*************** The ARRL Letter Vol. 25, No. 35 September 1, 2006 *************** IN THIS EDITION: * +Ham radio can ride out any storms, League president says * +ARRL Midwest Division Director Wade Walstrom, W0EJ, SK * +Ernesto puts ARES/RACES on alert in the East * +Japanese youngsters make ham radio contact with ISS * +September 16 is Amateur Radio Awareness Day * +Solar Cycle 24 could already be under way * +ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager signs on with Yaesu * 1942 QST reproduction a bonus with early Handbook orders * Solar Update * IN BRIEF: This weekend on the radio ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration +Digital Communications Conference 2006 will be silver anniversary event 2006 ARRL teachers institutes help boost "The Big Project" participation Clarification +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 <letter-dlvy@arrl.org> ==>Editorial questions or comments only: Rick Lindquist, N1RL, <n1rl@arrl.org> =========================================================== ==>AMATEUR RADIO CAN RIDE OUT THE STORM, ARRL PRESIDENT TELLS NEW ENGLANDERS Making his first visit to the ARRL New England Division Convention August 26-27, League President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, said Amateur Radio has a notable history of riding out stormy weather. Addressing the convention banquet, Harrison cited former ARRL staff member and ham radio historian Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, who in 1928 expressed the opinion that Amateur Radio is not utopia, never has been and never will be. Harrison suggested it's worth looking at ham radio's past when considering the issues it faces today, and there are no easy answers. "There is no one cure-all for whatever you think is wrong with Amateur Radio," Harrison asserted. Offering a thumbnail review of Amateur Radio's history, Harrison pointed out that ham radio has always had to deal with the controversies and tensions that technological, regulatory and societal changes have sparked over the years. Nonetheless, it's survived for nearly 100 years, and some ideas keep resurfacing. For example, a no-code license was proposed in the 1930s, he said, although it wasn't accepted until about a half-century later. "But we still can't seem to get beyond that point," he added, noting the more recent controversies surrounding the elimination of the Morse code requirement for all license classes and license restructuring. "When you look at the history of Amateur Radio, you kind of have to wonder: Where are we going?" Harrison said. The ARRL president went on to offer some of his own thoughts on the subject. "Digital is the wave of the future," he predicted. "Our ability to provide public service will expand." In any case, he said, ham radio will always be in a storm, just coming out of a storm or heading into another storm. Where Amateur Radio goes is up to those who enjoy the many facets it has to offer, he suggested. In closing he quoted ARRL co-founder Hiram Percy Maxim, W1AW: "Make sure everything you do is for the general good." Harrison said it's up to today's radio amateurs to make sure that "DX Is" never becomes "DX Was," and that "Public Service" never becomes "Public? Sorry." Earlier in the day at an ARRL forum, Harrison shared the spotlight with ARRL New England Division Director Tom Frenaye, K1KI, and Vice Director Mike Raisbeck, K1TWF. Much of the discussion dealt with how to reinvigorate Amateur Radio and make it more enticing to newcomers. "There is an unlimited number of possibilities in Amateur Radio," Harrison told the gathering. "If you get bored with one thing, there's another you can look into." Amateur Radio promotion should focus on "this buffet of possibilities," and not just on one activity, such as contesting or public service. Frenaye pointed out that while Amateur Radio gains some 20,000 new licensees each year, it's not keeping pace with attrition by up to 10,000 licensees annually. Harrison reiterated his mantra that the Main Street USA of today is much different than the Main Street of 30, 40 or 50 years ago, when many of today's hams got started in the hobby. Today's Technician license has proven for many to be a dead end for Amateur Radio, he said, because it has not provided enough of an introduction to the wider world of ham radio to maintain interest. On the other hand, the old Novice license, Harrison noted, provided "a connection to the outside world" through its limited HF privileges. "Opening up an avenue to HF privileges opens up an unlimited number of possibilities," he said. "It's time to expand the entry-level license." The FCC has turned away proposals to establish a new entry-level license with limited HF privileges. At a second ARRL forum on Sunday, Harrison told one member he believes the League would always support CW as an operating mode, even if the Morse requirement goes