If you are having trouble reading this message, you can see the original at:
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/?issue=2017-02-09

The ARRL Letter
February 9, 2017
Editor: Rick Lindquist, WW1ME

 *  ARRL Board of Directors Adopts Legislative Objectives for 115th Congress
 *  ARRL Board Names Award Winners
 *  ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, Wins 2016 Bill Orr Technical
    Writing Award
 *  ARRL Announces 2017 Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology
 *  The Doctor Will See You Now!
 *  QST Antenna Design Competition is Under Way!
 *  That Light at the End of the Tunnel: The ARRL International DX CW
    Contest is Just Ahead
 *  Radio Australia HF Station Signs Off in CW
 *  Oldest, Longest-Licensed US Ham, Educator Charles Hellman, W2RP, SK
 *  Communication Satellite Pioneer Harold A. Rosen, ex-W5JKW, SK
 *  In Brief...
 *  Getting It Right!
 *  The K7RA Solar Update
 *  Just Ahead in Radiosport
 *  Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions


ARRL Board of Directors Adopts Legislative Objectives for 115th Congress

The ARRL Board of Directors unanimously adopted five legislative objectives
for the 115th US Congress when it met in Connecticut January 20-21. ARRL
President Rick Roderick, K5UR, chaired the session.

The first objective is to seek early congressional passage of the Amateur
Radio Parity Act of 2017, H.R. 555 and of any Senate companion bill that might
be introduced. H.R. 555 cleared the House on January 23. The Board was told
that specific instructions to the FCC on implementation of the bill would be
included in the report language from Congress.

In addition to the new Parity Act initiative, the ARRL Board agreed that the
League would oppose any legislation that would lead to the reallocation of
Amateur Radio spectrum or to sharing arrangements that reduce the utility of
existing allocations. ARRL also will oppose legislation "that diminishes the
rights of federal licensees in favor of unlicensed emitters or encourages the
deployment of spectrum-polluting technologies."

Further, the League will seek recognition of the unique resources,
capabilities, and expertise of the Amateur Radio Service in any legislation
addressing communication issues related to emergencies, disasters, or national
security. Finally, ARRL will support the complementary legislative objectives
of other radiocommunication services.


Entry-Level Licensing

New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, presented the report of the
Entry Level Licensing Committee and entertained questions. It has been more
than 10 years since ARRL asked the FCC to consider a proposal for
restructuring licensing requirements and creating a more appropriate
entry-level license. After a comprehensive study, the committee is still
discussing possible recommendations to bring before the Board for
consideration.

____________________________________________________________________________


> ARRL Seeks Opinions on Possible New Entry-Level License <

An Entry-Level License Committee was established by the ARRL Board of
Directors and appointed in September 2016. As part of its ongoing work, the
committee is gathering member input and will make recommendations to the Board
for possible rules changes to submit to the FCC.

The result could mean changes to the Technician license, but it could also be
an additional, but simpler, license with privileges that would give a newcomer
a taste of most facets of ham radio, from HF to VHF and UHF.

The committee has created an online member survey. Please complete and submit
the survey no later than April 7, 2017. Survey results will be published.

____________________________________________________________________________


The Board received the Entry-Level Licensing Committee's interim report and
endorsed its recommendation to work toward improvements in the current license
question pools and seek aggregate demographic data from the FCC's Amateur
Radio database. The Committee also recommended continuing the effort to
examine public attitudes toward Amateur Radio, with a goal of better
understanding how to reach out and attract new licensees.

The Board asked the Committee to work with ARRL Headquarters staff to gather
ARRL member input regarding potential changes to the entry-level license,
develop several different proposals for change to the entry-level license, and
work toward bringing a final recommendation before the Board at its July
meeting.


Regulatory

In his report to the Board, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, noted that
there are few threats to Amateur Radio spectrum at this time. He also pointed
up the importance of a comprehensive review of the Amateur Auxiliary -- the
Official Observer (OO) Program.

ARRL Second Vice President Brian Mileshosky, N5ZGT, provided an oral report to
the Board regarding an OO program study now under way. Requested by the ARRL
Executive Committee last spring, the study is focused on identifying
recommendations to improve the mechanics of the OO program as well as the
program's interface with today's FCC. In addition to Mileshosky and Imlay, the
core study team includes ARRL Headquarters staffers Steve Ewald, WV1X; Dan
Henderson, N1ND, and Dave Patton, NN1N.

