/ has a new AT1KP tuner that covers 160
through 6 meters. By switching in the 160 meter inductance only when needed,
the AT1KP reduces the minimum capacitance of the tuner so it can cover 6
meters.

The Swiss Antenna Matching System from Heinz-Bolli is a legal-limit
remote-controlled tuner designed for outdoor mounting. It can be manually
tuned by remote control or auto tuning can be used to select the best tuner
configuration or adjust the parameters. Array Solutions is the North
American distributor. -- Joel Hallas, W1ZR

It's not too early to start working up those holiday gift lists.

==FCC DESIGNATES HEARINGS ON THREE AMATEUR RADIO APPLICATIONS

The FCC has issued hearing designation orders (HDOs) to Amateur Radio
license applicants in three unrelated cases. All three HDOs released May 24
hinge on licensee "character" issues. The Commission notified David O.
Castle, WA9KJI, of Evansville, Indiana, that it was designating his license
renewal application for hearing in the wake of alleged misconduct extending
back several years and continuing at least until earlier this year.

"Since 1998, Castle has been warned repeatedly to refrain from intentionally
interfering with radio communications; broadcasting without communicating
with any particular station; causing interference on amateur repeaters;
using amateur repeaters without authorization, and using indecent,
slanderous or harassing language," the FCC said in the HDO it issued to
Castle. "We find that Castle's continuing course of conduct raises questions
as to whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to remain
a Commission licensee."

In March, FCC Special Counsel in the Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley
Hollingsworth warned Castle to abide by a request to refrain from using
repeaters owned by the Tri-State Amateur Radio Society.

The FCC also designated for hearing two applications for new Amateur Radio
licenses. In the case of Frank C. Richards of Mooers, New York, the
Commission says the applicant apparently had attempted in 1995 to hijack the
license of a Frank C. Richards, KB4VU, who lives in Ft Myers, Florida. The
New York Richards was initially successful, and the FCC granted him KG2IC,
but after the Florida Richards contacted the FCC to say he'd never moved nor
modified his license, the FCC directed the New York Richards to explain. On
June 2004, the New York Richards turned in his license. While the FCC did
not pursue further enforcement action the, it did tell the New York Richards
that the circumstances of the apparent abuse of the license system could
become a factor if he ever applied for an Amateur Radio ticket in the
future.

The New York Richards applied for a Technician license last June 28, and
accompanied his application with a letter. The FCC Enforcement Bureau said
it was unable to determine whether the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
should grant the application, however, so it now has been designated for a
hearing.

"The Commission and the courts have recognized that 'the FCC relies on the
honesty and probity of its licensees in a regulatory system that is largely
self-policing,'" the FCC said in the HDO.

"The attempt of Frank Richards (NY) to change the address and other
information for call sign KB4VU, and his subsequent cancellation of the
license in lieu of responding to EB's inquiries regarding the
renewal/modification application raise substantial and material questions of
fact as to whether he made false certifications, misrepresented the facts to
the Commission, and/or demonstrated a lack of candor in order to claim the
identity and operating privileges of Frank Richards (FL)," the FCC said.

In a third case, the FCC has designated for hearing the new Amateur Radio
license application of Jack R. Sharples of Florida. In its HDO, the FCC
identified Sharples as "a convicted felon and registered sexual predator."

"Sharples's felony conviction for at least one sexual-related offense
involving children raises material and substantial questions as to whether
he possesses the requisite character qualifications to be a Commission
licensee," the FCC said. "Although Sharples's felony adjudications occurred
more than seven years ago, the nature of the criminal misconduct and the
fact that the Amateur Radio Service is particularly attractive to children
call into serious question whether he should be permitted to obtain an
Amateur Radio authorization."

The FCC gave Castle, Richards and Sharples 20 days to file a "written
appearance" with the Commission or face dismissal of their applications.

==NEVADA HAM PLAYS ROLE IN RADIO RESCUE

ARRL member Eric Christianson, KE7DZZ, of Reno, Nevada, was just listening
to the repeater for background noise May 26, but an emergency call made him
sit up and take notice.

"I immediately grabbed the mic and asked 'What's the nature of the
emergency?' The guy said that he was in a remote area with a downed
motorcycle rider who appeared to have a serious neck injury. He said the
injured man couldn't sit up without feeling dizzy."

On the other end of the circuit was Dave Kersting, KF6QQO, of Redondo Beach,
California, who'd been out riding his motorcycle with friends that day.
Before he left, Kersting grabbed his 2 meter handheld radio, programmed with
some repeater frequencies along their route, and his handheld GPS unit.

