***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 26, No. 32
August 10, 2007
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + ARRL VEC Team Attends National VEC Conference
* + The 2007 ARRL National Convention Is Just About Here!
* + The 2007 ARRL Teachers Institutes Reach 45 Schools
* + ARRL COO Takes a Look at ARRL HQ's First Six Months of 2007
* + Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan, KD5VNP, Launches into Space
* + ARRL/TAPR Conference Coming to Connecticut Next Month
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Course Registration
+ New Chief for Air Force MARS
+ Nominations Sought for ARRL Section Managers
New Prefix in the Works for Bosnia and Herzegovina
ARRL Tours Continue through Summer
100th Anniversary of Scouting Celebrated with ARISS Contact
+ No ARRL Audio News Next Week
Let Us Know What You Think

+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: S. Khrystyne Keane,

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

A quick note: Watch for September's QST in your mailbox!

== ARRL VEC Team Attends National VEC Conference

Representatives of 11 of the nation's 14 Volunteer Examiner Coordinators
(VECs) met July 27 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, for the 22nd annual
National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators (NCVEC)
conference. NCVEC Chairman Tom Fuszard, KB9PU, presided over the
gathering. This yearly gathering offers an opportunity for VECs to
discuss issues facing the volunteer examination program and to meet
face-to-face with FCC staff members. The ARRL's delegation to the
conference included ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM; Assistant
Manager Perry Green, WY1O, and Regulatory Information Branch Manager Dan
Henderson, N1ND. Also on hand were five FCC staff members: Donna Scott,
Sandy Eckenrode, Terry Fishel, Senior Program Analyst Bill Cross, W3TN,
and Riley Hollingsworth, Special Counsel in the Enforcement Bureau.
Cross and Hollingsworth addressed the conference.

Jim Wiley, KL7CC, chairman of the NCVEC Question Pool Committee, led a
discussion on the QPC's plans for the upcoming year. The QPC is working
on the new Amateur Extra class pool and syllabus that is scheduled to be
released December 2007; it will become effective July 1, 2008. Wiley
mentioned that the QPC does not expect any new pool releases in 2009.

Fred Maia, W5YI, spoke about a problem he found with information between
the Universal Licensing System (ULS) and the Commission Registration
System (CORES) computer systems not being exchanged. Amateurs, he said,
are complying with Part 97 rules by keeping the ULS license database up
to date, but this information does not find its way into the CORES
database. Part 1 of the Rules, Section 1.8002(b)(2), which Maia said
most amateurs are unfamiliar with, states that applicants must keep
their CORES records current. Amateurs can supply CORES with up-to-date
information via the CORES Web page
https://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/coresWeb/publicHome.do or by filling out
and submitting FCC Form 161
http://wireless.fcc.gov/feesforms/forms.html.

Maia proposed that the FCC update CORES automatically when the ULS is
updated. ULS is maintained by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau
(WTB) and CORES is handled by the Office of Managing Director (OMD). The
FCC's Bill Cross said these systems are two separate systems and that
they are discussing a solution.

Cross also moderated the FCC portion of the meeting and took the
opportunity to introduce the FCC personnel attending the conference. He
reviewed recent Commission rule decisions that have affected VECs,
including WTB 04-140 and 05-235 and remarked that the FCC is watching
the data streams and upgrades. Cross noted that the ARRL Web site showed
ARRL VEC Manager Maria Somma, AB1FM, buried in piles of work
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2007/02/28/101/?nc=1.

Hollingsworth spoke next and opened his comments with a bit of
lightheartedness. He said that when he spoke at the Dayton Hamvention
earlier this year, he told people to "lighten up on the bands." Since
Dayton, he's only had three complaints. "I didn't mean for everyone to
take that so seriously!" he said.

He continued by saying that he is "very happy" there is a "slowdown" in
Amateur Radio enforcement needs. The Commission's enforcement has gotten
stronger over the years, and it will not be neglected, he said. He went
on to point out that the Enforcement Bureau now has its own Web page
http://www.fcc.gov/eb/AmateurActions/Welcome.html that lists all
Amateur Radio enforcement activities.

When it comes to VE sessions, Hollingsworth said, he's only had "two new
complaints in two years" about exam sessions, "and those were fairly
small involving only two or three applicants." He did, however, warn the
VECs "to remain vigilant about detecting fraud now that the licensing
structure is simpler."

