***************
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 27, No. 39
October 3, 2008
***************

IN THIS EDITION:

* + Canadian and American Hams Provide "Textbook Example" of Amateur
Radio's EmComm Role
* + Radio Amateurs Assist with Hurricane Kyle Operations
* + Another World Championship Medal for ARDF Team USA
* + ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference: "Pretty Interesting!"
* + 2009 ARRL Handbook (Eighty-Sixth Edition) Now Available
* + IARU-Endorsed Booklet Promoting Ethics, Operating Issues, Now
Available
* Solar Update
* IN BRIEF:
This Weekend on the Radio
ARRL Continuing Education Course Registration
+ Jim Weit, KI8BV, Wins September QST Cover Plaque Award
+ West Gulf Vice Director Appointed to Texas State Agency
Army Amateur Radio Station in Iraq Seeks American Military
Personnel to Lead Station

+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,

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

== CANADIAN AND AMERICAN HAMS PROVIDE "TEXTBOOK EXAMPLE" OF AMATEUR
RADIO'S EMCOMM ROLE

On Sunday, September 27, the VoIP Hurricane Net http://www.voipwx.net/
formally activated at 5 PM EDT to provide surface reports as Hurricane
Kyle affected portions of extreme Northeastern Maine, New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia, Canada. The activation was in coordination with WX4NHC
http://www.wx4nhc.org/, the Amateur Radio Station at the National
Hurricane Center (NHC), to support their operations for Hurricane Kyle.

"The Canadian Maritimes rarely get hurricanes, but we received some of
our highest quality reports that included measured wind data every 15-20
minutes, as well as damage reports from radio amateurs in the area. They
did a fantastic job," said Director of Operations for the VoIP Hurricane
Net Rob Macedo, KD1CY. "We reached out to many of the IRLP and EchoLink
stations in this area and the response rate from those amateurs
connecting to our Net was extremely high."

Assistant WX4NHC Coordinator Julio Ripoll, WD4R, agreed: "The Canadian
amateurs provided critical surface reports to the National Hurricane
Center that we wouldn't have received otherwise. I was very impressed
with the level and detail of the reports we received." The National
Hurricane Center in Miami works closely together with the Canadian
Hurricane Centre
http://www.atl.ec.gc.ca/weather/hurricane/index_e.html when tropical
events impact this area of the world.

The storm downed trees and wires, prompting power outages over portions
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada. A measured wind gust to near
95 MPH was reported in Lockeport, Nova Scotia by a ham radio operator
with a weather station within a couple hundred feet of the coast of the
Atlantic Ocean.

ARRL Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD,
acted as Net Control for most of the Net's activation; Dura also serves
as Assistant Director of the VoIP Hurricane Net Operations. "I, too, was
extremely impressed with the level of support from the Canadian amateurs
in providing situational awareness and disaster intelligence for
Hurricane Kyle," he said. "The work these hams performed was a textbook
example of the role Amateur Radio plays in events like this. Many
lessons were re-learned tonight, lessons that need to be re-taught in
areas impacted by tropical events."

On Saturday, prior to Kyle's arrival in the Canadian Maritimes, Dura
began providing information to the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC)
http://www.rac.ca through their ARES e-mail reflector. Sunday's
information sharing was escalated with direct contact with RAC Vice
President for Field Services Bob Cooke, VE3BDB. "This event provides an
opportunity for cross border support, as it's certainly not every day
that a tropical event is aimed at a Canadian Province without first
hitting the States," Dura said. Cooke echoed this in his message to the
RAC Section Emergency Coordinators, District Emergency Coordinators and
local Emergency Coordinators, urging "every Radio Amateur to participate
to the best of his or her ability."

Elsewhere in the tropics, Sub-Tropical Storm Laura has formed in the
open Atlantic, but is currently only a threat to marine or shipping
interests. Laura may briefly reach hurricane strength before weakening
over the colder waters of the Northern Atlantic.

== RADIO AMATEURS ASSIST WITH HURRICANE KYLE OPERATIONS

As Hurricane Kyle brushed its way across the Eastern New England region
on its way to the Canadian Maritimes, hams in the area were prepared for
impact. Heavy rain associated with a stalled out boundary, as well as
some influence from Kyle, caused heavy rainfall and flooding in the
region.