Additional resources from within the ARRL Field Organization as well as the
FCC will be consulted as needed during the course of the study, Mileshosky
said, adding that his team's deliverable will be a set of recommendations to
the ARRL Board and management for their consideration. Mileshosky also told
the Board that, despite rumors, no changes to the OO program are planned in
the interim.

"The study is a parallel effort that should pose no impact to the current
activities that our nation's Official Observer community has under way,"
Mileshosky said. "We greatly appreciate the value that our OOs provide to the
Amateur Radio community and are excited to help strengthen their role in the
future."



ARRL Board Names Award Winners

The ARRL Board named the winners of several awards when it met in Connecticut
January 20-21.


Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, Achievement Award

The Board voted to grant the Barry Goldwater, K7UGA, Achievement Award to
Amateur Radio Parity Act sponsor US Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), in recognition
of his outstanding support of Amateur Radio as an elected official. Kinzinger
has sponsored Amateur Radio Parity Act legislation in the 113th, 114th, and
115th Congresses.

Calling Kinzinger "a great friend to Amateur Radio over the past 4 years and a
patriotic American," the Board said his understanding of the value of Amateur
Radio to the public interest and the pursuit of scientific and technical
knowledge has led him to act in the spirit of the award's namesake, Sen. Barry
Goldwater, K7UGA, whose exemplary support for Amateur Radio in Washington
inspired the award.


ARRL International Humanitarian Award

Richard Darling, AH7G, and Barbara Darling, NH7FY, are the recipients of the
2016 International Humanitarian Award. The Board cited the couple's support of
past International Humanitarian Award winner John Bush, KH6DLK/V63JB, and
their "significant material support" to his efforts in the Federated States of
Micronesia. "[T]hey have supported these ongoing efforts over many years with
on-the-air activities including communication during weather events, including
several typhoons, as well as other emergency activities, including assistance
to boaters in trouble," the Board's resolution said.


Doug DeMaw Technical Excellence Award

The Board bestowed the 2016 Doug DeMaw Technical Excellence Award upon Steven
J. Franke, K9AN, and Joseph H. Taylor, K1JT, for their article, "Source
Soft-Decision Decoder for the JT65 (63, 12) Reed-Solomon Code," which appeared
in the May/June 2016 issue of QEX.


Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media Award

Recipients of the 2016 Bill Leonard, W2SKE, Professional Media awards were
Wayne Rash, N4HCR (print); Jamala Henderson (audio), and Derek Felton (video)
for their individual excellence in covering Amateur Radio topics in the media.

Rash, senior columnist for eWEEK and a freelance writer and editor who has
written about technology topics for 35 years, was recognized for his Yahooo
Tech article, "Why Modern Makers are Bringing Back Ham Radio." Henderson, a
reporter/producer for National Public Radio (NPR) affiliate KUOW-FM in
Seattle, was honored for showcasing the efforts of the Seattle Auxiliary
Communications Services group in conjunction with FEMA's Cascadia Rising
exercise last June in her piece, "Ham Radio Operators Could Be Superheroes
When the Earthquake Hits." The Board recognized Felton, a videographer and
editor for WGNO-TV in Metairie, Louisiana, for highlighting the participation
of 12-year-old Bryant Rascoll, KG5HVO, as part of the Jefferson Amateur Radio
Club's 2016 Field Day effort.

____________________________________________________________________________


ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, Wins 2016 Bill Orr Technical
Writing Award

ARRL Contributing Editor Ward Silver, N0AX, of St. Charles, Missouri, is the
2016 Bill Orr Technical Writing Award winner, sponsored by the ARRL
Foundation. It marks the second time Silver has been named to receive the
prestigious award -- the first came in 2003. The QST editorial staff reviewed
articles for the past year and nominated Silver on the basis of his January
2016 article, "About SSB." Written in a clear, conversational style, the
prize-winning article offers a straightforward explanation of the technical
nature of single sideband and how to effectively receive SSB.

"Along with the award being a terrific honor, generally, and especially a
second, the most gratifying thing is to know that I am helping hams learn,"
Silver said. "The goal is for them to be more successful and effective on the
air, leading to a lifetime of ham radio. I can attest that the efforts of Bill
Orr, W6SAI; Doug DeMaw, W1FB; George Grammer, W1DF, and many others who
patiently explained the most fundamental things to all of us, led to bigger
and better things in our lives, in and out of ham radio. That's an Amateur
Radio tradition that I'm proud to carry forward."