There was a discussion at this year's conference concerning whether or
not the NCVEC should have a standard Spanish language exam pool.
Currently, multiple Spanish pool translations are being used in Puerto
Rico. The ARRL VEC brought up the idea of "only one standard pool
version that could be used by the Spanish community," and asked that the
NCVEC "seek to establish and maintain one standard Spanish language
question pool that conforms to be an exact translation of the current
English language question pool for the purposes of being made available
to the Spanish speaking public prior to its use for public study."

Due to the fact that there are differing Spanish pool translations
currently in use, and none of them an "official" translation of the
question pools, the ARRL VEC wanted one standard pool to be created.
Somma pointed out that before the VEC program came into being, the FCC
administered Spanish language license exams. "We believe in Puerto Rico,
where Spanish is an official language, there should be only one standard
translation," Somma said.

ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, in an e-mail, concurred: "FCC
Amateur Radio exams have been available in Spanish since before the
creation of the VEC program, back when the FCC administered all the
exams. Remember that the FCC regulates Amateur Radio (and other radio
services as well) in Puerto Rico where Spanish is an official language
and only a minority of the citizens are fluent in English.

"The only current issue, and the purpose of ARRL's NCVEC motion, is
whether there should be a single, standard version of the Spanish
question pool (there currently isn't), or whether the longstanding
practice of allowing any translation done by any VE team or VECs should
be continued. We believe there should be one standard and only one
translation."

In another e-mail, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, agreed: "This
effort [for a standardized Spanish translation] is nothing other than a
mechanism to insure the high degree of exam integrity that ARRL VEC has
been the standard-bearer of for years. Any other position would be
contrary to the best interests of the VEC program."

After much discussion, the majority of VECs present did not think they
would be able to utilize the Spanish version, and felt with the current
resources available, people can be tested in Spanish if need be.
Furthermore, the opposition said, the NCVEC has neither the staff nor
the resources to undertake and monitor these additional pools.

A vote followed the discussion on the ARRL VEC proposal and the motion
did not carry. The NCVEC did not endorse one standard Spanish question
pool translation and chose not to develop a unified statement about
foreign language exams.

The NCVEC re-elected the current representatives to new terms. Tom
Fuszard, KB9PU (MRAC VEC), was selected for a fifth term as chairman;
Larry Pollock, NB5X (W5YI VEC), will continue as Vice Chairman. Michele
Cimbala, WK3X (LARC VEC), will continue as secretary; Ray Adams, W4CPA
(WCARS VEC), will remain as treasurer, and Fred Maia, W5YI (W5YI VEC),
will remain as rules reporter. The four current Question Pool Committee
members -- Perry Green, WY1O (ARRL VEC), Roland Anders, K3RA (LARC VEC),
Larry Pollock, NB5X (W5YI VEC) and QPC Chairman Jim Wiley, KL7CC
(Anchorage VEC), were reappointed as well.

The NCVEC set July 25, 2008 as a tentative date for the 2008 conference.

== The 2007 ARRL National Convention Is Just About Here!

ARRL is tying the ribbons on its planning for the 2007 ARRL National
Convention, held in conjunction with the Huntsville Hamfest. The
convention and hamfest will be held August 18-19 at the Von Braun Center
in Huntsville, Alabama. The event is preceded by the Global Amateur
Radio Emergency Communications Conference -- GAREC-07 -- held in the
adjacent Embassy Suites Hotel, August 16-17.

"The ARRL National Convention will be chock-full of activities and
exhibits," said ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R.
"The centerpiece of the convention will be ARRL EXPO -- an entire
exhibit area showcasing many ARRL programs and services." A preview of
what is planned for ARRL EXPO, as well as a downloadable exhibit and
activities guide, can be found at the ARRL EXPO Web site
http://www.arrl.org/expo.

Another convention activity is ARRL Passport -- the ultimate hamfest
scavenger hunt. Available to the first 2500 visitors to ARRL EXPO, the
Passport opens up the possibility to win one of two terrific all-mode
mobile transceivers: the Icom IC-7000 and the Yaesu FT-857D. Passport
holders qualify by collecting different ARRL Passport codes at
participating exhibits and activities while they enjoy the convention.
Turn in your completed entry form at ARRL EXPO by Sunday at 12 noon, and
you could be a winner.

