[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1311 - September 27, 2002
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Sun Sep 29 20:47:38 EDT 2002
Amateur Radio Newsline 1311 - September 27, 2002
The following is a Q-S-T. Unlicensed stations invade the low end of 20
meters and a tower finding in California highlight this weeks Amateur
Radio Newsline report number 1311 coming your way right now.
**
INTRUDER WATCH: WORLDWIDE QRM FROM INDONESIA
Unlicensed stations allegedly operating from Indonesia are causing havoc
to the D-X beacon monitoring system on 20 meters. Its interference
being heard around the world as we hear from Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB:
--
The presence of Indonesian non amateur groups on the various amateur
band frequencies in the 40 and 20 meter bands is causing severe
concern for all the amateurs of Region 3 and the world over. While they
use amateur radio frequencies for their regular communications, you will
never miss the many calls for Prayers and the many jokes and Kookaburra
pattern of laughing with old men and young ladies together.
The 40 meter band has several channels of 5 kHz intervals from the lower
edge and these stations have their breeding grounds here. They graduate
to other frequencies and move to 20 meter band, where they are on
either side of the International Beacon frequency of 14100 kHz. Many
of us in Region 3, cannot monitor any NCDXF/IARU beacons on this
frequency.
Even though this QRM from Indonesians has been reported month after
month to telecommunications authorities, so far nothing seems to be
happening get them off the air.
--
If you hear this QRM, please report it to your nations Intruder Watch
coordinator.
(Q-News)
**
RADIO LAW: COURT RULES CITY CANNOT RESTRICT BUSINESS ANTENNA USE
A California Court of Appeals has ruled that a city cannot regulate the
type of transmissions that an FCC license holder can broadcast. It also
says that a city ordinance that prohibited a license holder from
broadcasting commercially is preempted by federal law. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, says what the city of Rancho Palos
Verdes was trying to write its own rules on this one:
--
Mark Abrams, WA6DPB, lives in Rancho Palos Verdes California. He is an
amateur radio operator and with city approval, Abrams built a 40-foot
antenna and 52-foot antenna in the backyard of his home. The city's
approval of the towers was contingent on their use being limited to non-
commercial applications only. Abrams is also the owner of a business
that sells and services two-way radio equipment and holds 76 licenses
issued by the FCC which permitted the use of his antennas for commercial
purposes.
--
Abrams: Audio Onlt at www.arnewsline.org.
--
Abrams says that he never used the two city-approved towers to receive
or transmit on frequencies for commercial use. Instead, he used
portable antennas mounted on tripods in his backyard and on a mobile
tower trailer which he parked in his side yard.
But in 1998 and 1999, the City of Rancho Palos Verdes monitored radio
transmissions from Abrams's property and detected the commercial use of
frequencies. The City stated that these transmissions were in violation
of an ordinance that required FCC licensees to obtain a conditional use
permit from the city's planning commission to operate commercially.
--
Abrams: Audio only at www.arnewsline.org
--
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes and State of California filed an action
seeking an injunction to bar Abrams from, among other things, operating
his antennas for commercial purposes. Abrams answered the complaint and
filed a cross-complaint of his own. It he claimed that federal law
preempted the City's ordinance because it prohibited the use of
frequencies allocated to him and his customers by the FCC.
--
Abrams: Audio only at www.arnewsline.org
--
The court says that he can use his antennas for commercial purposes
without a city permit. It says that federal law preempts the City's
ordinance banning such use because the Rancho Palos Verdes requirement
that Abrams obtain a permit to transmit a commercial broadcast was
preempted by federal regulation. It says that Abrams's FCC licenses
enable him to operate commercially on certain frequencies and the City
of Rancho Palos Verdes limitation on his rights are in conflict with
federal law. And that's good news for WA6DPB.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.
--
The Court concluded the City does hold zoning authority, but such
authority is limited to the placement, construction, and modification of
facilities used for commercial mobile radio services only.
(ARNewsline)
**
RADIO RULES: UPDATE ON NTIA VS. PROPOSED 5 MHZ HAM BAND
Some good news concerning the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration opposition to a new Amateur service
allocation at 5 Mhz. This from ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP, and
General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD who say that they are now optimistic
about reaching a resolution to issues that could otherwise block plans
for the band.
The two met with representatives of the government agency to discuss the
NTIA concerns. Haynie says that they came away with a feeling that the
NTIA was willing to work with the ARRL to resolve concerns. Until
surprise opposition surfaced the FCC appeared to have put ARRL's request
for a new, domestic-only, secondary amateur allocation at 60 meters on
the political fast
track. (ARRL Bulletin)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HURRICANE ISADORE STRIKS
On Tuesday, September 24th, the FCC declared that a general
communications emergency existed for Alabama, Florida, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Texas. This as hurricane Isadore approached the
region.
The declaration requires amateurs not use 3.873 MHz during hours of
darkness and 7.285 MHz during daylight. Both frequencies are to be
protected plus or minus 3 kHz. Only amateurs taking part in the
handling of emergency traffic are to use these 6 kilohertz slots.
The FCC said the communications emergency could last as long as 14 days
but it actually remains in force until its rescinded. Keep an eye on the
ARRL website newspages for ongoing updates on ham radio involvement in
this emergency. Its in cyberspace at www.arl.org (From ARRL bulletin.)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: V-U-SAT'S MESSAGES FROM ORBIT
A new ham radio satellite to be launched by India wants to carry your
message. This, according to VU2NUD who is the coordinator for Amsat-
India.
