[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1293 - May 24 2002
Tim Miller
tmiller at nethawk.com
Mon May 27 22:05:26 EDT 2002
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1293 - May 24 2002
This is a special announcement: Attention all listeners. Please be
advised that our next newscast, Number 1294, will not be released until
Sunday evening June 2nd. This is due to staff travel to an out of town
event and will affect only next weeks newscast. ARNewsline newscast
number 1295 will return to our normal Friday release on June 7th.
Please adjust your release schedule accordingly. Thank you.
Also, once again this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline newscast is
extremely audio intensive. We believe that it is impossible to really
appreciate the words of those quoted without hearing them for yourself.
For this reason we suggest that after reading this weeks print edition
that you take your web browser to:
http://www.arnewsline.org
Click on the newscast number then download the MP3 audio file. Next sit
back and experience a 20 minute "audio picture" of Hamventionr 200 for
yourself.
Thank you. End special advisory.
--
The following is a Q-S-T. 2002 turns out to be the year of surprises at
Hamvention. This story is first on Amateur Radio Newsline report
number 1293 coming your way right now.
**
DAYTON 2002 - A YEAR OF SURPRISE - PART 1
If nothing else, the 2002 Dayton Hamvention was filled with surprises.
Surprises like this:
--
"I just flat do not believe that. What are the odds? The top three
prizes and people without calls win them? There's a lot of guys walking
out of here with their heart down in their shoe soles."
--
That's right. The top three prizes -- three top line ham radio stations
and this year they were won by non hams. And before some of you channel
cops start saying that non hams cannot legally win ham gear guess again.
The law is on their side. Not only did they win it. They went home
with it.
Another surprise? How about business. Business as in what may be a
record year for vendors. Why? Because those who came to Hamvention
2002 were armed with cash and ready to buy. Just ask Radio School's
Gordon West, WB6NOA:
--
Gordon West WB6NOA: "Well at he booths I was working to show the Gordon
West Radio School products the sales were very, very positive. I mean -
- people came here to get equipment and to get back on the air.
Many new hams were going on the air for the first time, yet there were
allot of older hams who were sort of not on the air allot trading up to
new equipment.
Certainly, I think we are about where we were last year for attendance
but enthusiasm in acquiring new equipment? Yes! Much more than last
year.
--
As to the size of the crowd? There is still no official figure. Also,
the weather was a bit unpredictable. Friday was wet. Saturday was
first clear then wet. Sunday turned out to be the nicest weather of
all. CQ Magazine's Rich Moseson, W2VU, was happy either way:
--
Rich Moseson W2VU: "I just love rain. On Friday it rained and
everybody was inside and it was very, very busy and we had a great show.
Saturday it was nice outside and the Flea Market people were happier
than they were on Friday. Overall, as always. Good show."
--
Moseson's view was echoed by Chip Margelli of Vertex Standard -- the
Yaesu people:
--
Chip Margelli K7JA: "I think Hamvention this year was great. The
weather was very cooperative especially on Saturday. This gave us lots
of time to talk to customers and describe our products. We think that
everybody was in a festive mood and a buying mood and that was good
especially with all of the new products we have here. We've had a
tremendous time here at Hamvention."
--
In reality, Hamvention 2002 was a buyers market. Dealers kept prices
low and lots of major ticket items moved across the sales counters. In
fact, it was possible to buy a Yaesu FT-817 for under $500.
As to what was new this year? Listen to what some of the company reps
brought with them starting with Vertex Standard's Chip Margelli.
--
Chip Margelli K7JA: We have introduced new products in every major
category. We introduced the Mark V Field high-end HF; the FT-897 second
generation `man-pack' portable; the VX7R submersible handheld; the FT-
8900 `quad-band' 10 meter, 6 meter, 2 meter and 70 Cm mobile radio and
the Wires Internet repeater linking system. So we have had a very busy
time."
--
Not to be outdone, Kenwood's Leo Famie, KJ6HI, said that those coming to
his booth wanted to see a little HT called the F6:
--
Leo Famie, KJ6HI: F6, our new HT. A tri-band hand-held covering 2
meters, 220 and 440. It has a receiver from about 500 Kilohertz to 1300
MHz but blocks out cellular telephones. But the neat thing about this
radio is its all mode receive in the band B. AM, FM, USB, LSB and CW."