"The Huntsville Hamfest Committee has organized a fantastic slate of
presentations and forums. More than a dozen mini-forums will be given on
the ARRL Stage, located in ARRL's big exhibit area," Inderbitzen said. A
provisional list of hamfest forums can be found at the Huntsville
Hamfest's Web site http://www.hamfest.org/forums02b.htm. Presentations
on the ARRL Stage will include an update on Broadband over Power Line
(BPL) given by Ed Hare, W1RFI; suggestions for energizing young -- and
potential -- hams, presented by ARRL Youth Contributing Editor and
Georgia Assistant Section Manager/Youth Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM; a
"how-to" session on writing for QST, presented by ARRL News Editor S.
Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA; an introduction to ARRL Operating Awards and the
ARRL QSL bureau with ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L; tips for
contesting with QST Contributing Editor and ARRL author Ward Silver,
N0AX, and an overview of Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station presented by Rob Suggs, KB5EZ, NASA Space Environments Team Lead
from the Marshall Space Flight Center. A complete listing of ARRL Stage
presentations can be found at the ARRL EXPO Web site
http://www.arrl.org/expo.

== 2007 ARRL Teachers Institutes Reach 45 Schools

Forty-eight teachers representing 45 schools from around the country
attended the 2007 ARRL Teachers Institutes, held this summer in Rocklin,
California, Spokane, Washington and at ARRL Headquarters in Newington.
Each class of 12, ranging from pre-school teachers to college
professors, got the opportunity to explore and experience firsthand
wireless technology basics, how to teach basic electronics concepts
integral to microcontrollers and robots, as well as how to bring space
technology into the classroom. The four day course culminated with
building and programming a robot.

Education and Technology Program Coordinator and Director of the ARRL
Teachers Institute Mark Spencer, WA8SME, said, "We had a good range of
students this year. We had a higher percentage of hams than we have seen
in the past. These were slightly older teachers, ranging in all levels
of experience. We even had a student teacher at one of the sessions,
something I am really excited about."

Spencer said his four "instructional pillars" -- Science of radio, Space
in the classroom, Microcontrollers and Robotics -- are "ever-present"
during the Teachers Institute. "Each day is packed with lectures,
hands-on activities and demonstrations, building, programming and a
robotics competition. The first two days include instruction on how to
teach wireless technology. Day three covers microcontrollers and the
finale is how to teach basic robotics. The class materials are a mix of
basic theory coupled with teaching strategies these instructors can use
immediately when they return to the classroom."

A new feature in this year's Teachers Institute is Soldering 101.
Spencer said including this basic skill was "extremely useful. We had
both experienced hams and people new to technology. A lot of the
experienced hams hadn't soldered in a while, so it was like a refresher
course for them. The new people enjoyed learning a new skill."

Spencer said some people might have already known how to solder, but had
never considered soldering in the classroom. "They came up to me, happy
that they had learned the teaching skills that would enable them to
bring soldering in the classroom. They said, 'I knew how to solder
before I came here, but I never thought I could teach it to my students.
Thank you for giving me the skills and showing me the way so I can teach
this to my students in a way they can understand.'"

Another new feature this year was satellite contacts. Spencer chose
AO-27 due to the timing of its pass. Spencer divided the class into two
groups and took them outside for the pass. "The satellite comes over the
horizon, and the participants announce their call sign and grid square
and maybe exchange some short pleasantries. Once that's done, they go on
to the next contact," Spencer said.

By using satellites, Spencer said, he shows the Teachers Institute
participants that they can actually contact an orbiting satellite using
inexpensive equipment. "The lessons involving satellites are valuable
and focused. By using satellites, these teachers can go back to their
classrooms and teach more than just the satellite. This lesson teaches
the students how to get ready, how to prepare; this is something they
can and will carry with them all their lives. Without advance
preparation, it's really hard to make the satellite contact."

Of the 48 teachers at this year's Teachers Institutes, about 20 percent
come from "Big Project" schools, Spencer said. "About another 25 percent
of the non-Big Project schools go on to apply for grants and get
involved in the Big Project. These schools then go on to apply for an
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program, but
the Teachers Institutes show them that there is much more to it than
just an ARISS contact."

