***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 38
September 26, 2008
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Montana Ham Assists in Rescue of Fellow Amateur 600 Miles Away
* + Simulated Emergency Tests Scheduled for October 4-5
* + Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, Follows Dad Owen, W5LFL, into Space
* + FCC Assigns Contested Vanity Call to Wisconsin Amateur Radio Club
* ARRL to Participate in Combined Federal Campaign
* + Walt Ireland, WB7CSL, Retires from ARRL
* + IARU Award Certificates Get New Look
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
+ New Section Managers Get Ready to Converge on Newington
+ DX Engineering Acquires Comtek Systems
North American Missions Board Stands Down after Gustav, Ike

+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,

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

== MONTANA HAM ASSISTS IN RESCUE OF FELLOW AMATEUR 600 MILES AWAY

On Sunday, September 21, Bob Williams, N7ODM, of Bozeman, Montana, was
just tuning around on 40 meters, giving his rig a test just before a
scheduled QSO with his brother Rich, K7URU, in Spokane, when he heard a
faint CW signal around 1 PM (MDT): Glenn Russell Ruby Jr, W7AU, of
Corvallis, Oregon had broken his leg and was using a portable radio and
Morse code to send out a call for help. Williams said he was able to
understand the injured man's code even when his signal became very weak.

"He called me. He must have heard me testing out the radio. When I
finished, I signed off with my call, and then I heard, 'N7ODM, this is
W7AU/7,' so I answered," Williams told the ARRL. "I told him to go
ahead, I had solid copy. He told me that he was a hiker that had fallen
and broken his leg. He identified himself as Russ, provided information
as to his GPS coordinates, the shelter, food and water on hand, as well
as his detailed physical condition. He told me exactly who I needed to
contact for assistance."

According to Williams, Ruby had slipped on a wet rock and broken his leg
while out hiking in the Buck Creek Pass area of the high Cascades in
Western Washington, 600 miles away from Williams. "Russ really had his
act together," Williams said. "Before he even called for help, he set up
his tent. It was raining when he fell, so he climbed into his tent and
got into some warm clothes and had a snack of sunflower seeds and dried
apricots. After that, he strung up a wire antenna, fired up his Elecraft
K1 and called me." Williams said that Ruby told him he had a "couple of
weeks worth of battery power" for the radio.

Ruby asked Williams to notify the Snohomish County Search and Rescue in
Washington State. "I didn't have their number, so I called my local 911
dispatcher. All they had was the info for King County in Washington, so
I called them and they gave me the number for Snohomish. When I got a
hold of Snohomish County Search and Rescue, they asked me to obtain
additional info from Russ, such as the color of his tent and if he was
in a clear or wooded area, and remain in contact with him as long as
possible," Williams said.

"Russ and I were able to maintain contact until about 8 PM on Sunday,
during which time I was able to pass additional traffic between Russ and
Search and Rescue, but then his signal got so weak where I couldn't copy
it anymore. Before he faded, we had agreed to try and make contact in
the morning. I tried, starting around 6:30, but he never heard me. I
finally heard him calling me around 9 on 7.051 MHz. We kept in contact
until he was evacuated from the site by Search and Rescue at about 10:35
AM," Williams told the ARRL.

On Sunday, rescue crews reached Ruby, who had set up camp on Buck Creek
Pass, at about 6000 feet just west of the Chelan County line. He was
taken to safety Monday on horseback. Williams said that bad weather
Sunday prevented a helicopter rescue: "It was snowing all night; Russ
told me that when he woke up Monday morning, his tent was all covered in
snow."

"I just happened to be at the same frequency," Williams said. "It's just
a stroke of luck that turned out great. It was quite an experience. I'm
just glad that he was a ham radio operator and that I was able to talk
to him. It made the difference for him. What I did was not anything
special. I'd like to think that any ham in Montana would've done the
same thing."

== SIMULATED EMERGENCY TESTS SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 4-5

When emergency or natural disaster strikes, Amateur Radio is often
called into the limelight of public service to establish a line of
communication to and from the stricken areas. Amateur Radio networks,
once established, sustain communication during the emergency efforts by
helping the disaster relief workers and public with point-to-point
communications or health and welfare messages. During weather related
threats or during the actual occurrence of severe weather, Amateur Radio
networks are commonly on standby to gather information and report this
data to the National Weather Service or other pertinent authorities.

