[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1289 - April 26 2002
Tim Miller
tmiller at nethawk.com
Sun Apr 28 00:36:51 EDT 2002
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1289 - April 26 2002
The following is a Q-S-T. Amateur radio aids in the aftermath of two
rail accidents. This story is first on Amateur Radio Newsline report
number 1289 coming your way right now.
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO ASSISTS AT CALIFORNIA TRAIN COLLISION SITE
Amateur radio played a pivotal role following two major rail accidents
occurring within a few days of one another. On Tuesday April 23rd, a
Southern California Metrolink commuter train headed to San Juan
Capistrano collided with a mile long freight train that may have missed
a stop signal and wandered onto the same track. 2 people on the
commuter train were injured and over 260 injured. Local hospitals were
swamped with casualties. Joe Moell, K0OV, has more:
--
About four times a year, the hospitals and emergency responders in
Orange County, California, hold large-scale drills to test the patient
triage and transportation procedures that must be followed in the event
of a mass casualty incident. The Hospital Disaster Support
Communication System -- an ARES group with agreements to support all 35
hospitals in the county -- is always asked to participate. So it was on
Tuesday, April 23 as two dozen HDSCS members awaited their assignments
for a mock hazardous material incident, to be staged on a shopping
street in Brea, California at 9 AM.
But it was not to be. At 8:10 AM, just 5-1/2 miles away in the city of
Placentia, a 6000-ton mile-long freight train collided with a Metrolink
double-decker commuter train. HDSCS hams were immediately assigned to
the fourteen hospitals expected to receive patients. For the next 4-1/2
hours, a total of 28 hams provided vital links between these hospitals,
the county's Central Point ambulance dispatch, and the county's
Emergency Medical Service agency.
--
Other traffic included verifying victim dispatch, locating victims,
providing hospitals with information for inquiring victim families, and
liaison with hams supporting the Red Cross. Within some hospitals, hams
provided direct communications between triage areas, Emergency
Departments, and Command Posts. Dennis Kidder WA6NIA tells how
important this was at one facility:
--
This was the 75th actual hospital communications emergency in the 21-
year history of HDSCS. From Orange County California, this is Joe Moell
K-zero-Oscar-Victor for Amateur Radio Newsline.
--
More on this in a future Amateur Radio Newsline report. (ARNewsline)
(Note: For more information about this organization and about effective
ham radio support for hospitals, go to www.hdscs.org.)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO ASSISTS AT FLORIDA DERAILMENT
Ham radio also helped provided coordination of emergency services
following a train wreck near Crescent City Florida on Thursday April
18th. The accident happened at about 5:15 P-M Eastern time. Billy
Williams, N4UF reports from Jacksonville:
--
The accident killed four passengers and injured 159 other passengers.
It happened after the engineer of an ill-fated Amtrak train saw damaged
track and hit the emergency brakes.
Rescue workers say 21 of the train's 40 cars including 14 of the 16
passenger cars derailed. Seven flipped on their sides, lying along the
mangled track in a zig-zag pattern. Some passengers escaped through
windows, while dozens of were trapped inside for hours.
Soon after the accident Bill Krueger, KF4EJD, was on the scene and at
the wreck site relaying information to hams associated with ARES. Other
hams soon had portable stations operational at the Putnam County
Emergency Operations Center and the Crescent City High School shelter.
A secondary shelter at Middleton-Burney Elementary School was
established to assist in moving the passengers.
At the peak of activity, about 400 people were sheltered at Crescent
City High School where a triage center had been set up. Also, a group
from the Northeast Florida Chapter American Red Cross headquartered in
Jacksonville was sent to the scene. This included several Jacksonville
ham radio operators and a Red Cross Emergency Response vehicle.
Two hospitals in Jacksonville were staffed by Duval ARES operators to
provide status reports to medical volunteers who were ready to head to
the site if
needed. Their help was not required and the hospital ham stations were
secured at 10 PM Eastern time..
