[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1281 - March 1, 2002

Tim Miller tmiller at nethawk.com
Sat Mar 2 03:25:20 EST 2002


The following is a Q-S-T.

A new T-N-C for the I-S-S and lots of news in the enforcement arena on 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1281 coming your way right now.

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NEW TNC SOLVES NOCALL PROBLEM ON THE ISS

A new packet radio Terminal Node Controller with the RS0ISS callsign in 
memory is now on the air from the International Space Station.  The 
folks in ARISS hope this will be a final solution to a problem that has 
been plaguing ISS packet operations for quite a while.  Roy Neal, 
K6DUE, has the details:

--

The NOCALL call sign is out, RS ZERO ISS is in and hams using packet all 
over the world are enjoying their contacts with the new system aboard 
the international space station when the first amateur radio station was 
sent up to the ISS, the packet system didn't work.  The astronauts 
didn't have time to trouble shoot but clever work by a team of ham radio 
controllers soon identified the problem. 

The Terminal Node Controller, or TNC, was supposed to work just like 
the hundreds in service in ham shacks all over the world.  You connect 
it to a computer, program parameters and go on the air.  But the battery 
that was supposed to power the TNC Memory had failed.  The ARISS team  
managed to figure out how to power up the packet but the unit defaulted 
to its manufacturer's  settings including the word NOCALL instead of 
accepting a call sign. 

No problem for earthly operators_just a nuisance.  They've been happily 
operating packet through the station ever since.   Now though they call 
rs0iss instead of "NOCALL" because a new module, using a specially 
developed "read only memory" chip is in service.  It has a backup 
battery system and an extended 1 megabyte memory so  even if its new 
battery loses memory, the call letters and other parameters will remain.  
They are permanent.

Ariss Chairman, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, says the packet station's mailbox 
function is being activated but suggests that hams not use it right now.  
There is no computer hooked up to the  module at this writing and the 
crew is too busy to respond to messages that might be posted.

The uplink frequency remains 145 dot 99 and downlink is 145 dot 8 zero 
mhz.  Try it.  The new packet system is on the air.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Roy Neal, K6DUE

--

According to KA3HDO, the checkout of the packet module has been a team 
effort between the Russians and American ARISS teams.  Bauer says that 
hopefully it will pay off with a more capable packet radio system on 
board the ISS.  (ARNewsline™ from information supplied by AMSAT and 
ARISS)

**

RADIO REGULATIONS:  CQ VS. THE FCC ON CCR

The cover story in March issue of CQ Magazine is an in depth look at the 
FCC's refusal to extend its partial preemption of state and local 
antenna laws to cover deed restrictions and homeowner association rules.  
Currently, state and local laws that restrict amateur antennas or towers 
must "reasonably accommodate" amateur operation.  

The American Radio Relay League petitioned the FCC to expand preemption 
to cover deed restrictions.  The latest and final ruling came from the 
commissioners themselves.  They essentially said they won't challenge 
these private contracts without specific orders from Congress. 

Until that happens, CQ believes that the tens of thousands of hams who 
live under these types of restrictions are effectively barred from 
putting up stations at home.  CQ says the commissioners are really 
saying that these hams should find some other place to operate. 

CQ covers the topic in Rich Moseson, W2VU's editorial and in Fred Maia  
W5YI's "Washington Readout" column.  A sneak peak including the complete 
W2VU editorial is available at the CQ website.  Its in cyberspace at 
www.cq-amateur-radio.com (CQ)

**

RADIO LAW:  AMATEUR ANTENNA BILL FILED IN WEST VIRGINIA

The legislature here in West Virginia has passed a PRB-1 -like antenna 
protection measure this week and will send it to Governor Bob Wise.  
Modeled after a Texas law, West Virginia House Bill 4335 prohibits local 
governments in the state from passing laws that unreasonably regulate 
Amateur Radio antennas and their support structures in regard to height 
and location. The measure eliminates the need for hams in West Virginia 
to mount costly challenges to local antenna laws. The bill is the work 
of West Virginia House of Delegates member Sharon Spencer, KC8KVF.  
(ARNewsline)

**

RADIO LAW:  AMATEUR ANTENNA BILL FILED IN TENNESSEE 

Meantime, Tennessee is also considering pro Amateur Radio antenna 
legislation.  According to the ARRL Letter, identical bills were filed 
January 31st in both houses of the Tennessee General Assembly.  Like 
West Virginia, the bills would incorporate the essence of PRB-1 into 
state law.