You've read about and/or have heard about these important stages of
Amateur Radio public service in QST or on the Web or elsewhere. Make
this the year that you take a role to learn more and become ready to
serve in public service and emergency communications.

The ARRL sponsors a nationwide trial for Amateur Radio operators for a
role in the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, the Radio Amateur Civil
Emergency Service, the National Traffic System, the National Weather
Service's SKYWARN, the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network
(SATERN) or other groups as well. It's the ARRL's annual Simulated
Emergency Test (SET), and you're invited to join on October 4-5, 2008,
or whenever it is held in your area.

To participate in this year's emergency test, contact your local ARRL
Emergency Coordinator or Net Manager to find out the details. Although
October 4-5 is the focal point weekend, ARRL Sections, ARES teams and
nets may conduct their exercises anytime during September through
December. If you don't know who to call, please touch base with your
ARRL Section Manager for assistance (see page 16 in any QST for contact
information or consult the ARRL Web page
http://www.arrl.org/sections). Whether you're a new licensee or an
experienced radio amateur, the SET is a golden opportunity to learn or
practice useful skills in traffic handling, net operation and emergency
communications protocols and management.

ARRL Section Leaders and local or District Emergency Coordinators are
encouraged to work closely with served agencies in planning these
exercises. This not only helps to heighten awareness of Amateur Radio in
the community, but also helps ensure that effective communication
networks will be in place if an actual emergency occurs. ARRL maintains
National Memoranda of Understanding with several organizations and
entities, and the SET is a prime chance to put these agreements into
action. More details may be found here
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/mou/.

You are encouraged to consider this year's ARRL Simulated Emergency Test
and all preparations, as well as post-exercise evaluations, as a
demonstration of your readiness and Amateur Radio's readiness. Be an
active participant in SET, and join others nationwide. Additional
background on the annual SET is presented in the article, 2007 Simulated
Emergency Test Results. See July 2008 QST, pages 62-65. Also, guidelines
and specific SET reporting forms for the ARRL Section and Field Leaders
will be posted on the ARRLWeb site
http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms.

== RICHARD GARRIOTT, W5KWQ, FOLLOWS DAD OWEN, W5LFL, INTO SPACE

Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, a well-known programmer and designer in the
video game world, will soon be a household name to those who follow
space flights. He's the next private citizen to be flown to the
International Space Station (ISS) by the Russian Federal Space Agency
(RKA), and is taking ham radio into space just as his dad Owen Garriott,
W5LFL -- the first ham to make QSOs from space -- did in 1983.

Richard's fiery ride to space will be on a Russian Soyuz TMA-13, due to
be launched on Sunday, October 12; the Soyuz is set to dock with the ISS
two days later. According to ARRL Amateur Radio on the International
Space Station (ARISS) http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm Program
Manager and ARISS International Secretary-Treasurer Rosalie White,
K1STO, Richard is the sixth private citizen to be accepted by the
Russian Space Agency for a short-term mission on the ISS. HIs term as an
official crew member of the Soyuz TMA-13/17S crew is scheduled to end
with the undocking of the Soyuz on October 22 for its journey back to
Earth.

Twenty-five years after his father made that first QSO from space,
Richard is bent on honoring him by operating ham radio in space. Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, ARISS International Chairman, said, "The ARISS Team is
very happy to be able to make Richard's time in space extra special,
since his flight coincides almost exactly 25 years from when his father
made history."

The first thing Richard did after passing his Technician exam was to
start talking to ARISS in earnest. "ARISS coordinates and sponsors
everything to do with ham radio in space, and NASA Mission Control will
be handling all of the ham radio schedules," White said. In mid-August,
ARISS Team Member Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO, set up a training session at
NASA Johnson Space Center for Richard. Following that, Richard completed
his Russian radio training. ARISS Team Member Sergej Samburov, RV3DR,
trained Richard on SSTV, packet, the use of the ARISS equipment, and the
onboard computers in Star City, Russia at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training
Centre. The next month, Samburov had Richard learn how to handle radio
ops, especially pile-ups.

School QSOs are nothing new for ARISS, so what exciting new thing is
Richard planning while he spends his time in space? White said he plans
on transmitting a show of downlink video images. "Beforehand, SSTV
testing will be conducted between him and the ARISS Team, uplinking high
resolution images," she said. "The SSTV downlinks will take place during
his official Earth observations duties, allowing students and hams to
compare images to ones previously downloaded. He may have the SSTV
equipment running at random times for the pleasure of ham radio
operators. He will use his call sign -- W5KWQ -- on the downlinked video
pictures while operating the RS0ISS and NA1SS equipment, with permission
from station trustees Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and Sergej Samburov, RV3DR.