The award's namesake, engineer, educator, and communicator extraordinaire
William I. "Bill" Orr, W6SAI, wrote and edited scores of technical books and
articles of interest to Amateur Radio enthusiasts. The Orr Award is bestowed
each year to the QST author who writes an outstanding QST article or series on
new or existing technologies or on methods or means of amateur communication.

"Ward Silver has a unique talent for explaining complicated concepts at a
level anyone can understand," QST Editor-in-Chief and ARRL Publications
Manager Steve Ford, WB8IMY, said. "He has been one of the most prolific
authors in ARRL history, in large part due to this ability."

The QST editorial staff serves as the selection panel and recommends the
winner from a review of the year's QST articles to the ARRL Foundation Board
for final approval at its annual meeting. The award comprises an engraved
plaque and $250, to be presented at an ARRL convention.



ARRL Announces 2017 Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology

ARRL has announced its 2017 Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology
schedule. This summer's sessions will be held in Dayton, Ohio -- hosted by the
Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) -- and at ARRL Headquarters in
Newington, Connecticut. (DARA also helps to sustain the program as a generous
[ARRL%20ETP%20logo.jpg] contributor.) The deadline to apply is May 1. Past
participants who have completed the introductory (TI-1) course may want to
consider signing up for the advanced (TI-2) session on Remote Sensing and Data
Gathering. These expenses-paid, intensive professional development
opportunities offer educators training and resources to explore wireless
technology in the classroom using Amateur Radio.

Topics covered in the TI-1 Introduction to Wireless Technology include basic
electronics, radio science, microcontroller programming, and basic robotics.
Among other activities, participants will learn how to solder and practice by
building a digital clock. They'll also learn basic circuit concepts and learn
how to use basic test equipment.

Educators in the TI-1 class will also learn about Amateur Radio, take part in
a hidden transmitter hunt, and see demonstrations of Amateur Radio satellite
communication. Students will build and program their own simple robots. An
Amateur Radio license is not required to take the TI-1 class.

Applicants to the advanced Teachers Institute (TI-2) on Remote Sensing and
Data Gathering must hold an Amateur Radio license and have competed TI-1. The
class will concentrate on analog-to-digital conversion and data sampling, and
participants will receive telemetry from Amateur Radio satellites and apply it
to math and science topics. TI-2 participants will also construct a marine
research buoy equipped with environmental sensors, build a microcontroller to
sample the data, configure it for Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS)
transmission, and receive and upload data to a spreadsheet for analysis.

Introductory (TI-1) ARRL Teachers Institute sessions will take place July
17-21 in Dayton, Ohio, and July 24-28 at ARRL Headquarters in Connecticut. One
advanced (TI-2) ARRL Teachers Institute class will be held July 10-13 at ARRL
Headquarters.

More information is available on the ARRL website. An article about the
Teachers Institute will appear in the March issue of QST. Contributions from
individuals and from corporate and institutional supporters make the annual
ARRL Teachers Institutes possible.



The Doctor Will See You Now!

"AM and SSB" is the topic of the latest (February 9) 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.



QST Antenna Design Competition is Under Way!

ARRL members are invited to submit entries for the 2017 QST Antenna Design
Competition. You can enter in one of three categories.

 *  160 meters, LF, or VLF[QST%20Antenna%20Competition%20Thumb.jpg]
 *  80 through 10 meters
 *  6 meters and higher bands

We can accept only one entry per person or team, so choose your category
wisely. Don't wait too long, though. The deadline is June 1, 2017!

First-place winners (individuals or teams) in each category will receive $500
each. Second and third-place winners in each category will receive $250 and
$100, respectively. Winning designs will also be eligible for publication in
QST.

Entries must include:

 *  Drawings with dimensions (hand drawings are acceptable).
 *  A list of materials required to build the antenna.
 *  A description and summary of any measurements taken (including SWR
    data).
 *  Photographs of the installed antenna.
 *  The entry category you've chosen for your design.
 *  Your name, mailing address, and e-mail address.

Only one entry per individual or team will be accepted. Entrants must be ARRL
members. ARRL Headquarters staff and QST advertisers are not eligible.

Send your entry to QST, Attn: Antenna Design Competition, 225 Main St.,
Newington, CT 06111. Or e-mail your entry to qst@arrl.org. The subject line
should include your call sign and the words "Antenna Design Competition"
(without quotes).

Complete rules are on the ARRL website.



