
The ARRL Letter
Vol. 17, No. 7
February 13, 1998
__________________________________
=>Address Changes: Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org
=>Editorial: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org
=>ARRL Audio News is available at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/
    or by telephone at 860-594-0384.
__________________________________

IN THIS EDITION:
* +US to participate in CEPT guest license arrangement
* +Hams doing flood duty on West Coast
* +Mir in ham radio lull
* +Cushcraft continues in ham market
* +WWII hams, SWLs sought
*  West Coast ice storm earns good PR for hams
*  1998 AMSAT annual meeting/symposium set
*  Canadian Brownies and Girl Guides on the air
*  Solar Update
* +BJ Arts, WT0N, SK
*  IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio;
   KA1T steps down as New England Vice
   Director; Vanity update; 50 years for W6OWP
   practice sessions; AMSAT International Net
   to air from Phase 3D Lab; East Coast AMSAT
   NCS change; BSRG, ATV, APRS, and Balloon
   Web sites change

+Available on ARRL Audio News
__________________________________

US TO PARTICIPATE IN CEPT GUEST LICENSE ARRANGEMENT

US amateurs soon will not need to apply for reciprocal licenses in order to 
operate during short visits to most European countries. While an official 
announcement still may be a few weeks away, it's been learned the US request 
to participate in the European guest license arrangement has been approved. 
Similarly, most European hams visiting the US no longer will have to submit 
FCC Form 610A.

Last September, the US State Department applied for US participation in the 
European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations (CEPT) 
Amateur Radio licensing system. A holders of a CEPT license can operate in 
CEPT-participating countries without having to apply for a reciprocal 
license.

Approval of the US request came in late January at a meeting of the CEPT 
Radio Regulatory Working Group (WGRR), in Groningen, The Netherlands. The 
European Radiocommunications Office (ERO) has been instructed to officially 
notify the FCC of the decision approving US participation.

The State Department's action came at the urging of the ARRL that the US 
take advantage of the CEPT Recommendation T/R 61-01 arrangements and issue a 
license that would be recognized by CEPT-participating administrations and 
would be valid for brief visits.

Also last fall, the FCC proposed amending the Amateur Radio rules to make it 
easier for hams holding a CEPT license or an International Amateur Radio 
Permit (IARP) to operate during short visits to the US.

Under the soon-to-be-implemented arrangement, a US Technician license would 
be recognized as a CEPT Class 2 (VHF-only) license, with full privileges 
above 30 MHz. Holders of Tech Plus through Extra tickets would be given a 
CEPT Class 1 license, with full privileges on HF and VHF. Novice licensees 
would not be eligible for a CEPT equivalent license since most CEPT 
countries don't offer a license of this type.

Once the ERO formally advises the FCC of the decision, the FCC must complete 
the steps to implement the participation before CEPT licensing can become 
effective.

"We've been urging the Commission to do this since 1991," said ARRL 
Executive Vice President David Sumner, K1ZZ. "Now that CEPT has given the 
green light, we hope the FCC will step on the gas."

HAMS HELP IN WEST COAST FLOODING

Amateur Radio has been very active in the San Francisco area, assisting 
emergency officials in coping with the disastrous effects of heavy rains in 
recent days. ARRL San Francisco Section Manager John Wallack, W6TLK, reports 
that floods and mudslides have closed many roads and isolated smaller 
communities, especially along the coast.

"With more rain forecast for this week, flooding along the Russian River 
here in Sonoma County may enter a second week," Wallack says. In six canyons 
along the river, 400 homes are at risk of sliding down muddy slopes.

Hams have been stationed in the affected areas at shelters and EOCs since 
the disaster started on February 3. In Mendocino, Lake, Humboldt and Marin 
counties hams have also been active in supporting emergency activities. 
Wallack says he worked at the Sonoma County EOC February 6 and 7. "I had a 
chance to see the excellent response by the emergency ham radio teams in 
assisting emergency officials in responding to the serious needs of our 
community," he said. "Amateur Radio has again proved to be a valuable 
resource."

ALL'S QUIET ON THE MIR FRONT

Things are quiet aboard Mir, now that US astronaut Andy Thomas, 
KD5CHF/VK5MIR, is settling in with his new Russian crewmates, Talgat 
Musabayev, RO3FT, and Nikolai Budarin, RV3FB (ex-RV3DB/R4MIR), and French 
researcher Leopold Eyharts. Maybe too quiet, as ham radio activity from Mir 
has hit a lull. But it's also pretty crowded aboard the Russian space 
outpost, as cosmonauts Anatoly Solovyov and Pavel Vinogradov remain aboard. 
They and Eyharts will return to Earth in about a week.