--
Famie says that dealers sold well over 300 of these new H-T's making the
F6 was a bright star for Kenwood at this years Dayton show.
And what about Icom you ask? We asked Ray Novak, KC7JPA, what was hot
and what those coming to the Icom booth wanted to see:
--
Ray Novak, KC7JPA: 706 Mark 2 G by far. Also allot of interest in a
new digital radio that we have that will give you bandwidth for data
equivalent to a T-1 line."
--
One guy who always has something new up his sleeve is MFJ's Martin Jue,
K5FLU. This year he gave Amateur Radio Newsline a peak at two new
goodies. The one that really caught our eye is a high frequency beacon
network receiver that is so pretty that it would be as much at home in
your livingroom as in your hamshack. Not only that, it lights up a LED
on a map to show you what beacon you are actually hearing: Martin gave
us a simple explanation of how it works:
--
Martin Jue, K5FLU: "The beacons are precisely timed...so everything is
exactly right. What we did was to duplicate that timing sequence in
here. And we make sure that it is always right because we have an
atomic clock receiver in here."
--
MFJ also showed its new Morse code interface box. Not only does it
decode the C-W signal your receiver is hearing. It also lets you plug
in a key, paddle or even a keyboard and send Morse like a pro.
But new gear and great prices were not the only surprises at Hamvention
2002 and we will have more later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline
report. (ARNewsline)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO ASSISTS FOLLOWING UK RAIL ACCIDENT
RAYNET -- the United Kingdom's equivalent of ARES and RACES here in the
United States was called out on Friday, May 10th. This, following a
railroad crash that occurred in the city of Potters Bar less than one
mile from the RSGB Headquarters.
The accident took place at about 1 P-M. G4MWO says that Hertfordshire
Raynet County Controller, Trevor Groves, G4KUJ, was contacted at home at
2 P.M. and asked to assist with setting up the local Emergency Control
Vehicle. Groves had it operational by 4.20 P.M. He then provided
technical and administrative support to the relief administration staff
who used it until office accommodations were arranged at about 8 P.M.
that evening. (GB2RS)
**
RADIO LAW: COMMERCE COMMITTEE VOTES TO DELAY SPECTRUM AUCTION
Back on this side of the Atlantic the House Energy and Commerce
Committee approved a measure that would delay the government's June 19th
sale of spectrum now used by television broadcasters and sought for
wireless services. The panel approved the action on a voice vote May
5th. As previously reported, this legislation was sought by a large
segment of both the wireless and broadcast industries. The bill now
goes to the House floor for consideration. (Published news reports)
**
SPECTRUM SHARING: MOVE OVER DIRECT TV - YOUR SPECTRUM IS ABOUT
TO BE SHARED
The 12 GHz downlink spectrum used by Direct TV and Echostar is about to
shared by terrestrial services. The CGC Communicator says that thanks
to a creative idea and a multi-year lobbying effort by Northpoint, the
12.2 to 12.7 GHz band will soon be used for new video and broadband
communications services, such as local television programming and high-
speed Internet access. Technically, the new service is called "MVDDS,"
short for Multichannel Video Distribution and Data Service. (CGC
Communicator)
**
RADIO ACCIDENT: FIRE ATOP THE KCBD-TV TOWER
The C-G-C Communicator also reports that KCBD-TV, in Lubbock, Texas,
recently installed a new Andrew batwing antenna designed to accommodate
both its channel 11 NTSC and channel 9 digital transmissions. After
only five days of operation with just N-T-S-C power applied, there was
an apparent arc-over and the
aerial was destroyed by fire. The station resumed NTSC operations using
an old Alford antenna located on the same tower. Engineers are trying
to determine the cause of the failure. (CGC Communicator)
**
GATHERINGS: WEAK SIGNAL BREAKFAST IN NORCAL
The Western States Weak Signal Society and Sidewinders on Two will
jointly host a the semi annual "Brunch, Grip and Grin" in Northern
California. The Date is Saturday June 1st. The location is Bakers
Square in West Sacramento California. As usual, there will be door
prizes and a good raffle of a radio. It all starts at 9:30 a-m, Pacific
Savings Time. For more information contact W6OMF by e-mail to
w6omf at cwnet.com. (VHF Reflector, WSWSS)
**
DAYTON 2002 - A YEAR OF SURPRISE - PART 2
Now, continuing with our coverage of Hamvention 2002, lets look at the
forums. Emergency communications was this years Hamvention theme and
all of the sessions -- about 50 of them -- were in some way dedicated in
some way to it. And while we could not visit every one of session, we
do know that for all three days the forum rooms were packed. In fact,
many sessions had people lined up against the walls and sitting in the
aisles. That included our own Ham Radio Town Meeting that featured
Popular Communications Editor Harold Ort, N2RLL as the keynote speaker.