"We were lucky to have a 12-18 hour lull in rainfall between the rain on
Friday and what came on Saturday," said Director of Operations for the
VoIP Hurricane Net and SKYWARN http://www.skywarn.org/ Coordinator Rob
Macedo, KD1CY. "We were also lucky that most of the direct influence
from Kyle remained offshore, or this situation would've been much
worse." Over the 3 day period, 3 to 6 inches of rain fell over much of
Eastern New England, Connecticut and parts of Central Massachusetts and
Eastern New Hampshire. Some areas, Macedo said, received more than 8
inches, resulting in pockets of flooding with a few brooks going out of
their banks.

The Amateur Radio station at the National Weather Service in Taunton,
Massachusetts, WX1BOX, coordinated SKYWARN operations Friday afternoon
through Sunday. According to Macedo, this station covers much of
Southern New England. Farther north, the National Weather Service's
office in Gray, Maine's station, WX1GYX, coordinated SKYWARN efforts in
that area. Macedo said that amateurs at theses stations mostly received
reports of rainfall amounts and flooding.

The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) http://www.hwn.org/ also provided
reports to the National Hurricane Center (NHC)
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/. HWN Net Manager Dave Lefavour, W7GOX, said,
"Propagation was tough. We think most hams in Kyle's path were making
preparations for this rare Canadian hurricane, but we were able to pick
up and relay some actual ground observations to the National Hurricane
Center. The NHC is always looking for first-hand ground observations of
weather conditions to help them understand what the storm is doing below
radar and satellite visibility." The HWN relays information obtained on
14.325 MHz to hams at the National Hurricane Center operating WX4NHC.

District Emergency Coordinator for Maine District 3 Phil Roberts, K1PAR,
activated ARES Nets in his region -- Knox, Waldo, Hancock and Washington
Counties -- on Saturday night. All ARES members in the affected counties
were on standby. In Southwestern Maine, all ARES members were also on
standby for possible activation by their respective served agencies.

Maine Section Emergency Coordinator, Bryce Rumery, K1GAX, provided
reports all day Sunday to ARRL Headquarters. On Sunday evening, Rumery
advised all District Emergency Coordinators and local Emergency
Coordinators to "stand down their ARES members no later than 0500 Monday
morning or earlier if possible at the discretion of the DEC or EC."

According to e-mail reports, New Hampshire hams were also on alert
throughout the day, Macedo said.

== ANOTHER WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MEDAL FOR ARDF TEAM USA

Ten years ago, only a few hams in North America knew that on-foot hidden
transmitter hunting is an international sport with many names such as
foxtailing, foxhunting, radio-orienteering and Amateur Radio Direction
Finding (ARDF) http://www.homingin.com/index.html. Few were aware that
Eastern European countries had begun playing with ARDF decades ago; the
first World Championships were in 1980. In 1988, stateside ARDF active
hams in Portland, Oregon and Southern California were learning the ARDF
ropes by holding on-foot foxhunting events using international rules.

In the past 10 years, more hams in more places have discovered that this
form of radiosport is great exercise for the body and the brain.
According to ARRL ARDF Coordinator Joe Moell, K0OV, as the USA catches
up with the rest of the world, the US's ARDF "big guns" continue to
improve.

Earlier this month, the Korean Amateur Radio League
http://www.karl.or.kr/ hosted the ARDF World Championships
http://www.2008ardf.org/, and for the sixth time, Team USA made the
trip. Members of the American team ranged in age from 23 to 66,
representing seven states. Team members earned their positions at the
2007 USA Championships near South Lake Tahoe, California as well as the
2008 USA Championships near Bastrop, Texas.

"Overall, this was Team USA's best performance ever," Moell said. "We
had four Top 10 finishes in the two days of fox-finding competition,
first with 2 meter AM signals, and then with 80 meter CW signals. ARRL's
team faced more than 300 of the planet's best foxtailers that
represented 24 other national Amateur Radio societies. "

George Neal, KF6YKN, of Maspeth, New York, led Team USA, capturing a
bronze medal in the category for men between ages 50 and 59 in the 2
meter foxhunt. He found all four required transmitters and got to the
finish line in 1:23:42, less than six minutes behind gold medalist Igor
Kekin of Russia. The other Top 10 finishers -- all in the 80 meter event
-- were Vadim Afonkin of Boston, who was 5th in M40 category; Bob Cooley
KF6VSE, of Pleasanton, California, who was 7th in M60, and Nadia
Scharlau of Cary, North Carolina, who was 9th in W35.