That Light at the End of the Tunnel: The ARRL International DX CW Contest is
Just Ahead

Come mid-February, it's time to warm up to the ARRL International DX CW
Contest, February 18-19! It's the US (except Alaska and Hawaii) and Canada
(except St. Paul and Sable islands) against the rest of the world on the third
weekend of February. W/VE stations send signal report and state/province
abbreviation. DX stations send a signal report and output power. Expect a busy
time on the bands as CW radiosport enthusiasts dive into the big event at 0000
UTC on February 18 (the evening of February 17 in US time zones.

With stations from around the globe active on 160 through 10 meters (except
60, 30, 17, or 12 meters), the contest is a terrific opportunity to fill in
some band slots or work a few new ones. Begun in 1929 as the ARRL
International Relay Party, today's ARRL International DX CW contest lays claim
to the crown as the longest-running contest in Amateur Radio. The SSB event is
March 4-5.



Radio Australia HF Station Signs Off in CW

In an apparent nod to radio amateurs who may have tuned in, Radio Australia's
VL8A transmitter in Alice Springs signed off on January 31 in CW. The station
sent "73 de VL8A QRT," before pulling the big switch. Radio Australia
announced last fall that it planned to cease shortwave transmissions. Although
the broadcaster shut down its Katherine, Tennant Creek, and Roe Creek (Alice
Springs) transmitters at the end of January, it will continue to broadcast on
the FM and AM bands, via satellite, and via online streaming and mobile
applications.

The move was not popular with those who live and work in the vast area the
shortwave broadcasts reached, with some saying it was the only reliable
broadcast outlet, and that its demise could deprive Northern Australian
listeners of emergency and critical weather information. Northern Territory
Cattlemen's Association President Tom Stockwell, who lives on Sunday Creek
Station with no access to AM or FM radio or mobile phone service, isn't buying
the Australian Broadcasting Commission's explanation. He said the decision to
focus on digital transmission ignored people in the bush. "It affects a big
area of Australia, and it affects those people that are remote from other
forms of communication that rely on radio network," he said.

Mark Crocombe of the indigenous Thamarrurr Rangers in the remote community of
Wadeye said his group members spend days and sometimes weeks at a time away in
the bush and out on sea patrols and had relied on the ABC's shortwave radio
for weather reports and emergency information, including cyclone warnings. "It
could be life threatening, if you are out and you don't know a cyclone is
coming," he said.

Radio Australia has said the move was in line with its commitment to dispense
with outdated technology and to expand its digital content offerings and FM
services.



Oldest, Longest-Licensed US Ham, Educator Charles Hellman, W2RP, SK

Charles "Charlie" Hellman, W2RP, of Hastings on Hudson, New York, died on
January 25. He was 106 and may have not only been the oldest surviving radio
amateur in the US but, at 92 years, also may have been the longest licensed.
Hellman outlived by 8 days Harry Wolf, W6NKT, of Morro Bay, California, who
had been considered the oldest US ham when he died on January 17, just a
couple of weeks shy of his 108th birthday.

In 2015, the Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) honored Hellman with
a "90 Year Continuous Licensed Certificate Award" (No 1). No formal records
are kept regarding the oldest or youngest US hams. Hellman had been regularly
active on the air until a few years before his death, when his backyard tower
fell victim to Hurricane Sandy.

Licensed as W2AMK in 1925 when he was 15, Hellman, who had been an ARRL
member, went on to become an educator. After working his way through the City
College of New York by repairing radios, he taught high school physics. During
World War II, Hellman was tapped by the Department of War to write a textbook
for training radio operators, Elements of Radio. Two of Hellman's siblings
also held ham tickets. His brother Robert, now deceased, was W2JAN. His
brother Benjamin, 96, is W2VB. -- Thanks to Pete Varounis, NL7XM



Communication Satellite Pioneer Harold A. Rosen, ex-W5JKW, SK

Communication satellite pioneer Harold Rosen, ex-W5JKW, of Pacific Palisades,
California, died on January 30. He was 90. Inspired by the USSR's launch of
Sputnik I in 1957 that kicked off the space race in earnest, Rosen -- an
alumnus of Tulane and Caltech -- foresaw the potential for such spacecraft to
do more than transmit a beacon signal. An engineer with Hughes Aircraft (later
Boeing), he, Thomas Hudspeth, and Don Williams developed a prototype
geosynchronous communication satellite called Syncom.

