[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1305 August 16th, 2002

Sat Aug 17 02:02:01 EDT 2002

Amateur Radio Newsline 1305 August 16th, 2002

The following is a Q-S-T. 

Japan says no to putting communications over power lines and the NCVEC 
says YES to remote testing.  These stories are first on amateur Radio 
Newsline report number 1305 coming your way right now!

**

SPECTRUM NEEDS:  NO PLACE FOR PLT IN JAPAN

Proponents of using Power Line Transmission or PLT technology have 
suffered a major setback.  Telecommunications regulators in Japan have 
said NO to its implementation after tests show that the system could 
interfere with other spectrum users including ham radio.  Jeramy Boot, 
G4NJH, has more:

--

The RSGB has learned from its contacts in Japan who have been working on 
problems of interference from Powerline Telecommunications Systems that, 
following extensive trials, the Ministry of Public Management, Home 
Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications has decided not to permit the 
roll-out of PLT systems operating in the range 2 to 30MHz in Japan. 
Japanese studies have shown that emissions from PLT are harmful to HF 
communications and all requests from PLT manufacturers to operate PLT 
systems have been refused. The RSGB has been told that the Japanese 
amateur society, JARL, has been actively working with the government, 
along with radio astronomers, broadcasters and others, to assess the 
impact of PLT systems on the radio spectrum. We understand that this 
decision has been given much publicity in the Japanese national press, 
which has highlighted concerns about interference to safety-of-life 
services.

--

What about Power Line Transmission systems being proposed elsewhere in 
the world? G4NJH says that in Europe, the Radio Society of Great Britain 
continues to press for tight limits on emissions from all wireline based 
telecommunications systems.  Also that it is working with other High 
Frequency users to try to ensure that the spectrum remains 
uncontaminated by wideband noise.  (GB2RS)

**

THE VE TESTING SYSTEM:  NCVEC SAYS YES TO REMOTE TESTING

The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators have  
endorsed experimental use of videoconferencing technology to conduct 
Amateur Radio testing in remote areas of Alaska.  Newsline's Bruce 
Tennant, K6PZW reports:

--

An ARRL bulletin says that it all happened when the nations VEC's 
gathered with the FCC to discuss the all volunteer testing system and 
ways to inprove it.  Meeting July 26th in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the 
National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators or NCVEC voted to 
back a one-year trial run to be conducted by the Anchorage Volunteer 
Examiner Coordinator in Alaska.

Jim Wiley, KL7CC, of the Anchorage group told his VEC colleagues that 
it's very expensive to provide Amateur Radio test sessions to the 
thousands of Alaska residents who live in remote areas.  The vote 
followed discussion on whether having a VE team remotely monitor a test 
session while an unlicensed individual proctored the exams on site would 
comply with FCC Part 97 rules. 

Section 97.509(c) of these rules says that three VE's must be present 
and observing the examinees during a test session.  But Bill Cross, 
W3TN, of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, pointed out that 
the VEC and the VE's are responsible for the proper conduct of the 
exams.  He also said that no rule changes appeared necessary because 
VEC's already have authority to determine the manner in which their VE 
teams conduct examination sessions.  So the test of videoconferencing 
ham radio tests will go forward.

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

--

The Anchorage VEC says that it will provide progress reports to
the NCVEC on the videoconferencing experiment.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THOSE REPEATER WARS

Repeater wars continue among hams on both the east and west coasts.  And 
the CQ Magazine website says that those involved are dragging the FCC 
into battles the agency would really rather the ham community settle on 
its own. 

Two examples.  In West Virginia, where an uncoordinated repeater was 
interfering with a coordinated repeater in Virginia, the FCC ordered the 
owners of the uncoordinated repeater last winter to resolve the 
problems. However, it appears that interference is continuing and the 
FCC is again looking to the owners of the West Virginia repeater to 
investigate and resolve the complaints.

In California, a strange one.  Last March the FCC found no enforcement 
issues involving a repeater in Sonoma County following complaints from 
another repeater group.   Now, users of the Sonoma repeater are 
complaining of interference from the repeater whose trustee originally 
complained to the Commission about their repeater.  (CQ)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FAX BROADCASTER FINED $5.4 MILLION FOR JUNK FAXES

The Federal Communications Commission issued a record fine of over five 
million dollars against a company for sending junk faxes to businesses 
and consumers.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, at our 
South-East Bureau has the details.