"Dave gave me the GPS coordinates of their location, so I called my local
911 dispatch, Washoe County," Christianson said. He relayed the coordinates
to the 911 dispatcher, who asked him to remain on in contact with Kersting
until EMS arrived at the scene.

"Washoe County couldn't find these guys," Christianson recounted. "It seems
Dave's GPS had given the wrong coordinates, but another guy in the group had
a GPS, and he got different coordinates. I gave dispatch the new
coordinates, and by using them, they found the group."

The new coordinates placed the group inside Mono County, California. Washoe
County then called Mono County. About 7:15 PM, a helicopter ambulance,
called Christianson on the phone to let him know their pilot was in flight
near the area and asked if he had any more details for them. The chopper
landed just a few minutes later and transported the injured biker to a local
hospital.

An ARES member and a ham for two years, Christianson first became interested
in Amateur Radio because he wanted to help people in need. "I normally would
have been on 20 meters looking for some DX, but I had the radio on the
repeater memory scan just because it was quieter than listening to HF while
I worked at my computer," he said. "Thank God for that, I helped to save a
life."

"The real hero is Dave, who had the presence of mind to program in local
repeater frequencies. The other hero is Amateur Radio. What we do with
Amateur Radio is great, and I am so proud to be a part of it."

==CONTEST CLUB "DOES THE RIGHT THING"

The Potomac Valley Radio Club (PVRC) has agreed to forfeit its victory in
the 2006 ARRL November Sweepstakes because some of those contributing scores
to PVRC turned out to be outside the club's territory.

"This is a decision that I take very seriously, as so many of you poured
your heart and soul into this great competitive event," PVRC President Jim
Nitzberg, WX3B, said in a letter to members. "We decided this was the best
course of action consistent with our high ethical standards as one of the
finest unlimited contesting clubs."

Nitzberg says the PVRC completed last fall's November Sweepstakes with the
largest turnout of operators in its history. But upon closer examination, he
said, measurable activity occurred from areas "clearly beyond" the 350-mile
diameter ARRL competition boundary (175-mile radius).Once the club used more
precise measurement techniques to determine its boundaries, he explained,
the PVRC ended up losing by a wide margin.

Nitzberg notes that the club was not officially challenged nor requested to
forfeit but made the decision on its own after carefully examining
participation. He also accepted responsibility for the error as the club's
president and extended congratulations to the Northern California Contest
Club for winning the November SS gavel.

The PVRC this year celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and members
will take part in an annual on-the-air reunion over the June 2-3 weekend.
During the event PVRC ops are encouraged to append /60 to their call signs.

==SOLAR UPDATE

Solar swami Tad "Black Hole Sun" Cook, K7RA, Western North Carolina, this
week, reports: Average daily sunspot number this week dropped nearly 23
points to 3.3, while average daily solar flux declined exactly 5 points to
68.8. We saw five days in a row with a sunspot number of zero. All those
zeroes combined with sunspot numbers of 11 and 12 are what made the average
only 3.3. If there are any sunspots at all, the sunspot number itself can't
ever go that low, because there are no sunspot numbers between 0 and 11, due
to the way the number is calculated. It is not actually a count of the
number of sunspots.

Eleven is the number you get if there is just one sunspot, because a value
of ten is added for each group of sunspots. So one sunspot counts for only
one group, so ten plus one sunspot equals eleven. If there are two sunspots
in that group, then the sunspot number is 12, three is 13, and so on. But if
there are three sunspots divided into two groups, then the number is 23, as
it was on May 20.

If we didn't have any images of the sun, and the sunspot number was 23, we
might think there were 13 sunspots in one group, instead of three in two
groups, which would be valid according to the formula, but less likely.

The forecast is for continued one or zero sunspot conditions, with the
planetary A index for June 1-7 at 5, 5, 15, 15, 8, 5 and 5. Geophysical
Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions for today, June 1, unsettled June
2-4, and quiet again on June 6-7. For some reason Prague didn't make any
prediction for June 5, but I'll bet that it's a quiet to unsettled day.

Just prior to the writing of this update, at 0651 UTC on June 1, an M1 class
X-ray flare was released from the sun. Now, the interplanetary magnetic
field points south, making earth vulnerable. On June 3, a solar wind stream
is expected to hit Earth when a coronal hole shifts into a critical
position. That's the basis for the planetary A index forecast of 15 for June
3-4.

