[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1316 - November 1, 2002

Sat Nov 2 01:35:40 EST 2002

Amateur Radio Newsline™ 1316 - November 1, 2002

The following is a Q-S-T.

A child is saved thanks to C-B radio in Australia and Ireland opts to 
restructure with slow-code. These stories are first on Amateur Radio 
Newsline report number 1316 coming your way right now.

**

RESCUE RADIO: CB HELPS SAVE HAM RADIO OPERATORS DAUGHTER'S LIFE

The daughter of a ham radio operator is alive after he to turns to C-B 
radio for help.  It happened down-under in Australia as we hear from Q-News 
Graham Kemp, V-K-4-B-B:

--

Recently on holiday at Finley, S. NSW, Eric VK2TRD's daughter Tegan, 
12,  had a very narrow escape, after she was bitten twice by a Tiger 
Snake!   After emergency treatment at Finley Hospital she was transferred 
by  Ambulance to Shepparton, Vic.

Travelling to Shepparton Eric called five times on the 2m repeater seeking 
guidance to the Hospital, no response.   Disgusted, he called on the UHF CB 
repeater and got instant help.

Over 6 days there, nothing was heard on the repeater but the ident., 
and  that was when Eric fired it up.  On 2m simplex, only 2 farmers using 
it as an intercom, no c/s's.

Tegan, that night suffered cardiac respiratory arrest and was in intensive 
care for two days.   Now at home she is doing OK.  A traumatic time for 
all.

For the Amateur Radio Nrewsline, I'M graham Kemp, VK4BB of Q-News 
Australia.

--

Once the ordeal was over, VK2TRD paused to thank all who helped in his 
daughters rescue.  This included the Shepparton CB'ers for their immediate 
response.

**

RESTRUCTURING:  IARU REGION I MEETS NOV 10

The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Conference is slated for the 
tiny nation of San Marino beginning on November 10th.  And according to the 
W5YI Report's Fred Maia, it could be a rather hot meeting.  The reason -- 
two words:  Morse code.

Writing in the November 1st issue of his newsletter, Maia says that the 
subject of Morse proficiency testing among those serving on the High 
Frequency Committee is shaping up to be controversial.  On one side are two 
giants.  Germany's Deutscher Amateur Radio Club and the Union of Russian 
Radio Amateurs are two national societies who are already on record as 
opposing dropping Morse testing as an international requirement.

Leading the charge to eliminate manual telegraphy tests is the Radio 
Society of Great Britain.  It says that Region 1 if the International 
Amateur Radio Union should formally endorse the October 2001 resolution of 
the IARU  Administrative Council in respect to abolishing mandatory Morse 
exams.

Both the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club and the RSGB have  submitted well 
crafted conference documents stating their respective positions.  How this 
will all work out will be known at the close of the conference on November 
15th.

**

RESTRUCTURING:  IRELAND ADOPTS 5 WPM

Meantime, restructuring and slow code have come to Ireland.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, has the details:

--

According to Echo Ireland, that's the journal of the Irish Radio 
Transmitters Society, a set of new amateur radio regulations were signed 
into law by the Regulator in the Republic of Ireland on September 11th. The 
newws is just getting out and the main points of the new regulations 
governing ham radio are as follows.

First, the Morse code test speed has been reduced to 5 words per minute to 
bring it in line with whats become the defacto world wide standard.  More 
important, that there is no longer any age restriction on a persoin getting 
an Irish ham radio license.  This means that anyone -- any age in Ireland 
can brccome a ham.  And up until now, there had been a probationary period 
of a year before a Full Licence could be issued.  Now, thats gone too.

On the technical side, the maximum power permitted on each band is now 
listed in decibles per watt R-M-S at the output of the transmitter.  This 
is good news because it effectively allows a power increase for Irish 
amateurs.  The old regulations specified that limits were regarded as input 
power rather than measured at the R-F output jack.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ.

--

We will have more news from around the world later on in this weeks Amateur 
Radio Newsline report.

