[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1295 - June 7 2002
Tim Miller
tmiller at nethawk.com
Sun Jun 9 01:40:47 EDT 2002
Amateur Radio Newsline 1295 - June 7 2002
The following is a Q-S-T. Kids Day is coming and a legend leaves Top
Band. These stories are first on Amateur Radio Newsline report number
1295 coming your way right now.
**
ON THE AIR: KIDS DAY COMING JUNE 15TH
It's possibly one of the two mot important ham radio days of the year,
and its only a week away. We are talking about the second of two Kids
Day operating events held every year. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce
Tennant, K6PZW, has the story of the event and the man who made it
happen:
--
The next Kids Day is June 15 from 1800 to 2400 UTC. Thats Saturday here
in the United States. Most of the activity is on 20, 15 and 10 meters,
but you can also put kids on the air on your local repeater if you wish.
Kids Day is not a contest. In fact, it is a non structured event where
all you have to do is to call C-Q Kids Day, and then put the youngsters
visiting you on the air to talk with other kids visiting other hams.
Once the children are talking,the suggested contact exchange might
include the youngsters names, their ages, their location and -- for the
younger ones -- favorite color. Best of all you can work the same
station over and over again if the operator continues to change.
If this all sounds like a great way to spend a day, you might be
interested in learning ewhere Kids Day came from. In reality is the
story of vision by one man. A man who long before most relized a
problem even existed.
It was Larry "Tree" Tyree, N6TR, who recognized that ham radio had no
future without a steady influx of new, young hams. Kid hams filled with
the wonderment of childhood. That thirst we are all born with to
"learn." To "experiment." To find out how this or that "really works."
But Tree Tyree did not just sit there and say let somebody do something.
Working woith Oregon's Boaring Amateur Radio Club, he went out and did
it himself. And in creating Kids Day, N-6-T-R, probably established the
most important "ham radio holiday" that we have.
"Kids Day." Just think what it really means. It two days every year
where we "grown-up" hams open our hearts, minds and stations to the
young. We invite them in. We put them before a mic or key. We put
them on the air to experience first hand the "magic" of radio. Then we
silently pray they some of them will knock on the door again and say:
"...can we talk on the radio again?" When that happens, we know that
ham radio's survival is insured for yet another generation.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los
Angeles.
--
The first Kid's Day event was held on December 2, 1994 but it was, N6TR,
who took "Kids Day" from a dream to a twice yearly reality now sponsored
by the A-R-R-L. And in doing so Larry "Tree" Tyree N6TR figuratively
"paid the premium" on the life insurance policy that is Amateur Radio.
(ARRL, ARNewsline, W6AQ)
**
RESCUE RADIO: NEW MEXICO WILDFIRE EMERGENCY FOLLOW-UP
More this week on the role that Amateur Radio operators in New Mexico
played as a wildfires raged in that state. As reported last week, hams
were called out as soon as the fire emergency was declared. Now, the
ARRL Letter provides some in depth follow-up.
The Letter says that on May 23rd, an incident command post was set up in
the town of Espanola in response to a so-called "sleeper fire." This is
a lightning-caused fire that smolders before bursting into flame.
This one erupted near the village of Truchas in north-central New
Mexico. Over the Memorial Day weekend, more than 250 residents were
evacuated from their homes in Truchas and the nearby village of Cordoba.
Rio Arriba County Emergency Communications Manager Lonie Scott, AH2AZ,
activated amateur communications support. Amateurs were dispatched to
Red Cross shelters set up at two elementary schools in Chimayo, and The
Los Alamos Amateur Radio Club's W5PDO system provided support.
By late on May 24, the wind had shifted. The fire was burning away from
Truchas. Residents were able to return home starting at 9 AM the next
day. New Mexico Section Emergency Coordinator Bill Kauffman, W5YEJ said
the incident command post and the shelters closed later that day after
all evacuees had returned home.
As of May 29th the fire was still burning in the Pecos Wilderness area
of the Santa Fe National Forest, but was not considered a threat to any
homes or structures. But as tinder-dry conditions persist across the
South-West, amateurs remain on alert in case more wildfires break out.
(ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PIRATE BROADCASTER BUSTED IN PUERTO RICO
Turning to the regulatory arena, the Federal Communications Commission
has announced that an investigation by the it's Enforcement Bureau has
led to the seizure of unlicensed broadcast radio equipment allegedly
operated by Amil Lugo-Gonz lez.
The station had been operating on 99.5 MHz from Jayuya, Puerto Rico.
