[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1276 - January 25, 2002

[Tim Miller]

The following is a Q-S-T.  AMSAT North America says YES to 
hand-held ham satellite and Amateur Radio starts growing once again.  
These stories are first on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1276 
coming your war right now. 
 
** 
 
HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  AMSAT PROPOSES MICROSAT LEO IN SPACE 
 
Imagine getting up in the morning, picking up your dual-band H-T and 
calling a friend half way around the word by ham radio satellite.  Its a 
pipe dream right now but in a few short years it could be reality if 
AMSAT North America has it way.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Roy Neal. has 
the details on a satellite proposal that could become everyone easy to 
access bird: 
 
-- 
JUST IMAGINE A SPACE BASED MULTI CHANNEL REPEATER, FLYING IN ORBIT.  
HAMS ON EARTH COULD ACCESS IT EASILY, THEN TALK BACK AND FORTH ON 
DEDICATED CHANNELS IN THE 2 METER AND 70 CENTIMETER BANDS.  THIS  COULD 
ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR MOST OF OUR EARTH BOUND RELAY STATIONS. 
 
FROM MY HOME IN HIGH POINT NORTH CAROLINA, I COULD TALK TO OUR EDITOR, 
BILL PASTERNAK, WHEN HE'S STUCK IN TRAFFIC IN LOS ANGELES' SEPULVEDA 
PASS.  WHENEVER THE BIRD IS FLYING OVER THIS PART OF THE WORLD WE COULD 
HAVE INSTANT, CLEAR COMMUNICATION, GOING UP ON ONE CHANNEL AND COMING 
BACK ON ANOTHER. 
 
IT'S A GLEAM IN THE EYE OF THE AMSAT NORTH AMERICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT 
THE MOMENT BUT WAS APPROVED BY THEM RECENTLY AND WHEN AMSAT TACKLES SUCH 
PROJECTS, IT HAS A REMARKABLE RECORD OF MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. AS 
PROPOSED,  
 
AMSAT SAYS THE MICROSAT WOULD BE POWERED USING HIGH EFFICIENCY SOLAR 
CELLS.  IN ADDITION TO THE REPEATER, IT ALSO WILL CARRY ONE OR MORE 
EXPERIMENTAL MODES OF TRANSMISSION: MODES NOT YET DETERMINED. 
 
THE BIG QUESTION  IS HOW LONG T WILL TAKE TO GET THIS PROPOSED  
SATELLITE DESIGNED, BUILT AND LAUNCHED.  BUT THIS PROPOSAL ILLUSTRATES 
THE TECHNICAL ADVENTURES THAT HIGHLIGHT THE POSSIBLE FUTURE OF  HAM 
RADIO. 
 
FOR THE AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE,  ROY NEAL, K6DUE. 
 
 
-- 
 
AMSAT North America says that more details on this exciting new 
satellite project will be announced in the next few weeks.  (AMSAT-NA) 
 
** 
 
HAM RADIO NUMBERS:  THE HOBBY IS GROWING AGAIN 
 
Ham radio is growing again.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW has the details: 
 
-- 
Some numbers that the ham radio industry will be glad to hear in these 
hard economic times.  According to a census on the QRZ Super Site, as of 
January 15th, there are now 720,194 Amateur Radio Licenses in the United 
States.  Of these, 99,470 are Extra Class, 88,982 hold the legacy 
Advanced Class, 142,723 are now General Class,  95,174 hold the legacy 
Technician Plus, an unbelievable 241,179 are codefree Technicians while 
only 52,666 are left holding the legacy Novice class.   
 
By geographic location, California has more hams than any other place.  
The Golden State represents over 15 percent of the nations total with 
109374 of its citizens licensed as Radio Amateurs.  And there has been 
some dramatic growth in Texas which has unseated Florida as the Second 
place leader with 6.23 percent.  Florida now is in third place with 5.99 
percent.  Forth place goes to New York State with 4.76 percent with 
another growing state -- Ohio breathing at its boots with 4.43 percent. 
 
It should be noted that these figures include military, recreational and 
club call signs.  When you look at the adjusted numbers, the number is 
closer to 692,000 which is still a sizable increase over the figures in 
June of 2000.  That seems to have been the low point of the past ten 
years when numbers dipped to only 674,792 people holding ham radio 
licenses in the United States. 
 
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los 
Angeles. 
 
-- 
 
By the way, legacy license classes we refereed to are those discontinued 
when ham radio restructuring was introduced.  The Advanced, Technician 
Plus and Novice fall into that category.  They can be renewed, but no 
new licenses in those classes are offered.  (W5YI, QRZ, others) 
 
** 
 
ARRL:  FIRST BOARD MEETING OF 2002 
 
If the ARRL has its way, several current United States Novice bands will 
be re-apportioned to give other license classes more operating space.  
This was just one of many decisions made by the League's Board of 
Directors as it met near Dallas Texas on January 25th and 26th.   
 
