January, 2007

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ARRL Outgoing QSL Service revises rates
The ARRL Outgoing QSL Service has announced a new and simplified rate structure, effective January 1, 2007. The new basic rate will be $5 per half-pound (8 ounces -- or approximately 75 cards) or any portion of a half-pound. That's a change from the current rate of $4 per half-pound or any portion. One pound will cost $10, and packages will be assessed $5 for each additional half-pound (or portion thereof). For example, a package containing 1.5 pounds of cards will cost $15, while a package containing 1.75 pounds of cards will cost $20. For smaller packages, the fee is only $1.50 for 10 or fewer cards, $2.50 for 11 to 20 cards and $3.75 for 21 to 30 cards. The new rate structure will help to cover basic handling costs for smaller packages while actually offering a price break to moderate-volume users submitting up to one-half pound of cards. The new rates are in response to the recent postal rate increase and price restructuring. The ARRL Outgoing QSL Service is available to ARRL members. The last rate revision went into effect in March 2001.

Special Canadian prefixes to honor historic Fessenden transmissions
At the request of Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), Industry Canada has authorized radio amateurs in Canada to identify with special prefixes to mark the 100th anniversary of Reginald Fessenden's radio accomplishments. Canadian Amateur Radio operators may use the commemorative prefixes from December 1, 2006, through January 31, 2007. In call sign districts 1 through 9, those with VE call signs may identify using CG, while those with VA call signs may identify using CF, plus the assigned call sign district and suffix. Holders of VY call signs may identify using CI, while those with VO call signs may use CH, plus their assigned call sign district and suffix. A Quebec native, Fessenden is probably best known for his Christmas Eve 1906 broadcast that included his violin rendition of "O Holy Night" and a Bible reading. He transmitted a second short program on New Year's Eve 1906.

Getting your 2006 DXCC Yearbook
To receive a free copy of the ARRL 2006 DXCC Yearbook, you must be an ARRL member and (1) have made at least one DXCC submission during 2006, postmarked by December 31, or (2) be current on the DXCC Honor Roll. Each Yearbook contains articles about the year's DXing activities as well as the Clinton B. DeSoto Cup and DXCC Challenge standings as of December 31. ARRL members current on the DXCC Honor Roll will receive a copy of the Yearbook even if they made no DXCC submissions during the year. The 2006 DXCC Yearbook will be available next spring. Copies of past editions remain available to all for $5 plus postage, while supplies last.

Plans unveiled for second SuitSat
Amateur satellite group Amsat has unveiled plans for a follow-up to SuitSat, the makeshift amateur satellite that was launched from the International Space Station in February last year. The satellite -- formed from an old Cosmonaut space suit -- proved hugely popular with radio amateurs who sought to detect its weak radio signals from earth. SuitSat-2 -- as the new satellite has been dubbed -- will also be made from a redundant Cosmonaut suit. However, delegates at the recent Amsat Space Symposium in San Francisco heard that the new SuitSat will be more sophisticated than its predecessor. Lou McFadin, W5DID, who headed the hardware team for the original SuitSat, said that SuitSat-2 would incorporate some features his team didn't have the chance to include the first time around. The plan is to provide SuitSat-2 with an onboard amateur radio transponder equipped with digital signal processing technology, and also solar panels to recharge the satellite’s batteries. Thanks to these improvements, SuitSat-2 could have an operational lifetime of more than six months, rather than the two week lifetime of SuitSat-1. Lou McFadin said that SuitSat-2 would be a test bed for the hardware that Amsat plans to launch on its Phase 3-E Eagle Project, a ham radio satellite that will employ software defined radio technology. [RSGB]

January, 2007

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