Internet Surfer 2.0/Internet Surfer 2.0 (Wayzata Technology) (1996).iso/pc/text/mac/faqs.326

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS);faqs.326


    (pre-4/92)

--Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently-asked Questions------------------Part 4--

**  How do I use the incoming and outgoing QSL bureau?
    To use the outgoing QSL bureau, you must be a member of ARRL.  In
    general, you send a bundle of foreign (not States!) QSL cards to
    the outgoing bureau in Newington, Connecticut, along with a label
    off of your QST magazine (which shows ARRL membership), along with
    $2 per pound of cards (approximately 150 cards) or $1 for 10 cards
    or less.

    To use the incoming QSL bureau, you do NOT have to be a member of
    ARRL.  Send one or more Self-Addressed Stamped Envelopes (size 5x7
    or 6x9, NO BIGGER, NO SMALLER) with one ounce of postage attached
    and with your callsign in 3/4" letters in top left hand corner where
    the return address label would go.  If you expect a large quantity
    of foreign QSL cards, attach extra money or postage with a paper
    clip; do NOT affix extra postage to envelope.  Send the envelopes to
    the QSL bureau for your callsign area.    If your callsign is xx3xxx/5,
    you would send it to the 3rd call area, NOT the 5th call area.
    Addresses for QSL bureaus are listed in QST (and below); if you don't
    have access to a QST magazine, ask another ham.  IMPORTANT:  BE
    PATIENT!  Turnaround time for a US QSL bureau, not considering foreign
    QSL bureaus, is about 3 months.  Foreign QSL bureaus and hams can be
    as fast as 2 months or as slow as TEN YEARS, while average is about
    6-12 months.

    Addresses for US Incoming QSL Bureaus:
    USA 1 - W1 QSL Bureau, Box 216, Forest Park Stn, Springfield, MA 01108
    USA 2 - ARRL 2nd District QSL Bureau NJDXA, POB 599, Morris Plains,
        NJ 07950
    USA 3 - C-CARS, POB 448, New Kingstown, PA 17072-0448
    USA 4 - All single-letter prefixes ONLY
        Mecklenburg Amateur Radio Club, POB DX, Charlotte, NC 28220
     others:Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club, Call Box 599, Sterling Park,
        VA 22170
    USA 5 - ARRL 5th District DX QSL Bureau, POB 50625, Midland, TX 79701
    USA 6 - ARRL 6th District DX QQSL Bureau, POB 1460, Sun Valley, CA
        91352
    USA 7 - Willamette Valley DX Club, POB 555, Portland, OR 97207
    USA 8 - 8th Area QSL Bureau, POB 182165, Columbus, OH 43218-2165
    USA 9 - Northern Illinois DX assn, Box 519, Elmhurst, IL 60126
    USA 0 - W0 QSL Bureau, Ak-Sar-Ben Radio Club, POB 291, Omaha, NE 68101
    Hawaii- Wayne Jones NH6GJ, POB 788, Wahiawa, HI 96786
    Alaska- Alaska QSL Bureau, 4304 Garfield St, Anchorage, AK 99503

**  Anyone know anything about the QSL Post Office?
    The QSL Post Office is a private venture who also supplies QSL
    service as long as you let them put their advertisements in the
    envelopes.  You can keep a SASE there in case you get cards returned
    via the QSLPO.

    Instructions:
      Send multiples of 10 QSL cards with check, cash or money order ($1
      for each 10 cards).
      Do not put postage on the cards.
      Do not place cards in individual envelopes
      Write callsign only in address area, or address as well if it's
      different from callbook.
      Send to:
        QSL Post Office
        767 South Xenon Court, #117
        Lakewood, CO 90228
        303-987-9442

**  Are there any news groups for CAP?
    There is no news group just for Civil Air Patrol discussions.  However,
    rec.aviation is appropriate for CAP aviation discussions and for
    CAP radio information, these rec.radio.amateur.* groups are available.
    CAP-related files are also stored on the FTP site
    sunburn.cps.udayton.edu in pub/capital.

**  What's the name of the QRP club that issues QRP numbers?
    QRP Amateur Radio Club International, c/o Bill Harding K4AHK,
    10923 Carters Oak Way, Burke, VA 22015.