**

ENFORCEMENT:  YOU CANT USE THOSE RADIOS ON FIRE CHANNELS

Back on this side of the Atlantic, the FCC has told a fire department to 
stop using illegally modified ham radio gear.  The FCC's Daryl Duckworth, 
NN0W, explains:

--

Duckworth:  "The Enforcement Bureau has notified the Bon Secour Fire and 
Rescue Department in Alabama that the Amateur equipment they were using was 
contrary to Commission rules because it had been modified to operate on 
Public Safety frequencies.  The letter referred to several Icom IC-V8 
handie talkies."

--

The note went to Karl Bingert who is the Chief Bon Secour Fire & Rescue 
Department.  It told him that the use of Amateur Radio units of any kind, 
modified to operate on its frequencies, is  against the Commission's rules 
and would result in enforcement action by the FCC.  (FCC, RAIN)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC BACKS REPEATER OWNERS BAN OF UNWANTED USER

The FCC is once again backing up a repeater operator who wants to ban a 
particular user from the system.  Its all taking place in Ohio.  Again, the 
FCC's Daryl Duckworth tells us about the situation and the agency's 
position in favor of the people running the machine:

--

Duckworth:  "The Enforcement Bureau sent a Warning Notice to Billy R. 
Marshall, N8ORF, warning him to stay off of the W8HFF repeater system in 
the Toledo Ohio area.  The Toledo Mobile Radio Association had issued two 
letters to Marshall requesting him to stay off the repeater due to his 
failure to follow operational rules.

The Enforcement Bureau reminded Marshall that control operators may take 
whatever steps are necessary to insure complience with the rules and that 
they will be backed up by the Commission"

--

Marshall was given 20 days from the date of receipt of the FCC letter to 
reply and outline what steps he has taken to comply.  (FCC, RAIN)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  PHONE COMPANIES FINED

Two companies have learned the expensive way that it does not pay to try to 
grab another telephone company's customers.  This, as the  FCC issues two 
Notices of Apparent Liability proposing a total of $6,560,000 in fines 
against two operator service providers for taking advantage of consumers.

The companies named are Opticom Corporation and ASC.  The FCC says that the 
massive fines are based on Opticom apparent sixty-four violations, and 
another eighteen apparent by ASC.  The term apparent is the FCC's way of 
alleging a violation has taken place.  The Commission says that it 
calculated the proposed fines by using the $80,000 per violation amount 
previously used in cases involving egregious slamming.  Take your browser 
over to http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-226534A1.doc 
to learn more.  (FCC)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  EMCOM SUSPENDS NATIONAL EMERGENCY ALERT NOTIFICATION SYSTEM

EMCOM  -- the emergency alerting system has suspended its the National 
Emergency Alert Notification System operations effective October 25th.  Our 
producer, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the nitty-gritty:

--

In making the announcement, EMCOM officials said that what they term as a 
stand-down also affects the Emergency Information Web Sites maintained by 
EMCOM for every state, county and municipality in the nation.  Also 
impacted are over 1 million other web pages that reportedly utilized the 
automatically updated EMCOM Homeland Security Status Bar or the PubAlert 
notification bulletin pop-up system.

By way of background, for the first six months after the 9/11 tragedy, 
EMCOM offered to provide access to full use of the system to any 
community's emergency agencies for $500 per month. During that period there 
were no takers, even though EMCOM had notified almost every senator, 
representative, and agency in the nations capital.

So the bottom line is this:  The EMCOM alert system is dead for now but 
hopefully not gone forever.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.

--

In making the announcement, EMCOM took the opportunity to express its 
gratitude to the hams, ARES and RACES operators who helped to get the 
system off the ground.

More about EMCOM is on the web at www.comdinet.com/emcom  (EMCOM release)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY

On a more positive note, Larry Boyd, KB4GFT says in an Internet posting 
that The 2002 SKYWARN Recognition Day will occur on Saturday December 
7th.  It will begin at 00:00 UTC and run for 24 hours.

SKYWARN Recognition Day was created in 1999 by the National Weather Service 
and the American Radio Relay League.  It honors  the contributions that 
volunteer SKYWARN radio operators make to the National Weather Service.

Last year 80 National Weather Service offices participated.  The list 
of  this years participants and other  information is on the web at 
hamradio.noaa.gov  (KB4GFT)

**

RADIO RULES:  RULES REWRITE ON MEDIA CONSOLIDATION

The Federal Communications Commission has embarked on a major rewrite of 
rules that limit the consolidation of media companies. The  overhaul, which 
FCC officials first announced in June, is likely to conclude by the middle 
of next year when the agency issues final rules.