While the emphasis of the course is not Amateur Radio and teachers need
not be hams to attend the all-expenses-paid sessions, some do go ahead
and take the Technician license exam. Seven have received their
Technician license and two have upgraded to General this year alone.
"About 80 percent of the non-ham teachers have gone on to get their
Amateur Radio license. They get really 'jazzed up' about ham radio while
they are here. Since the genesis of the Teachers Institute, each
participant that has taken their Amateur Radio license exam has passed
on their first attempt," Spencer said.

Spencer said the Teachers Institute curricula are constantly being
tweaked. "Right now, we are at a maturing stage, doing the grunt work
and sustaining the program. Next year we are looking at adding Amateur
Radio Television and making an umbrella activity board that ties all
four of the instructional pillars together. I am already looking at
expanding the program for next year."

He has many long range plans in mind for the Teachers Institute. "In the
next 10 years, I would love to see a Teachers Institute in each of the
15 ARRL Divisions. These instructors would work in conjunction with
their state's science museum and run the Institute regionally through
the museum. What a great way to bring science to kids," Spencer said.

== ARRL COO Takes a Look at ARRL HQ's First Six Months of 2007

At the July ARRL Board of Directors meeting, ARRL Chief Operating
Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, brought the Board up-to-date on the first
six months of 2007 as it relates to ARRL Headquarters and staff. With
the elimination of the Morse code testing requirement, a "transformation
occurred in Amateur Radio," he said. The ARRL, he said, was prepared for
the changes the elimination brought forth: new licensees, license
upgrades and a renewed interest in Amateur Radio overall.

The first six months of 2007 also saw some significant organizational
changes at HQ, Kramer said. "The former Membership Services Department
and the Field and Educational Services Department merged into one
department, Membership and Volunteer Programs, under the leadership of
Dave Patton, NN1N." A new Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager
joined the staff, Dennis Dura, K2DCD. Debra Johnson, K1DMJ, heads up the
newly created Educational Services Department.

"We have also made significant progress in both improving and
integrating our Web services with our Customer Relations Management
System," Kramer said. "A cross-departmental team has created all new,
much improved membership application pages on the ARRL Web site. This
team has also upgraded our credit card entry system so that it processes
transactions in real time and added additional security to our credit
card transactions. As a part of this process, we have enhanced our
warehousing and shipping systems."

While Kramer went on to list accomplishments by each ARRL department, he
stressed that the positive results seen at HQ were realized "by working
as a team...[these successes] would not have happened if we had not all
worked together. Thanks to everyone on staff for making these extra
efforts."

Kramer pointed out that the ARRL Lab continues to work with amateurs
concerning the various BPL systems, as well as participates on industry
committees working on BPL. They have helped many members with RF
interference problems, and have improved and expanded QST Product Review
testing.

The newly formed Membership and Volunteer Programs Department oversaw
the initiation of monthly teleconferences with Section Managers in their
respective Divisions. The ARRL Club Affiliation process was simplified
and the ARRL Club News electronic newsletter was launched and now has
about 6000 subscribers.
The Publications Department released nine new or revised publications,
including a new General Class License Manual, General Class Q&A, ARRL
Antenna Book and the 2007/2008 Repeater Directory. QST saw an emphasis
on emergency communications, as well as additional editorial content
featuring advanced technology.

The Sales and Marketing Department reported an increase in membership in
the first six months of the year. Insurance and banking opportunities
were presented as optional benefits to the membership.

The ARRL Volunteer Examiner Coordinator Department implemented plans for
the expected workload increase due to the elimination of the Morse code
testing requirement. With a gain in the number of license exam sessions,
ARRL Volunteer Examiner teams are responsible for administering 71
percent of the Amateur Radio exams.

The Web/Software Development Department reported that the ARRL Web site
had more than 2.1 million visitors and 50 million page views during the
first six months of 2007. They moved the Logbook of The World system to
a new, upgraded server. They also created a new Web site for the ARRL
Foundation.