--
The August 7th fine against fax.com of Aliso Viejo, California is the 
largest ever by the commission for violations of the Telephone Consumer 
Protection Act.  It is also the first against a company known as a fax 
broadcaster.

According to an FCC release,  fax.com was paid to send unsolicited 
advertisements and other messages on behalf of more than 100 businesses.  
And FCC Commissioner Kathleen Q. Abernathy says that despite repeated 
warnings from the commission and numerous consumer complaints, fax.com 
appears to have made no effort to mend its ways.  

Commissioner Abernathy added that the company appears to have founded 
its business on the practice of sending unsolicited faxes in flagrant 
violation of that law. This has resulted in the fax.com being cited for 
close to 500 violations at about $11,000 per violation.  Thats the 
maximum penalty and it adds up to $5.4 million due to Uncle Sam.

But a lawyer representing fax.com has another opinion. Attorney Mary Ann 
Wymore says that the company feels the rules on unsolicited advertising 
are an unconstitutional restriction of her clients freedom of speech.  
And Wymore indicates that fax.com is going to challenge it in the 
federal courts.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I',m David Black KB4KCH.

--

fax.com has been given only the customary 30 days to pay the fine or 
file an appeal.  The FCC is also issuing citations to more than 100 
businesses that used the services provided by fax.com.  (Adapted from 
FCC release and published news reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  DONT ADVERTISE BANNED GEAR ON THE WWW

The CQ website reports some unofficial advice from the FCC: If you're 
going to sell non FCC approved amateur and CB equipment, don't advertise 
it on the World Wide Web!

Case in point.  A company in Wisconsin we have reported on before.  
Roper Electronics which was asked by the Commission back on June 18th to 
explain why it was alleged web advertising non-certified CB transceivers 
and HF linear amplifiers on its website.  The company was also ordered 
to submit a list of all High Frequency transceivers and amplifiers sold 
within the US or offered for sale during 2002, along with the FCC 
certification number for each model.

The FCC's Riley Hollingsworth says that his office has received a answer 
to the inquiry from Randi Owen.  Owen is the owner of Roper Electronics.  
Hollingsworth says that his office and the local FCC field office is 
reviewing Owen's reply.  (CQ)

**

RADIO LAW:  DIGITAL TUNERS TO BE REQUIRED FOR ALMOST ALL TV SETS

The FCC has decreed that nearly all television receivers made after July 
of 2007 must include the ability to receive and display digital 
transmissions. Digital tuners in some of the larger sets will be 
required by July 1, 2004.  All new sets of 13" and larger must have 
digital receiving capability by July 1, 2007.  

TV set manufacturers are opposed to the new law.  They say that it will 
add at least $250 to the price of every receiver sold.  Also, that there 
is not enough digital programming to watch.  

The FCC has another view.  It is convinced that forcing the public to 
buy sets equipped with digital tuners will help speed up the conversion 
to an all digital t-v broadcast system.  

You can read the full details on line at 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-225221A1.doc  
(From FCC release)

**

PRESERVING THE PAST:  HAM RADIO COMING TO THE USS HORNET

Tom Hale, KB6SSN, tells the Amateur Radio Newsline that the staff of the 
USS Hornet Museum in Alameda, California has agreed to a ham radio 
project.  The managers of the Hornet will allow a group of Amateur Radio 
operators rebuild and restore the original radio systems aboard the 
ship.  

This will be a multi-year project three phase plan that includes getting 
modern commercial ham gear up and running aboard the Hornet as soon as 
possible.  The planners are looking to contact anyone who served aboard 
the USS Hornet.  If you did or if you know someone who did please have 
them contact Tom Hale KB6SSN by e-mail to tom at halemail.com.  (KB6SSN)

**

WITH THE HANDI HAMS:  SUMMER RADIO CAMP IS FULL

The Handi Hams report that their Summer 2002 Minnesota Radio Camp 
session is full but the group will hold its Winter camp in Malibu, 
California from March 2 through 9, 2003.  Those interested in attending 
the 2003 outing are requested to e-mail hamradio at courage.org to request 
an application.  Applications will be mailed out as soon as they are 
printed and available.  (Handi Hams)

**

HAM RADIO IN THE MEDIA:  MORE DONATIONS TO "THE HUMAN RACE"

Kenwood Corporation will be the supplier of hand held radios for the t-v 
show The Human Race.  And the shows producer, Bill Desjardins, W1ZY, 
says that he is happy to have Kenwood on board:

--
W1ZY:  "We are certainly thankful to Paul Middleton over at Kenwood for 
giving the go-ahead on this and we look forward to a close working 
relationship with Kenwood." 
--

Desjardins tells Amateur Radio Newsline that there was a specific reason 
that Kenwood was selected.