House Bill 2973 and Senate Bill 3058 would amend Tennessee law to 
require that municipalities regulating the placement, screening or 
height of radio antennas reasonably accommodate amateur radio antennas.  
The bills also call for regulators to impose only the minimum 
requirements necessary to meet legitimate local requirements.  

If the legislation is approved and signed by Governor Don Sundquist, 
municipalities in Tennessee would not be able to restrict the number of 
support structures for an Amateur Radio antennas.  (ARRL)

**

VANITY PROCESSING WAITING SINGLE REFILING 

If you are among the 2000 or so hams waiting for a vanity call, listen 
up.  A lone missing paper application is currently is holding up the 
resumption of routine vanity call processing.

According to an ARRL bulletin, the FCC processed 33 vanity applications 
received last October 23 and 24 on February 26th.  Another  41 
applications received October 25 and 26 were handled on February 27th.  

But processing the remaining applications remains stalled beyond that 
date.  This is  because all efforts by the FCC with assistance of the 
ARRL to locate the elusive applicant have so far failed.

The FCC appears determined to hold off further processing until the 
remaining applicant is given an opportunity to resubmit an application.  
This, so that said applicant can retain a place in the Vanity Call Sign 
processing line up. 

The FCC admits that some two weeks' worth of October paper vanity 
applications were apparently mislaid after mail was sent off for anthrax 
decontamination last fall.  The  official policy of the FCC is to give 
equal processing priority to both paper and electronic applications.  
(ARRL)

**

RADIO LAW:  HAM RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN AZ SUPPORTS PRB 1

An Arizona ham is running for public office but the issues in his 
platform are not only Amateur Radio related.  Tim Weaver, KD7DDG, is 
running for Mayor of Glendale Arizona, and its hockey over hams:

--
KD7DDG: "Over the last couple of years I've seen the city to in my mind 
ignore the will of the people and do things that I didn't think were in 
the best interest of taxpayers.  The most recent one is the funding of a 
hockey arena to the tune of $400 million over the course of the bond 
issue and we didn't get a chance to vote on it at all."
--

Weaver, is a Republican but the office of Mayor of Glendale Arizona is 
non partisan.  He says that he supports the FCC's PRB 1  preemption 
document regarding Amateur Radio antennas, and in his view this is one 
of many areas that falls under a need to be vigilant:

--
KD7DDG: "I've begun to learn that a lot of the infringement on rights, 
such as the ability to put up antennas or ham radio towers -- CCR's and 
homeowners associations aside -- a lot of the infringement on that and 
many other rights that get trampled upon are happening at the lower 
levels.  You can have laws passed at the state level -- left, right and 
center -- but when it's being violated at the city level then it means 
nothing.  So I decided to act locally."
--

Tim Weaver, KA7DDG, has a lot more to say about ham radio and local 
politics.  You can hear all of it by taking your web browser to 
www.rainreport.com or call on the phone to area code 847-827-7246.  
(ARNewsline, RAIN)

**

RADIO LAW:  FOIA CORRECTION AND UPDATE 

An update and a correction to a story we reported two weeks ago 
regarding Freedom of Information Act requests filed by hams.  We stated 
that these requests are routinely turned down by the FCC.  

Soon after that story aired we received a note from the FCC telling us 
that this information was totally incorrect, and asking where we got it.  
We replied that we had gotten the same way most hams did.  That being 
from talks and open forum Question and Answer Sessions hosted by FCC 
personnel at numerous hamfests and conventions.  Some dating back as far 
as the 1970's.

Over the next week a number of e-mails were exchanged and we learned the 
following information that we now pass along to you.  There is no policy 
to routinely turn down Freedom of Information Act requests from hams.  
Like any other request of this nature, each request will be evaluated by 
an FCC lawyer before being acted on.  Also,  that this has always been 
the procedure in regard to such requests and anything we have heard or 
been told to the contrary is false.  Even if we or you heard it and 
taped the words of someone representing the FCC.  (ARNewsline™ from 
information supplied by the FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  NO INFORMATION MEANS NO LICENSE

A want-to-be ham has been told by the FCC that he may never be permitted 
to hold an Amateur Radio license unless he owns up to alleged past 
misdeeds.  This, as the regulatory agency acts to dismiss an application 
for a Technician class license filed by Bryan C. Bailey of Hurst Texas.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP,  takes an in-depth look at 
the case:

--
Back on October 19th of 2001, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau set 
aside the Technician Class license and K5PXQ call sign it had issued to 
Bryan C. Bailey.  The agency says that the action was based on 
complaints that Bailey operated before his license was issued.  Also of 
deliberate interference complaints received after Bailey was issued a 
license last October 3rd.   So on October 19th Bailey's application 
reverted to a pending status and the matter was referred to the 
Enforcement Bureau.   According to the FCC's Riley Hollingsworth there 
were questions that needed to be answered:

--
Hollingsworth:  "We requested specific information from Bailey regarding 
his location on certain days.  He declined to provide that information.  
As a result the application as dismissed by the Wireless bureau."
--
 
What the FCC wanted to know was Bailey's whereabouts on September 18, 
2001.  The FCC contends on that day Bailey operated Amateur equipment 
without a license on two meters and interfered with an Amateur radio 
station attempting to report a tornado sighting near Lewisville, Texas.  
The FCC so wanted to explain a September 24, 2001 incident where its 
alleged that he was operating without a license in Lewisville, and 
subsequently followed an another ham who had tracked him down back to 
the city of The Colony, Texas.   In The Colony, the FCC says that 
evidence indicates that Bailey admitted to two people that he had been 
deliberately jamming Two Meter repeaters, gave details regarding the 
antenna used and the locations, and displayed a copy of his Certificate 
for Successful Completion of an Amateur examination.  

But Bailey refused.  Now he is an ex-ham on the outside - looking in.  
And the FCC says that if Bailey ever applies for a new license, the 
issues still outstanding will have to be addressed before a decision 
will be made on any application. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP. 

--
 
In its notification to Bailey the FCC also cautioned him that he has no 
authority to operate any radio-transmitting equipment.  (FCC)
 
	 
**

ENFORCEMENT:  CB AMP PICTURES BRING STATION INSPECTION

A Northern California ham has had a visit from the FCC.  This, after 
allegedly posting pictures on a website that purport to show his 10 
kilowatt linear amplifier operating on CB Channel 6. 

Agents from the Heyward, California office visited the ham on February 
5th.  At that time not only his Amateur Radio station, but  all radio 
equipment was inspected. 

The FCC says that a Notice of Violation will be issued.  Meantime, the 
regulatory agency says that all of the antennas have been taken down and 
that no other details will be released at this time.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  CASE DISMISSED

The FCC has dismissed as trivial a complaint brought against a Florida 
ham by another radio amateur.  The matter involved Joseph D. Bushel, 
Jr., W2DWR, of Live Oak and charges of his causing allegations of 
interference to the K4EHM repeater.  

In its letter to Bushel closing the case, the FCC said it had reviewed 
his response along with that of the Columbia Amateur Radio Society in 
Lake City and found the complaint to be frivolous.  The Commission also 
thanked Bushel for his prompt response.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: ILLEGAL CORDLESS PHONE SELLER FINED

Call it an almost instant replay.  This, as the FCC fines yet another 
supplier of high power cordless telephones for selling the devices in 
the United States.  

This time the letter from FCC Enforcement Bureau Chief David H. Soloman 
goes to Lightning Electronics of Miami Florida.  Like the one we 
reported on last week to Electronics Unlimited, Lightning is being  told 
to pay a $7000 fine for allegedly selling the overpowered telephones and 
not responding to an earlier Notice of Violation.  

And as in the case of Electronics Unlimited, the FCC says that Lightning 
Electronics has thirty days to pay up.  If it fails to do so it could 
face collection action from the Department of Justice.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC SAYS NO TO CELLULAR ANTENNA FLASHING DISPLAYS
The FCC has issued a warning to marketers of RF activated lights 
operating on or near cellular telephones.  It says point blank -- don't 
use them.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the 
details:
--
A release from he Enforcement Bureau's Brett Greenwalt minces no words.  
It says that anyone using devices to demonstrate cellular telephone 
antennas could be fined up to $10,000 on a first offense.
Greenwalt describes the units as a popular cellular telephone antenna 
accessory that includes a flashing light on the tip of the antenna.  The 
lamps themselves are harmless, but the vendor- display units used to 
demonstrate them can cause interference to licensed radio services.
Greenwalt says that any device that use radio frequency energy, such as 
these display units, require approval from the FCC prior to marketing or 
use.  The FCC approved devices can be identified by a permanently 
attached label stating compliance with FCC Part 15 requirements.  And at 
this time says Greenwalt,  there are no FCC approved Flashing Cellular 
Antenna Displays.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los 
Angeles.

