[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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