**  Can I send ARRL or W5YI electronic mail?
    Several ARRL HQ staffers can be contacted via the net, using the
    address [e-mail], replace username as shown below:

        Jon Bloom, KE3Z, Laboratory Supervisor                    jbloom
          (arrl.org postmaster)
        Steve Ford, WB8IMY, Assistant Technical Editor            sford
          (Operating Manual, packet and satellite books)
        Mike Gruber, WA1SVF, Laboratory Engineer                  mgruber
          (product testing)
        Jerry Hall, K1TD, Associate Technical Editor              jhall
          (Antenna books, propagation)
        Ed Hare, KA1CV, Senior Laboratory Engineer (RFI)          ehare
        Rus Healy, NJ2L, QST Assistant Technical Editor           rhealy
          (Product Review)
        Luck Hurder, KY1T, Field Services Dept. Deputy Manager    lhurder
          (Clubs, Field Organization)
        Chuck Hutchinson, K8CH, Membershipship Services Manager   chutch
          (Contests, awards, DXCC etc.)
        Bart Jahnke, KB9NM, Volunteer Examiner Dept. Manager      bjahnke
          (Exams, VE coordination, etc.)
        Jim Kearman, KR1S, Assistant Technical Editor             jkearman
          (license manuals)
        Joel Kleinman, N1BKE, Associate Technical Editor          jkleinma
          (in charge of editing technical books)
        Zack Lau, KH6CP, Laboratory Engineer                      zlau
          (RF/microwave circuit design, QRP)
        Steve Mansfield, Public Relations Manager                 smansfie
          (news stories, etc.)
        Dave Newkirk, WJ1Z, QST Senior Assistant Tech. Editor     dnewkirk
          (Hints & Kinks)
        Paul Pagel, N1FB, QST Associate Technical Editor          ppagel
          (in charge of QST technical editing, Technical Correspondence)
        Rick Palm, K1CE, Field Services Manager                   rpalm
          (Field Organization matters)
        Bob Schetgen, KU7G, Assistant Technical Editor            rschetge
          (Handbook)
        Barry Shelley, Chief Financial Officer                    bshelley
        Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, Executive Vice President               dsumner
          (policy matters, HQ administration)
        Rosalie White, WA1STO, Educational Activitied Dept. Mgr.  rwhite
          (info on becoming a ham/training/SAREX)
        Mark Wilson, AA2Z, QST Managing Editor                    mwilson
        Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, Senior Assistant                    lwolfgan
          Technical Editor (Beginner's books)
        Tammy-Beth Zimmerman, KA1WWP, Membership                  tzimmer
          Services Administrative Assistant
          (DXCC, awards, QSL buro)

    The Washington Area Coordinator for the ARRL, Perry Williams W1UED
    (sort of our "lobbyist" to the FCC and Congress) has mcimail access
    at [e-mail].

    Other mail addresses at ARRL:
        Technical Information Service                 [e-mail]
          (technical questions)
        DXCC                                          [e-mail]
        Awards (WAS, etc.)                            [e-mail]
        Contests                                      [e-mail]
        Outgoing QSL Bureau                           [e-mail]
        W1AW                                          [e-mail]

    For other questions (ARRL policy issues, etc.), try
    [e-mail], which sends them to the front office.

        ARRL requests that you include your postal address (the slow kind) in
        case they need to send you nonelectronic material in answer to your
        request.

        Other useful addresses:
        Tom Frenaye, K1KI, Vice President             [e-mail]
        Frank Butler, W4RH, Southeastern Division     [e-mail]
          Director
        Stan Horzepa, WA1LOU, QST (Packet             [e-mail]
          Perspective) and QEX (Gateway)
          columnist
    Fred Maia, W5YI, another large VEC            [e-mail].

**  "Why doesn't the ARRL do...?"
    If you want the ARRL to do something, tell them!  Direct input from a
    concerned member (or, actually, any concerned Ham) carries a lot more
    weight than hearsay from any source.  The e-mail addresses are listed
    above.  They want direct input - that's what those addresses are for.