Many observers expect the agency to relax the current media ownership 
restrictions, although FCC officials stressed during a recent meeting that 
they had not  reached any conclusions.   The FCC is seeking comment on 
whether it should keep or change six specific media consolidation rules, 
including bans on common ownership of a newspaper and television station or 
television and radio stations in the same media market, as well as a limit 
on the percentage of the national audience that any station may reach.

Many of the rules were written decades ago before cable and 
satellite-based  television and the Internet.  The proceeding is being 
conducted under a statute that requires the FCC to periodically review its 
rules  to determine whether they remain in the public interest.  (FCC)

**

COMMUNICATIONS LAW:  JUDGE THROWS OUT PAY AS YOU CLICK CASE

Its a big court win for all of us.  This as a federal court says no to a 
law suit that could have cost all of us a lot of dollars as we clicked our 
way across the World Wide Web.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW, has the details:

--

U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon has rejected a claim by the B-T Group 
that it owns the patent on those single-click hyperlinks that make the Web 
what it is.  It's lawsuit accused Internet service provider Prodigy 
Communications Corp., of infringing on the B-T patent.

But Judge McMahon rejected the claim that each Web server on the Internet 
is a central computer and thus the Internet falls within the patent's 
scope.  Her decision, filed in a White Plains, New York Federal Court 
concluded that no jury could find that Prodigy infringes on the B-T patent.

The B-T suit had been viewed as a test case that could have opened the door 
for the company to challenge other Internet service providers and demand 
licensing fees.  These fees could have added a lot to the annual cost of 
anyone surfing the net.

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

--

With the potential of billions of dollars at stake, its not known if B-T 
Group will appeal the judges decision or re-file the case.  (Published news 
reports)

**

HAM RADIO TRAINING:  AMATEUR RADIO LICENSE GUIDE - THE PROGRAM

Stuart Cole, N5LBZed, tells us by e-mail about a computer program that he 
has just finished writing.  Its  called "Amateur Radio License Guide" and 
is a modern update of the DOS version that he brought out back in 1999.

According to Cole, the program is based on the official ham radio question 
pool, is divided into three sections and does cover training all classes of 
license.  More information is in cybrspace at 
http://cableone.net/sacole/   (N5LBZ)

**

THE WORLD ABOVE 50 MHZ:  WRITER ASKS YOUR HELP

Gene Zimmerman, W3ZZ, says over the VHF Reflector that his next World Above 
50 MHz column in QST Magazine will include a discussion of VHF+ clubs and 
groups.  This refers to weak signal groups that meet regularly, VHF groups 
that sponsor annual conferences  like Central States VHF Society, contest 
groups and others interested in the non-repeater world of VHF and UHF 
communications.

Gene says that he has already mined a lot of data from Internet sites but I 
would like his information to be accurate and up to date.  He has 
identified the PackRats; the Rochester VHF Group, the South East V-H-F 
Society and about a dozen others as falling into this category.  He asks 
that anyone connected with these groups please contact him by e-mail to 
confirm the information he already has.  He also wants a person or point of 
contact to send readers to if someone wishes to find out more information 
about how to  particular group.  Gene's e-mail is w3zz at arrl.org.  (VHF 
Reflector)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  AM MODULATION IMPROVEMENT ANNOUNCED

A new modulation technique for AM broadcasting is being promoted  by 
broadcast industry pioneer Mike Dorrough, KO6NM.  Dorrough claims the 
Advanced Modulation System can increase carrier modulation to 200% while 
improving the performance, range and sound quality of Amplitude Modulated 
radio.

According to the CGC Communicator, KO6NM recently discussed the system at 
an SBE meeting in Sacramento and plans other presentations.

Ross du Clair, WA6VWY is the Chief Engineer for Clear Channel in 
Sacramento.  He attended the Sacramento meeting and is quoted in Radio 
World On-Line as saying, "This is real and it does work."