Meantime., the Florida Crown Emergency Net was in operation on the
W4IZ Repeater System which was linked to the KF4PXZ system in Palatka.
The net was in session from 5:30 to after 11PM.
There were many hams who volunteered in this emergency. Far to many to
list here. And they once again proved that ham radio was willing and
able to help when called on.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Billy Williams, N4UF, in
Jacksonville Florida.
--
According to news reports, many of the train's 418 passengers were
senior citizens traveling between northern homes and winter retreats.
(N4UF, ARNewsline)
**
REALLOCATION: FCC PUTS ARRL NOVICE BAND PROPOSAL TO PUBLIC COMMENT
Comments are due to the FCC by May 16 on An ARRL petition that would
eliminate the 80, 40 and 15-meter Novice and Technician Plus CW
subbands. The information is from an ARRL Bulletin. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Paul Courson WA3VJB, reports from the nations capital:
--
Designated RM-10413, the notice is aimed at reusing the current Novice
spectrum in part to expand the 80 and 40 meter phone subbands. The
ARRL's petition was filed in March asks the FCC to eliminate the Novice
and Technician Plus Morse only subbands and divvy them up alleviate what
the ARRL sees as overcrowding elsewhere.
If the FCC goes along, the current Novice and Technician Plus would be
permitted to operate on the 80, 40, 15 and 10-meter General-class CW
allocations at up to 200 Watts output. For General and higher class
operators, the ARRL plan would implement changes in the 80, 40 and 15-
meter phone bands, expanding phone segments for many amateurs.
But the ARRL petition goes well beyond just refarming the Novice bands.
The League also seeks FCC permission to use spread spectrum on 222 to
225 MHz. It also proposes to expand the pool of special event call
signs beyond the 1 by 1 format to include identifiers for United States
territories that do not provide for mailing addresses. The ARRL also
wants to incorporate into the rules a 1990 FCC waiver authorizing
amateurs in specific areas of Colorado and Wyoming to operate on certain
segments of the 33-cm band. Lastly, the petition asks that the
government clarify rules to indicate that modulated CW is permitted for
repeater station identification.
May 16th is the designated commentary cutoff date on RM-10413, and the
FCC is expecting a lot of response on this one.
Paul Courson, WA3VJB, Washington.
--
And we at Amateur Radio Newsline want to know your position on the
reallocation of the current Novice subbands? Do you like the ARRL
proposal? Do you have what you consider a better one? Should the
subbands even be re-farmed? We would like to hear from you. Please
send us a short e-mail with your opinion and we will put some of them on
the air in future newscasts. The electronic address is
newsline at arnewsline.org. (ARRL, ARNewsline)
**
RADIO RULES: HAM PETITIONS FOR MANDATORY FIELD REPAIRABLE RIGS
How would you like to be able to take the cover off your radio and
replace a plug-in highly complex integrated circuit, put the cover back
on and have the radio work again. Kind of the way it was when tubes
rather than solid state ruled ham radio. Well, that is what Nickolaus
Leggett, N3NL, says hams should be able to do and he is asking the FCC
to provide the rules to make it so. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce
Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:
--
Nikolaus Leggett filed his request to the FCC in February. After
reviewing it, the Commission has assigned it as RM-10412 and has set May
16th as a commentary cutoff date.
What Leggett suggests is not really new. He believes that Amateur Radio
operators should have a fighting chance to keep their own gear
operational. He acknowledges that today's high tech equipment may not
be component level serviceable, but he as asking the FCC to make
mandatory certain key aspects of design so that a ham with a general
knowledge of troubleshooting techniques might get a broken radio back in
operation. Especially in time of a declared emergency.
--
Leggett: "What I proposed is that the Commission establish some sort of
standards that would essentially establish that equipment be field
repairable in some manner. Either it should have replaceable modules or
replaceable circuit boards or parts on a circuit board should be spaced
at a certain distance so that you can access them. There should be LED
indicators on digital busses. There should be test points to take
voltage and current measurements. In other words the equipment should
be accessible for the Amateur to repair or modify it."