According to an ARRL Bulletin, other issues acted on include a changes 
to the League's rules governing the eligibility for election of Section 
Managers and their legal responsibilities after assuming office.  Also 
discussed was the effect of low power devices that operate under Part 15 
of the FCC's rules. 
 
League members should find a complete report on the meeting and the 
numerous board actions posted in cyberspace at www.arrl.org.  Those that 
don't have a computer and web access should find complete details of 
what transpired will appear in an upcoming issue of QST Magazine, but it 
will be the last time. The board also voted to discontinue the Moved and 
Forwarded column as another cost cutting measure.    
 
Meantime, our congratulations to Jim Haynie, W5JBP on his re-election to 
a second term as President and to Freed Heyn,WA6WZO, who succeeds John 
Kanode, N4MM, as Third Vice President of the American Radio Relay 
League.  (ARRL Bulletin, other sources) 
 
** 
 
ENFORCEMENT:  MEGA FINE ISSUED TO ALLEGED TEXAS BOOTLEGGER 
 
Operating without a license and harassing licensed radio amateurs is 
going to cost a Texas man a lot of money.  This, as the FCC tells David 
Edwin Merrell that it's time to pay up.  Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, is 
the FCC's Special Council for Amateur Radio Enforcement: 
 
-- 
Hollingsworth: "The Enforcement Bureau released a $10,000 forfeiture to 
David Edwin Merrell of Wichita Falls Texas for unlicensed, unidentified 
operation related to malicious interference to the 3.905 MHz Century 
Club Net that meets on 40 meters.  That was released December 26th." 
-- 
 
Back on September 10th, 2001, the Commission's Dallas, Texas, Office 
issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of 
$10,000 to Merrell.  Merrell did not respond.  Based on the information 
before the FCC the agency affirmed the fine.  Merrill was given the 
customary 30 days to pay. (FCC) 
 
** 
 
ENFORCEMENT:  BIG FINE PROPOSED AGAINST PHONE GIANT 
 
The Federal Communications Commission has proposed fining SBC 
Communications Inc. six million dollars for allegedly violating the 
terms of its 1999 merger with Ameritech.  The FCC claims that SBC, one 
of the nation's largest local telephone companies, failed to comply with 
certain pro-competitive actions set out as a condition of approval for 
the merger.   
 
The FCC had required the San Antonio-based company to give competitors 
providing local telephone service in five former Ameritech states access 
to its network for local toll calls on certain favorable terms. An 
investigation by the FCC's enforcement bureau, based on complaints from 
competitors, found that SBC tried to restrict the ability to carry 
telephone traffic from one switching office to another by other 
carriers.  
 
The five states involved in this action are Wisconsin, Illinois, 
Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.  SBC says that it will appeal.  (FCC, 
published reports) 
  
** 
 
RADIO REGULATIONS:  NEW FCC ANTENNA STRUCTURE REGISTRATION SITE 
 
The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has announced an extensive 
redesign of the Antenna Structure Registration Application Search and 
Registration Search queries.  The redesigned queries can be found at 
http://www.fcc.gov/wtb/antenna.  A "test search" conducted by the CGC 
Communicator  worked easily and flawlessly.  The old system was anything 
but easy to use.  More information is at 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-96A1.doc  (CGC 
Communicator) 
 
** 
 
THE RADIO MARKETPLACE:  CQ VHF RETURNS 
 
Hams asked for it.  Hams lobbied for it.  And now hams who live their 
Amateur Radio in the world above 50 MHz are getting their wish.  This 
with the announcement that CQ VHF magazine will resume publication as a 
quarterly publication this spring.   
 
CQ VHF was created six years ago to meet the needs of VHF and UHF 
amateurs and was an outstanding editorial success.  However, weak 
advertising and poor news stand sales market made it economically 
unlivable by the end of 1999.  
 
The new CQ VHF is designed with these marketplace realities in mind and 
will rely primarily on subscription revenues to meet expenses.  Rich 
Moseson, W2VU is the current editor of CQ Magazine and the former editor 
of CQ VHF: 
 
-- 
 
Moseson:  "We have not gone to a hamfest where we have not heard from 
several people saying '...I'm still mad that dropped CQ VHF.  I still 
miss CQ VHF.  Isn't there any way to bring back CQ VHF?' 
 
The numbers have not dropped off as the two years have gone by.  So, we 
started looking several months ago at ways that we could bring it back 
and make it work economically.  And we think we have got it." 
 