== Educator Astronaut Barbara Morgan, KD5VNP, Launches into Space

On Wednesday, August 8, the space shuttle Endeavour (STS-118) launched
yet again on an 11-day mission into space, the "final frontier." One
member of the seven-member crew, Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan,
KD5VNP, said she let forth a loud "Woo-hoo!" during the launch. The
astronauts assigned to the mission include a Canadian doctor, a chemist
who knows sign language and is a former competitive sprinter and long
jumper, as well as a commander whose identical twin brother is also a
shuttle pilot.

Morgan is the mission's Educator Astronaut. She was selected for the
astronaut corps 22 years after first being selected as Christa
McAuliffe's backup in the Teacher in Space Project. McAuliffe and the
rest of the seven-member crew on board the space shuttle Challenger
(STS-51-L) perished on January 28, 1986, a mere 73 seconds after launch.


While in space, Morgan plans to answer questions from schoolchildren.
She received her Amateur Radio license in March 2003.

Like all shuttle missions, STS-118 is about the futu putting the
International Space Station (ISS) a step closer to completion and
gathering experience that will help people return to the moon and go on
to Mars. "The mission has lots of angles," Matt Abbott, lead shuttle
flight director, said. "There's a little bit of assembly; there's some
resupply; there's some repairs. And there are some high-visibility
education and public affairs events. It's a little bit of everything."

"I'm really excited about going up and doing our jobs and doing them
well," Morgan said. "I'm excited about experiencing the whole
spaceflight, seeing Earth from space for the very first time and
experiencing weightlessness and what that's all about. I am excited
about seeing what it's like living and working onboard the International
Space Station."

Morgan trained side by side with McAuliffe and witnessed the 1986
Challenger accident in which McAuliffe and her six fellow crew members
died. The Teacher in Space Project was suspended then, but Morgan held
on to her NASA ties. In the months following that tragedy, she went on
the visits McAuliffe would have made, talking to children and teachers
all over the country. When she was selected in 1998 to become a
full-fledged astronaut, she jumped at the opportunity.

In reminiscing about McAuliffe, Morgan said, "Christa's legacy was
open-ended, and is open-ended. Any teacher's legacy is open-ended. I
hope, and I know that people will be thinking about Christa and the
Challenger crew and that's a good thing and they'll be thinking about
many, many teachers and others who have worked very, very hard for 20
years to continue Christa's and the rest of the Challenger crew's work.
I am just the next teacher of many to come, we've got three in training
right now, and there will be more in the future, teachers who will fly
as astronauts, so just, just one of a long step that will continue well
into the future."

In 2002, Morgan was chosen as the first educator to become a mission
specialist astronaut. The Educator Astronaut Project evolved from the
Teacher in Space Project. Both aimed to engage and attract students to
explore the excitement and wonder of spaceflight and to inspire and
support educators. Morgan's primary duty is the same as it is for the
entire crew - to accomplish the planned objectives of the station
assembly mission, as well as taking part in several education-related
activities. "The educator astronaut is also a fully trained astronaut
who does the jobs, does the duties that an astronaut does. Astronauts
and teachers learn and share; they explore; they discover and then they
go learn and share some more. And that's what this is all about." - Some
information from NASA.

More about Endeavor's mission can be found at the NASA Web site
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sh...s/sts118/index.
html.

== ARRL/TAPR Conference Comes to Connecticut Next Month

Mark your calendars for September 28-30 for the 26th Annual ARRL and
TAPR Digital Communications Conference in Hartford, Connecticut
http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html. This conference is an international
forum for radio amateurs to meet, publish their work and present new
ideas and techniques. Presenters and attendees will have the opportunity
to exchange ideas and learn about recent hardware and software advances,
theories, experimental results, and practical applications.

Topics include, but are not limited to: Software Defined Radio (SDR);
digital voice; digital satellite communications; Global Position System
(GPS); precision timing; Automatic Position Reporting System (APRS);
short messaging (a mode of APRS); Digital Signal Processing (DSP); HF
digital modes; Internet interoperability with Amateur Radio networks;
spread spectrum; IEEE 802.11 and other Part 15 license-exempt systems
adaptable for Amateur Radio; using TCP/IP networking over Amateur Radio;
mesh and peer-to-peer wireless networking; emergency and Homeland
Defense backup digital communications; using Linux in amateur radio;
updates on AX.25, and other wireless networking protocols.