away. "CW is popular, and I can't envision the ARRL taking a position that would not support CW as a mode," he assured the questioner. ==>ARRL MIDWEST DIVISION DIRECTOR WADE WALSTROM, W0EJ, SK ARRL Midwest Division Director Robert W. "Wade" Walstrom, W0EJ, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, died August 31 during a surgical procedure. He was 59. An ARRL Life and Diamond Club member, Walstrom was elected in 1999 to succeed retiring Midwest Division Director Lew Gordon, K4VX. He won a third term (2006-2008) as Midwest Division Director last fall. Born in Nebraska, Walstrom grew up in South Dakota. He'd been an Amateur Radio licensee for 46 years and previously held the call signs K0ZTV and WA6TXE. "Wade's sudden and unexpected passing is deeply shocking to all of us who worked with him during his many years of service to the ARRL," said ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. A member of the ARRL Executive Committee, Walstrom -- an electrical engineer and recently retired Rockwell-Collins project manager -- was a three-term Iowa Section Manager before becoming a director. He'd previously chaired the ARRL Board of Directors' Volunteer Resources and Programs and Services committees, and he'd served on the Membership Services and Election and Ethics committees. Walstrom was instrumental in the effort to end interference to Amateur Radio from a broadband over power line (BPL) pilot project in Cedar Rapids. He not only worked with local radio amateurs but co-authored a technical report that pointed out BPL's harmful interference in the amateur bands and the inadequacy of "notching" techniques. An active and serious DXer and contester, Walstrom was a member of the Eastern Iowa DX Association, QCWA, AMSAT and the Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club. ARRL First Vice President Kay Craigie, N3KN, worked with Walstrom on the Volunteer Resources Committee, which, in 2003, revised the rules and regulations governing the ARRL Field Organization. "He could always find the right words when I got stuck for how to phrase something," Craigie recalled. "It was a pleasure to work with him, and I am very sad that there won't be any more opportunities for us to benefit from his intelligence and good sense." ARRL Hudson Division Director Frank Fallon, N2FF, said he was shocked and saddened to learn of Walstrom's untimely death. "He was a very fair and intelligent individual," Fallon said. "I think I can speak for all of us on the Board when I say we admired him and the values he stood for." ARRL Midwest Division Vice Director Bruce Frahm, K0BJ, has succeeded Walstrom as the division's Director. ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will appoint someone to fill the now-vacant Vice Director's seat. Survivors include Walstrom's wife, Solveig, and their sons Robert and Steve, KC0LGE. Members of the ARRL Board of Directors will represent the League at a memorial service Tuesday, September 5, at 10 AM at St Mark's Lutheran Church, Cedar Rapids. The family invites memorial donations to the ARRL or to St Mark's Lutheran Church.--some information from The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com/> ==>ARES/RACES DEAL WITH ERNESTO IN FLORIDA, CAROLINAS, VIRGINIA At week's end, Tropical Depression Ernesto was poised to put a damper on the long Labor Day weekend for many East Coast residents. Heavy rain resulting in flash flooding, isolated tornadoes and gale-force winds were the major threats remaining from Ernesto. Amateur Radio Emergency Service and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (ARES/RACES) volunteers were on alert in the Carolinas and Virginia. After strafing Florida earlier in the week, Ernesto went out over open water but again made landfall at near-hurricane strength the evening of August 31 near Wilmington, North Carolina. ARRL Official Emergency Station Keith Deringer, WA4KD, in Richmond said September 1 the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) had requested Amateur Radio volunteers to support a communication watch at the state emergency operations center. Virginia Section Emergency Coordinator Henry Wyatt, K4YCR, told ARRL that Chesterfield County ARES -- in the Richmond area --was standing by to support the American Red Cross in the event of heavy flooding in the Richmond area. The governors of North Carolina, Virginia and other states in the Middle Atlantic region declared emergencies, and state emergency management teams on September 1 were preparing for possible evacuations and sheltering. ARRL North Carolina SEC Bernie Nobles, WA4MOK, said his state seemed to have weathered Ernesto pretty well, although there was "lots of street and highway flooding" and some roadways had to be closed to traffic. Nobles told ARRL that the Eastern Branch EOC in Kinston (NC4EB) was maintaining a listening watch on local and regional repeaters at week's end. "We