As previously reported, Mike Dorrough was the recipient of  the National 
Association of Broadcasters Radio Engineering Achievement Award in 
2000.  This, for his contributions to audio processing and signal 
monitoring.  Details of the new Advanced Modulation System will appear in 
an upcoming issue of Radio World magazine.  (CGC Communicator)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  PERSONAL LOCATORS FOR KIDS

In the wake of multiple child abductions, parents are turning to 
satellite-based locator bracelets to track their children.  The bracelets 
carry transponders that will permit parents keeps tabs on their kids over 
via the Internet or by telephone.

Wherify Wireless plans to release its three-ounce G-P-S equipped Personal 
Locators next month. The device uses satellite and cellular technology and 
has a built-in numeric pager.  It allows the wearer to contact an emergency 
law enforcement service  in worst-case scenarios

Each unit costs 400 dollars and is accompanied by about 30 dollars in 
service fees.  Experts on missing children warn such devices are not 
foolproof and could give parents a false sense of security.  Still many 
parents are willing to try the locators a try. (Scienceonline)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  SOYUZ FLIES AGAIN

Some good news for the astro-ham team on board the International Space 
Station. The Soyuz rockets are flying again.

On Wednesday October 30th a manned Soyuz rocket with three cosmonauts on 
board blasted off from Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome bound for 
I-S-S.  The  Soyuz-TMA booster rocket lifted as planned at 03:11 GMT with 
no reported malfunction on its way to orbit.

As reported last week, the launch of this Soyuz was delayed after the fatal 
crash of a similar design unmanned cargo rocket October 15th.  During this 
Soyuz 12-day mission, the Russian and Belgian crew will replace a rescue 
capsule docked at the ISS.  (Published reports)

**

CONVENTIONS/HAMFESTS/CONFERENCES:  MARTLESHAM MICROWAVE IN NOVEMBER

Turning to the ham radio conference scene, work that the Martlesham 
Microwave Round Table 2002 will be held this year at Adastral Park, 
Martlesham Heath, England.  The dates are Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 
10th of November.  Highlights include a visit to the Royal Air Force's 
Defense Radar Museum at R-A-F in Neatishead and an evening dinner in 
Ipswich. All of this plus the usual flea market, lectures and the UK 
Microwave Group Annual General Meeting. For ore information e-mail 
g3xdy at btinternet.com  (GB2RS)

**

CONVENTIONS/HAMFESTS/CONFERENCES:  EUROPEAN RADIO SYMPOSIYUM IN BARCELONA

The 2002 European Radio Symposium is slated for November 13th in Barcelona, 
Spain. Convergence, digitization and electronic audience measurement will 
be key topics tackled in this symposium. Speakers include David Rogerson of 
Strategic Media Solutions.  (Media Network)

**

CONVENTIONS/HAMFESTS/CONFERENCES:  BIG TURNOUT FOR  ARRL/TAPR DCC

According to a recent ARRL Letter over a hundred the worlds most active 
Amateur Radio digital enthusiasts turned up in Denver, Colorado, September 
13th to the 15.  This, for the 2002 joint ARRL and TAPR Digital 
Communications Conference.

This marked the 21st such Digital Communications Conference held.  The 
agenda ranged from Automatic Position Reporting System  topics to 
high-speed digital networking and software- defined radio.  All agree it 
was well worth the trouble of traveling to the mile-high city to attend. 
(ARRL)

**

DX

In D-X, word that  3D2AG, will be working on Rapa Island through  the 28th 
of November.  He plans to operate as FO5RK on CW and SSB.  This, during his 
late afternoon, nighttime and early morning hours.  Rapa is part of the 
Austral Island group.  (RSGB)

And SMZ0WKA is in Cuba until the 10th of November and is active as 
T48W.  Look for him on 160 through to 6 meters, with an emphasis on the 
lower bands.  QSL this one as directed on the air.  (RSGB)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  W6XYZ/KTLA AT 60

And finally this week, one of the nations pioneering television stations is 
in the midst of celebrating its 60th anniversary.  That station is KTLA 
television in Los Angeles.  And almost from its inception, ham radio has 
played a role in its success.  Roy Neal, K6DUE, takes a look at KTLA and 
some of the hams who helped it to make history:

--

DATELINE "HOLLYWOOD."   ON A HIGH AND WINDY HILL, OVERLOOKING THE FAMOUS 
DISTRICT OF LOS ANGELES, IN GIANT BLOCK LETTERS, THERES A SIGN THAT READS 
HOLLYWOOD.  AT THE TOP OF THE HILL, THERE'S ALSO A RADIO TOWER WITH A 
HISTORY.  THAT'S THE SITE OF THE FIRST TELEVISION STATION WEST OF THE 
MISSISSIPPI.