**  What magazines are available for Ham Radio?
    Your local ham store may have some, but here's some popular ones
    (this is NOT a complete list!):
    QST, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 - basic projects and
        contesting
    CQ The Radio Amateur's Journal, 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY
        11801 - beginner ham radio articles
    73 Amateur Radio Today, WGE Center, Forect Rd, Hancock, NH 03449,
        FAX [phone], email: COMPUSERVE 70310,775 or Internet
        [e-mail] - more technical ham radio articles
    QEX, ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111 - more technical projects
    WorldRadio, 2120 28th St, Sacramento, CA 95818, [phone].
        Subscriptions to 201 Lathrop Way, Ste D, Sacramento, CA 95815,
        (800) 365-SUBS - lots of special interest columns, like QRP,
        ATV, YL, etc.
    W5YI Report, PO Box 565101, Dallas, TX 75356, 1-800-669-9594 -
        up-to-date information on Amateur Radio happenings, including
        VE information and statistics

**  How do I become a 10-10 member?
    10-10 is simply an organization to sponsor the use of the 10 meter
    band.  It was first conceived when propagation was poor on 10 meters,
    as a method to get more hams to use 10 meters.  The past few years
    have been great for 10 meters worldwide.  However, "the bands are
    closing down" again, and 10 meters will once again be limited more
    for local communications, except for sporadic band openings, until
    the next sunspot cycle.

    To join 10-10, work ten 10-10 members and LOG each 10-10 number, call
    sign, operator's name and location.  Send the list to your numeric
    call sign or DX area manager (as shown below), with $5.00 U.S. new
    membership registration fee ($6.00 for foreign addresses).

    10-10 International Area Managers:
    USA 1 - Al Kaiser N1API,       194 Glen Hills Rd, Meriden,     CT 06450
    USA 2 - Larry Berger WA2SUH,   9 Nancy Blvd,      Merrick,     NY 11566
    USA 3 - Chester Gardner N3GZE, 9028 Overhill Dr,  Ellicott Cty,MD 21042
    USA 4 - KY, TN, FL, VA, NC, SC only
        Rick Roberts N4KCC,    7106 Ridgestone Dr,Ooltewah,    TN 37363
    USA 4 - GA, AL, Puerto Rico only
            Jim Beswick W4YHF,     112 Owl Town Farm, Ellijay,     GA 30540
    USA 5 - Grace Dunlap K5MRU,*   Box 445,           LaFeria,     TX 78559
            *summer addr Jun-Oct   Box 13,            Rand,        CO 80473
    USA 6 - Dick Rauschler W6ANK,  4371 Cambria St,   Fremont,     CA 94538
    USA 7 - Willie Madison WB7VZI, 10512 W Butler Dr, Peoria,      AZ 85345
    USA 8 - John Hugentober N3FU,  4441 Andreas Ave,  Cincinatti,  OH 45211
    USA 9 - Jim Williams N9HHU,    240 Park Rd,       Creve Coeur, IL 61611
    USA 0 - Debbie Peterson KF0NV, RR 1 Box 35,       Duncombe,    IA 50532
    All DX- Carol Hugentober K8DHK,4441 Andreas Ave,  Cincinatti,  OH 45211

**  How do I join MARS?
    To join MARS, you have to be 14 years or older (parental consent
    required under age 17), be a US citizen or resident alien, possess a
    valid Amateur Radio license, possess a station capable of operating
    on MARS HF frequencies, and be able to operate the minimum amount
    of time for each quarter (12 hours for Army and Air Force; 18 hours
    for Navy-Marines).  Novices must upgrade to Technician within 6
    months, else be dropped from MARS.  No-Code Techs can apply, provided
    they have transmit and receive HF capability for MARS frequencies
    (they don't need transmit capability for Amateur HF frequencies).  For
    application forms contact:

    Chief, Air Force MARS
    Det 1, CSC/CMM (MARS)
    203 W. Losey St.   Room 2154
    Scott AFB, IL 62225-5247
    [phone]   Fax:  [phone]

    Chief, Army MARS
    HQ, US Army Information Systems Command
    ATTN: AS-OPS-OA
    Fort Huachuca, AZ  85613-5000

    Chief, Navy-Marine Corps MARS
    Naval Communication Unit
    Washington, DC   20397-5161

**  How do I join RACES?
    Contact your nearest Civil Defense or Emergency Management Agency.
    The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service is a part of a municipal,
    county, or state government.  This does not mean, however, that
    every such government has a RACES program.  If your government does
    not have a RACES, ask them to refer you to the nearest jurisdiction
    that does have a RACES program.