--

The bottom line.  Vendors operating Flashing Cellular Antenna Displays 
are advised to turn off these devices immediately.  Those who continue 
to operate them are in violation of Section 302 of the Communications 
Act and the FCC says that it will act.  (FCC)

**

FM AND REPEATERS:  LEADERSHIP CHANGE AT METROCOR

Big changes at MetroCor, the Metro New York City area repeater 
coordination group.   We have this report:

--
Larry Lutzak, WA2CNV has replaced former "This Week In Amateur Radio" 
radio show host Stephan Anderman, K2SMA, as President of MetroCor.  
Anderman was one of the primary movers behind the formation of MetroCor 
in July of 2000.  This, as a replacement for the Tri State Amateur 
Repeater Council which fell apart several years earlier.  No reason was 
given for Anderman's decision to stand down

According to a press release Lutzak's number one priority for   MetroCor 
has been the filing of an updated amateur radio coordinated database 
with the ARRL for the League's Repeater Directory.   Because of this, 
MetroCor has been painstakingly working to verify the old Tri State 
records with the aid of many volunteers in the League's Hudson Division.  
Lutzak says that thanks to this help and support the A-R-R-L will now 
have an updated area database of active repeater operations without any 
need for it to use data sources from outside the MetroCor area.  

In West Orange New Jersey, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, for the Amateur 
Radio Newsline.

--

MetroCor is the third coordination council to attempt to provide service 
to the greater New York City and Northern New Jersey area.  The first 
was the Northeast Repeater Association which was formed in 1968.  It 
went away in the early 1970's.  The Tri-Sate state group replaced it in 
the late 70's and had an almost twenty year run.  It died in the late 
1990's.  (MetroCor)

**

AWARDS:  CQ HALL OF FAME NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

Nominations for the 2002 class of the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame due 
by March 31st.  Nominations can e-mailed to hall-of-fame at cq-amateur-
radio.com. The official nomination
form and guidelines are in the January issue of CQ and on the CQ web 
site at www.cq-amateur-radio.com.  (CQ)

**

INTERNATIONAL - CANADA: VE9HC NAMED ATLANTIC VICE DIRECTOR 

Radio Amateurs of Canada Atlantic Director John Bartlett, VE1OZ, has 
announced the appointment of Hugh Clark, VE9HC, as Assistant Atlantic 
Director.  Clark bring to the office experience as ARRL and CRRL 
Emergency Coordinator for various regions of Quebec and Ontario, and 
until recently was active with the New Brunswick Emergency Measures 
Organization.  He is a member of the  Carleton County Amateur Radio 
Club, Radio Amateurs of Canada and the American Radio Relay League.  
(RAC)

**
INTERNATIONAL - UK:  MORSE CODE CAMP AT RSGB HQ 

If you are listening in the United Kingdom or planning a visit in mid-
March, this one is for you.  The Radio Society of Great Britain will 
hold it's next RSGB Morse Camp at RSGB headquarters over the weekend of 
the 16th and 17th of March. The idea of the Morse Camp weekends is to 
provide sufficient intensive training to get candidates up to speed for 
the RSGB five words per minute Morse code test which is required for the 
United Kingdom's Full Class A or Intermediate Class A license.

There is one prerequisite.  Anyone planning to attend an RSGB Morse Camp 
should at least know the Morse code characters for all the letters, 
numbers and prosigns at the start of the weekend. 

For further details, or to book, please contact the Amateur Radio 
Department at RSGB headquarters by e-mail to ar.dept at rsgb.org.uk There 
will also be Morse Camp weekends at RSGB HQ in June, September and 
November.  (RSGB)

**

INTERNATIONAL - AUSTRALIA:  POLICE RADIO ON HOLD

A new police radio system that was supposed to go on the air in Western 
Australia is on hold.  The reason?  Well part of it appears to be site 
cost gouging. Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB, explains:

--
The new WA Police communications system is set to run on the 420-430mhz  
part of the 70cm secondary amateur band will be good news to some VK6 
listeners!!!