"This was an excellent World Championships," Neal said. "The courses
were very hard, almost brutal!" Radio-orienteers are used to running
among trees in forested land, using an orienteering map as a guide, but
this year's 2 meter event on September 4 was quite different. According
to Jay Hennigan, WB6RDV, of Goleta, California, the terrain of the 2400
acre site was unlike any he had ever experienced.

"The course was long and narrow, about three times as long as it was
wide," Hennigan explained. "The start was in the north and the finish
was in the south. On the map, it was about three-fifths woods, but that
was all marked dark green, which meant you couldn't get through it
unless you could find a pathway. Fortunately, there were a few trails in
there to make it doable. The rest was marked yellow, which turned out to
be cultivated fields and drained rice paddies. There were roads on
either side, so it became a matter of running down the road until you
thought you were perpendicular to a transmitter, slogging to it through
the mud, punching in and then running to one of the side roads,
depending on where the next fox appeared to be. It wasn't just rice,
there were other crops including some kind of cabbage. We couldn't avoid
trampling the plants, but the farmers weren't yelling or coming after
us."

The 80 meter event on September 6 was mostly in more familiar forested
terrain. It was a bigger site and a 10 percent longer course.
Competitors said that they felt like mountain goats because it seemed as
if each fox was on top of a different hill.

Excellent radio-orienteers abound in Europe and Asia. Fourteen of the 25
nations at this year's World Championships took home one or more medals,
but only five countries brought home gold. Three of them -- Russia,
Ukraine and the Czech Republic -- dominated the medal count, capturing
71 percent of all medals and 92 percent of the golds. In these
countries, ARDF is an important Amateur Radio activity in nearly every
city and town. With so many hams doing radio-orienteering, these
countries can fill complete team rosters with the maximum allowable
three persons in each age category for males and females.

Having a large team does not provide a cooperative advantage. Each
competitor must work independently on championship courses. Any
collusion or collaboration among team members is strictly forbidden;
team scores are based only on the sum of individual performances.

Long-time map-and-compass orienteer Bob Cooley, KF6VSE, of Pleasanton,
California, explained, that "It is important to make a lot of mistakes
while practicing and to learn from them so that you don't make them in
the future. I got the opportunity to get fooled in a variety of ways."

For more information on ARDF, including international rules, suggestions
for equipment and ideas for local events, go to Moell's Web site
http://www.homingin.com/index.html. "I welcome your local event
stories and photos for future ARDF Updates," he said.

== ARRL/TAPR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE: "PRETTY INTERESTING!"

Almost 150 aficionados of digital communications came to Chicago for the
27th annual ARRL/TAPR Digital Communications Conference (DCC) the
weekend of September 26-28 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 had the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about recent
hardware and software advances, theories, experimental results, and
practical applications. Not only was the conference technically
stimulating, it was a weekend of fun for all who have more than a casual
interest in any aspect of amateur digital electronics and
communications; introductory sessions were scheduled throughout the
conference to introduce new technical topics for both beginners and
experts.

One of the attendees was QEX Editor Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, representing
the ARRL http://www.arrl.org/qex. He gave a talk "Writing for
Publication - It's Not Rocket Science (Even if You Are Writing About
Rocket Science!)." Retired ARRL Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo,
W4RI, also represented the League, speaking on "SDR Outlook." Central
Division Vice Director Howard Huntington, K9KM, was present, as was ARRL
Contributing Editor H. Ward Silver, N0AX.

Wolfgang, who gave his presentation on Friday morning, spoke with many
participants throughout the conference who told him that they were
enthused about writing something for QEX. "It also seemed like almost
everyone there was making a point to stop me in the hallways or at
mealtimes to tell me how much they are enjoying QEX, and to thank me for
the effort I putting into the magazine," he said.

Friday was a full day of technical presentations, including "A Protocol
for Multicast Weather Data Distribution over AX25," by Nick Luther,
K9NL; "SuitSat-2 Update," by Steve Bible, N7HPR; "EcomScs and GateWayScs
AX25 Packet Radio E-Mail," by John Blowsky, KB2SCS, and "Frequency and
Other New Initiatives in APRS," by Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. The last
presentation of the afternoon was "D-STAR Uncovered," by Peter Loveall,
AE5PL.

The DCC provided a separate demonstration room for participants to show
off their latest projects. Wolfgang said he had some "play time" in this
room after all the presentations on Friday. After dinner that evening,
he said there was "a string of D-STAR presentations starting at 7 PM and
lasting until after 10 PM. These were all very interesting
presentations, including the D-RATS messaging software by Dan Smith,
KK7DS. Peter Loveall, AE5PL, presented 'D-PRS Update' about ways the
D-STAR data links can be used to send and plot APRS position maps or
interface to the APRS system. Robin Cutshaw, AA4RC, gave a presentation
about DV-Dongle, a PC add-on that allows connection to D-STAR repeaters
around the world through an Internet connection. Pretty interesting!"