--
Leggett acknowledges that should the FCC adopt his recommendations it
will probably lead some makers of ham gear to drop out of the United
States Amateur Radio marketplace:
--
Legget: "My response on that is to look at the QRP field. There is a
very nice Single Sideband QRP transceiver kit, which costs about $700.
It is fully field repairable. It is advertised allot in QST Magazine,
and this indicates that there certainly are vendors in the marketplace
who can come out with a nice piece of equipment; highly regarded; very
well reviewed; and at a reasonable price that is field repairable."
--
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW in Los Angeles.
--
You can hear lots more with Nickolaus Leggett on this weeks RAIN report.
Take your web browser to www.rainreport.com or call area code 847-827-
7246. Meantime, the manufacturers who supply ham gear are expected to
file in opposition to the Leggett rule making request. (ARNewsline,
RAIN)
**
SPECTRUM USE: FCC ON AMTS AND DENIALS TO HAMS
The FCC has approved proposed rules allowing geographic based
licensing of coast stations in the Automated Maritime Telecommunications
Service, the primary user of the 219-220 MHz band. According to the
ARRL Letter, the Commission also agreed to consider an ARRL petition for
changes in the rules governing the secondary amateur allocation at 219-
220 MHz.
Amateur use of the band within 80 kilometers of an the Automated
Maritime Telecommunications Service or AMTS coast station is currently
requires permission from the AMTS licensee. Industry practice has been
to routinely deny such requests, regardless of channel separation.
Now, the FCC will consider whether AMTS licensees denying permission
should be required to give a technical justification for the denial.
This, in conjunction with the ongoing 3-G proceeding that's considering
use of 216-220 MHz for new technologies. (ARRL)
**
SPECTRUM REALLOCATION: CONGRESS PROPOSES DELAY IN UHF CHANNEL AUCTION
Congressional lawmakers say that they plan to introduce legislation to
delay indefinitely the Federal Communications Commission's June sale
spectrum currently used by television broadcasters to wireless carriers.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, Takes a closer look at what
is about to transpire:
--
The proposed legislation is being sponsored by House Energy and Commerce
Chairman Billy Tauzin and ranking Democrat Representative John Dingell.
The current law requires the FCC to auction the spectrum used channels
television channels 52 through 59 by September 30th of this year. But
if Congress says O-K, the measure will eliminate the legal deadline in
September for an auction be conducted. It will also tell the agency not
to go forward with the sale slated for June 19th.
The anticipated congressional action is intended to give more breathing
room for broadcasters to move off their current analog television
channels. It would also give mobile telephone carriers more certainty
about a date when they would obtain this spectrum so that they make
available a number of new services.
So far, no one has gone to court to force the FCC to hold the sale.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP.
--
More on this story in future amateur Radio Newsline reports. (Published
news reports)
**
RADIO RULES: COURT SAYS OWNERSHIP CAPS ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS
Another blow to those who support a cap on the number of media outlets
any one company can own. This, as a federal appeals court rules in
favor of easing an FCC regulation that bars a broadcaster from owning
two TV stations -- known as a duoploly -- in a single market. That is,
unless there are eight other broadcast TV stations in that same market.
The court held that the Federal Communications Commission was arbitrary
and capricious in excluding cable companies and other media outlets from
the eight outlet standard. The ruling also admonished the FCC for
failing to back up its argument that diversity and localism are
protected by broadcast stations alone.
The court stopped short of declaring the duopoly rule unconstitutional
and throwing it out altogether. Rather it directed the FCC to rethink
that part of the rule dictating what constitutes a broadcast voice in
any given market. (Published news reports)
**
RADIO LAW FOLLOW-UP: TOWERS VS. BIRDS
The United States Fish and Wildlife Service believes that communications
towers are estimated to kill 4 to 5 million birds each year. And the
service says that these kills violate the spirit and the intent of the
Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Now, a new organization called the National Antenna Consortium has been
formed. Its purpose is to help communications companies deal with bird
kills and other vexing issues associated with tower construction.