His theme: Emergency communications means more than just ham radio:
--
Harold Ort N2RLL: "I want to say that now is the time to learn to
operate with other services in concert and not just with ham radio.
That's really my message. And if you are wearing the blinders: If you
are wearing the ham radio blinders -- take them off. Please.
I don't have all of the answers but I would like to have folks depart
from business as usual. We have allot of smart people out there with
specialized know-how.
And that's the beauty of ham radio. We can bring allot of radio users
into the emergency communications mix so that we can help to make
America safe.
Ladies and gentlemen: If we don't get it after 911, we really never
will. Thank you very much. (Applause)
--
Ort's message: Its time to break down the barriers that divide us and
work together for the good of our nation and the world. Or as Harold
himself said: If we don't get it after 911, we never will.
Another session that drew a stand room only crowd was the FCC forum with
Bill Cross, W3TN. That one you can hear right now on the RAIN Report.
Its on the web at in streaming audio www.rainreport.com or on the phone
at 847-827-7246. (ARNewsline)
**
DAYTON 2002 - A YEAR OF SURPRISE - PART 3
The Hamvention Grand Awards banquet was held on Saturday evening. This
years recipients included Owen Garriott W5LFL and Tonly England, W0ORE
who shared the Special Achievement award:
--
OwenGarriott W5LFL: "As perhaps you could tell from that brief
introduction, hamming has been a part of my life for over 55 years. I
started with my father and perhaps you can tell from the sequence of
events in my professional career hamming was a very strong influence on
the direction. I went to undergraduate school, to college and to a
professional career after that.
I know that this story is not unique. In fact it wouldn't surprise me
if there were some 10% to 20% of those of you in the audience who could
provide a similar story about how hamming has influenced your
professional career as well as your past-time in the area of ham radio.
I do want to thank all I the Amateur Radio community for the benefit it
has been to me in directing and guiding all of my professional interests
over the past 55 years: All of the way back to the time that my father
asked me to come along to code school, to theory school and ending up in
my getting my first license.
It has been a great career and I owe an awful lot of it to Amateur
Radio. Thank you."
--
Tony England W0ORE: "It was probably in the 9th grade when one of the
big blizzards was coming through West Fargo and they sent us home. I
remember vividly: My bedroom was up on the 2nd floor. All of the now
was blowing by the window and I was playing around with the radio and I
was talking to this Pastor at a mission in South America. It was a
jungle setting and he was describing what they were doing down there.
And you can imagine what an imagination expanding experience it was for
a kid in North Dakota to be able to talk to someone living in the jungle
of South America? It was that kind of experience that we were hoping to
share when we talked to young peoples groups on Spacelab II through the
Amateur Radio system. And it is something that I hope we pass on to
other kids.
When maybe one of my granddaughters is a teenager and an Amateur Radio
operator I hope that she has the chance to talk to a professional female
engineer who is on a spacecraft on its way to one of the moons of Mars.
So I hope that all of you keep up this good work and see that this
happens. Thank you. (Applause)
--
Al Waller, K3TKJ, was next. He received this years Technical Excellence
award for creating qsl.net:
--
Al Waller K3TKJ: "...With that and the insight of the Dayton Hamvention
Awards Committee we have certainly legitimized another mode of
communication for ham radio. The Internet is not the enemy of ham radio
that I have heard professed so many times. It is just another mode of
operation.
Today we have hundreds of thousands of QSL users on the Internet. It is
a friendly place. The hobby is better for it and I am honestly proud to
be a small part of it."