-- 
 
Longtime CQ magazine "VHF-Plus" Editor Joe Lynch, N6CL, has been 
selected as  Editor of the new CQ VHF quarterly.  The magazine will be 
available by subscription for $25.00 a year in the United States.  It 
will also be available over the counter at select ham dealers 
nationwide.  The first issue is due out in May.  (CQ Magazine) 
 
** 
 
THE RADIO MARKETPLACE:  WACOM SELLS TO TX RX 
 
Repeater owners and other users of cavity resonators listen up.  In case 
you have not heard, TX RX Systems has purchased Wacom.  According to 
word over the VHF Reflector, the current factory is to be shuttered and 
manufacturing of the Wacom products be transferred to  the TX RX 
facility.  TX RX has promised to continue the Wacom line.  (VHF 
Reflector) 
 
** 
 
THE RADIO MARKETPLACE:  ARRL COLLECTING DATA FOR NEXT REPEATER DIRECTORY  
 
The ARRL Letter says that data collection for the 2002 through 2003 
edition of the Repeater Directory is under way.  The League accepts data 
only from bonafide repeater coordinators based on a long-standing 
directive from the ARRL Board.   
 
If you want to be listed accurately, then update your local frequency 
coordinator right now. Contact information for coordinators throughout 
the country is available from the National Frequency Coordinators' 
Council Web site at http://www.arrl.org/nfcc or from Brennan Price by 
e-mail to n4qx at arrl.org.   
 
The 31st edition of this very popular reference book is due on sale 
around Hamvention time in mid-May.  (ARRL) 
 
** 
 
NAMES IN THE NEWS:  KB1SF NEW AMSAT-NA EVP 
 
Keith Baker, KB1SF, who is the immediate past President of AMSAT North 
America is now the Executive Vice President of that group.  Baker 
volunteered to take on the post at the same recent teleconference 
meeting where the new satellite reported earlier was approved.  The 
Executive Vice President slot had not been filled when the Board of 
Directors met earlier in Atlanta Georgia.  (AMSAT-NA) 
 
** 
 
NAMES IN THE NEWS:  W0QA TO HOST TWO INTERNET RADIO SHOWS 
 
Remember Steve Bauer, W0QA, who used to report for us here on amateur 
Radio Newsline?  You may remember him better under his old call sign 
KC0HF.  Well we are delighted to report that Steve has gone on to some 
bigger and better things including a pair of new Internet radio programs 
that have premiered on A-C-B Radio Interactive.  We caught up with Steve 
last weekend and asked him to tell us a bit about both shows: 
 
-- 
 
Bauer: "My shows are unique in the fact that I play classic country on 
one particular show on Sunday from 1400 to 1600 UTC and then I play 
smooth jazz on Tuesday from 2300 to 0300 UTC on Wednesday.  The shows 
give me an opportunity to use my skills as an announcer as I did 
commercial radio back in the `70's, and to have a little fun at the same 
time." 
 
-- 
 
A-C-B Radio Interactive is operated by the American Council for the 
Blind.  All of its programming is live and all presenters are visually 
impaired or sightless.  You can listen in to Steve's show and lots of 
others on the web at http://interactive.acbradio.org  (ARNewsline(tm)) 
 
** 
 
THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  ROBERT "BOB" ROETTELE W8UNV - S.K. 
 
The changing of the guard in Amateur Radio continues with word of the 
death of Robert "Bob" Roettele, W8UNV.  Bob passed on January 18th of an 
apparent heart attack.   
 
For many of you, the name Bob Roettele and the call sign W8UNV will mean 
little.  To us here at Amateur Radio Newsline, Bob was a very special 
friend and one of the people who opened the door to our participation in 
the Dayton Hamvention starting way back in 1979.  

Among his many accomplishments, Bob was a past officer of the Dayton 
Amateur Radio Association and served several terms as Hamvention Awards 
Chairman.  That's how we at Amateur Radio Newsline first met him, and he 
literally became a lifelong friend to many of us. 
 
Probably the best way to describe Bob Roettele are the words of his 
friend Ron Moorefield, W8ILC.  Moorefield called Roettele "a kind and 
gentle man who never met a anyone he considered to be a stranger."  
 
Bob Roettele, W8UNV, was at home celebrating his 81st birthday when the 
heart attack occurred.  He is survived by his wife Grace to whom he was 
married 54 years.  He also had  three children,  eleven grandchildren 
and three great grand children.  His funeral was on January 22nd at the 
Newcomer-Barclay Funeral Home in Dayton Ohio.  Condolence cards can be 
sent to the family at W8UNV's call book address.  (W8ILC) 
 
** 
 
SPECIAL EVENTS:  SNOW DID NOT STOP HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY 2002 
 
Despite a snowfall the night before, over 300 people came to the third 
annual ARRL New York City and Long Island Section Convention that 
featured Ham Radio University 2002.   According to Diane Ortiz, N2DO, 
the event was held on Sunday, January 20th in the city of Babylon, about 
30 miles east of New York City.  Ham Radio University is a day long 
event of forums and education about various aspects of the hobby.  
(N2DO) 
 
** 

FROM SPACE:  HAM RADIO STYLE 
 
Andy Thomas, G0SFJ says that there is now music of space.  Well sort of.   
 