In addition to the main technical presentations on Saturday, there was
also a full day of introductory sessions, mostly about digital voice and
D-STAR.

Also on Saturday, Matt Etttus, N2MJI, gave a report on the Ettus
Research USRP2. Tom Clark, K3IO, gave an "AMSAT Update." Paul
Wiedemeier, KE5LKY, presented his paper on "Using UDPcast to IP
Multicast Data over Packet Radio." Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, gave his "SDR
Outlook" that covered the international regulatory front and presented
some of the concerns that some world governments have with regard to the
flexibility of SDR. Scott Cowling, WA2DFI, gave an "HPSDR (High
Performance Software Defined Radio) Update" during which he described
the various circuit boards that make up the HPSDR project. He also
demonstrated a complete working radio in the demo room. Jerry Shirar,
N9XR, presented a paper called "Clocking the Data," concerning the use
of an inverter and a crystal to form a Colpitts oscillator.

Victor Poor, W5SMM, gave an update on Winlink 2000. "He reported that
the network presently consists of one Web site, five Common Message
Server sites around the world, 150 Radio Message Service Pactor Gateway
sites, 800 RMS Packet Gateway sites and over 13,000 registered users,"
Wolfgang said. "He also mentioned that inactive users are purged from
the system from time to time."

Rick Muething, KN6KB, described his "WINMOR Soundcard ARQ Mode for
Winlink HF Digital Messaging." Wolfgang said that this was a much
anticipated presentation: "Rick reported that WINMOR is 3 to 4 months
from beta testing. His preliminary comparisons to Pactor 1, 2 and 3 are
based on simulator tests. He indicates that WINMOR will have better
throughput than Pactor 1 and comparable to, or perhaps a bit better than
Pactor 2, but not quite as good as Pactor 3. He indicated that the
efficiency is within about 70 percent of Pactor ARQ."

The TAPR Annual Meeting was held after all the presentations on
Saturday. During the meeting, the Board of Directors discussed the idea
of coming back to the same hotel for next year's DCC. "The local group
that supported DCC this year, including Mark Thompson, KA9MDJ, and
Kermit Carlson, W9XA, did a great job of providing AV support," Wolfgang
said. "Ron Steinberg, K9IKZ, who owns a local audio/visual company,
provided two large projection screens and projectors, so every
presentation was shown on both sides of the room, as well as on a
widescreen TV outside the room. The audio was very easy to hear, even if
you were in the hall outside the room or in the demonstration room; the
set-up was left there from the W9DXCC Convention the previous weekend.
They offered to provide the same support for next year, if the DCC
returned. So, the decision was made to break with tradition, and return
to Chicago next year, September 25-27."

Phil Harman, VK6APH, presented the Sunday morning seminar, "Software
Defined Radio through the Looking Glass." Wolfgang said he found
Harman's presentation to be understandable "at my level of knowledge,
and he gave a lot of good insight into many of the design decisions that
went into the High Performance Software Defined Radio Project. I found
his descriptions of how the hardware and software work to be very
interesting. The four hours went by quickly."

For more information on the 2008 Digital Communications Conference,
please visit TAPR's DCC Web page http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html.

== 2009 ARRL HANDBOOK (EIGHTY-SIXTH EDITION) NOW AVAILABLE

"The 2009 ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications" uniquely serves both
amateur experimenters and industry practitioners, emphasizing
connections between basic theory and application. "The ARRL Handbook" is
simply the standard in applied electronics and communications. This 86th
edition is both a useful introduction to radio communication and
features the most current material on electronics and Amateur Radio.

Topics in the 2009 edition include:
* Principles of Electronics -- including basic theory, components,
analog and digital circuit construction.
* Radio Communications Fundamentals and Design -- including modes and
systems, filters, EMI, digital signal processing and software radio
design, and RF power amplifiers.
* Real-World Applications and Operating -- including practical projects,
station setup, antennas, transmission lines, and methods for testing and
troubleshooting.
* References -- filled with hundreds of detailed tables, illustrations
and photos.
* And much more!

The "Handbook" is filled with valuable references, practical examples
and projects. The CD-ROM at the back of the book includes all of the
fully searchable text and illustrations in the printed book, as well as
companion software, PC board templates and other support files.