The three-day conference will include introductory and technical
sessions on Friday and Saturday, a Friday evening social and a Saturday
evening banquet. The ever-popular Sunday Seminar focuses on one topic
and provides an in-depth four-hour presentation by an expert in the
field. The Sunday Seminar speaker has yet to be announced.

According to TAPR Vice President Steve Bible, N7HPR, "the ARRL and TAPR
Digital Communications Conference is for all levels of technical
experience, not just for the expert. Not only is the conference
technically stimulating, it is a weekend of fun for all who have more
than a casual interest in any aspect of amateur digital electronics and
communications. Introductory sessions are scheduled throughout the
conference to introduce new technical topics for beginners and experts
alike. For those amateurs who are more technically inclined, this is a
must attend conference. Now more than ever, Amateur Radio needs this
great meeting of the minds to demonstrate a continued need for our
current frequency allocations by pushing forward and documenting our
achievements. The ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference is the
best way to record our accomplishments and challenge each other to do
more."

Each year at the Digital Communications Conference, a separate and
lockable room is provided for people to bring and show off their latest
projects. Tables and power will be provided. Bring your equipment and
display for all to see, learn and ask questions about, as well as a
small sign and flyer naming and describing your project.

Registration is open until September 1; after that date, late
registrations will be accepted. The cost of the two-day Digital
Communications Conference is $70; to attend only the Friday or Saturday
session is $40. Lunch is available on Friday and Saturday for $15. The
Sunday Seminar is priced separately at $25. The Saturday evening banquet
is $35 and includes dinner, guest speaker, an awards ceremony and a
prize drawing. Students under 17 are priced at 50 percent of the
registration fees. Conference registration includes conference
proceedings, sessions and meetings.

Conference presentations, meetings, and seminars will be held at the
Doubletree Hotel Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks,
Connecticut
http://www.doubletree.com/en/dt/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=BDLETDT. A
block of rooms at a special rate of $79.00 has been reserved, and it is
highly recommended that you book your room prior to arriving. This
special rate is good until August 30, or until the block of rooms is all
sold out. To book your room, call the hotel directly at (860)627-5171
and mention group code DCC when making reservations.

==SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "I Wanna Soak Up the Sun(spots)" Cook, K7RA, this week reports:
Average daily sunspot numbers were up a little, rising more than five
points to 12.4. After a short period of no sunspots, we are back to
seeing a spot or two every day. Expect these conditions to continue,
possibly falling back to zero spots again around August 16-20. Today
(August 10), expect some unsettled to active geomagnetic conditions due
to a solar wind stream. Planetary A index predicted for August 10-16 is
25, 15, 5, 5, 5, 5 and 10. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts
unsettled to active conditions August 10, quiet to unsettled August 11,
quiet August 12-14, quiet to unsettled August 15 and unsettled August
16. Sunspot numbers for August 2 through 8 were 0, 11, 11, 11, 16, 13
and 25 with a mean of 12.4. The 10.7 cm flux was 69.4, 70.4, 69.4, 68.9,
70, 69 and 69, with a mean of 69.4. Estimated planetary A indices were
5, 4, 2, 2, 12, 23 and 6 with a mean of 7.7. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 5, 4, 0, 2, 8, 23 and 5 with a mean of 6.7. 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: This weekend, the WAE DX Contest (CW) and
the Maryland-DC QSO Party are on the air August 11-12. The NAQCC
Straight Key/Bug Sprint takes place August 15. Next week plays host to
the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest on August 18-19. The NCCC Sprint (CW) is
August 17 and 18. The ARCI Silent Key Memorial Sprint is August 18,
while the SARTG WW RTTY Contest is August 18 and 19. The North American
QSO Party (SSB), the Keyman's Club of Japan Contest and the Russian
District Award Contest are August 18-19. The New Jersey QSO Party is
August 18-19 and August 19-20. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is
August 20. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
http://www.arrl.org/contests/, the ARRL Contester's Rate Sheet
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rate-sheet/ and the WA7BNM Contest
Calendar http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html for more
info.

* ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
Registration remains open through Sunday August 19, for these on-line
courses beginning on Friday September 7: Technician License Course
(EC-010); 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).
To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator .

* New Chief for Air Force Mars: Allen Eiermann, K3LSR, has been named
the new acting chief of Air Force MARS. Eiermann takes over for Don
Poquette who recently retired form the Air Force. Eiermann holds a
General class Amateur Radio license and is a former Navy/Marine Corps
MARS member. "I am looking forward to serving the MARS community and
will work closely with the Army and Navy-Marine Corps MARS Chiefs to
bring the tri-service MARS programs closer to being just MARS. I fully
support interoperability between the three services and the efforts to
provide communications services to other federal agencies and civilian
communities during times of need," Eiermann said.

* Nominations Sought for ARRL Section Managers: Nominations are
currently being solicited for Section Managers in the following ARRL
Sections: Eastern New York, Eastern Pennsylvania, Louisiana, North
Carolina, Pacific, San Diego, South Dakota and Virginia. To be valid, a
petition must contain the signatures of five or more full ARRL members
residing in the Section concerned. Photocopied signatures are not
acceptable. Petition forms FSD-129 are available on request from ARRL
Headquarters but are not required. Petitions must be received at
Headquarters by 4 PM EST on December 7, 2007. If more than one member is
nominated in a single Section, ballots will be mailed from Headquarters
on or before January 2, 2008 to full members of record as of December 7,
2007. Returns will be counted February 19, 2008. Section Managers
elected as a result of the above procedure will take office April 1,
2008. For more information, including a sample petition, please see the
ARRL Web site
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/org/smterms.html#sample.

* New Prefix in the Works for Bosnia and Herzegovina: The ITU has
granted a request from the Ministry of Communications and Transport of
Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) to replace T9A-T9Z with E7A-E7Z. According
to IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ, "While it probably will take some
time for the BiH administration to implement this change, it should put
to an end the use of call signs outside the ITU-allocated call sign
block by stations in parts of BiH." The new prefix will be implemented
"probably later this year," Sumner said.

* ARRL Tours Continue through Summer: The ARRL Tour Program is in full
swing this summer. According to ARRL Receptionist Penny Harts, N1NAG,
more than 200 people have toured ARRL Headquarters and W1AW this summer,
and since the Volunteer Tour Guide program was instituted last August,
more than 500 visitors have seen the ARRL up close and personal. Tours
are given by Sales and Marketing Coordinator Jackie Cornell, or by the
volunteer tour guides Bob Allison, WB1GCM, and Roy Johnson, N1IKM. Tours
highlight W1AW, the ARRL Lab, the Outgoing QSL Service and a brief visit
to each of the various departments. Visitors may operate W1AW weekdays
between the hours of 10 AM-12 pm and 1-3:45 PM; please bring along a
copy of your license. For more information on ARRL HQ tours, please
contact Jackie Cornell .

* 100th Anniversary of Scouting Celebrated with ARISS Contact: On
Saturday, August 4, an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS) contact took place between scouts attending the 21st World Scout
Jamboree in Chelmsford, England and Clay Anderson, KD5PLA, aboard the
ISS. Ten scouts were able to ask two questions each of the astronaut
using the special event station call sign GB100J. Approximately 40,000
scouts from 200 countries attended the Jamboree. Audio was broadcast on
the Jamboree FM radio station and was webcast on the radio station's Web
site. The audio was also fed into the EchoLink JK1ZRW (277 208) server
and received 50 connections from stations in 12 countries, including 6
repeaters nodes. Video and audio may be found on this site
http://www.g6lvb.com/GB100JISS.wmv.

* No ARRL Audio News Next Week: There will be no ARRL Audio News next
week Friday, August 17. Please adjust your calendars and programming
accordingly. The ARRL Audio News will return on Friday, August 24.

* Let Us Know What You Think: What's your favorite part of The ARRL
Letter? What kind of stories would you like to see in the Letter? Would
you prefer the Letter in an HTML format? This is your Letter and your
chance to let your voice be heard. Please send your suggestions to ARRL
News Editor S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA, , with the
subject line "ARRL Letter Suggestions." All messages will be read and
discussed, and we look forward to implementing positive suggestions into
the ARRL Letter.

================================================== =========
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!):

==Editorial questions or comments: S. Khrystyne Keane, K1SFA,

==ARRL News on the Web: http://www.arrl.org
==ARRL Audio News: http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/ or call
860-594-0384

==How to Get The ARRL Letter

The ARRL Letter is available to ARRL members free of charge directly
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ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
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(NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You
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The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
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* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
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