NASA launched the first successful spacecraft, Syncom II, in 1963, and
President John F. Kennedy spoke through the spacecraft with Nigeria's prime
minister, marking the first conversation between two heads of state via
satellite. Syncom III carried images from the summer Olympics in Tokyo in 1964.

Rosen became interested in electronics while in high school, and he built his
own radio as a ham radio club project. At some point prior to World War II,
Rosen obtained his Amateur Radio license and, according to a close friend,
Stanley Pulitzer, W5JYK, was once regularly active on 40-meter CW. He let his
license lapse as his post-war activities accelerated. Pulitzer said Rosen was
his Elmer.

Rosen went on to oversee the development of some 150 communication satellites
that revolutionized communication worldwide.



In Brief...

School Club Roundup is February 13-17! The winter-spring term of the School
Club Roundup (SCR) gets under way on February 13 at 1300 UTC and continues
through Friday, February 17, at 2359 UTC. This twice-yearly event is an
opportunity for school club stations -- from elementary school to college --
to get on the air for a friendly, low-pressure radio competition. Non-school
clubs and stations are encouraged to participate too. Stations may operate no
more than 6 hours in any 24-hour period, up to a maximum of 24 hours. Results
of previous SCRs are available.


Russia's Oldest Radio Amateur Oleg S. Klyucharev, U1AU, SK: Russia's oldest
Amateur Radio operator, Oleg S. Klyucharev, U1AU, of St. Petersburg, died on
January 31. He was 102. His death followed by a few days the passing of the
oldest US radio amateur, Charlie Hellman, W2RP. Klyucharev was licensed as
EU3GM in 1933, and as U1AU the following year. Born in Strelna in 1915 in
czarist Russia, he graduated in 1937 from the Maritime College and spent some
time in the Arctic and on Antarctica. He served in World War II in the defense
and liberation of Sevastopol. During his working years, Klyucharev was the
head of communications for the Baltic Shipping Company. He was a member of the
Amateur Radio Association of St. Petersburg and was active on the air until
his death.


Slow-Scan TV Transmissions from International Space Station Planned: Slow-scan
television (SSTV) transmissions are planned from the International Space
Station (ISS) on February 13-14. The SSTV images will be transmitted on
145.800 MHz FM as part of the MAI-75 Experiment, using the Kenwood TM-D710
transceiver located in the ISS Russian Service Module. It's anticipated the
transmissions will be in PD-180 SSTV format. The MAI-75 activities have been
scheduled for the Russian crew on February 13 from 0925 until 1800 UTC and on
February 14 from 1125 until 1630 UTC. Transmissions on 145.800 MHz FM use
5-kHz deviation. The ISS Fan Club website will show when the space station is
in range. More information on ISS SSTV is on the AMSAT-UK website. Visit the
gallery of ARISS SSTV images.



Getting It Right!

The story "Transcontinental Relay Recreated for 100th Anniversary
Commemoration" in the February 2 edition of The ARRL Letter contained an error
in the first photo caption. It should have read, "David Hodge, N6AN,
originates the commemorative transcontinental message at W6UE."



The K7RA Solar Update

Tad Cook, K7RA, Seattle, reports: The average daily sunspot number dropped
from 31.6 to 21.3 last week, and the average daily solar flux declined from
78.2 to 73.5. The average planetary A index dipped from 15.6 to 12.9, and the
average mid-latitude A index from 11.4 to 9.9.

Predicted solar flux is 73, 72, and 73 on February 9-11; 74 on February 12-15;
77 and 78 on February 16-17; 80 on February 18-19; 82 on February 20-21; 81
and 79 on February 22-23; 77 on February 24-25; 75 on February 26-March 1; 74
on March 2-3; 73 on March 4; 72 on March 5-9, 75 on March 10-13; 76, 77, and
78 on March 14-16; 80 on March 17-18, and 82 on March 19-20.

Predicted planetary A index is 7 on February 9; 5 on February 10-13; 16, 12,
and 10 on February 14-16; 8 on February 17-18; 5 on February 19-21; 10, 15,
10, and 10 on February 22-25; 5, 25, and 30 on February 26-28; 25, 20, 15, and
12 on March 1-4; 10 on March 5-7; 8 on March 8, and 5 on March 9-12.

Sunspot numbers for February 2 through 8, 2017 were 40, 39, 22, 22, 15, 11,
and 0, with a mean of 21.3. The 10.7-centimeter flux was 75.3, 75.1, 74, 72.6,
72.5, 72.1, and 73.1, with a mean of 73.5. Estimated planetary A indices were
21, 18, 11, 15, 13, 7, and 5, with a mean of 12.9. Estimated mid-latitude A
indices were 18, 14, 8, 11, 10, 5, and 3, with a mean of 9.9.