So far, Thomas has not been active on ham radio. MIREX reports the Mir crew 
"has just been too busy with other higher priority projects" to make needed 
parameter adjustments to the packet TNC, although the information now is in 
the hands of the crew. As it now stands, the TNC "thinks" the channel is 
busy. Some stations have had success "broadcasting" messages via R0MIR using 
the "UNPROTO" mode, but uploading messages to the mailbox is not possible 
right now. The SAFEX II repeater aboard Mir has temporarily been turned off. 


Miles Mann, WF1F, of MIREX, says it's possible that the crew still might 
turn on the ham gear to make some random contacts, however.

For more information, see the MIREX Web site at 
http://www.geocities.com/~ik1sld/mirex.htm.

CUSHCRAFT CONTINUES IN HAM MARKET; HIRES NEW VEEP

Cushcraft says reports of its demise in the ham radio market have been 
greatly exaggerated. Cushcraft Production Manager Art Hambleton, K1ART, says 
the New Hampshire antenna manufacturer is still very much a part of the 
Amateur Radio antenna industry. Rumors that Cushcraft was exiting the ham 
market apparently mushroomed when word spread of some layoffs at Cushcraft.

Hambleton confirmed that a couple of people had been let go and that 
Cushcraft had cut back on its advertising in ham radio publications, and he 
attributed the moves to budgetary cutbacks. But he said "1997 was not a bad 
year" for the company. And Cushcraft has just hired another ham in a key 
position.

Hambleton announced this week that Cushcraft has hired Adam Alevy, N1FXT, of 
Amherst, New Hampshire, as its vice president of engineering. Alevy was 
previously with Atlantic Microwave of Bolton, Massachusetts. At Atlantic he 
designed VHF through millimeter wave antennas for communications and 
tracking applications.

As director of engineering at Cushcraft, Hambleton said, Alevy, 34, will 
manage the engineering group and design antennas in both commercial and 
amateur radio markets.

Cushcraft recently announced its X7 and X9 tribanders as part of its "Big 
Thunder" series.

WORLD WAR II HAM RADIO MONITORS SOUGHT

A Delaware man is looking for hams and shortwave listeners who monitored 
enemy radio broadcasts during World War II. Frank Davis, who was captured by 
Germany during WWII, wants to formally recognize those who monitored radio 
broadcasts for information about German prisoners of war. "I'm hoping to get 
them a presidential citation and maybe even a monument," he told the 
Wilmington News Journal last month.

Davis, a retired civil engineer, says he was captured by the Germans near 
the end of the War. An Army Airborne paratrooper, he had been wounded and 
hospitalized near Bastogne, Belgium, and was caught up in the desperate 
German offensive that became known as the Battle of the Bulge in December 
1944. Davis says he and the other captors were used as slave labor.

His family, frantic to find out what had happened to him, was only told that 
Davis was missing in action. But then, mail and even telegrams began to 
arrive at his family's home saying that Frank Davis was a POW, and, despite 
being wounded, was alive and well. Davis says his parents got 38 cards, 
letters and telegrams--all of them from hams or shortwave listeners who had 
monitored German broadcasts and relayed the news they heard about POWs.

After the War, Davis took up an engineering career, got married, and raised 
a family.

It wasn't until two years ago that Davis--who'd earned a Purple Heart and 
the Combat Infantryman's Badge--decided to find the hams who had alerted his 
parents during the War. He wrote letters to all 38 individuals and heard 
back from three, with whom he now corresponds. Now, he'd like to hear from 
others. To contact Frank Davis, write PO Box 6207, Stanton, DE 19804; fax 
302-994-0109.

WEST COAST ICE STORM EFFORT EARNS KUDOS FOR HAMS

The Northeast was not the only region to suffer ice storms this winter. Hams 
in Oregon also were called into action in mid-January when an ice storm 
knocked out power and telephone service, putting much of the Portland area 
into a bind. ARES members were called in to help handle communication tasks 
for local emergency agencies.

Ironically, Kevin Hunt, WA7VTD, John Williams, WB7SJL, and Billy Toman, 
N7WXD, formed the Oregon City Amateur Radio Emergency Service Club just a 
week before the ice storm hit. Williams says the club has nearly 30 members.

The hams' ice storm activities garnered great publicity for the hobby in an 
article in the January 23, 1998, edition of the Oregonian newspaper. The 
article quotes Oregon City Fire Chief Jim Davis as a strong advocate for 
ARES. It also mentions other past emergencies in the Northwest where hams 
were able to provide a helping hand.