Andy says over the SAREX remailer that while driving home late one night 
he was listening to some tunes on Top 40 Radio.  Suddenly there was a 
voice in Russian sounding remarkably like a cosmonaut onboard Mir or 
other Russian spacecraft, including machinery noises in the background.  
 
With the help of his 12 year old son, G0SFJ tracked it down to a C-D 
called Resurrection by a Russian band called PPK.  Andy bought the album 
at Christmas-time.  He then e-mailed the band at the address on their 
website to find out what the voice was.  A few days later he received a 
reply from Sergey Pimonov of PPK.  He told G0SFJ  that the voice on the 
C-D was that of Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin that were stored in the 
Russian radio archives.  (SAREX Remailer) 
 
** 
 
 
INTERNATIONAL-CANADA:  VE3CFL NAMED VE AMATEUR OF THE YEAR 
 
The Radio Amateurs of Canada Board of Directors has elected  Charles 
Leggatt, VE3CFL of Toronto, as the Canadian Radio Amateur of the Year 
for 2001.  Leggatt's contributions to amateur include providing training 
s some 200 persons to become radio amateurs over the past 12 years.  
VE3CFL has served as a relay station for the Mississauga Maritime net 
for the last 13 years. (RAC) 
 
** 
 
RADIOSPORTS:  SWOT TO HONOR VHF SWEEPS WINNERS 
 
John Petersen, KM5ES, the president of SideWinders on Two has announced 
that the organization will award plaques to the top two meter scores 
during the ARRL January 2002 VHF Sweepstakes. Plaques will be given to 
the top Single Operator High Power, Single Operator Low Power, Rover, 
and Multi-operator stations.  All amateurs are eligible to participate, 
whether or not they are member of SideWinders on Two. 
 
SideWinders on Two is a group of amateur radio enthusiasts promoting 
full usage of the two meter band with an emphasis on the weak signal 
operations. Winners will be announced on the groups website at 
home.swbt.net/wd5djt.  (SWOT) 
 
** 
 
NETS ON THE AIR:  THE BLUEGRASS PICKERS NET 
 
If you are a ham that enjoys Bluegrass music -- or who plays it,  listen 
up.  K3GA reports over the Internet that a new Bluegrass Pickers High 
Frequency net is now in the planning stages.  If you are interested in 
joining such a group contact K3GA by e-mail to scruggsbanjo at aol.com 
(Internet post) 
 
** 
 
DX 
 
In D-X, word that GB2RS news editor Steve Telenius-Lowe, G4JVG, will be 
operating from the Maldives as 8Q7SL from the 21st of January, until the 
3rd of February.  Listen for him on 10 to 80 meters SSB only.  Steve is 
using 400 watts to a vertical close to the water's edge.  (RSGB) 
 
Also, listen for F6FXS to active on all bands CW and SSB as FG slash 
F6FXS or FG5 slash F6FXS from Guadeloupe.  He will be there until 
February 7th.  (RSGB)

And DJ4SO will be active as V5 slash DJ4SO from Namibia through the 6th 
of February.  He will try to operate on 10 to 160 meters and perhaps 6 
meters as well on CW and RTTY, with some SSB and PSK-31 operation.  For 
all three, QSL as directed on the air.  (RSGB) 
 
** 
 
THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE 900 MILE GAMEBOY DASH 
 
And finally, another kind of communications.  The kind one finds between 
a parent and child.  It comes from the U-K where a devoted mother 
traveled 900 miles so her son could play with his GameBoy on a school 
trip.  More in this report: 
 
-- 
According to news reports, Carol Dukes spent the equivalent of $220 in 
United States currency on planes and taxis.  This, in a dash from her 
home in Berkshire to London's Heathrow Airport and on to Scotland to 
catch her 11-year-old son Charlie after she realized he had left the 
handheld computer game at home. 
 
Charlie Dukes was on a school field trip.  Carol Dukes caught up with 
her son's train at the Dumbarton station near Glasgow.  She says that 
she is not an overindulgent mother but did feel responsible for 
repacking Charlie's bag and forgetting to replace the game and his 
pencil case.   
 
Ironically, Charlie Dukes and his thirty-nine classmates were bound for 
the isolated island of Iona.  The reason for the trip was to learn about 
life without any modern comforts or communications devices.