The weekly Solar Update in The ARRL Letter is a preview of the Propagation
Bulletin issued each Friday. Send me your reports or observations.

____________________________________________________________________________


Just Ahead in Radiosport

 *  February 11 -- FISTS Winter Unlimited Sprint (CW)
 *  February 11 -- Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint (CW)
 *  February 11-12 -- CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest
 *  February 11-12 -- SARL Field Day (CW, phone, digital)
 *  February 11-12 -- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon (CW)
 *  February 11-12 -- KCJ Topband Contest (CW)
 *  February 11-12 -- Dutch PACC Contest (CW, phone)
 *  February 11-12 -- OMISS QSO Party (Phone)
 *  February 11-12 -- AWA AM QSO Party (Phone)
 *  February 12 -- Balkan HF Contest (CW, phone)
 *  February 13 -- CQC Winter QSO Party (CW)
 *  February 13-17 -- ARRL School Club Roundup (CW, phone, digital)
 *  February 14 -- PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint (Digital)
 *  February 15 -- AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening (CW)

See the ARRL Contest Calendar for more information. For in-depth reporting on
Amateur Radio contesting, subscribe to The ARRL Contest Update via your ARRL
member profile e-mail preferences.

____________________________________________________________________________


Upcoming ARRL Section, State, and Division Conventions

 *  February 10-12 -- Southeastern Division Convention (HamCation), Orlando,
    Florida
 *  February 17-18 -- Arizona Section Convention, Yuma, Arizona
 *  February 18 -- Arkansas Section Convention, Hoxie, Arkansas
 *  February 25 -- West Central Florida Section Technical Conference,
    Sarasota, Florida
 *  February 25 -- New Mexico Tech Fest, Albuquerque, New Mexico
 *  February 25 -- Vermont State Convention, South Burlington, Vermont
 *  March 3-4 -- Alabama Section Convention, Birmingham, Alabama
 *  March 4 -- Arkansas State Convention, Russellville, Arkansas
 *  March 10-11 -- Louisiana State Convention, Rayne, Louisiana
 *  March 11 -- Nebraska State Convention, Lincoln, Nebraska
 *  March 18 -- West Texas Section Convention, Midland, Texas
 *  March 18 -- MicroHAMS Digital Conference 2017, Redmond, Washington
 *  March 24-25 -- Texas State Convention, Rosenberg, Texas
 *  March 31-April 1 -- Maine State Convention, Lewiston, Maine
 *  March 31-April 2 -- Nevada State Convention, Las Vegas, Nevada
 *  April 7-8 -- OzarkCon QRP Conference, Branson, Missouri
 *  April 15 -- Roanoke Division Convention, Raleigh, North Carolina
 *  Apr 21-23 -- International DX Convention, Visalia, California
 *  April 21-23 -- Idaho State Convention, Boise, Idaho
 *  April 22 -- Delaware State Convention, Georgetown, Delaware
 *  April 22 -- Aurora '17 Convention, White Bear Lake, Minnesota
 *  Apr 22-23 -- Communications Academy XIX, Seattle, Washington
 *  April 28-29 -- Southeastern VHF Society Conference, Charlotte, North
    Carolinia

Find conventions and hamfests in your area.

____________________________________________________________________________


ARRL -- Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information.

 *  Join or Renew Today! ARRL membership includes QST, Amateur Radio's most
    popular and informative journal, delivered to your mailbox each month.
 *  Listen to ARRL Audio News, available every Friday.

Subscribe to...

 *  NCJ -- National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, features articles
    by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint, and
    QSO Parties.
 *  QEX -- A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bi-monthly,
    features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other
    items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.

Free of charge to ARRL members...

 *  Subscribe to the ARES E-Letter (monthly public service and emergency
    communications news), the ARRL Contest Update (bi-weekly contest
    newsletter), Division and Section news alerts -- and much more!

Find ARRL on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram!

____________________________________________________________________________


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) 2017 American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved

www.arrl.org

)\/(ark

Always Mount a Scratch Monkey
Do you manage your own servers? If you are not running an IDS/IPS yer doin' it
wrong...
... I always wanted to be somebody but I should have been more specific!
---
 * Origin:  (1:3634/12.73)