According to ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, Richard
plans to take a Kenwood VC-H1 SSTV communicator with him on board the
Soyuz for his flight and leave it on the ISS for future ARISS use. "The
VC-H1 has completed all hardware certification on the US and Russian
sides," Bauer said. "The final test, an EMI radiated emissions test, was
performed last week and the test data was delivered to Sergey Samburov,
RV3DR, in Russia this week. The VC-H1 provides a very simple interface
for ISS crew members and does not require the use of a computer.
Computer usage has been a real challenge for ARISS, so the VC-H1
represents a lesson learned to improve ARISS operations."

Richard is the sixth private citizen to be flown by the Russian space
agency to the ISS; all other private citizens who have ventured to the
ISS before him have also made ARISS QSOs. NASA, the Russian Space
Agency, RSC Energia, Space Adventures Ltd and ARISS have developed
various agreements to allow space citizens to entice students to science
and engineering through ARISS QSOs. For more information about Richard,
his space activities and what he hopes to accomplish in space, visit his
Web site http://www.richardinspace.com/.

== FCC ASSIGNS CONTESTED VANITY CALL TO WISCONSIN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB

In an "Order on Reconsideration and Order Proposing Modification"
released on Wednesday, September 24, the FCC decided that Falls Amateur
Radio Club (FARC) was the rightful recipient of call sign W9CQ. FARC and
the QRQ CW and Contest Group (QRQ) had both claimed they were entitled
to use the call
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-08-2138A1.pdf.

In 2007, the Commission was notified that Paul Kent, to whose amateur
station call sign W9CQ was then assigned, had died on January 1, 2006.
Therefore, the call sign was due to become available for reassignment
through the vanity call sign system on January 2, 2008. On April 3,
2007, Robert C. Moldenhauer filed an application requesting W9CQ as a
vanity call sign, stating that he was eligible for the call sign prior
to the expiration of the two-year waiting period because he was an
in-law of Paul Kent; the application was granted on April 21, 2007. On
August 3, 2007, Moldenhauer filed another application requesting
modification of his amateur station call sign to, among other call
signs, W9IS. This application was granted on August 21, 2007, resulting
in his license for call sign W9CQ to be surrendered and canceled. On
November 1, 2007, after inquiry by the Commission's Enforcement Bureau,
Moldenhauer reported that he had surrendered call sign W9CQ after
realizing that he was related to a different Paul Kent and therefore was
not eligible for the call sign prior to the end of the two-year waiting
period.

On January 2, 2008, FARC filed an application requesting to modify its
Amateur Radio station license to W9CQ. The Commission dismissed the
application on the grounds that the call sign was not available, because
it was less than two years since it had been surrendered by Moldenhauer.
On January 23, 2008, FARC filed a petition for reconsideration of the
dismissal, arguing that the call sign should have been made available to
the vanity call sign system on January 2, 2008 because Moldenhauer was
not eligible for the call sign prior to the expiration of the two-year
waiting period. Additionally, FARC requested that call sign W9CQ be
assigned to its station license since it was the only applicant that
requested call sign W9CQ on that date.

On May 23, 2008, QRQ submitted an application to modify its amateur
radio station license to show the call sign W9CQ. The application
submitted to the FCC stated that QRQ was acting with the written consent
of a nephew of Paul Kent. This application was granted on June 10, 2008.

The Commission, in their decision, stated that they agreed with FARC
that call sign W9CQ should have been made available to the vanity call
sign system on January 2, 2008, as Moldenhauer was not eligible for the
intervening grant of the call sign: "As specifically provided in public
notices setting forth the procedures of the vanity call sign system,
'Where a vanity call sign for which the most recent recipient was
ineligible is surrendered, canceled, revoked or voided, the two year
requirement does not apply.'" The FCC also found that since FARC was the
only applicant for that call sign on January 2, 2008, the call sign
should have been assigned to FARC's amateur station.

The FCC did not see how, at this time, they could set aside QRQ's
application for W9CQ, saying that grant is a "final action," but went on
to say that "Section 316(a)(1) of the Communications Act of 1934, as
amended, provides the appropriate vehicle to correct this error." This
section permits the Commission to modify a station license "if the
action will promote the public interest, convenience, and necessity."