VU2NUD says that V-U-SAT will carry a beacon system with the ability to
play back pre recorded messages on command. They will be transmitted
in F-M voice for all the world to hear and your words could be among
those it broadcasts from space. Here's how:
Think of short, meaningful and apropos messages no longer than 15
seconds in duration. It could be related to ham radio space operations,
amateur satellites, famous quotes, sayings or whatever. Then send it
along to VU2SBJ by e- mail to sri at ebhats.com and a copy to ham at vsnl.com.
Mark clearly in the subject: Message for Beacon. Then wait to see what
V-U-SAT eventually has to say. (ANS)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC SETS ASIDE LICENSE RENEWAL
The FCC has notified Scott E. Kamm, of Sioux City Iowa that it has set
aside the renewal of his Technician class license grant for N0UGN. The
Commission said it took the action based on recent complaints about the
operation of Kamm's station and questions regarding his qualifications
to be a licensee.
The FCC notes a Warning Notice by the Enforcement Bureau sent to Kamm
last February 5th. The agency says that the warning was related to
Kamm's alleged use of transmitting equipment on 156.300 and 174.000 MHz
without a license, and deliberate interference to an Amateur repeater
operating on 146.910 MHz. The letter also pointed out that Kamm's
address in the database was incorrect. And subsequent to that warning
notice the FCC says that information came to its attention that Kamm had
apparently provided radio equipment to an unlicensed minor residing in
Waterbury, Nebraska, and had instructed him on how to operate on the
Marine Band and other frequencies.
In his February 11th response to the FCC Warning Notice, Kamm denied
setting up radio equipment for the minor, and also stated that he had
sold all of his radio equipment. But the FCC says that it has all of
these complaints under review and that Kamm will be hearing from the
agency again in the not to distant future. (FCC)
**
SAFETY ALERT: FLUKE METER RECALL
Test equipment manufacturer Fluke Corporation has announced a voluntary
recall of certain models of its digital multimeters. This because of a
delay in readings on the A-C scale above 500 volts.
According to a company release, the meters can take more than 18 seconds
to reach a final reading. This could lead users to think that the
voltage is lower than it actually is.
The meters involved in the recall are models 175, 177 and 179 of which
17000 were sold in the United States. All of the recalled units have a
serial number below 79000000 and were sold between January and October
2001. If you have one, please call Fluke toll-free at 800-260-4819
between 8 AM and 7 PM weekdays Eastern time. More information on the
recall can be found in cyberspace at www.fluke.com/rma/default.asp.
(Fluke press release forwarded by WA6ILQ)
**
SAFETY ALERT: KODAK DC5000 DIGI CAMERA RECALL
A recall on a popular digital camera. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm
Seeley, KI7UP, has the shocking details:
--
If you own a Kodak brand digital camera model D C 5000, listen up.
Eastman Kodak Co. is recalling about 75,000 of these cameras because of
a possible manufacturing defect that can cause electrical shock.
According to news reports, the recalled cameras bear the model number
DC5000 on the lower front right-hand corner. The cameras also carry a
plate on the bottom containing the Kodak product identifier code KJCAA,
followed by an eight-digit serial number ranging from 01800001 to
11700825.
The cameras were sold at department, electronic, computer and camera
stores as well as mail-order and Web sites from June 2000 through August
2002. Consumers can return the cameras for free inspection and repair
by contacting the company at 1-888-793-2977 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Monday through Friday Eastern Daylight Time.
--
Again, if you own one of these cameras, please contact Kodak at 1-888-
793-2977 between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday Eastern
Daylight Time. (Kodak press release)
**
HAM RADIO ON TV: ICOM JOINS "THE HUMAN RACE"
ICOM America has been named the high frequency communications provider
for the television shoe The Human Race. ICOM America has already
shipped an IC-706 Mark II G to Boston for use by the show. The IC-706
and additional equipment will be used during an upcoming trek along the
actual travel route to be used. The donation is the result of an
agreement recently reached between ICOM America's National Sales Manager
Ray Novak, KC7JPA, and the shows producer Bill Desjardins, W1ZY. (THR)
**
CONFRENCES: WSWSS IN CERRITOS CA
The Western States VHF-UHF and Microwave Conference is slated for
October 11, 12 and 13 at the Sheraton Cerritos Hotel Towne Center in
Cerritos California. Hosted by the Western States Weak Signal Society,
the conference provides VHF and UHF enthusiasts the knowledge and tools
to work DX and contests on 6 meters and up. This years banquet speaker
is ARRL 1st Vice-President and VHF/UHF contester Joel Harrison, W5ZN.
More information is on the web at www.wswss.org. (WSWSS)
**
RADIO HISTORY: PEARL HARBOR REPORTER S.K.
He wasn't a ham, but Hugh Lytle was a communicator in his own right.
History remembers Lytle as the man whose teletype message provided The
Associated Press and the world with the first account of Japan's sneak
attack on Pearl Harbor back in 1941.
Lytle was the news services Honolulu correspondent and a reserve Army
officer. He was awakened by the Army on December 7th as Japanese planes
bombed the U.S. fleet. According to his son David, Lytle quickly left
for his A-P office at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, where he filed a brief
account of the attack in progress. He then reported for military duty
with the Army.
A few weeks ago on August 16th Hugh Lytle passed away. He was 100 years
old. (Published reports)
**
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