The FCC San Juan Office, working in conjunction with the United States
Marshals Service and the Office of the United States Attorney for the
District of Puerto Rico, seized the equipment on May 21st. The FCC says
that on more than one occasion it had issued notices to Lugo-Gonz lez
directing him to cease operation of the unlicensed station. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: SHORT TERM RENEWALS GRANTED
Meanwhile, two radio amateurs have been given short term renewals of
their Amateur Radio licenses. The FCC's Riley Hollingsworth tells us
who they are and the reason each is getting a shortened license term:
--
Hollingsworth: : "A short term of an upgrade to Extra class was given
by the Wireless Bureau to Sam Jacobs, K3SAM. The grant was short term
due to previous problems involving the filing of a club call sign
application.
And, a short term renewal was given to Peter Figuroa, N6IWH, of Berkeley
California. Figuroa had been on the Amateur Bands after the expiration
of his license but there were some extenuating circumstances."
--
In both instances, two year license renewals were granted. If there are
no other enforcement issues with either Jacobs or Figuroa over the next
two years, each can apply for a full 10 year license renewal in 2004.
(FCC, RAIN)
**
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: THE 160 METER GATEWAY NET GOES QRT
A longtime fixture on Top Band has gone silent. This as Vern Jackson,
WA0RCR, announces that he has terminated operation of his famed 160
meter Gateway Net. Here is the announcement as Jackson himself made it:
--
AUDIO ONLY REPORT: HEAR IT AT WWW.ARNEWSLINE.ORG
--
Over the almost quarter of a century that it existed, Jackson's net
presented some of the top news and information sources in ham radio.
This includes Hap Holly's Radio Amateur Information Network and Amateur
Radio Newsline, all in high fidelity A-M. (WA0RCR)
**
THE VEC SYSTEM: NEW TECHNICIAN SYLLABUS RELEASED
The Question Pool Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer
Examination Coordinators has released the revised Technician Class
Element 2 Syllabus into the public domain. This syllabus will be used
to develop the new question pool for Technician Examinations going into
service on July 1st, 2003. All amateurs are encouraged to submit
candidate questions to the Question Pool Committee by this coming
September 15th.
Now before you sit down to dream up new questions there are some strict
guidelines that must be followed. All proposed questions must be no
more than 210 characters in length. This includes all spaces and
punctuation. All answers and distracters no more than 140 characters
including spaces and punctuation and you must identify both the syllabus
area and the correct answer. Also, if the question is rule based,
identify the exact reference in the Part 97 Amateur Service rules.
Candidate questions should be sent via e-mail to QPC at arrl.org. The
complete syllabus will be posted to the ARRL website within the next few
days. (W4WW, NCVEC)
**
REGULATORY: JOINT U.S.- MEXICO COMMISSION MEETING CONCLUDED
Call it radio regulation on an international level. This with an
announcement that the FCC's Enforcement Bureau recently took part in the
26th formal meeting of a regulatory body known as the Joint United
States and Mexican Commission.
The Joint Commission, formerly known as the Mixed Commission is made up
of representatives from the United States and Mexico.
The latest meeting took place in Mexico City during the week of April
22nd. During the gathering the group reviewed 115 cases of harmful
radio interference in the United States and Mexican border zone. Of
these, 47 were officially closed. A report is at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-1063A1.doc (CGC
Communicator)
**
REGULATORY NEWS: FDA WEB AGE ON RADIO FREQUENCY HAZARD FROM CELL PHONES
The Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Communications
Commission have established a joint web page called "Cell Phone Facts."
This, in an effort to provide reasoned answers to the public's never
ending health and safety questions concerning the radio frequency power
produced by portable cellular and PCS phones, and their base stations.
The site is in cyberspace at
www.fda.gov/cellphones (FDA, FCC)
**
CONFERENCES: ARRL/TAPR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE
Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 21st Annual ARRL
and TAPR Digital Communications Conference. The event will be held
September 13th to the 15th in Denver, Colorado.
The annual conference proceedings are published by the ARRL.
Presentation at the conference is not required for publication.
Submission of papers is due by August 5th. Conference registration
details and updates, along with more information are in cyberspace
available at www.tapr.org/dcc (TAPR, ARRL, ANS)
**
HONORS: CQ MAGAZINE ADDS TO HALLS OF FAME
Forty-four new members have been added to the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of
Fame, while the CQ Contest Hall of Fame and the CQ DX Hall of Fame each
grew by one member. This, with OZ1LO being honored by his fellow
contesters and W0AR being recognized for his accomplishments in DX'ing.
The announcements were made at the recent Dayton Hamvention. A complete
list of winners is in cyberspace at www.cq-amateur-radio.com in the
"announcements" area. (CQ)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: THE NEW E-MAC
Apple Computer has unveiled a new line of computers exclusively for
educators and students. Apple says the new e-Mac will feature 17-inch
monitors and high speed G4 processors. The e Mac is slightly smaller
than the iMac and includes stereo speakers and a CD-recordable drive.