**  What organizations are available to help handicapped hams?
        Courage Center
        Handihams
        2915 Golden Valley Rd
        Golden Valley, MN  55422
        [phone]
    ARRL has a Handihams information package (get it by requesting it
    thru [e-mail]) and a book called "The ARRL Plan for the
    Disabled", available at no charge from the ARRL Regulatory
    Information Branch.

**  I am looking for a specific ham, can anyone help me find him?
    Rather than sending out a message on Usenet, you might first try
    directory assistance from the phone company or the locator service
    provided by the Salvation Army.  A Salvation Army post in your
    local area may be able to help you.  If you have his/her callsign
    or name, you might also try one of the on-line callservers shown
    above.  Also, the Quarter-Century Wireless Assn maintains a collection
    of callbooks going back to "the beginning of time".  Their address
    is: 1409 Cooper Drive, Irving, TX 75061.  Also, the Callbook has a
    dial-in line for accessing new ham callsigns.  Try (1-708-234-8011)
    at 2400 baud.

**  Is there an on-line copy of the FCC Part 97, or FCC Amateur Radio
**  allocations or question pools?
    Part 97 is part of the FCC regulations and only applies to the USA.

    The text to part 97 is available by ftp from several locations:
    Western US
       ftp.amdahl.com              /pub/radio/amateur/part97.txt.Z
    Central US
       pacific.mps.ohio-state.edu  /msdos/ham/part97.arc
    Eastern US
       gandalf.umcs.maine.edu      /pub/ham-radio/part97.txt
       ftp.uu.net                  /networking/ka9q/part97.arc
    The *.arc files are MSDOS ARC files with the same ASCII text.

    An ASCII copy of the question pools are available by ftp from
    uxc.cso.uiuc.edu (128.174.5.50) in /pub/ham-radio/<class>-pool.txt.Z,
    where <class> is novice, technician, general, advanced or extra.

**  Can I post my neat new ham related program on rec.radio.amateur.misc?
    This is really not a good idea, since many of the readers receive
    these newsgroups as mail digests.  Posting is also a one-shot thing.
    If you post and someone missed it, it is gone.  A better way would be
    to announce the existence of your program here, along with
    information on how to obtain a copy of your program.  You can also
    submit it to one of the FTP archive sites, which will allow the world
    to access it without you having to mail it to each requestor.  If you
    just GOTTA post it somewhere, post it to more appropriate groups,
    like comp.sources.unix or alt.sources or comp.binaries.ibm.pc.
Xref: bloom-picayune.mit.edu rec.radio.amateur.misc:26801 news.answers:3629
Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!tamsun.tamu.edu!cs.utexas.edu!sun-barr!ames!pacbell.com!charon.amdahl.com!amdahl!uts.amdahl.com
From: [e-mail] (Ian Kluft)
Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc,news.answers
Subject: rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions (Part 5 of 6)
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Date: 22 Oct 92 10:08:13 GMT
Expires: 9 Nov 92 08:00:00 GMT
References: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail] (Ham Radio FAQ Coordinators)
Followup-To: rec.radio.amateur.misc
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Santa Clara, CA
Lines: 402
Approved: [e-mail]
Supersedes: <[e-mail]>
X-Posting-Frequency: posted on the 7th and 22nd of each month

Posted-By: auto-faq script
Archive-name: ham-radio-faq/part5
Revision: 2.13 05/13/92 19:45:21

Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently Asked Questions
Part 5 - Common Advanced and Technical questions
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questions discussed in Part 5: (dates indicate last modification)
**  What are the different US amateur classes and what can each of them do?
    (pre-4/92)
**  What is the best way to learn Morse Code? (new 10/92)
**  What is the standard for measuring Morse code speed? (pre-4/92)
**  I'm confused. What do all those abbreviations mean??? (5/92)
**  What do all those "tones" mean? (pre-4/92)
**  Where can I learn more about Amateur Radio if I live outside the US?
    (4/92)
**  How can I get a "reciprocal license" if I am a licensed ham from another
    country or if I am a FCC licensed ham who wants to operate in another
    country (on vacation)? (pre-4/92)
**  My apartment or housing complex does not allow outdoor antennas, now what
    do I do? (pre-4/92)
**  I got TVI...HELP!!! (pre-4/92)
**  Did you know that you can get college credit for being a ham? (pre-4/92)
**  On what frequencies do JPL and GSFC retransmit the shuttle audio?
    (10/92)
**  Can I take my HT on an airplane and operate it if I get the permission
    of the captain? (4/92)
**  How do I modify my current Amateur license? (4/92)
**  I'm confused about XXX, should I ask the FCC? (4/92)

--Rec.radio.amateur.misc Frequently-asked Questions------------------Part 5--

**  What are the different US amateur classes and what can each of them do?
    Novice - has CW (Morse code) privileges on 4 HF bands (80, 40, 15,
        and 10 meter), Voice privileges on 10 meters, and privileges
        on 2 VHF/UHF bands (220 MHz and 1290 MHz).
        Required are 5 wpm Morse code test and 30-question Novice test.
    Technician - has full privileges on all VHF/UHF bands above 30 MHz.
        Required are Novice test and 25-question Tech test.
        Technician may access Novice HF bands by passing the 5 wpm Morse
        code test.
    General - has all Technician privileges, plus larger access to more
        HF bands, including CW and Voice on 160, 80, 40, 30, 20, 17, 15,
        12, and 10 meter bands.  A General class amateur can give Novice
        tests.
        Required are 13 wpm Morse code test, Novice, Tech and 25-question
        General test.
    Advanced - has all General privileges, plus wider band access on 80,
        40, 20, and 15 meter bands.  An Advanced class amateur can
        also become a VE and give tests to Novice and Tech tests.
        Required are 13 wpm Morse code test, Novice, Tech, General and
        50-question Advanced test.  The Advanced test is the most difficult
        of the five written tests.
    Amateur Extra - has full privileges on all amateur bands.  An Extra
        can become a VE and give all amateur tests.
        Required are 20 wpm Morse code test, Novice, Tech, General,
        Advanced and 40-question Extra test.

**  What is the best way to learn Morse Code?
    This is becoming an increasingly common question as many "no-code"
    Technicians realize they can add more privileges to their license if
    they learn Morse Code.  The following list of suggestions should
    be helpful in finding ways to approach the effort.

    * Listen to code at a rate faster than you can copy.
    * Participate in Novice-Roundup and/or Field Day.  Practice whenever
      you get the chance!
    * Avoid the "deciphering" plateau around 5 WPM and and character
      plateau at 10 WPM by listening to the fast Farnsworth-paced
      "beat" of each letter and the "beat" of common words.  (See the
      question on Morse code speed for more information on Farnsworth
      pacing.)
    * Practice to develop a "copy buffer" so you copy about 5 characters
      behind.  (This is not easy but it's how the higher speeds are done.)
    * Practice both with headphones and "open-air" copy as the code test
      may be in either format.  (If you only practice one, you may fumble
      on the other.)
    * Most of all, don't give up!  Recognize when you reach plateaus
      and keep trying until you break through them.

**  What is the standard for measuring Morse code speed?
    The word PARIS was chosen as the standard length for CW code speed.
    Each dit counts for one count, each dash counts for three counts,
    intra-character spacing is one count, inter-character spacing is three
    counts and inter-word spacing is seven counts, so the word PARIS is
    exactly 50 counts:

        PPPPPPPPPPPPP     AAAAA     RRRRRRRRR     IIIII     SSSSSSSSS
    .   -   -   .     .   -     .   -   .     .   .     .   .   .
    1 1 3 1 3 1 1  3  1 1 3  3  1 1 3 1 1  3  1 1 1  3  1 1 1 1 1  7 = 50
          ^                      ^                                     ^
          ^Intra-character       ^Inter-character            Inter-word^

    So 5 words-per-minute = 250 counts-per-minute / 50 counts-per-word or
    one count every 240 milliseconds.  13 words-per-minute is one count
    every ~92.3 milliseconds.   This method of sending code is sometimes
    called "Slow Code", because at 5 wpm it sounds VERY SLOW.