Revisions to the 2009 "Handbook" include updated material on amateur
satellites, including details for today's fleet of operational
satellites, as well as updated versions of accessory software on the
CD-ROM included with the book.

New projects in the 86th edition include:
* RockMite QRP CW transceiver -- now expanded to cover 80, 40, 30 or 20
meters.
* Audio Interface for Field Day or Contesting -- audio and mic
connections for two operators sharing a radio.
* Remote Power Controller -- turn high current devices off and on.
* Audible Antenna Bridge -- tune for the lowest SWR by ear.

The softcover edition of the "Handbook" sells for $44.95; the hardcover
sells for $59.95 http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=no-hb2009. Both
editions are available now.

== IARU-ENDORSED BOOKLET PROMOTING ETHICS, OPERATING ISSUES, NOW
AVAILABLE

A 67-page booklet, "Ethics and Operating Procedures for the Radio
Amateur" by John Devoldere, ON4UN, and Mark Demeuleneere, ON4WW, is
available for free download from the ARRL Web site
http://www.arrl.org/awards/dxcc/Eth-operating-ENarrl-SITE-1jul2008.pdf
.. This is an "Americanized" version of the booklet the authors wrote for
an international audience. An international version is also available
http://www.iaru.org/Eth-operating-EN-iaru-SITE-1july2008.pdf.

At its June 2008 meeting, the IARU Administrative Council endorsed and
recommended the principles set out in the booklet as a means of
encouraging all radio amateurs "to operate to the highest levels of
proficiency, with proper consideration for others using the amateur
radio bands" and as a tool "to teach newcomers and others correct
operating behavior." The booklet mainly addresses HF operating issues,
but the principles are also applicable to VHF and higher bands.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer and IARU Secretary David Sumner, K1ZZ,
expressed appreciation for Devoldere's and Demeuleneere's efforts: "The
authors are well known, experienced HF operators who are concerned about
on-the-air operating standards and who decided that 'It's better to
light a candle than curse the darkness.' Anyone who reads their booklet
will learn something, no matter how experienced they may be."


==SOLAR UPDATE

Tad "When all the birds are faint with the hot Sun" Cook, K7RA, this
week reports: The sunspot appearance reported last week seems to follow
the pattern emerging for most of 2008. A spot will appear for one or two
days and then suddenly it is gone. Last week's report mentioned the
solar wind being at an all time low. This week, NASA announced that so
far, 2008 is the "blankest year of the space age," with more than 200
spotless days
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2008/30sep_blankyear.htm. The
minimum following Solar Cycle 18 in 1954 had 241 days without sunspots,
and it preceded the solar max in 1959 for Solar Cycle 19 that had the
highest sunspot numbers on record. Sunspot numbers for September
25-October 1 were 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 and 0 with a mean of 0. The 10.7 cm
flux was 68.2, 67.7, 67.3, 67, 66.8, 66.2 and 65.8 with a mean of 67.
The estimated planetary A indices were 4, 4, 2, 3, 2, 4 and 6 with a
mean of 3.6. The estimated mid-latitude A indices were 1, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3
and 7 with a mean of 2.6. For more information concerning radio
propagation, visit the ARRL Technical Information Service Propagation
page http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html. To read this
week's Solar Report in its entirety, check out the W1AW Propagation
Bulletin page http://www.arrl.org/w1aw/prop/. This week's "Tad
Cookism" brought to you by John Keats' "On the Grasshopper and the
Cricket" http://www.sonnets.org/keats.htm#150.

__________________________________

==IN BRIEF:

* This Week on the Radio: This week is 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. Next week, the 10-10 International 10-10 Day Sprint and the NCCC
Sprint are October 10. The YLRL Anniversary Party (SSB) is October
10-12. On October 11, be on the lookout for the FISTS Fall Sprint and
the EU Autumn Sprint (CW). The Makrothen RTTY Contest, the Oceania DX
Contest (CW) and the Pennsylvania QSO Party are October 11-12. The North
American Sprint (RTTY), the SKCC Weekend Sprintathon and the UBA ON
Contest (SSB) are October 12. The NAQCC Straight Key/Bug Sprint is
October 15. 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 remains open through
Sunday, October 26, 2008, for these online course sessions beginning on
Friday, November 7, 2008: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1
(EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and
Construction (EC-009), Technician License Course (EC-010); Analog
Electronics (EC-012), and Digital Electronics (EC-013). Each online
course has been developed in segments -- learning units with objectives,
informative text, student activities and quizzes. Courses are
interactive, and some include direct communications with a
Mentor/Instructor. Students register for a particular session that may
be 8, 12 or 16 weeks (depending on the course) and they may access the
course at any time of day during the course period, completing lessons
and activities at times convenient for their personal schedule. Mentors
assist students by answering questions, reviewing assignments and
activities, as well as providing helpful feedback. Interaction with
mentors is conducted through e-mail; there is no appointed time the
student must be present -- allowing complete flexibility for the student
to work when and where it is convenient. To learn more, visit the CCE
Course Listing page http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html or contact
the Continuing Education Program Coordinator .