--
Then, the man that everyone was waiting to hear from. The 2002 Radio
Amateur of the Year, Hap Holly, KC9RP of RAIN. His closeing remarks
brought down the house:
--
Hap Holly KC9RP: "In closing, please allow me to borrow from this years
Winter Olympics a familiar international theme that sums up my
exhilaration at being selected to receive this award. Simply put: `the
year 2002 has truly been my Gold Medal year' in the Olympics of Amateur
Radio. I am indeed honored to be chosen as Radio Amateur of the Year
by the Hamvention, but also to be the first person with disabilities to
receive this plaque. Thank you very much. (Applause)
--
But there was another surprise. This one involved KC9RP, a radio and a
company known as Alinco and our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:
--
Bill Pasternak WA6ITF: "Hi Hap. I'm changing my uniform tonight. I
was asked by the wonderful folks at Alinco and ATOC Distributing any by
Evelyn Garrison to represent them because they are at a business
meeting. But Hap, they would like for you to have...your very own --
brand new -- DJ-196 two meter handheld as their token off appreciation
for what you have done and for what you and Stephanie both do. Enjoy it
my friend." (Applause)
--
But the surprises were over yet. At least not for KC9RP. When the
dinner prizes were drawn, the first out of the barrel was Hap Holly.
And in addition to the Alinco H-T, Hap also took home a brand new Icom
IC-V8000 two meter mobile and base radio.
So what about those who attended. What do they have to say. As
everyone was heading out of the HARA Arena following the close of
Hamvention 2002, Bob Sherman, K2SJP, summed it up best:
--
Bob Sherman K2SJP: "Its the best Hamvention that I have been to."
--
K2SJP says that he plans on coming back. Many others Amateur Radio
Newsline spoke said the same thing. (ARNewsline)
**
INTERNATIONAL - UK: ON THE AIR EVENT
Turning to international news, word from GB2RS that members of the
Preston Amateur Radio Society are operating GB2COP until the end of May.
This, to celebrate Preston being granted city status during The Queen's
jubilee year. Activity is on 40, 20 and 15 metres HF, plus 2 metres and
70 centimeters. QSL GB2COP with an SASE either via the bureau or direct
to M1KIT. (GB2RS)
**
DX
In D-X, A group of operators from the Kuwait Amateur Radio Society will
be active as 9K2F from Failaka Island until the 31st of May. QSL is via
9K2RA either direct or through the bureau. (RSGB)
Also, Team Vertical is heading back to Jamaica for the CQ WPX CW
contest. The group will operate from 160 to 6 meters as their home calls
slash 6Y5 until the 28th of May. They will participate in the contest as
6Y2A with six full gallon stations. QSL via WA4WTG. (RSGB)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: THE HAMVENTION THOUGHTS OF W6AQ
And finally this week, another look at Hamvention 2002. This time,
through the eyes of a ham who has been to many of them. His name is
Dave Bell. His call sign is W6AQ and as Hamvention 2002 was drawing to
a close he shared his thoughts with our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:
--
Dave Bell W6AQ: "This was a great Hamvention. Except for the weather
on Friday it was absolutely perfect.
Bill Pasternak WA6ITF: "What was the highlight to you?"
Dave Bell W6AQ: "I think that the highlight for me was the special ARRL
dinner on Friday night for donors to the ARRL where we heard Joe Taylor,
K1JT, give a really, really interesting talk. He has got a big sense of
humor for a Nobel Prize winner, I must say."
Bill Pasternak WA6ITF: "We saw allot of new products here. Anything
catch your eye?
Dave Bell W6AQ: "Actually the Yaesu FT-1000 Field I probably would have
bought instead of the Mark V if it had come out at the same time. And I
must say that getting an FT-817 little radio for under $500 broke my
heart because I paid twice that."
--
Hamvention 2002 is now history, but Hamvention 2003 is now less than a
year away. Dave Bell, W6AQ, says he plans to be there. So will we,
and we hope to see you there too. (ARNewsline)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,
the FCC, the 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, one last call for nominations for our very own Amateur
Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award. The final date to postmark
a nomination is May 30th. 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 Don
Wilbanks, KC5MFA, saying 73, and we thank you for listening." Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2002. All rights reserved.
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