The FCC proposed to modify QRQ's Amateur Radio station license "to show
the call sign KC9MWH, which was the call sign assigned to QRQ's amateur
station prior to the grant of its application. The proposed modification
would serve the public interest by ensuring that the procedures of the
vanity call sign system are followed." The FCC stated that upon the
modification of QRQ's license, they would then be able to assign call
sign W9CQ to FARC "pursuant to its application."

The FCC ordered that the petition filed by FARC is granted "to the
extent indicated" in the Order and their application is returned to
pending status. It was further ordered that "it is proposed that the
license of QRQ be modified" by returning the previous call sign of
KC9MWH.

In its decision, the Commission said that in accordance with Section
97.27(b) of the Commission's Rules, they will not issue a modification
order until QRQ has received notice of the proposed action "and has had
an opportunity to file a protest. To protest the modification, QRQ must,
within thirty days of the release date of this 'Order on Reconsideration
and Order Proposing Modification,' submit a written statement with
sufficient evidence to show that the modification would not be in the
public interest. The protest must be filed with the Office of the
Secretary, Federal Communications Commission." The FCC further stated
that if no protest is filed, "QRQ will have waived its right to protest
the modification and will be deemed to have consented to the
modification."

== ARRL TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

For the seventh year running, the US Office of Personnel Management has
designated the ARRL to participate in the 2008 Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC) http://www.opm.gov/cfc/. In the past, this campaign for federal
government civilian employees, US Postal Service workers and members of
the military has generated more than $120,000 for ARRL programs; in 2008
alone, ARRL has received $37,475 in pledges from CFC participants and
direct contributions of $21,316.

The CFC provides an easy way to support ARRL's effort to represent its
members and all radio amateurs. Similar to the United Way, the CFC
encourages individuals to pledge by payroll deduction to non-profit
organizations of their choice. The ARRL encourages eligible radio
amateurs to consider the League when designating campaign recipients.
Payroll deduction through the CFC is an easy way for participants to
support ARRL over and above their annual membership. Such contributions
support programs that are not funded by member dues, enriching ARRL's
ability to serve its members and all of Amateur Radio.

Those wishing to select the ARRL to receive all or part of their payroll
deductions should designate organization 10099 when completing their CFC
donor forms. Donations to ARRL can be designated for Diamond Club
contributions, the ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund or the ARRL Education &
Technology Program. Donors may also make unrestricted contributions to
the League.

One important note: Since the CFC does not provide the ARRL with the
names of individual donors, the ARRL Development Office
would appreciate a copy of the donor form to ensure that each
contribution is applied according to the donor's wishes and the
contribution or pledge can be properly acknowledged. The 2008 CFC ends
December 15.

== WALT IRELAND, WB7CSL, RETIRES FROM ARRL

Technical Relations Specialist Walt Ireland, WB7CSL, part of the ARRL's
Technical Relations Office (TRO) in Washington, DC, retired from the
League this past summer. Ireland came to ARRL in April 1997 from the
Voice of America (VOA) where he was responsible for building HF radio
broadcasting stations. While at the TRO, he participated in the
preparation cycles for three World Radiocommunication Conferences (WRC)
- 2000, 2003 and 2007 -- and served as vice chair of the FCC Informal
Working Groups that dealt with US proposals for HF broadcasting and
amateur requirements.

At the request of the FCC and with the approval of then-ARRL Chief
Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, Ireland accepted the Chairmanship
of US Working Party-6E (which dealt with HF broadcasting) in 1997; he
held this position until WRC-07 after which all US Working Party chairs
were assigned to government employees. As Chairman of US Working
Party-6E, he headed all of the US delegations to meetings at the
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in Geneva, Switzerland.
While there, Ireland often chaired ITU-R Drafting Groups.

Ireland was selected to be Vice Chair of Informal Working Groups of the
FCC's WRC Advisory Committees (WAC) in preparation for WRCs-03 and 07.
He was also selected by the US Department of State to attend WRC-07 as a
Technical Advisor.

Several of the major ITU-R issues Ireland participated in were the
protection of 7 MHz from HF broadcasters, protection of the 70 cm band
from European and NASA Synthetic Aperture Radars, Broadband over Power
Lines (BPL) and Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) transmissions.

Ireland served as the chief instructor for ARRL Amateur Radio
Administration Course for Regulators (ARAC), sponsored by the United
States Telecommunications Training Institute (USTTI) for the past
several years. He now resides in Nevada.