    The "Farnsworth" method is accomplished by sending the dits and dashes
    and intra-character spacing at a higher speed, then increasing the
    inter-character and inter-word spacing to slow the sending speed down
    to the desired speed.  For example, to send at 5 wpm with 13 wpm
    characters in Farnsworth method, the dits and intra-character spacing
    would be 92.3 milliseconds, the dash would be 276.9 milliseconds, the
    inter-character spacing would be 1.443 seconds and inter-word spacing
    would be 3.367 seconds.

**  I'm confused. What do all those abbreviations mean???
    AM    Amplitude Modulation
    AMSAT    Amateur Satellite Corporation
    AMTOR    Amateur Teleprinter Over Radio.  A more sophisticated version
        of RTTY.  Also used commercially as SITOR (Simplex Teleprinter
        Over Radio).
    ARRL    American Radio Relay League
    ATV    Amateur Television - a way to see who you're talking to!
    CAP    Civil Air Patrol is a volunteer organization that searches for
        downed aircraft and missing kids and uses frequencies just
        outside of the ham bands and often uses modified Amateur radios
    CB    Citizen's Band radio, this is NOT part of Amateur Radio and
        does not require any license to operate
    CQ    An on-the-air request for a conversation with anyone
    "dupes"    A dupe sheet is a duplicate check sheet, in matrix format, used
        to quickly check that you have not had a "duplicate" contact
        with someone (on a specific band or mode) in a contest
    Elmer    An amateur radio mentor, or "Master Craftsman" to a new ham.
        Could refer to anyone, regardless of age or gender.
    FCC    Federal Communications Commission, the "law enforcers"
    FM    Frequency Modulation
    FieldDay A June activity to practice emergency communications for
        24 hours....wives call it 'an exercise in male bonding' :-).
    HF    High Frequency - 3 MHz to 30 MHz
    HT    Handy-Talky, a shorthand for "hand held radio"
    LF    Low Frequency - 30 kHz to 3 MHz
    MARS    Military Affiliate Radio System, military affiliated Amateurs
        who provide free communications for overseas GIs and other
        Federal services.  MARS operators are licensed under DoD
        instead of FCC.
    NTS    National Traffic System, a way to send radiograms
    OF    Old Friend, or Old F#$%, used to denote an older ham
    OM    Old Man, refers to any ham, including female hams
    packet    computer bulletin boards/electronic mail via Amateur Radio
    PRB    Private Radio Bureau, administers Amateur and CB services
    QSO    One of the Q signals used in Morse code to mean "conversation"
    QCWA    Quarter Century Wireless Association, membership means you've
        been a ham for more than 25 years
    RTTY    Radio Teletype - older form of computer communications on HF
    SAREX    In Amateur Radio talk, Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment, a
        chance to talk to astronauts in space.  In CAP talk, Search
        and Rescue EXercise, practicing for the real thing.
    SK    Silent Key, a nice polite way  to say a ham has passed on "to
        that great antenna farm in the sky"
    SSB    Single Side Band - need less band width than AM or FM
    SSTV    Slow Scan TeleVision - REALLY slow, low data rate, typically
        used on the lower frequency bands
    UHF    Ultra High Frequency - 300 MHz and above
    ULF    Ultra Low Frequency - 30 Hz to 300 Hz
    VHF    Very High Frequency - 30 MHz to 300 MHz
    VLF    Very Low Frequency - 300 Hz to 30 kHz, audio frequencies
    WARC    World Administrative Radio Conference, a summit meeting that
        occurs every few years, required by international treaty to
        determine how the spectrum get sliced up to all vying
        communications services (last one was in 1992)
    XYL    eX-Young Lady, or wife
    YL    Young Lady, non-ham girlfriend or female ham
    2m    Shorthand for "2 meters" (144-147.995 MHz), which is a
        reference to the wavelength of a common Amateur frequency
        band used for local communications