are getting some reports of evacuations of small communities, due to rising water," he said. With Ernesto threatening to become a Category 1 hurricane, the Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) activated August 31. "After a 3-1/2 hour net, we had a great turnout of reporting stations," said HWN Assistant Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV. HWN members gather and report ground-level storm data via WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center in Miami to assist forecasters in better understanding a storm's behavior. In its final advisory on TD Ernesto, the National Hurricane Center was predicting rainfall totals of from 4 to 7 inches over the Mid-Atlantic states, including the central Appalachians from Virginia northward through September 3, and up to a foot in some areas. "Life-threatening flash floods and mud slides are possible with these rains," the NHC warned. Earlier in the week, ARES/RACES teams in Florida, the HWN and WX4NHC and the VoIP Hurricane Net went on alert as Ernesto, still a tropical storm, drew a bead on Southern Florida and later lashed the region with heavy rains and strong winds. ==>JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLERS IN JAPAN SPEAK WITH ASTRONAUT VIA HAM RADIO Youngsters attending Yoshinari Junior High School in Sendai City, Japan, spoke August 25 with US astronaut Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, at NA1SS on the International Space Station. The Amateur Radio n the International Space Station (ARISS) program arranged the direct VHF contact between 8J7YJH and NA1SS. One student had a new twist on the often-asked "food question." She wanted to know if the food aboard the ISS could be better. "The food is actually very good. We have a wide variety of food that's both United States and Russian," Williams said. He explained that sometimes he'll get a craving for something that's not available in space, but "overall the food is pretty good." Another student wondered if heated food in space gives off "steam" and if you can smell foods in space. "We don't see steam up here too much because the food doesn't get that hot, I guess, plus the humidity is pretty low here, but you can smell it," Williams responded. He explained that the crew warms up its meals either by injecting hot water or by using an oven in the ISS galley. As had occurred during the previous ARISS school QSO with students gathered at Reece High School, in Devonport, Tasmania, Australia, Williams repeatedly experienced difficulty copying Earth station 8J7YJH, despite multiple attempts by control operator Toshiji Miyagawa, JE7KQU, to reestablish contact. At other times, the NA1SS signal appeared to experience strong interference that rendered Williams unreadable. A change to a backup VHF channel late in the approximately 10-minute pass permitted the students to have another two questions asked and answered. Williams said that in his free time aboard the ISS, he enjoys looking out the window, making telephone calls home, reading and listening to music. He said that he and Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, exercise approximately two and a half hours daily to counteract the effects of the weightless environment on the human body. ARISS-Japan mentor Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ, said some 240 people were on hand for the contact, which received media attention from four television stations -- including national network NHK -- and five newspapers. ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss> is an international educational outreach with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA. ==>AMATEUR RADIO AWARENESS DAY IS SEPTEMBER 16 September is US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Preparedness Month, and Saturday, September 16, is Amateur Radio Awareness Day. For the third straight year, the ARRL and Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) groups across the US will join a coalition of more than 200 national, regional, state and local organizations taking part in Preparedness Month activities. ARES is a partner with DHS through the Citizen Corps program. ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP, says local ARES groups and clubs will be making presentations to civic organizations, at schools and at regional fairs to showcase Amateur Radio. "More than 4000 ARRL 'Hello' campaign <http://www.hello-radio.org/> brochures have gone out in the past few weeks alone to prepare for the month-long initiative," he said. To highlight Amateur Radio Awareness Day, ARRL public information officers (PIOs) will promote the DHS's "30 Tips for Emergency Preparedness" <http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/editorial/editorial_0711.xml> to attract news media coverage. Some tips on promoting National Preparedness Month are on the ARRL public relations Web pages <http://www.arrl.org/pio/contact/2006/08/SEPTEMBER>. ARRL Public Service Team Manager Steve Ewald, WV1X, notes that the underlying theme of National Preparedness Month is to encourage everyone to be aware of and prepare for emergencies all year long. "Amateur Radio operators, led by ARRL Field Organization leaders across the country, are encouraged to consider this year's ARRL Simulated Emergency Test (SET) -- as well as all preparations and post-SET evaluations -- as a demonstration of your participation in National Preparedness Month," Ewald said. The target weekend for the 2006 SET is October 7-8 <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/setguide.html>. A major ham radio presentation during September will take place on the West Coast. ARRL Southwestern Division Director Dick Norton, N6AA, says Amateur Radio Expo 2006 <http://lafair.b2v.org/> will be held in conjunction with the Los Angeles County Fair. "They will staff the exhibit over four weekends," Norton said, noting that the fair annually attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors. Amateur Radio Expo 2006 will get under way the weekend of September 9-10 and will feature a special event station plus interactive presentations to demonstrate the many facets of ham radio. In a related vein, Pitts says he'd like to see a tighter relationship between ARES organizations and the League's corps of volunteer PIOs. "Too often something happens, and everyone grabs a radio. No one grabs a camera or laptop and gets the word of ARES actions out to the media until long after the story becomes stale," he observed. "We have wonderful stories to tell, but we are too busy to tell them when they are fresh." Pitts said he and the ARRL Public Relations Committee are working on ways to better integrate public relations and emergency response actions at the local level. Pitts says that according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), families should plan on being totally on their own for up to four days. "That's like being back in ancient times: no cell phone, no Internet, no 911," he said. ==>"BACKWARD SUNSPOTS" MAY HERALD START OF SOLAR CYCLE 24 The recent appearance on the sun of two so-called "backward sunspots" may mean solar Cycle 23 is drawing to a close and Cycle 24 now is under way or soon will be. At least that's the thinking of some scientists. "We've been waiting for this," said Solar Physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, after the first backward spot showed up. "A backward sunspot is a sign that the next solar cycle is beginning." The term "backward" refers to the sunspots' magnetic polarity. One such sunspot appeared briefly July 31, then disappeared, but its significance was that its magnetic polarity was just the opposite of current Cycle 23 spots. Another more robust backward spot, Sunspot 905, appeared in late August -- although it subsequently began to dissipate -- and some sungazers are saying Cycle 24 already has begun. ARRL propagation guru Tad Cook, K7RA, this week called it "the second sunspot of the new Solar Cycle 24." "Eventually there will be more of the new reversed sunspots than old ones from Cycle 23, and that occurrence is one way to mark the beginning of the next sunspot cycle," he said. Radio conditions will not improve any time soon but over a period of several years of the course of the 11-year cycle, perhaps peaking around 2010. ==>WORLD WAR II-ERA QST IS BONUS WITH 2007 ARRL HANDBOOK ADVANCE ORDERS The 84th edition of The ARRL Handbook for Radio Communications -- the 2007 edition -- is set to begin shipping in early October. ARRL Marketing Manager Bob Inderbitzen, NQ1R, says now's the time to place orders for the reference manual, which has proven popular both within and outside the Amateur Radio community. Those placing advance Handbook orders by September 30 will receive a reproduction January 1942 issue of QST as a bonus. "The special QST reissue is filled with World War II-era remembrances, including the FCC Order suspending Amateur Radio operation in the US, issued December 8, 1941," Inderbitzen says. "Sixty-five years later, this commemorative reproduction of QST is a time capsule -- a tribute to the perseverance and patriotism of radio amateurs." Inderbitzen says the QST reissue bonus will remain available to those placing advance orders while supplies last. Since 1926, generations of hams, engineers and technicians have relied on The ARRL Handbook for its thorough coverage of theory, references and practical projects. "The content of this new edition reflects the latest aspects of today's Amateur Radio -- fundamental electronics concepts, components and building blocks, analog and digital radio design, troubleshooting techniques, antennas and more," Inderbitzen said. Former ARRL Chief Operating Officer Mark Wilson, K1RO, edited the 2007 Handbook edition. Wilson continues to serve the League as QST "Product Review" editor. A handful of additional editors contributed updates, new content, and many new projects, building on the major 2005 revision. Some examples: Carl Luetzelschwab, K9LA, has freshened the propagation chapter, while Tom O'Hara, W6ORG, has updated the Amateur Television section and Paul Danzer, N1II, has revised the computer hardware information. Former Headquarters technical editor Stu Cohen, N1SC, has added a vintage radio section. Projects new to The Handbook for 2007 include the HiMite, a simple single-band CW transceiver by Dave Benson, K1SWL; a 12 V dc boost regulator for mobile or portable operation by Dan Kemppainen, N8XJK, and a top-loaded low-band antenna from Dick Stroud, W9SR. Stroud also contributed details of a high-power 6-meter low-pass filter. The 2007 Handbook also includes several new station accessories you can build: a digital communication interface by Larry Coyle, K1QW; a PIC-based HF/VHF power meter by Roger Hayward, KA7EXM, and a remote antenna switch by Bill Smith, KO4NR. As with recent previous Handbook editions, an included CD-ROM contains all text and illustrations in the hard-copy publication plus companion software, PC board templates and other support files. "Although most people prefer to sit and read the printed book, the electronic version has a powerful search feature for looking things up," Inderbitzen points out, "and it offers a convenient way to print out a few pages to bring to your workbench or mark up with notes and comments." The 2007 edition is available in hardcover ($59.95) and softcover ($44.95) <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/?item=no-hb2007>. Order direct from the ARRL online catalog, by toll-free telephone (888-277-5289, US only) or from select ARRL publications dealers <http://www.arrl.org/catalog/dlrsearch.phtml>. ==>ARRL'S DENNIS MOTSCHENBACHER, K7BV, ACCEPTS EXECUTIVE POSITION WITH YAESU ARRL Sales and Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, has accepted a position with Vertex Standard (Yaesu) as Executive Vice President of its Amateur Radio Sales Division. ARRL Chief Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B, announced Motschenbacher's departure August 28 "with regret" and congratulated him on his new position. "This is an incredible opportunity for Dennis, who will be relocating to Yaesu's Corporate Office in Cypress, California," Kramer said. In addition to his comprehensive knowledge of the Amateur Radio industry and extraordinary marketing and sales skills, Motschenbacher "also brought us an unbridled passion about Amateur Radio and a vision for the ARRL's future," when he arrived at League Headquarters four years ago, Kramer said. "The ARRL will miss him," he added. "We have become a better organization because of him." At Vertex Standard, Motschenbacher will be responsible for Yaesu Amateur Radio equipment sales and marketing in the US and Canada. He'll leave the League in mid-September. "I dreamed of working at ARRL HQ ever since I was a teenager, never really believing I would actually get here," Motschenbacher said. "It has been a terrific four and half years packed with lots of change and new friendships. I am deeply honored to now have this opportunity to work for Mr. Hasegawa and Yaesu, serving the Amateur Radio community in a different but equally as important manner." First licensed in 1962 at age 13 as WV6WTD, Motschenbacher -- a Minnesota native -- has operated under various US and foreign call signs over the years. Well known as a DXer and top-tier contester, he's operated from 35 different countries and competed at World Radiosport Team Championship 2000 in Slovenia. Motschenbacher is an ARRL Life and Diamond Club member and belongs to the ARRL Legacy Circle. He's also a past president of the Texas DX Society. Before joining the ARRL Headquarters staff, Motschenbacher served as editor of National Contest Journal (NCJ) for four years. In his current position at ARRL Headquarters, he oversees the League's publication and advertising sales as well as product marketing and membership recruitment activities. A year ago, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, Motschenbacher was among those HQ staff members who were instrumental in coordinating the procurement and shipping of equipment to aid radio amateurs responding in the field. He also traveled to Montgomery, Alabama, to assist Alabama Section Manager Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, who was overseeing the intake of American Red Cross ham radio volunteers supporting communication at its 250 shelters and kitchens along the devastated US Gulf Coast. ==>SOLAR UPDATE Ra the Sun god Tad "Mama always told me not to look into the eyes of the sun" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington, reports: Despite the decline in the sunspot cycle, we will see improved HF propagation over long distances in