Sunspot numbers for May 24 through 30 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 11 and 12, with a
mean of 3.3. 10.7 cm flux was 69.9, 68.1, 67.7, 67, 68.7, 69.6, and 70.7,
with a mean of 68.8. Estimated planetary A indices were 28, 16, 16, 12, 5, 4
and 4, with a mean of 12.1. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 21, 9, 10,
10, 5, 5 and 3, with a mean of 9.

For more information concerning radio propagation, visit the ARRL Technical
Information Service Propagation page
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html.

__________________________________

==IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The Wake-Up! QRP Sprint is June 2. The SEANET
Contest, the RSGB National Field Day, the IARU Region 1 Field Day (CW) and
the Alabama QSO Party are June 2-3 weekend. The RSGB 80-Meter Club
Championship (Data) is June 4. The ARS Spartan Sprint is June 5. The NCCC
Sprint Ladder and the Digital Pentathlon are June 8. The Portugal Day
Contest and the Asia-Pacific Sprint (SSB). The ANARTS World Wide RTTY
Contest and the GACW WWSA CW DX Contest and the REF DDFM 6-Meter Contest are
June 9-10. The ARRL June VHF QSO Party is June 9-11. The SKCC Sprint, the
NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint and the RSGB 80-Meter Club Championship (CW)
are June 13. The NCCC Sprint Ladder and the Digital Pentathlon are June 15.
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. July 8, for these ARRL
Certification and Continuing Education (CCE) online courses beginning
Friday, July 20: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 2 (EC-002),
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 3 (EC-003R2), Antenna Modeling
(EC-004), HF Digital Communications (EC-005), VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the
Repeater (EC-008) and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). These courses
also will open for registration Friday, June 1, for classes beginning Friday
July 20. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html or contact the CCE Department
.

* National Hurricane Center's WX4NHC sets On-The-Air Station Test: The
annual WX4NHC http://www.wx4nhc.org On-the-Air Station Test from the
National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami takes place Saturday, June 2,
1300-2100 UTC. The yearly event provides an opportunity for WX4NHC to test
its radio equipment, computers and antennas on as many modes and bands as
possible. "This is not a contest or simulated hurricane exercise," says
WX4NHC Assistant Amateur Radio Volunteer Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R. He
adds that WX4NHC also will be testing new computers and software as well
conducting operator training. WX4NHC will be on the air on HF, VHF and UHF,
plus 2 and 30-meter APRS. Suggested SSB frequencies are 3.950, 7.268,
14.325, 21.325 and 28.525 MHz, ±QRM. WX4NHC also will be on the VoIP
Hurricane Net http://www.voipwx.net/ 1700-1900 UTC (IRLP node
9219/EchoLink WX-TALK Conference) and on South Florida area VHF/UHF
repeaters and simplex. Stations working WX4NHC exchange call sign, signal
report, location and name plus a brief weather report, such as "sunny,"
rain" or "cloudy." Non-hams may submit their actual weather using the
On-Line Hurricane Report Form http://www.wx4nhc.org/WX-form1.html. QSL to
WD4R and include an SASE. Do not send cards to the NHC. Due to security
measures, no visitors will be allowed at NHC during the test.

* Canada ending 136 kHz and 5 MHz special authorizations: In accordance with
an agreement between Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) and Industry Canada --
that country's telecommunications regulatory agency -- special
authorizations allowing some Canadian radio amateurs to conduct experiments
at 136 kHz and 5 MHz will terminate June 30. "These experiments have had, as
one objective, the provision of data that would support the objectives of
RAC and the IARU for possible new allocations to the Amateur Service at
these frequencies," the RAC said. Future special authorizations will depend
on the outcomes of World Radiocommunication Conference 2007 (WRC-07), which
gets under way October 22, the RAC added. New, worldwide, secondary amateur
allocations at 135.7 to 137.8 kHz and in the 5 MHz range are up for possible
consideration at WRC-07. RAC Newfoundland-Labrador Section Manager Joe
Craig, VO1NA, described some of his LF experiences in "The Transatlantic on
2200 Meters," which appeared in July 2005 QST
http://www.arrl.org/qst/2005/07/craig.pdf. Craig also has been in the
forefront of 60-meter experimentation in Canada through the Marconi Radio
Club of Newfoundland. In 2003, club station VO1MRC worked N1RL in
Massachusetts for the first Canada-US two-way amateur contact on 60 meters.
There more information on the VO1MRC 5 MHz Experiment Web pages
http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~jcraig/5megex.html.