IT WENT ON THE AIR IN SEPTEMBER OF 1942 AS W6XYZ, AN XPERIMENTAL TELEVISION 
STATION WITH STUDIOS ON THE PARAMOUNT FILM LOT.  IN OCTOBER OF 1942.  THE 
STATION EVEN BROADCAST INSIDE A MOTION  PICTURE STUDIO, FEATURING THE MOVIE 
"THIS GUN FOR HIRE."

BY 1946, W6XYZ WAS GONE, REPLACED BY THE CALL KTLA.  THE GUIDING GENIUS 
BEHIND THE STATION WAS KLAUS LANDSBERG, WHO CAME TO THE UNITED STATES AFTER 
ESCAPING FROM NAZI GERMANY.  IN THE LANDSBERG BOOK, NOTHING WAS IMPOSSIBLE. 
SO KTLA RACKED UP AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF FIRSTS WHILE PIONEERING TELEVISION.

ON THE FIRST OF JANUARY, 1946, THEY BROADCAST THE TOURNAMENT OF ROSES 
PARADE_LIVE.  IN 1955, KTLA BECAME THE FIRST LOS ANGELES STATION TO 
BROADCAST THE PARADE IN COLOR.

IN MAY OF 1952, LANDSBERG DROPPED RELAY STATIONS ON MOUNTAIN TOPS TO BEAM 
AN ATOMIC BOMB TEST FROM NEVADA TO LOS ANGELES.  HE CALLED IT OPERATION BIG 
SHOT.

AND IN MAY OF 1958, BUYING EQUIPMENT FROM NBC, KTLA WENT ON THE AIR WITH 
ITS TELECOPTER_A HELICOPTER EQUIPPED TO COVER LOS ANGELES FROM THE AIR!

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SHOWS LANDSBERG PRODUCED WAS LAWRENCE WELK, A 
PROGRAM THAT STILL EXISTS IN SYNDICATION.

MANY OF THE STATION'S ENGINEERING STAFF WERE RADIO AMATEURS.  FOR EXAMPLE, 
THE INVENTOR OF THE HAM RADIO REPEATER, THE LATE ART GENTRY, W6MEP.  THIS 
REPORTER REMEMBERS MANY FUN TIMES WHILE TALKING WITH THE AVUNCULAR MR. 
GENTRY FROM THE REPEATER SITE ONCE OCCUPIED BY W6XYZ.

IN 1964, FILM AND TV STAR GENE AUTRY BOUGHT THE STATION AND AMONG THE 
ENGINEERS HE BROUGHT IN WAS LOYD SIGMON, W6LQ.  "SIG" IS PROBABLY BEST 
KNOWN AS THE FATHER OF THE SIGALERT TRAFFIC MONITORING AND PUBLIC ADVISORY 
SYSTEM.

W6LQ AND W6MEP WERE TWO OF THE BETTER KNOWN HAMS WHO HELPED KTLA AS THE 
STATION  PIONEERED EARLY DAY TELEVISION UNDER THE GUIDING AEGIS OF KLAUS 
LANDSBERG.

FOR THE AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE, ROY NEAL, K6DUE

--

KTLA is owned these days by Tribune Broadcasting and is part of the Warner 
Brothers -- or W-B Television Network.  More important, its history is one 
rich in break-through technology and innovation.  Its a pioneering station 
that made television happen.  You can read more about it in cyberspace at 
the website you will find in this weeks amateur Radio Newsline report.

More on the fascinating history of W6ZYZ and KTLA is in cyberspace at 
http://ktla.trb.com/about/station/ktla-about-history1.htmlstory   (Tnx 
K6DUE, CGC Communicator, others)

**

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 at arnewsline.org.  More information is available at Amateur Radio 
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can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 
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