September. Expect rising sunspot numbers and solar flux over the next few days, with mostly quiet geomagnetic conditions. The predicted planetary A index for September 1-7 is predicted to be 10, 10, 20, 12, 10, 5 and 5. For more information concerning radio propagation, see the ARRL Technical Information Service <http://www.arrl.org/tis/info/propagation.html>. Sunspot numbers for August 24 through 30 were 22, 23, 21, 26, 48, 30 and 19, with a mean of 27. The 10.7 cm flux was 78.2, 77.2, 75.7, 78.6, 76.4, 73, and 74.2, with a mean of 76.2. Estimated planetary A indices were 5, 2, 3, 18, 11, 9 and 6 with a mean of 7.7. Estimated mid-latitude A indices were 4, 0, 2, 12, 9, 9 and 5, with a mean of 5.9. __________________________________ ==>IN BRIEF: * This weekend on the radio: The All Asian DX Contest (SSB), the Russian RTTY World Wide Contest, the Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, RSGB SSB Field Day, IARU Region 1 Field Day (SSB) AGCW Straight Key Party and the DARC 10-Meter Digital Contest are the weekend of September 2-3. the Michigan QRP Labor Day CW Sprint is September 4-5. The ARS Spartan Sprint is September 5. JUST AHEAD: The ARRL September VHF QSO Party, the North American Sprint (CW), the Worked All Europe (WAE) DX Contest (SSB), the International G3ZQS Memorial Straight Key Contest, the Swiss HTC QRP Sprint, the SOC Marathon Sprint, the Tennessee QSO Party and the ARCI End of Summer Digital Sprint are the weekend of September 9-10. YLRL Howdy Days are September 12-14. See the ARRL Contest Branch page <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/index.html> for more info. * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration: Registration remains open through Sunday, September 24, for these ARRL Certification and Continuing Education(CCE) program online courses. Classes begin on Friday, October 6: Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level 1 (EC-001), Radio Frequency Interference (EC-006), Antenna Design and Construction (EC-009), Analog Electronics (EC-012) and Digital Electronics (EC-013). These courses will also open for registration Friday, September 22, for classes beginning Friday, November 3. To learn more, visit the CCE Course Listing page <http://www.arrl.org/cce/courses.html> or contact the CCE Department <cce@arrl.org>. * Digital Communications Conference 2006 will be silver anniversary event: The 2006 TAPR/ARRL Digital Communications Conference (DCC) <http://www.tapr.org/dcc.html> Friday through Sunday, September 15-17, at the Clarion Airport Hotel in Tucson, Arizona, will mark the 25th anniversary of the founding of Tucson Amateur Packet Radio (TAPR) and of the DCC! It also will host the 10th annual APRS National Symposium. This is a must-attend event for all technically inclined radio amateurs. A just-updated schedule of forums and speakers is available on the TAPR Web site and includes sessions for beginners and experts alike. ARRL Publications Manager and QST Editor Steve Ford, WB8IMY, will represent the League at the 2006 DCC. Register for the conference online <http://www.tapr.org/registration>. * 2006 ARRL teachers institutes help boost "The Big Project" participation: This year's teachers institutes helped the ARRL Education and Technology Program (ETP -- "The Big Project") <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/tbp/> to reach a milestone of more than 200 schools that have received some form of grant from the program, says ETP Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME. "The institutes continue to provide the much needed in-service training teachers need to help their students understand wireless technology and in turn become more productive citizens," Spencer said, "but there is still a lot of work to do." The ETP receives very generous support from donors and the ham community at large, Spencer says. "The outcome of that generosity may not be immediately apparent, but the impact of what the ETP is doing is real, helping real kids, teachers, and schools." The program recently added another 36 schools in 20 states to push the total to 207. The list includes 15 high schools, 6 middle schools and 4 elementary schools as well as two post-secondary schools, a vo-tech school, two tech institutes and 4 K-12 schools. Support the ETP via the ARRL's secure Web site <https://www.arrl.org/forms/development/donations/education/education.html>. * Clarification: To amplify and clarify a statement in the story "ANOUSHEH ANSARI IS A "GO" AS FIRST FEMALE CIVILIAN SPACE TRAVELER" that appeared in The ARRL Letter, Vol 25, No 34 (Aug 25, 2006): Ansari would be the fourth civilian -- and the first female civilian -- to fly to the ISS. She would not be the first female civilian to fly into space. =========================================================== 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. 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