The CGC Communicator reports the group held a meeting at the recent
National Association of Broadcasters meeting in Las Vegas. Speakers
included Andrew Skotdal of KRKO Radio and attorneys Barry Umansky and
Fred Hopengarten, K1VR. More information is on the web at
migratorybirds.fws.gov (CGC Communicator)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: KB0G SPEARHEADING LINUX
A alternative computer operating system now has a ham helping to develop
it. Nate Dueher, WY0X, reports:
--
One of the worlds largest Linux organizations now has a ham radio
operator as its leader. Bdale Garbee, KB0G, of Blackforrest Colorado,
has been elected as the 2002 Project Leader for Debian Linux. Bdale,
who is known by many hams for his excellent work on many Amateur Radio
projects including the RUDAK system on board AO-40 has also been on the
software development team for Debian Linux for many years.
Debian -- spelled D-E-B-I-A-N -- has excellent support for many popular
ham radio modes including CW, RTTY, packet radio, APRS, PSK-31 and many
others. It is a version of the Linux operating system known world wide
as dedicated to free software, quality and even ham radio. Bdale's
leadership skills should prove to be a match made in technology.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Nate Nueher, NY0X, in Colorado.
--
More information on Debian Linux can be found in cyberspace at
www.debian.org. (NY0X, ARNewsline)
**
THE THANK YOU CORNER WITH ANY JAREMA, N6TCQ
Last week, Support Fund Administrator Andy Jarema, N6TCQ, presented the
latest Newsline fiscal report. Andy is back with us this week to say
thanks to those who supported Amateur Radio Newsline in the month of
January. Here is N6TCQ:
--
In the month of January we heard from Benton Bonney, W4PE of Orlando
Jodie Steggerda, N8ALJ of Champaign, IL. From California, we heard from
GEARS, the Golden Empire Amateur Radio Society of Chico, as well as
associate Joann Biegler, William Walters, WA2IBM of San Jose CARA, the
Catalina Amateur Repeater Association Bruce Murray of Seal Beach and Jim
Truran, KE6FNJ of Encino.
Thanks to everybody for their support. A reminder that Newsline is a
501c 3 and a California non-profit corporation; all contributions are
tax-deductible.
The address for the Newsline Support fund is PO Box 660937, Arcadia, CA
91066. I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.
--
Thanks Andy. (N6TCQ)
**
RADIO BUSINESS: AEROFLEX BUYS IFR
If you use R-F test equipment to keep your repeater operating, listen
up. According to Chris Boone, WB5ITT, Wichita Kansas based Aeroflex
Inc. is acquiring IFR Systems Inc. - maker of the famed IFR Spectrum
Analyzer and other R-F test gear. According to an April 15th press
release, Aeroflex is paying approximately $60 million in cash for IFR.
(WB5ITT)
**
HAMVENTION 2002: ARRL DIGITAL VOICE FORUM
The ARRL Digital Voice Working Group will host a Digital Voice Forum at
the 2002 Dayton Hamvention. The session will include presentations from
experts in the fields of digital-audio hardware, software and other
technical details. Applications from rag-chewing to emergency
communications to digital audio broadcasting will be covered. The date
is Sunday, May 19th at 10:15 at the Hara Arena Meeting Room 1
immediately following the ARRL Forum. (ARRL)
**
INTERNATIONAL - UK: SPECIAL EVENT STATION GB2PK
On the international scene, word that United Kingdom special event
station GB2PK will be on the air intermittently from the 26th of April
for a month from the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum in Cornwall. The
operation will use both vintage 1950's military and modern ham radio
gear. QSL as directed on the air. (GB2RS)
**
INTERNATIONAL - SOUTH KOREA: SPECIAL EVENT STATION HL17FCW
Also involved in a celebration HL17FWC. This station is on the air from
South Korea to commemorate the 17th FIFA Football World Cup. QSL via
HLZ0HQ. (GB2RS)
**
CONTESTS - WRTC 2002: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TEAM INVITED TO 2002 EVENT
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