The price for the new e-Mac machines will begin at 999 dollars. (Appple
press release)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: BOY BAND MEMBER MAY NOT MAKE IT TO SPACE
Possible problems for a boy-band member who wants to fly in space. The
latest news reports quote the Russian Space Agency as saying it has no
contract in hand to carry 'N Sync's Lance Bass to the International
Space Station.
As previously reported here on Amateur Radio Newsline, Bass has made
public his wish to visit the I-S-S. He has already made a trip to
Russia to undergo medical tests in preparation for a seat on an upcoming
flight.
As of airtime, its not known if Bass has been approached regarding his
getting an Amateur Radio license and taking to the ham radio airwaves if
he does get to make the trip. (Published reports)
**
INTERNATIONAL - CANADA: NEW RAC CANADA DAY CONTEST MANAGER
Radio Amateurs of Canada Contest Manager Joe Mac Pherson, VE1CH, has
announced that the Moncton Seniors Amateur Radio Club has taken over
responsibility for the management of the R-A-C Canada Day contest.
This, effective immediately. Mac Pherson says that all inquiries or
electronic logs related to the R-A-C Canada Day Contest should be
directed to ve9qed at rac.ca. Non-electronic logs, for the RAC Canada Day
contest should be mailed to the Moncton Seniors Amateur Radio Club at
Post Office Box 73, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. The postal code is
E1C 8R9.
**
INTERNATIONAL - GIBRALTER: RESTRUCTURING AND A NRE LICENSE CLASS
License restructuring is coming to Gibralter. Peter Naish, VK2BPN in
Australia has been advised by Wilfred Guerrero that Gibraltar will be
introducing the New Foundation Licence by mid-June. Guerrero, who is
the Secretary of Gibralter Amateur Radio Society says that the new
llicense will be similar to the highly successful Foundation License
recently put in place in the United Kingdom. The prefix to be used will
be ZB3. (Q-News)
**
DX
The 6 meter D-X season seems to be here. Jay Kesterson, K0GU in
Colorado reports over the VHF Reflector on some very early season E skip
openings to Europe. Jay notes that on June 4th at 15:14 UTC he heard
the EN19 beacon. He then checked for European video signals and was
surprised to hear many of them on and near 49.750 MHz. Jay says that
some were S 9 plus 20 d-b. He then worked SM3UZS at 15:50 U-T-C
followed by OH7PI at 16:45. (VHF Reflector)
Still with 6 meter D-X news, word that St. Paul Island should be on the
air late June 29th through July 9th. According to Herb Spoonts, W3IWU,
the operation will feature a full time, dedicated six meter station
operated by W7XU, N0QJM, W0SD and W0OE. Herb says that the six meter
station will only transmit on 50.157 MHz listening up 5 kHz and more
when needed. Liaison will be on 28.885 MHz and updates will be provided
to the appropriate Six Meter Internet sites and reflectors. St. Paul
Island holds the prefix CY and is located in Grid Square will be FN97.
QSL via W7XU. (Via E-Mail)
On the High Frequency bands, GB2RS reports that JH0IEW/JD1 and
JE0EHE/JD1 will be active from Ogasawara Island through the 16th of
June. They will be operating on 80 through six meters, including the
WARC bands on SSB and CW. QSL to home calls or via the bureau.
(GB2RS)
Also, keep an ear open for W5AA slash TI8 from Costa Rica until the 17th
of June. He will operate on all bands with an emphasis on 30, 12 and 17
meters. QSL as directed on the air. (GB2RS)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: ATOMIC COFFEE MAKER
And finally this week, if you are a ham who has trouble waking up to
keep those wee hours D-X schedules, the answer may be as close as the
local appliance store. How about an atomic time coffee maker?
No, we aren't kidding. We discovered this one last week in an appliance
store in the Ft. Lauderdale Florida area. It's called the Perfect Time
Coffeemaker, and according to its manufacturer Melitta Salton Inc, it's
the first such device using radio frequency reception of atomic clock
signals to keep it in sync with the National Bureau of Standards time
keeping system.
Melitta Salton claims that the internal clock provides accurate time
right out of the box by monitoring the WWVB broadcasts from Boulder
Colorado. All the user need do is to select his or her time zone and
the coffeemaker does the rest. It even automatically adjusts to
Daylight Savings Time and its internal back-up batteries keep it going
during short duration power losses. Salton also says that it also brews
good coffee. And what more could any D-X hound ever ask for.
(ARNewsline/4)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, 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.
This final note. The nominating period for the 2002 Amateur Radio
Newsline Young Ham of the Year award closed on May 30th. The nominating
forms are on their way to the judges. Their decision will be announced
in early July.
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de
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