--
W1ZY:  "We are going to go with Kenwood's in the field.  The racers and 
the production crews will be using D-7's during the actual race.  Now 
other companies make good radio's and we looked at all of them.  But 
Kenwood won out because it packs APRS tracking into a really rugged 
field package."
--

Desjardins also says that another important item has just materialized.  
He says that VE7FM has donated a home-brew, handheld, two-band beam to 
The Human Race for use with the D-7 and VC-H1 recently supplied by 
Kenwood to track satellites and pursue I-S-S contacts.  Desjardins adds 
that this particular donation brings more good karma to the project.  
(W1ZY)

More information on the TV show "The Human Race" is on the web at 
www.humanrace.fr.st.

**

HAM RADIO IN THE MEDIA:  FREQUENCY -THE TV SHOW

New Line Cinema is considering spinning off the movie "Frequency" into a 
TV Series.  "Frequency" is the film where the non-ham hero uses his 
dad's old ham radio equipment to communicate with his now decease 
father.  

The movie was a great public relations boon for Amateur Radio.  If New 
Line Cinema proceeds, a t-v show could help put the words `ham radio' in 
the mind of every man, woman and child in the U-S of A.  (Via W6AQ from 
published reports)

**

NEW PRODUCTS:  A MANUAL YOU CAN CARRY

Jovan Peric, KB9K, says that he is now producing fully laminated mini 
manuals for a number of the most popular Icom, Kenwood and Yaesu 
transceivers. For more information and photos visit 
www.radioamater.com/kb9k on the world wide web.  You can also  write to 
Peric at 3425 West Ardmore Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659.  (KB9K)

**

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  DUKE CITY HAMFEST

The 2002 Duke City Hamfest will take place Friday, August 23 through 
Saturday, August 24th at a the University of New Mexico  Continuing 
Education Conference Center in Albuquerque Hew Mexico.  Hours are 5:00 
p.m. -to 9:00 p.m. on Friday and 7:00 am to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.  More 
information is in cyberspace at www.qsl.net/dchf  (N5ZGT)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  ERNIE HUDSON KI8O - S.K.

The ham who headed up the Montgomery Ohio ARES operation has died.  
Ernest Hudson, KI8O, passed away on August 2nd following a long battle 
with Cancer.  

Hudson was 69 and had served as Emergency Coordinator for Montgomery 
County for over 20 Years.  His organization with over 530 ARES members 
was one of the best in the nation.  Hudson was also on the State of Ohio 
Council of Amateur Radio for the Montgomery - Greene County Local 
Emergency Response Council.  And in 2001, KI8O was named as recipient of 
the Dayton Amateur Radio Association's Distinguished Service Award.

Funeral services for Hudson were held on Tuesday August 6,2002 at the 
Parkview Church of the Nazarene, in Kettering, Ohio.  (W8ILC)

**

RADIO BUSINESS:  NEW MILITARY COMM SYSTEM BEING DEVELOPED

The Boeing Co. has been named prime contractor for a new U.S. Army 
communication system. The Joint Tactical Radio System is expected to be 
the foundation for all future Department of Defense tactical radios.  
(Published news report)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: N SYNC WITH THE ISS

Russia's space agency says that it might scrap plans for 'N Sync singer 
Lance Bass to join an October mission to the International Space 
Station.  This is because the Russian's say that he had failed to meet a 
payment deadline. 

Bass, who is backed by a consortium of companies rounded up by a 
Hollywood producer, David Krieff, has signed a preliminary contract for 
the trip.  But Bass, who is already training at Star City Cosmonaut 
Center near Moscow has yet to secure a final deal guaranteeing a seat 
aboard the Soyuz craft. 