The Call-Taking Computer-Aided Dispatch and Communications (CADCOM)  
system was supposed to go live October last year, but delays in the  
system's implementation stage have forced police to significantly revise  
their timetable for CADCOM's rollout.

The project involves the provision of call-taking and computer-aided  
dispatch systems at the new Midland Operational Support Facility,  
connectivity into the existing country radio systems and the acquisition 
of a digital trunked radio network service covering greater metropolitan 
Perth.
 Other emergency services are expected to use CADCOM once it has proved  
itself.

The TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) platform will not be operating  
until October 2003, and the call-taking dispatch equipment will not be  
integrated with the digital trunked radio network until then.

In the meantime, police will continue to use the old UHF network, but 
with  new computerised telephony and also new voice management systems. 
This will  allow police to receive more calls at the one time than is 
currently  possible.

Compounding the technical problems have been other issues. For example, 
for  CADCOM to work, more than 30 radio towers have to be installed 
around the  Perth metropolitan area. In some cases the owners of 
properties on which the  towers would be sited have increased the prices 
they originally agreed to,  causing delays in the installation of the 
towers.

--

This probably means another two years before the possibility of the new 
shared spectrum police radio system coming on-line.  (Q-News)

**


DX

In D-X, Steve Kerns, N3FTI, tells Amateur Radio Newsline that he and a 
few friends will be in the Providenciales Islands through March 3rd.  
Steve will be totting along a Yaesu FT-847 and a three element beam for 
6 meters.  Primary frequencies will be 50.120 and  50.160 MHz and he may 
even have Internet access from the location.  Steve adds that he and his 
crew will also be operating the ARRL Phone DX contest using the call 
VP5A during the weekend of March 2nd and 3rd.  Listen for VP5A on 160 
through 10 meters excluding the WARC bands during the contest period. 
During non-contest periods the operators will sign VP5 followed by their 
United States calls.  Operators include WE3C, KQ3V and of coarse N3FTI.  
(N3FTI)

Also, Dick Hansen, K5AND has posted information on his groups up-coming 
160 through 6 meter operation from San Felix.  The expedition is being 
organized and led by Carlos Nascimento NP4IW.  K5AND  says that he 
should be on the island and operating as XR0X by March 15th and will 
continue through the 30th.  Stations will be on 160 through 6 meters 
with special emphasis by K5AND on the 6 meter side.  This will include a 
temporary propagation beacon on 50.106 MHz C-W.  When band opens, Dick 
will transmit on 50.145 MHz and will be listening from 50.150 to 50.160.  
K5AND also asks that stations responding to the expedition not send grid 
information.  He says it is not needed.  If you need his it is EG93WT.  
More information is on the web at www.cordell.org/SFX and QSL via N7CQQ.  
(VHF Reflector)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE RAC 2002 CONVENTION IN VERNON B.C.

And finally this week, if you are planning your summer ham radio 
vacation, think North.  North as in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada and 
the venue for the 2002 Radio Amateurs of Canada National Convention.

The dates are July 26, 27, 28th and Vernon British Columbia can only be 
described as a Canadian vacation wonderland.  Located at the northern 
end of the Okanagan Valley, Vernon is a picturesque region and one of 
the warmest in all of Canada.  During the summer months, visitors enjoy 
countless sandy beaches, beautiful weather, and a variety of outdoor and 
water activities. The Okanagan Lake is a spectacular backdrop to the 
golf courses and wineries located in the rolling hills of the valley.

And that's exactly the spot that Radio Amateurs of Canada has chosen for 
its second ever National convention.  The first took place five years 
ago in Calgary, Alberta and was deemed a major success.  According to 
Mike Roberts, VE7KED, this one will be even bigger and better with 
something for every member of the family.  

More information is available online at www.rac2002.org.  And who knows:  
Maybe we will see you there.  (RAC)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, Amateur News Weekly, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC 
Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio 
Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB and Australia's Q-News, that's all from the 
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm).  Our e-mail address is newsline 
@arnewsline.org.  More information is available at Amateur Radio 
Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.  You 
can also write to us or support us at 
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066. 

Before we go, we want to mention that the nominating period for the 2002 
amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award is now open.  No 
significant changes from last year.  Nominees must be 18 or younger.  
Full rules and an application is on our website at www.arnewsline.org.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim 
Damron, N8TMW and I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC, saying 73, and we thank you for 
listening."  Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright  2002.  All rights 
reserved. 




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