**  What do all those "tones" mean?
    Sub-Audible Tone:  A low tone that you're not supposed to be able to
    hear.  It's used as a "PL Tone."  PL is "Private Line", a trademark
    of Motorola for their implementation of CTCSS (Continuous Tone Coded
    Squelch System).  Basically, the transmitter sends the signal with
    the Sub-Audible tone and the receiver only opens when it hears signals
    with that tone.  Signals without the proper tone are ignored.  This
    is useful for "closed" repeaters, or for repeaters on the same
    frequency that have overlapping geographic areas.
    Tone encode refers to the feature of providing the tone on transmit.
    Tone decode refers to the feature of responding to the tone on receive.
    Tone squelch refers to all of the above.  DTMF refers to Dual Tone
    Multi-Frequency, or "Touch Tone" which is a trademark of AT&T.  DTSS
    probably means Dual Tone Squelch System and refers to the feature of
    providing a predefined sequence of Touch Tone digits to open the
    repeater for transmit.  DTSS is an alternate method from CTCSS, which
    provides a way to use a "closed" repeater even if your radio doesn't
    do Sub-Audible Tones.

**  Where can I learn more about Amateur Radio if I live outside the US?
    Write to the ARRL and ask.  They can usually tell you how to get a
    license in your country.

    If you know of any location where this information is available
    electronically, whether by an e-mail server, anonymous FTP, or a
    contact person, please mail it to us so we can include it here.  Send
    it to [e-mail].

**  How can I get a "reciprocal license" if I am a licensed ham from another
**  country or if I am a FCC licensed ham who wants to operate in another
**  country (on vacation)?
    You need to submit a FCC Form 610-A to the FCC, PO Box 1020,
    Gettysburg, PA 17326.  They will then send you a reciprocal permit
    for alien amateur licensee (FCC Form 610-AL).  You must be a citizen
    of a country with which the United States has arrangements to grant
    reciprocal operating permits to visiting alien Amateur operators.

    For FCC licensed hams operating abroad, the following guidelines
    apply:
    * A reciprocal license is required in all foreign countries (that have
      a reciprocal operating agreement with the US), except Canada, where
      the FCC license is automatically valid.
    * Send a SASE to ARRL Regulatory Information Branch, telling them
      which country you are going to visit and they will send you the
      info and an application form.  Foreign hams can likewise request
      information from their national Amateur radio society.
    * Submit your application with a certified copy of your Amateur
      license (ie, notarized copy), and fee if applicable (use a bank draft
      of a bank that does business in that country) to the appropriate
      licensing administration of the foreign country.  Processing may
      take 30 to 90 days.
    * If less than one month, you could try sending the application and
      pick up the permit upon arrival in that country.
    * Most countries will not allow you to bring communications equipment
      into their country without a license or permit.  If you applied, but
      haven't received the permit yet, show the copy and your FCC license
      to the customs officer, however, the equipment may still be held at
      customs until your departure.
    * Be sure to use only those frequencies covered by your FCC license
      which are also used in the foreign country, unless otherwise
      authorized.

**  My apartment or housing complex does not allow outdoor antennas, now what
     do I do?
    First of all, don't despair.  Many hams have similar problems.  Many
    books offer advice for the growing group of hams that cannot put up
    antennas.  Some options are:
    * Install an "invisible" antenna made of magnet wire.
    * Disguise an antenna as a flag pole.
    * Install an antenna in the attic.
    * ASK the apartment manager.  You may find they will let you put up
      something as long as it "is invisible" or "doesn't disturb your
      neighbors" or "doesn't attract lightning".
    * Operate primarily from your car.
    * If the restriction is due to local ordinance, you may have relief
      via PRB-1.  Meet with the local government and seek an informal
      compromise.  It is possible to win in court...but it's expensive and
      time consuming.
    * If you are restricted by "covenants" attached to the deed of your
      home, your options are severely limited.  Covenants are considered
      to be private, voluntary contracts between individuals and are
      outside of the intended application of PRB-1.  In many cases, you
      can petition the Homeowner's Association for an exception.  Sometimes
      you can win in court on the basis that other violations of the
      covenants by others without action taken constitutes abandonment
      of the agreement.
    * For further information, contact the General Consel's office of the
      ARRL, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111.