If he does go, don't hold your breath waiting for him to turn up on 2 
meter FM.  He will be doing a lot of commercial endorsement work.  In 
fact, Bass's space suit will be emblazoned with the names of sponsors.  
These logos will be seen during the eight TV shows Bass expects to beam 
down from space.  Bass is also expected to record audio tracks for a 
future `N SYNC release.  (Published news reports)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  THE AMSAT GLOBAL SATELLITE NET

Internet technology is allowing worldwide access to a new AMSAT net for 
beginning satellite operators.  The AMSAT Global Satellite Net was 
recently started by Neil Hays, W6FOG, and may be accessed on VHF or UHF 
through repeaters linked via the Internet using the IRLP Internet Radio 
Linking Project network. 

For those without IRLP access, but with HF equipment, the net may also 
be found on 14.250 MHz on 20 meters, every Wednesday between 0200 and 
0330 UTC.  I-R-L-P access is via radio only, but activity may be 
monitored by anyone with a computer, sound card and Internet connection. 
For more information on I-R-L-P, go to www.irlp net.  For details on the 
AMSAT Global Satellite Net, see www.w6fog.net  (W6FOG, AMSAT)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  SATELLITE RADIO VS. WIRELESS

XM Satellite Radio Holdings and Sirius Satellite Radio are reportedly in 
talks with wireless companies to resolve a dispute over interference 
with wireless communications services.  The two sides have been 
bickering over the satellite services using equipment to extend their 
digital radio signals to hard-to-reach areas like metropolitan areas 
where skyscrapers can block satellite beams. Wireless companies fear 
that these translators will interfere with some wireless communications 
services.  (Published reports)

**

DX

In DX F6FYD and F2VX are in Baku, Azerbaijan, until the 23rd of August. 
F6FYD will operate as 4J0FR- while F2VX will use the club call 4K7W. 
They will be active on all bands CW and SSB.  (GB2RS)

And SM0CMH is active on 10 to 80 meters, including the WARC bands, on CW 
as SV5/SM8C from Kalymnos Island.  He will be there until the 30th of 
August.  For both these operations please QSL as directed on the air.  
(GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  WATCHING TV OVER THE MOON

And finally this week, here is one of those rare stories where an 
individual has done something so outrageous as to earn a spot in the 
record books.  It happened down-under as we hear from Q-News Graham 
Kemp, VK4BB:

--
Dr. Anthony Mann of the Physics department at the Western Australian 
University has created a "Receiving system" which allows him to tune in 
Television signals from the US.

Tony has been a DX, TV enthusiast for decades, using his scientific 
credentials to stretch the laws of physical limits in order to
"See further and further, unaided by satellites or wire".
His latest accomplishment, apparently a first, is to work out the
parameters for using the Moon as a satellite reflector for bouncing
TV signals from the USA into VK6.

As regards Tony's gear, he uses an Icom R7000 receiver, a Jaycar 91 
element UHF antenna fitted with GaAs-Fet 20db masthead amplifier.
So far there's nothing very special about that except that the antenna 
is mounted on a tripod 1.5 meters above ground with the ability to adjust 
both azimuth and elevation to track the Moon in his sky.

Fortunately a Moon setting in Oklahoma is well above the horizon in 
Perth WA.

The signal Tony receives is tiny, very tiny, and not enough to produce a  
picture he can watch or even sound he can listen to.   At this stage, 
it's not about watching Buggs bunny cartoons, it's all a bit more 
scientific than that. 

Knowing the transmitters frequency to within a few Hertz, yes that's 
right  Hertz, is essential as what Tony is searching for is a "beat 
note"  indication that a carrier signal is present on the Icom receiver.

By using web amateur "Moon bounce" web sites he was able to calculate 
the  Doppler shift for a group of likely TV stations, and then got hold 
of a  precise TV station's  transmitting frequency down to the last two 
Hertz; ie: 501.248XXX, the X's being the Doppler shift migrated.

Results this year have included signals originating in Oklahoma and 
Indiana.

--

You can read more about Dr. Tony Mann's television reception experiments 
at the cyberspace address that you will find in this at   
www.physics.uwa.edu.au/~agm/eme1.jp

**

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. 

One final note.  As this newscast goes to air our staff is in Alabama at 
the Huntsville Hamfest presenting the 2002 Young Ham of the Year Award 
to Josh Abramowicz, KB3GWY, of Reading Pennsylvania.  Josh is receiving 
the award for his work in promoting Amateur Radio through the Boy Scouts 
of America.  Tune in next week for the sounds of this years 
presentation.