* Jim Weit, KI8BV, Wins September QST Cover Plaque Award: The winner of
the QST Cover Plaque Award for September is Jim Weit, KI8BV, for his
article "An All Band HF Dipole Antenna." Congratulations, Jim! 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 October issue by Friday, October 31.

* West Gulf Vice Director Appointed to Texas State Agency: Texas
Governor Rick Perry has appointed ARRL West Gulf Vice Director Dr David
Woolweaver, K5RAV, to the Council of the Department of State Health
Services (DSHS), formally known as the Texas Department of Health. The
nine member council makes recommendations regarding management,
operation, policies and rules for public health, mental health and
substance abuse.

* Army Amateur Radio Station in Iraq Seeks American Military Personnel
to Lead Station: Army Captain Jeff Hammer,YI9IC/N9NIC, the custodian of
the Baghdad Amateur Radio Society (BARS)
http://www.usaars.com/bars.htm, is due to come home after a nine month
tour of duty with the Indiana National Guard. "I need someone I can turn
the BARS station over to," he said. "Please assist me in finding other
Amateur Radio operators in or coming to Iraq." The Baghdad station
boasts the following equipment: an ICOM IC-7000 transceiver, an LDG
Z-100 autotuner, a Kantronics KAM XL wireless modem, a RIGblaster Pro,
an MFJ 25 A power supply, plus a Cushcraft MA5B 3-element beam and a
Trans World TW2010 vertical dipole. The club library is valued at $400.
All items in the station have been donated by various Amateur Radio
vendors. Hammer, a military intelligence officer who previously served
in Afghanistan, took over the club leadership last spring from Army
Major Scott Hedberg, AD7MI, when Hedberg returned to the US. Since his
arrival in April 2008, Hammer has mentored half a dozen service members
for their licenses and led the station's first ARRL Field Day operation.
"We enjoy learning about radio and talking with unique people in unique
places," he said. "We've been excited to talk to many stations back in
the U.S." Hammer said it can get busy, too, handling MARSgrams between
soldiers and their families during holidays. BARS members operate under
the Army call sign AEN5NAA relaying soldier messages through MARS
WinLink stations in Kuwait or Germany
http://www.netcom.army.mil/mars/marsgrams.aspx. Keeping the club
active is a challenge in the face of constant troop rotation, Hammer
said. "Operating Amateur Radio in camp is fairly easy, as long as you
ask your commander and don't cause interference," he said. "If you know
of any hams deploying to Iraq, contact me as soon as possible to
coordinate the transfer of equipment and discuss licensing procedures."
Hammer can be reached via e-mail .

================================================== =========
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
from ARRL HQ. To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your address for
e-mail delivery:
ARRL members first must register on the Members Only Web Site
http://www.arrl.org/members/. You'll have an opportunity during
registration to sign up for e-mail delivery of The ARRL Letter, W1AW
bulletins, and other material. To change these selections--including
delivery of The ARRL Letter--registered members should click on the
"Member Data Page" link (in the Members Only box). Click on "Modify
membership data," check or uncheck the appropriate boxes and/or change
your e-mail address if necessary. (Check "Temporarily disable all
automatically sent email" to temporarily stop all e-mail deliveries.)
Then, click on "Submit modification" to make selections effective.
(NOTE: HQ staff members cannot change your e-mail delivery address. You
must do this yourself via the Members Only Web Site.)

The ARRL Letter also is available to all, free of charge, from these
sources:

* ARRLWeb http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/. (NOTE: The ARRL Letter will
be posted each Friday when it is distributed via e-mail.)

* The QTH.net listserver, thanks to volunteers from the Boston Amateur
Radio Club: Visit Mailing
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/letter-list. (NOTE: The ARRL
cannot assist subscribers who receive The ARRL Letter via this
listserver.)

Copyright 2008 American Radio Relay League, Inc.
All Rights Reserved