1998 AMSAT ANNUAL MEETING AND SPACE SYMPOSIUM

The three-day 1998 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium will kick off 
October 16 in Vicksburg, Mississippi (at the Park Inn International). The 
Vicksburg Amateur Radio Club is this year's host.

The deadline to make room reservations is September 14, 1998. The Park Inn 
also will provide shuttle transportation service between Jackson 
International Airport and Vicksburg. Conference registration information 
will be ready for distribution in July. A call for papers will go out next 
month.

Room rates for the conference will be $52 single and $62 double with a 
complimentary breakfast buffet and evening cocktails. For room reservations, 
call the Park Inn toll-free at 800-359-9363 or 601-638-5811.

Additional information about the 16th Space Symposium and Annual AMSAT 
Meeting-- including airline access to Vicksburg--is available at 
http://pages.prodigy.com/DXHF93A.--AMSAT News Service/Eddie Pettis, N5JGK

CANADIAN BROWNIES AND GIRL GUIDES TO TAKE TO AIRWAVES

Be listening for some young, female voices from North of the Border during 
the weekend of February 21 and 22. Lloyd Blazs, VE7LWB, in British Columbia, 
Canada, reports that the 32nd North Shore troop of the Brownies and possibly 
some Girl Guides--girls between the ages of 7 and 13--will visit his QTH for 
their first time on Amateur Radio. February 21 and 22 is the weekend of the 
Canadian Guides of the Air (GOTA) event (see February 1995 QST, page 95). 
"This is this first time the Brownies and Girl Guides locally have ever 
tried Amateur Radio, to the best of my knowledge," he said. "So I am looking 
for as many hams as possible that may wish to take part."

Blazs says the youngsters will be on the air from morning until evening. 
They will use the call sign VE7QRO, primarily on 80 and 40 meters, but with 
additional bands available. "I am looking for as many stations as possible 
to for the girls to QSO," he said.

Blazs asks hams interested in taking part--and especially those with 
youngsters between 7 and 16--to get on the air with their kids if possible. 
"I am looking to make this into a DX pileup," he said. Interested hams 
should e-mail VE7LWP at novatech@mail.direct.ca, and tell him which bands, 
days, and times work best for you.--Lloyd Blazs, VE7LWB

SOLAR UPDATE

Solar scribe Tad Cook, K7VVV, Seattle, Washington, reports: Solar activity 
continued very low last week, with the solar flux below the 90-day average 
of 96 on every day. Average solar flux for the week was down about six 
points from the previous week's average. Geomagnetic conditions were mostly 
quiet until February 11 and 12, when the planetary K index went as high as 
four and the high-latitude K index went to six. This was probably due to a 
small coronal hole in the southwest quadrant of the solar disk.

The recent 27-day projection by the NOAA Space Environment Center forecasts 
continued solar flux values in the low to mid-80s, rising to 90 around 
February 22 and 23. But it is now evident that a new active region has 
rotated into view. Solar flux jumped from 86.2 to 90.6 from Wednesday to 
Thursday, and for Friday through Sunday the projected solar flux is around 
94. Given the progress of this young solar cycle compared to previous ones, 
we can only hope that shortly we will see a jump in solar activity.

Cary Oler of Solar Terrestrial Dispatch 
(http://holly.cc.uleth.ca/solar/index.html) predicts a surge in solar 
activity over the next few months, with a vigorous and energetic upswing in 
solar indices corresponding to the beginning of accelerated sunspot growth. 
He thinks we may see solar flux values around 120 in the next two or three 
months.

Conditions should be good for the RTTY contest this weekend. With higher 
solar flux, look for more daylight openings on 15 meters.

Sunspot numbers for February 5 through 11 were 40, 41, 27, 37, 34, 62, and 
63 with a mean of 43.4. The 10.7-cm flux was 85.5, 84.2, 83.1, 83.6, 83.7, 
83.7, and 86.2, with a mean of 84.3. Estimated planetary A indices were 3, 
3, 3, 7, 8, 8, and 13, with a mean of 6.4.

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE EDITOR BJ ARTS, WT0N, SK

AMSAT News Service Bulletin Editor Bernard J. "BJ" Arts, WT0N, of Hibbing, 
Minnesota, died unexpectedly on February 9, 1998. He was 37.

Arts took over the handling of the weekly AMSAT Bulletin a couple of years 
ago, according to AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan, W3XO.

Tynan expressed shock at Arts' untimely passing. "He certainly was a big 
help to AMSAT," he said. "He will be missed by all of his friends around the 
world."

AMSAT-NA Executive Vice President Keith Baker, KB1SF, expressed similar 
sentiments. "This is a real shock for me personally, as I just spoke with BJ 
at about noon on Sunday via AO-27."

According to fellow club member Gregg Mihelich, AA0DX, Arts was hospitalized 
after complaining of flu-like symptoms and died a short time later.

Arts was an active VHFer and satellite op. A broadcaster, he had been 
employed at WDIO-TV in Duluth, Minnesota, and at KSTP-TV in Minneapolis, 
where he'd won an Emmy Award. He also worked as an announcer on WMFG radio 
in Hibbing.

BJ Arts was a life member of the ARRL, a member of AMSAT, and president of 
the Midrange Amateur Radio Club. He also was an Official Observer, Assistant 
Emergency Coordinator in Northern St Louis County, and a Skywarn volunteer. 
He was also active in Army MARS as AAR5EL.

Survivors include his mother an a sister. Services were February 11 at 
Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Hibbing.

It's anticipated that Dan James, NN0DJ, will take over as AMSAT Bulletin 
Editor--at least on an interim basis. James and Arts already had been 
working closely on the weekly bulletins, and James has been listed as 
Assistant Bulletin Manager on recent postings.

__________________________________

IN BRIEF:

* This weekend on the radio: The FISTS Novice Roundup, the PACC Contest, the 
World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, and the YL-OM Contest (SSB) all are set for 
this weekend. See February 1998 QST, page 94, for details.

* KA1T steps down as New England Vice Director: Don Haney, KA1T, of Harvard, 
Massachusetts, has resigned as ARRL New England Division Vice Director, 
effective February 15. Haney is moving to Wausau, Wisconsin, and will no 
longer be eligible to serve. Haney, 58, was appointed as Vice Director in 
July 1996 and later was elected in his own right to the 1997-1998 term. No 
one has been named yet to fill the vacancy.

* Vanity update: The FCC in Gettysburg has processed all vanity applications 
received through January 5, 1998. In the last run, the FCC reported 184 
grants and 192 work in process (WIPs). During January, the FCC received 226 
paper vanity applications and 885 electronic vanity filings.

* 50 years for W6OWP practice sessions! Fifty years ago this month, Bart, 
W6OWP, began the West Coast code practice and qualifying runs. The first 
official announcement appeared in the June 1948 edition of QST. 
Congratulations, Bart, and thanks!

* AMSAT International Net to air from Phase 3D Lab: AMSAT-NA Vice President 
of Operations Keith Pugh, W5IU, will host the weekly 20-meter International 
AMSAT Net from the AMSAT P3D Integration Lab in Orlando, Florida, Sunday, 
February 15. The net meets on or about 14.282 MHz at 1800 UTC. The ANS 
Bulletin Session follows at 1900 UTC. Wray Dudley, W8GQW, in Tubac, AZ, will 
simultaneously read the ANS Bulletins on 15 Meters at 21.280 MHz. Depending 
upon the success of this experiment, the 15 meter AMSAT Net may be 
reactivated on a regular basis. This AMSAT Net session will include an 
up-to-date report on Phase 3D.

* East Coast AMSAT NCS change: After eight years of service as net control 
station of the East Coast 75-meter AMSAT Net, Ron Long, W8GUS, has "retired" 
to pursue other activities. His successor, Al Tribble, W3STW, had previously 
served as Assistant NCS. The East Coast 75 meter AMSAT Net meets on or about 
3.840 MHz Tuesdays at 2100 Eastern Time. It's followed by the Mid-America 
AMSAT Net at 2100 Central Time, and the West Coast AMSAT Net at 2000 Pacific 
Time.

* BSRG, ATV, APRS, and Balloon Web sites change: The Web address for several 
popular ham radio organizations has changed. Ralph Fowler, N4NEQ, reports 
the new address, http://www.BSRG.org, is the new home for The Big Shanty 
Repeater Group (BSRG), the Atlanta Balloonatics, the Atlanta Amateur 
Television Network (AATN), and the Atlanta APRS Network. Intercept links 
will continue to operate at the old Web addresses for several months.--Ralph 
Fowler, N4NEQ

===========================================================
The ARRL Letter is published by the American Radio Relay League, 225 Main 
St, Newington, CT 06111; tel 860-594-0200; fax 860-594-0259. Rodney J. 
Stafford, W6ROD, President; David Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President.

Circulation, Kathy Capodicasa, N1GZO, e-mail kcapodicasa@arrl.org.
Editorial, Rick Lindquist, N1RL, e-mail elindquist@arrl.org.

Visit the ARRLWeb page at http://www.arrl.org.

The purpose of The ARRL Letter is to provide the essential news of interest 
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