* FCC Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence posted: The FCC has posted
additional Amateur Radio enforcement correspondence and documents on its
"Amateur Radio Service Enforcement Actions" page
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html. Special Counsel in the
FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division Riley Hollingsworth has sent letters to
Anthony R. Migliori, KI6GVY (Warning Notice); Ryan A. Migliori, KI6GVX
(Warning Notice); Harold L. Finley Jr, W4BAD (request for information);
Commercial Radio Service/Timothy M. Doty, WB9MCD (Memorandum Opinion & Order
plus Settlement Agreement); Jeffrey B. Bregel, KD6NBD (Warning Notice);
James B. Cormia, WB2GAJ (Warning Notice); Eric B. Maldonado, N9OVR (Warning
Notice); James L. McCurry, K4EDK (inquiry), and Henry A. Stange, WA6RXZ
(Warning Notice). The FCC Enforcement Bureau has posted Hearing Designation
Orders to Jack R. Sharples, Frank C. Richards and David O. Castle, WA9KJI
(see above). The FCC Enforcement Bureau now posts Amateur Radio
enforcement-related correspondence and documents -- with some exceptions --
on its own Web site. Direct all questions concerning the Amateur Radio
Service Enforcement Actions Web postings via e-mail only to Riley
Hollingsworth in the FCC Spectrum Enforcement Division.

* Aiieeee! My BS7H QSO is not in the log! The fellow who's handling QSL
cards for the recent BS7H Scarborough Reef DXpedition -- Steve Wheatley,
KU9C -- says he's received "quite a number" of questions concerning contacts
not in the online log http://www.scarboroughreef.com/srlog.html, a lack of
QSO details, the dog ate my log and similar. "Rather than ask via e-mail,"
he suggests, "I'd ask you to kindly put the inquiry in a note with your QSL
to me. I'll research the log as I work your QSL request, and respond
accordingly." Wheatley says that if you're not showing up in the BS7H online
log, don't depair. "Put down every QSO you believe you had, and I'll do the
rest." KU9C reminds operators that researching contacts takes him away from
processing other cards. "If it's a busted call, I'll use well-established
judgment in issuing the card," he says, "and may ask you to help confirm
that the person's whose call appears did not make a QSO." But, he adds, if
an operator can't supply any QSO details beyond what's in the online log, it
will be impossible for him to issue a card. He also says not to fret if you
sent return postage under the old rates; he'll make up the difference.
Scarborough Reef has been the top most-wanted DXCC entity -- The Daily DX
http://www.dailydx.com

* Yasme Foundation announces address change: One of the more famous and
long-lived post office box numbers in DXing has changed. Effective
immediately, all mail to the Yasme Foundation http://www.yasme.org should
go to PO Box 20578, Castro Valley, CA USA 94546. The US Postal Service will
forward mail sent to the former PO box number for approximately six months,
so recent mail to the Foundation should be unaffected. The Yasme Foundation
is a not-for-profit corporation organized to conduct scientific and
educational projects related to Amateur Radio, including DXing, and the
introduction and promotion of Amateur Radio in underdeveloped countries. The
Yasme Foundation derived its name from the Yasme sailing vessels that
carried legendary DXer Danny Weil, VP2VB
http://www.qsl.at/common/weil.html, to various rare DX spots around the
world in the 1950s and 1960s.

* UK Six Metre Group marks Silver Jubilee with special call signs: The UK
Six Metre Group (UKSMG) will commemorate its 25th anniversary of promoting
50 MHz by fielding UKSMG stations using special call signs during the
group's Summer Sporadic E Contest, June 2-3 (1200 UTC to 1200 UTC) and at
various times during May and June. Be on the lookout for these 25th
anniversary call signs: AN7SIX, AO7SIX, EG7SIX, PA25UKSMG, SP25SIX, TM6MG
and GD5KW Contest rules and details of a special UKSMG 25th Anniversary
Award are on the UKSMG Web site.

* Clarke Cooper, K8BP, wins May QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of the
QST Cover Plaque Award for May is Clarke Cooper, K8BP, for his article "A
Super Duper Five Band Portable Antenna." Congratulations, Clarke! The winner
of the QST Cover Plaque award -- given to the author or authors of the best
article in each issue -- is determined by a vote of ARRL members on the QST
Cover Plaque Poll Web page http://www.arrl.org/members-only/QSTvote.html.
Cast a ballot for your favorite article in the June issue by Saturday, June
30.

================================================== =========
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