== IARU AWARD CERTIFICATES GET NEW LOOK

On September 19, the ARRL Awards Branch unveiled a new design for two
IARU award certificates: the Worked All Continents Award (WAC) and the 5
Band Worked All Continents Award (5BWAC)
http://www.arrl.org/awards/wac/. WAC is awarded to amateurs who have
confirmed contacts on any band with Africa, Asia, Europe, South America,
North America and Oceania, while 5BWAC recognizes hams who have made
confirmed contacts with those continents on 10, 15, 20, 40 and 80
meters.

The WAC/5BWAC rules state that all contacts must be made from the same
country or separate territory within the same continental area of the
world. Contacts made on 10/18/24 MHz or via satellites are void for the
5-band certificate and 6-band endorsement. All contacts for the QRP
endorsement must be made on or after January 1, 1985 while running a
maximum power of 5 W output or 10 W input. US amateurs must be ARRL
members to receive these awards; foreign amateurs must be members of
their IARU Member-Society and should apply through their Member-Society.

According to ARRL DXCC Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, the WAC award --
originally announced in the April 1926 issue of QST -- continues to be a
popular award around the world with more than 6000 participants since
its inception. "Besides the certificate design change, the WAC
certificate will also display the award holder's name alongside their
call sign. We do this already on the 5BWAC certificate."

Moore said there are a couple of ways that hams interested in applying
for WAC or 5BWAC can do so. "They can download the form from the WAC Web
site http://www.iaru.org/wac/wac.pdf and send it via regular mail
(along with QSL cards and payment) to ARRL, or DXCC recipients can send
an e-mail , referring to their DXCC award. We can look
into your account to verify the contacts; just include your payment
information in your message," he said.

WAC is currently not supported in ARRL's Logbook of The World (LoTW),
but Moore said that an upgrade to do so is currently in the planning
stages. Any comments or questions regarding the WAC or 5BWAC program
should be referred to the WAC Desk .

==SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "From the Sun that 'round me roll'd in its autumn tint of gold"
Cook, K7RA, this week reports: This week saw the appearance of another
sunspot -- a new Solar Cycle 24 spot -- larger and lasting a little
longer than last week's Solar Cycle 23 sunspot. It appeared for two
days, September 22 and 23, with sunspot numbers of 18 and 16.
Geomagnetic activity is very quiet; on September 25, the K index was 0
for a good part of the day. This was true for the mid-latitude index,
planetary and the college K index in Alaska. The three corresponding A
indices for the day were 4, 1 and 1, respectively. This is especially
nice for the lower part of the HF spectrum, such as our 160 and 80 meter
bands, and something we don't see during periods of higher sunspot
activity. Geophysical Institute Prague predicts quiet conditions
September 26-29, unsettled September 30, active October 1 and unsettled
conditions on October 2. Sunspot numbers for September 18-24 were 0, 0,
0, 0, 18 16 and 0 with a mean of 4.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 67.2, 67.9,
67.8, 67.9, 69.1, 69.4 and 68.4 with a mean of 68.2. The Estimated
planetary A indices were 9, 5, 3, 2, 4, 3 and 4 with a mean of 4.3, and
the estimated mid-latitude A indices were 5, 3, 1, 1, 2, 2 and 1 with a
mean of 2.1. For more information concerning radio propagation, visit
the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation page
http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. To read this week's
Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation Bulletin
page http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/. This week's "Tad Cookism" brought
to you by Edgar Allen Poe's "Alone"
http://www.doctorhugo.org/synaesthesia/poe.html.

__________________________________

==IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week is the NCCC Sprint on September 26
and the AGCW VHF/UHF Contest on September 27. Look for the CQ Worldwide
DX Contest (RTTY), the Texas QSO Party and the Scandinavian Activity
Contest (SSB) on September 27-28. The UBA ON Contest (CW) is September
28 and the 222 MHz Fall Sprint is September 30 (local time). The RSGB
21/28 MHz Contest is October 1. Next week is the German Telegraphy
Contest on October 3. The YLRL Anniversary Party (CW) is October 3-5.
The EU Autumn Sprint (SSB), the TARA PSK Rumble Contest and the NCCC
Sprint are October 4. The Oceania DX Contest (Phone), the International
HELL-Contest and the California QSO Party are October 4-5. The UBA ON
Contest (6 meters) is October 5, the 432 MHz Fall Sprint is October 8
(local time) and the RSGB 80 Meter Club Sprint (CW) is October 9. All
dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch
page http://www.arrl.org/contests/, the ARRL Contest Update
http://www.arrl.org/contests/update/ and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html for more info. Looking
for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Event
Station Web page http://www.arrl.org/contests/spev.html.

* ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration: Registration remains
open through Sunday October 5, 2008 for these online course sessions
beginning on Friday October 17, 2008: Amateur Radio Emergency
Communications Level 2 (EC-002); Antenna Modeling (EC-004); HF Digital
Communications (EC-005); VHF/UHF -- Life Beyond the Repeater (EC-008),
and Radio Frequency Propagation (EC-011). Each online course has been
developed in segments -- learning units with objectives, informative
text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are interactive, and some
include direct communications with a Mentor/Instructor. Students
register for a particular session that may be 8, 12 or 16 weeks
(depending on the course) and they may access the course at any time of
day during the course period, completing lessons and activities at times
convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors assist students by
answering questions, reviewing assignments and activities, as well as
providing helpful feedback. Interaction with mentors is conducted
through e-mail; there is no appointed time the student must be present
-- allowing complete flexibility for the student to work when and where
it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page
http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html or contact the Continuing
Education Program Coordinator .

* New Section Managers Get Ready to Converge on Newington: The 16th
annual New Section Manager Workshop October 10-12 will give 14 newly
elected or appointed Section Managers a chance not only to visit ARRL
Headquarters for the first time, but also to gain some perspective on
their new leadership positions. During the weekend gathering,
participants will not only meet many HQ staffers, but learn some of the
ins and outs of how to become effective Section leaders and
administrators. According to Steve Ewald, WV1X, Supervisor of the ARRL
Field and Public Service Team, the Section Manager Workshop is an
orientation and training event for new Section Managers who have come on
board within the past year. "The primary purposes of the Workshop
sessions are to share ideas and to provide basic administrative,
management, leadership and motivational training. We also cover the
responsibilities and functions of the Section Manager's position, and
the SMs are able to visit with ARRL Headquarters staff members and learn
more about the many programs that ARRL supports. The Workshop sessions
are presented by several ARRL Headquarter staff members who are experts
in their respective areas," Ewald said.

* DX Engineering Acquires Comtek Systems: On September 24, DX
Engineering http://www.dxengineering.com/ announced it had acquired
North Carolina-based Comtek Systems http://www.comteksystems.com/.
Comtek's manufacturing and customer service operations will move to DX
Engineering's Akron, Ohio facility. "Comtek's products are highly
regarded among Amateur Radio operators," said DX Engineering president
Paul Sergi, NO8D. "The addition of these products to our popular line of
antennas enhances our ability to supply complete, high quality,
directional antenna systems. It's a win-win for DX Engineering and
Comtek Systems customers." James Miller, K4SQR, principal of Comtek
Systems concurred: "DX Engineering will continue the tradition of top
quality products and customer satisfaction that we have provided for
years. DX Engineering and Comtek Systems have complementary product
lines and the synergy created by combining the two companies will bring
many benefits to the Amateur Radio fraternity."

* North American Missions Board Stands Down after Gustav, Ike: On
Wednesday, September 24, the hams with the Southern Baptist Disaster
Relief http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.224451/, a program
sponsored by the North American Missions Board, NA4MB
http://www.namb.net/, stood down after assisting with Hurricanes
Gustav and Ike. The group had been helping providing backup
communications options in areas that were isolated since August 31. NAMB
National Communications Coordinator Terry Jones, W4TL, said that in his
opinion, "The thing that worked best in areas that did not have good
Internet and cell phone coverage were Winlink Airmail on both the
amateur and the MARS side. This medium worked flawlessly and Airmail
messages were transmitted via HF radio when voice communications were
not possible due to extremely poor propagation. EchoLink worked very
well, as did D-STAR. We were able to communicate directly with units in
Texas through the D-STAR Gateway via the KI4SBA repeater in Cumming,
Georgia. Satellite Internet service also worked well for those that have
this technology. What did not work well at all were voice communications
from the affected area to NA4MB due to very poor HF propagation."
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief -- based in Alpharetta Georgia -- is a
partnership ministry of the state Baptist conventions and the North
American Mission Board, Southern Baptist Convention. It has at its
disposal approximately 1500 mobile units, including feeding, chainsaw,
mud-out, command, communication, child care, shower, laundry, water
purification, repair/rebuild and generators.

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

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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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* ARRLWeb http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will
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* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
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Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved