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   http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2016-09-29   
      
   The ARRL Letter   
      
   September 29, 2016   
   Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME   
      
    *  ARRL Acting as Catalyst in College Radio Club Revitalization Campaign   
    *  Amateur Radio Volunteers Go on Alert during Major Puerto Rico Power   
       Outage   
    *  Amateur Radio Credited with Role in Helping Injured Cyclist   
    *  "Cows Over the World" DXpedition is "Permantly QRT," KC0W Says   
    *  The Doctor Will See You Now!   
    *  National Parks on the Air Update   
    *  Rules Released for New ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest   
    *  ARRL Outgoing QSL Service to Raise Rates   
    *  ARRL Foundation Invites Scholarship Applications for 2017-18 Academic   
       Year   
    *  ARRL Announces Club Competition Changes   
    *  More than 200 US Stations Signed Up for Scouting's Jamboree on the Air   
    *  Retired Librarian Who Was Maine's First Woman Radio Amateur Turns 108   
    *  The K7RA Solar Update   
    *  In Brief...   
    *  Just Ahead in Radiosport   
    *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
      
      
   ARRL Acting as Catalyst in College Radio Club Revitalization Campaign   
      
   ARRL is serving as a catalyst in a nascent campaign -- "Ivy + Amateur Radio"   
   -- to boost college and university Amateur Radio club interest, membership,   
   and activity. The initiative sprang from a conversation earlier this year   
   between ARRL CEO Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, and retired Yale University staffer Dr   
   Martin Ewing, AA6E, about how to get colleges and universities to revitalize   
   their ham clubs. Ewing relayed the message to the president of the Yale   
   University Amateur Radio Club (W1YU), who, in turn, contacted the president of   
   the Harvard University Amateur Radio Club (W1AF).   
      
   The two schools subsequently sponsored what turned out to be a s   
   anding-room-only forum at the 2016 ARRL New England Division Convention in   
   Massachusetts over the September 10-11 weekend, with representatives from   
   Harvard, Yale, Penn, and MIT on hand.   
      
   "They all share common problems, which include finding suitable space, finding   
   faculty or staff sponsors -- preferably permanent -- and providing for an   
   orderly succession of student leadership," said Gallagher, who attended the   
   forum and moderated the hour-long idea exchange that followed. Gallagher said   
   a college club shouldn't fall into decline just because students graduate.   
      
   "Undergraduates are busy people, they're all competing for the top jobs and   
   have busy social lives," Gallagher allowed. "Sometimes it's difficult for   
   Amateur Radio to compete with those other interests." During the Convention   
   and at the forum, ARRL gave copies of the 2016 ARRL Handbook to all college   
   and university attendees.   
      
   Representatives of the Ivy League clubs are planning to meet -- possibly in   
   New York -- in December. "There's a lot of work to do before that next   
   meeting," Gallagher said. "We want to create a reflector, we want to create a   
   mailing list, we want to reach out to all the clubs that did not show up. And   
   of course we welcome college clubs to join us." He said a senior member of the   
   Yale team offered a "generous contribution" to ARRL to support the Ivy +   
   Amateur Radio initiative. Initial efforts will include a newsletter and a   
   Facebook page.   
      
   Gallagher stressed that the outreach initiative is not limited to Ivy League   
   schools, although that has been the initial focus. "We welcome the   
   participation of everyone," Gallagher said, "but the Ivies and MIT stepped up   
   in a leadership role. The Ivy schools are very competitive with each other,   
   and college students are very competitive with each other, and what we want to   
   do is to put that competitive energy to work to fashion wider college Amateur   
   Radio club participation in the process." Gallagher noted that many state   
   colleges and universities already have active Amateur Radio clubs. "We hope   
   they'll join us in what will become an ever-widening circle," he said.   
      
   Contact Tom Gallagher, NY2RF, for more information.   
      
      
      
   Amateur Radio Volunteers Go on Alert during Major Puerto Rico Power Outage   
      
   Amateur Radio volunteers went on alert following an afternoon explosion on   
   September 21 at a power station in Salinas that left some 1.5 million   
   residents of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico without power. ARRL Public   
   Information Coordinator Angel Santana, WP3GW, said that as the evening wore   
   on, the most sought-after items were ice and potable water -- which depend on   
   electricity to power the pumps that deliver it. The outage also resulted in   
   traffic jams due to non-functioning signal lights. The governor of Puerto Rico   
   declared a State of Emergency.   
      
   "On the Amateur Radio side, the VHF/UHF linked repeater system of the   
   Federaci¢n de Radio Aficionados de Puerto Rico (FRA), an ARRL-affiliated club,   
   was the main source of information," Santana told ARRL. "As soon as the   
   situation began, lots of mobile and portable stations got on the air from east   
   to west to report on the power loss, and ham radio was among the first to   
   report the explosion, as smoke was observed soaring toward the sky."   
      
   According to FEMA, the fire at the Salinas switching station caused the   
   island-wide power generation plant to shut down as a safety precaution. FEMA   
   said that all critical facilities operated on back-up generators, and   
   airports, police stations, and water plants received priority as power was   
   restored. The agency said telecommunications were operating normally.   
      
   Santana said designated repeaters on 2 meters and 70 centimeters that remained   
   up and running served as the primary network for any emergency or health care   
   traffic. On HF, Antonio Santiago, KP4IA, in Toa Alta was "the main source of   
   what was happening even before the situation got to the mainland news   
   services," checking into nets on 20, 40, and 75 meters and relaying   
   information about the situation to other amateur stations on the mainland,   
   Santana said.   
      
   Santana said that two cellular phone companies had problems, and at least one   
   death was reported, due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator. A few   
   vehicle accidents also occurred, he said.   
      
      
      
   Amateur Radio Credited with Role in Helping Injured Cyclist   
      
   Members of the Huntsville Amateur Radio Club (HARC) in Alabama had a role in   
   getting help for a Louisiana cyclist injured in a September 17 group ride in   
   Madison County, Alabama.   
      
   A representative of the sponsoring Spring City Cycling Club told WHNT-19 News   
   that a number of riders -- including Brian Guerrero, who was seriously injured   
   -- fell as a motor vehicle was passing in the opposite direction. The cycling   
   club spokesperson said it was unlikely the motorist caused or contributed to   
   the accident. An investigation continues. The club praised the action of first   
   responders and first aid from fellow cyclists -- a trauma surgeon and a nurse.   
      
   "Their actions in first aid and in directly calling for MedFlight likely saved   
   [Guerrero's] life. Huntsville Amateur Radio Club volunteers were instrumental   
   in coordinating the communications among event organizers and volunteers,   
   emergency personnel, and law enforcement. We extend our gratitude to law   
   enforcement, first responders, and HARC for their able and quick response to   
   this terrible incident," the cycling club said. -- Thanks to WHNT-19 News   
      
      
      
   "Cows Over the World" DXpedition is "Permantly QRT," KC0W Says   
      
   The one-man "Cows Over the World" DXpedition has ended -- prematurely,   
   abruptly, and on a sour note. Tom Callas, KC0W, reported that a theft this   
   week in Kiribati has left him with nothing. He told The Daily DX that his Cows   
   DXpedition is "permanently QRT."   
      
   "Everything I own was stolen on 28 September from here in Kiribati," Callas   
   posted on his QRZ.com page. "They took all the radios, computers, amplifiers,   
   antennas, coax, everything. They even took my clothing and shoes. I have   
   literally nothing left. I type this with tears in my eyes."   
      
   The Cows Over the World DXpedition got under way last spring, when the   
   Minnesota DXer fired up as KH8/KC0W from American Samoa. Other stops followed,   
   and, after a brief hiatus, Callas last week announced plans to resume with his   
   T30COW operation from Western Kiribati. He had been financing the round-robin   
   DXpedition on his own.   
      
   All call signs in the all-CW DXpedition tour included a "COW" suffix. In   
   addition to T30COW, the "Cows" DXpedition has included operations such as   
   5W0COW, T2COW, and YJ0COW. Announced plans to operate from the Solomons,   
   Tokelau, Bangladesh, and other locations now are off the table.   
      
   The Daily DX reported on September 29 that Callas had received "a money   
   transfer" and now will head back to the US. "It's been a major financial blow,   
   but I will pull through," Callas told The Daily DX. -- Thanks to The Daily DX   
   for some information   
      
      
      
   The Doctor Will See You Now!   
      
   "Coping with the Solar Minimum" is the topic of the latest (September 22)   
   episode of the "ARRL The Doctor is In" podcast. Listen...and learn!   
      
   Sponsored by DX Engineering, "ARRL The Doctor is In" is an informative   
   discussion of all things technical. Listen on your computer, tablet, or   
   smartphone -- whenever and wherever you like!   
      
   Every 2 weeks, your host, QST Editor in Chief Steve Ford, WB8IMY, and the   
   Doctor himself, Joel Hallas, W1ZR, will discuss a broad range of technical   
   topics. You can also e-mail your questions to doctor@arrl.org, and the Doctor   
   may answer them in a future podcast.   
      
   Enjoy "ARRL The Doctor is In" on Apple iTunes, or by using your iPhone or iPad   
   podcast app (just search for "ARRL The Doctor is In"). You can also listen   
   online at Blubrry, or at Stitcher (free registration required, or browse the   
   site as a guest) and through the free Stitcher app for iOS, Kindle, or Android   
   devices.   
      
   If you've never listened to a podcast before, download our beginner's guide.   
   Just ahead on October 6: "Bits vs Baud."   
      
      
      
   National Parks on the Air Update   
      
   The National Park Service keeps expanding, which means there are more units to   
   work for ARRL's National Parks on the Air (NPOTA) program. In August, Katahdin   
   Woods and Waters National Monument was added. On September 23, Natural Bridge   
   in Virginia became an official NPS Affiliated Area, creating the 489th NPOTA   
   unit (AA26).   
      
   It didn't take long for Activators to put the new unit on the air. Just 2 days   
   after the designation, a group led by Todd Lee, N4USS, became the first to   
   transmit from Natural Bridge. Bob Voss, N4CD, who was already in the area on   
   one of his long NPOTA activation trips, was a close second on the same day.   
   They even worked each other for a park-to-park contact. Look for this new unit   
   to be on more in the coming weeks.   
      
   There are 42 activations on tap for September 29-October 5, including the   
   first-ever activation of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in New York,   
   and the Little River Canyon National Preserve in Alabama.   
      
   Details about these and other upcoming activations can be found on the NPOTA   
   Activations calendar.   
      
   Keep up with the latest NPOTA news on Facebook. Follow NPOTA on Twitter   
   (@ARRL_NPOTA).   
      
      
      
   Rules Released for New ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest   
      
   The official rules for the new ARRL 222 MHz and Up Contest have been released.   
   The contest will debut in August 2017. Participants will attempt to work as   
   many stations as possible on the 222 MHz through 241 GHz bands, "using any   
   allowable mode." Competing stations will exchange six-character grid locators   
   (sub-grids) at the time of each contact.   
      
   Contact point values will be computed on the basis of both the c   
   nter-to-center distance in kilometers between the sub-grid square of each   
   station and an arbitrary "band factor," a multiplier ranging from 1 to 20. For   
   example, contacts made on 222 MHz will have a band factor of 2, contacts on   
   432 MHz will have a band factor of 1, and contacts made on 24 GHz and higher   
   will have a band factor of 20.   
      
   To promote participation, the new contest encourages the formation of operator   
   teams. These may be made up of Single Operator, Fixed; Multioperator, Fixed,   
   and/or Rover category participants operating within a single Contest Region as   
   defined in the contest rules. Participants may only be on one team, and the   
   scores of all team members are combined. This is similar to the approach used   
   for years in the NCJ-sponsored North American QSO Party (NAQP) events. Teams   
   must register in advance of the contest with the ARRL Contest Branch Manager.   
      
   The contribution of a Rover to a team score is limited to that portion of the   
   Rover's score achieved from within the team's region. Team members' scores   
   also count toward a club total in the Club Competition.   
      
   The ARRL 222 MHz and Up Contest will kick off the weekend of August 5-6, 2017.   
      
      
      
   ARRL Outgoing QSL Service to Raise Rates   
      
   Although ARRL believes it's important to maintain the long-standing tradition   
   of the ARRL Outgoing QSL Service as a membership benefit, increased   
   administration costs will require an increase in rates, in order to keep the   
   Service available and viable.   
      
   "The Service has been a member benefit for decades," an ARRL statement said.   
   "Since its official formation in November 1976, tens of millions of QSL cards   
   have been shipped from ARRL Headquarters   
   to Amateur Radio QSL bureaus of other national societies worldwide. At one   
   time, this benefit offered a safe, reliable, and inexpensive way to exchange   
   QSL cards for a fraction of the cost of the postal service. What amateurs   
   saved in financial cost, however, was made up for in time; it could take   
   months, or even years, to send and receive a QSL through the bureau."   
      
   Effective on November 1, the rate for 1 ounce of outgoing QSLs via the Service   
   will increase to match the 1 ounce USPS international postage rate. As of   
   September 2016, this rate is $1.15 per ounce -- about 10 cards. An additional   
   service fee of $7 will be charged per individual transaction, to cover   
   administrative costs.   
      
   ARRL said QSLing is very different now, and, while postal services are   
   generally more reliable than in years past, international shipping costs have   
   risen significantly. "With the advent of the Internet and online QSL   
   confirmation services such as ARRL's Logbook of The World, fewer and fewer   
   paper cards are being exchanged," the ARRL statement observed.   
      
   Calling the Outgoing QSL Service "a significant tradition in the world of   
   Amateur Radio," the League said it's committed to keeping that tradition and   
   service alive for members who enjoy using it. "We are committed to ensuring   
   our members will be able to send their QSL cards through the Service for   
   decades to come."   
      
      
      
   ARRL Foundation Invites Scholarship Applications for 2017-18 Academic Year   
      
   The ARRL Foundation will begin accepting scholarship applications on October 1   
   from eligible radio amateurs planning to pursue post-secondary education in   
   the 2017-2018 academic year. Completed applications must be received by   
   January 31, 2017. Individuals and clubs support many of the more than 80   
   scholarships, ranging from $500 to $5,000, that are awarded annually.   
   Applicants for all scholarships must be active radio amateurs and must   
   complete and submit the online application.   
      
   "The ARRL Foundation Board of Directors is very pleased to be entrusted with   
   managing this program. The scholarship program is a wonderful way to encourage   
   students to continue their Amateur Radio activities while assisting them with   
   the costs of their higher education," says ARRL Foundation Secretary and ARRL   
   Development Manager Lauren Clarke, KB1YDD. "All ARRL Foundation scholarships   
   are made possible by individuals or clubs, and we are grateful for their   
   support."   
      
   The Foundation reported that 81 radio amateurs were the recipients of   
   2016-2017 academic year scholarships it administered. Awards totaled $120,150.   
      
   Students planning to apply for 2017-18 academic year awards should first   
   carefully review the eligibility requirements and scholarship descriptions.   
   Although only one application per applicant is required, applicants may ask to   
   be considered for as many of the scholarships for which they are eligible   
   (some scholarships have geographic criteria or other requirements). Check off   
   only the scholarships for which you would like to be considered. In addition   
   to completing the online application, applicants must submit a PDF of their   
   academic transcript from their most recently completed school year (e-mailed   
   to foundation@arrl.org).   
      
   Applications are due by January 31, 2017, by 11:59 PM ET. Applications without   
   accompanying transcripts will not be considered. Award winners typically are   
   notified in mid-May by USPS mail and e-mail.   
      
   For more information about ARRL Foundation scholarships, e-mail the ARRL   
   Foundation or call 860-594-0348.   
      
      
      
   ARRL Announces Club Competition Changes   
      
   Earlier this year, following a challenge that resulted in the realignment of   
   several club scores in the ARRL 10 Meter Contest, it became clear that the   
   Club Competition rules were not being enforced as consistently as they should   
   have been. In order to make sure club results are accurate and fair to all,   
   the ARRL Contest Branch is renewing its effort to help clubs comply with the   
   rules (See Section 8 of the "General Rules for All Contests").   
      
   It will no longer be necessary to mail, e-mail, or fax the club roster to the   
   Contest Branch. Clubs now will be able to upload a club roster -- now called   
   an "eligibility list" -- via a web page,   
   just as they do with contest logs. Information will be time stamped and   
   stored. The club just has to upload a file containing the current club roster,   
   including the club's section or the center of the club's eligibility circle.   
      
   All members' locations will be entered and displayed as six-character grid   
   locators, such as FN21aw or DM02ks. It will no longer be necessary to   
   determine latitude and longitude for members or a club circle center. The   
   center of the locators will be used to calculate a member's distance from the   
   club center using a standard algorithm that will also be public. A member may   
   reside and operate anywhere in a six-digit locator that satisfies the distance   
   rule. The maximum circle distances are not changing, however.   
      
   With the availability of the online service, the deadline of 30 days following   
   a contest to submit a roster is changing. Putting contests on the same footing   
   as all other competitions, and to eliminate any temptation to pick only high   
   scores or to engage in "category shopping," the eligibility deadline is being   
   changed to the start of the contest, effective with the ARRL November CW   
   Sweepstakes -- eg, 2100 UTC on November 5, 2016 -- and will apply to all nine   
   ARRL contests that have a Club Competition category (see General Rule 8.1).   
      
   Rosters and club circle centers can be changed and uploaded at any time -- via   
   multiple uploads as needed -- until the contest starts. After a roster is   
   submitted, it will be available for inspection online The roster eligibility   
   service will allow other contesters to view the rosters and to make it easy   
   for clubs to follow the rules. Challenges may be made through the Contest   
   Branch. Minimum log totals for each club category will remain the same.   
      
   A regularly updated list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) has been posted.   
   For more information, contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Bart Jahnke, W9JJ.   
      
      
      
   More than 200 US Stations Signed Up for Scouting's Jamboree on the Air   
      
   So far, 219 US stations have registered to take part in Scouting's 2016   
   Jamboree on the Air (JOTA), which will take place October 14-16. Registration   
   remains open for the 59th annual event. Last year, 400 US stations signed up.   
   JOTA officials are asking JOTA 2016 participants not only to register for this   
   year's event, but to follow up with a post-JOTA report.   
      
   "We expect to have several thousand stations around the world signed up by   
   JOTA weekend," JOTA Coordinator Jim Wilson, K5ND, said in a JOTA-JOTI   
   (Jamboree on the Internet) update. "Make sure you register your station."   
   Designated Scouting frequencies are on the "Guidelines for Amateur Radio   
   Operators" page. "Twenty meters is probably the go-to band during the   
   daytime," Wilson said. "Try moving off the calling frequency and spreading out   
   while making those contacts." Wilson noted that, in addition to the DX   
   spotting websites, there's a Scout station spotting cluster.   
      
   He also suggested taking advantage of "modes that don't require radio waves,"   
   including the dedicated D-STAR Scouting reflector 033A, as well as DMR, IRLP   
   with topic channel 9091, and Echolink, with conference node JOTA-365. Doug   
   Crompton, WA3DSP, and Elliott Liggett, W7QED, have set up Allstar node 41760   
   for JOTA/Scouting conversations, Wilson added. In addition to social media,   
   ScoutLink is an excellent way to connect to Scouts around the world with only   
   an Internet connection, he said.   
      
   "Dave Edwards, KD2E, and Andy O'Brien, K3UK, have developed a Scout scheduling   
   page," Wilson said. "You can use this to post your frequency and to pick up on   
   other stations as well."   
      
   More than 1 million Scouts in 150+ countries -- at nearly 18,000 stations --   
   are expected to take part in JOTA 2016, engaging with other Scouts to talk   
   about Amateur Radio and their Scouting experiences. "JOTA is about   
   conversations across town and around the world, rather than about contacts,"   
   Wilson said.   
      
      
      
   Retired Librarian Who Was Maine's First Woman Radio Amateur Turns 108   
      
   Mary Cousins, ex-W1GSC, who was the first woman in Maine to obtain an Amateur   
   Radio license, celebrated her 108th birthday on September 20. Now a resident   
   of a care facility in the coastal fishing village of Deer Isle, Cousins was   
   treated to a party complete with a cake decorated with images of local   
   newspaper articles from 1908, the year she was born. The confection also bore   
   an image of her 1933 "Amateur First" radio license, issued to Mary Sibyl   
   Wallace -- her maiden name -- by the old Federal Radio Commission, when   
   Cousins was 24. The FCC came into being the following year. Cousins' old call   
   sign has since been reissued at least once. Cousins said she operated Morse,   
   although she does not remember the code anymore, and used to relay weather   
   information using that mode.   
      
   Cousins, a native of nearby Stonington, Maine, worked as the town's librarian,   
   a school bus driver, and a telephone operator. She said she never stops   
   learning new things.   
      
   Cousins told Bangor TV station WFVX that in the 1930s, ham radio "was   
   something that the girls did not do, and the boys were all doing it at the   
   time, and I said, 'I can do it too.' And I did."   
      
   Her cake also bore images of Stonington as it looked in 1908, when Teddy   
   Roosevelt was the US president. Enlivening the party were 108 balloons and   
   live piano music. Cousins received and read cards from many well-wishers.   
      
   Her son John told WFVX, "When she decides she's going to do something, she's   
   going to do it. I think 100 was going to be the goal. She wanted to reach 100.   
   She did. And then she said, 'Well, might as well go for 105.' I think she's   
   working on 110 now."   
      
      
      
   The K7RA Solar Update   
      
   Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: Australia's Space Weather Services issued a   
   geomagnetic warning, calling for variable geomagnetic conditions -- from   
   active to major storms -- for the next 3 days.   
      
   Average daily sunspot numbers and solar flux changed little for September   
   22-28 from the previous 7 days. Average daily sunspot numbers went from 29.7   
   to 29.9, and the average daily solar flux declined from 83.4 to 81.4. The   
   average planetary A index was much higher, rising from 8.9 to 19.7. The   
   average mid-latitude A index increased from 7.6 to 12.3.   
      
   Projected solar flux for the near term is 85, 80, and 78 for September   
   29-October 1; 80 on October 2-3; 85 on October 4-7; 90 on October 8-14; 95 on   
   October 15-18; 90 on October 19-21; 85 on October 22-27; 80 on October 28-31;   
   85 on November 1-3, and 90 on November 4-10.   
      
   Predicted planetary A index is 44, 38, 30, 20, 14, 12, and 8 for September   
   29-October 5; 5 on October 6-14; 8, 10, 20, and 8 on October 15-18; 5 on   
   October 19-22; 18 and 12 on October 23-24; 35 on October 25-27; 25, 20, 16,   
   10, and 8 on October 28-November 1, and 5 on November 2-10.   
      
   Sunspot numbers for September 22 through 28 were 30, 49, 47, 18, 23, 21, and   
   20, with a mean of 29.7. The 10.7 centimeter flux was 85.1, 85.5, 84.9, 84.6,   
   86.8, 85.6, and 84.4, with a mean of 81.4. Estimated planetary A indices were   
   4, 4, 5, 23, 22, 38, and 42, with a mean of 19.7. Estimated mid-latitude A   
   indices were 4, 3, 4, 12, 18, 21, and 24, with a mean of 12.3.   
      
   Send me your reports and observations.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
   In Brief...   
      
      
   ARRL to Host CHIRP Radio Programming Webinar: ARRL will host a CHIRP Radio   
   Programming webinar on October 19 at 8 PM ET (0000 UTC on October 20 in US   
   time zones). This presentation will offer a brief overview of the free,   
   open-source CHIRP software, which can be used to program most radios.   
   Attendees will learn: What CHIRP is, which radios are supported, how to get   
   CHIRP, and how to troubleshoot CHIRP. Presenter James Lee, N1DDK, became   
   active in CHIRP development for the initial TYT9800 driver. He is a hardware   
   development engineer for Qualcomm. Register now! Those signing up will receive   
   a confirmation e-mail containing information about joining the webinar.   
      
      
   SEDCO Contributes $1,000 to ARRL Spectrum Defense Fund: The SouthEastern DX   
   and Contesting Organization (SEDCO) has once again presented ARRL with a check   
   for $1,000 at the recent W4DXCC convention it sponsors, to support the   
   Spectrum Defense Fund. SEDCO has supported the Spectrum Defense Fund every   
   year since 2009, except for 2012, when it gave $1,000 to the Second Century   
   Campaign. With this check, SEDCO has given a total of $3,700 to support   
   Spectrum Defense. The 12th W4DXCC convention took place September 23-24 in   
   Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Contributions to the Spectrum Defense Fund ensure   
   that ARRL will have the resources to meet future challenges as they arise, and   
   to protect Amateur Radio operating privileges.   
      
      
   Logbook of The World to No Longer Accept Contacts Signed by TQSL Versions   
   Earlier Than 2.0: As of 1400 UTC on January 16, ARRL's Logbook of The World   
   (LoTW) no longer will accept contacts that have been digitally signed by   
   versions of TQSL earlier than version 2.0. Users of earlier versions are   
   encouraged to upgrade as soon as possible, as older TQSL versions contain   
   uncorrected defects and display inaccurate error messages. The current   
   versions of TQSL for Windows, OS X, and Linux are available online at   
   https://lotw.arrl.org/lotw-help/installation/. -- Thanks to Norm Fusaro, W3IZ   
      
      
      
   Just Ahead in Radiosport   
      
    *  October 1 -- TARA PSK Rumble Contest   
    *  October 1-2 -- 15 Meter SSTV Dash Contest   
    *  October 1-2 -- Oceania DX Contest (Phone)   
    *  October 1-2 -- Russian WW Digital Contest   
    *  October 1-2 -- GTC CW Cup   
    *  October 1-2 -- TRC DX Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  October 1-2 -- WAB HF Phone   
    *  October 1-2 -- International HELL-Contest   
    *  October 1-2 -- California QSO Party (CW, phone)   
    *  October 1 -- FISTS Fall Slow Speed Sprint (CW)   
    *  October 2 -- UBA ON Contest (SSB)   
    *  October 2 -- RSGB International DX Contest (CW, phone)   
    *  October 3 -- German Telegraphy Contest   
    *  October 4 -- ARS Spartan Sprint (CW)   
    *  October 5 -- 432 MHz Fall Sprint (CW, phone)   
    *  October 5 -- UKEICC 80 Meter Contest (Phone)   
    *  October 6 -- SARL 80 Meter QSO Party (Phone)   
    *  October 6 -- NRAU 10 Meter Activity Contest (CW, phone, digital)   
      
      
      
   Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions   
      
    *  October 7-8 -- Florida State Convention, Melbourne, Florida   
    *  October 7-8 -- Pacific Northwest VHF Conference, Bend, Oregon   
    *  October 13-15 -- Microwave Update Conference, St Louis, Missouri   
    *  October 14-16 -- Pacific Division Convention, San Ramon, California   
    *  October 16 -- Connecticut State Convention, Meriden, Connecticut   
    *  October 21-22 -- Arizona State Convention, Maricopa, Arizona   
    *  October 22 -- Wisconsin ARES/RACES Conference, Wisconsin Rapids,   
       Wisconsin   
    *  November 5 -- TechFest Convention, Lakewood, Colorado   
    *  November 5-6 -- Georgia State Convention, Lawrenceville, Georgia   
    *  November 12-13 -- Indiana State Convention, Fort Wayne, Indiana   
    *  November 19 -- Alabama State Convention, Montgomery, Alabama   
    *  December 9-10 -- West Central Florida Section Convention, Plant City,   
       Florida   
      
   Find conventions and hamfests in your area.   
      
   ____________________________________________________________________________   
      
      
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       by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO   
       Parties.   
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       features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other   
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   The ARRL Letter is published Thursdays, 48 times each year. ARRL members may   
   subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page as   
   described at http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/.   
      
   Copyright (C) 2016 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved   
      
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   )\/(ark   
      
   Always Mount a Scratch Monkey   
   Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it   
   wrong...   
   ... Undercooked turkeys kill an estimated 53 billion Americans annually.   
   ---   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)