[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1333 - February 28, 2003

Sat Mar 1 18:31:17 EST 2003

Amateur Radio Newsline 1333 - February 28, 2003

The following is a Q-S-T.  An amazing feat.  Alaska to the United 
Kingdom using one watt on 136 Khz.  Find out who did it and how on 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1333 coming your way right now.

**

RADIO RECORDS:  UK TO ALASKA ON 136 KHZ

Reaching Alaska from the United Kingdom using just one watt ERP is quite 
a feat for any band, but Laurie Mayhead, G3AQC, has just achieved this 
on the 136 kHz band.  And in doing so he has set a new record.  RSGB 
Newsreader Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has the story:

--
In the early hours of the 15th of February he transmitted to KL1X in 
Anchorage, and just before UK dawn at 0615 his callsign was clearly 
identified. G3AQC was using QRSS - very slow CW - with a 60-second dot 
period. The distance was 7278 kilometres, a record for one watt ERP on 
136kHz. 

Last year G3AQC became the first person to cross the Atlantic on the 
73kHz band. KL1X is perhaps better known to UK amateurs as Laurence 
Howell, GM4DMA.  Laurence said, "What is more surprising than the 
distance is that the path is notoriously poor between south-east Alaska, 
on the east coast of the Pacific, and Europe. 

The signal would theoretically go on a great circle route to nearly 80 
degrees north, over the northern Canadian Arctic, northern Greenland, 
east of Iceland, Glasgow, then over the UK to the South Coast - across 
and through the Auroral oval. There are some thoughts that the actual 
path might have gone round or even under the Auroral zone as no Auroral 
Doppler was seen on the received signal." 
--

A lot of research and preparation work was carried out by G3NYK, G3LDO, 
W3EEE and W4DEX.  This pre-planning is probably in good part responsible 
for helping to set this new work 136 kHz record.  (GB2RS)

**

ON THE AIR:  THE 5 MHZ EXPERIMENT - AN UPDATE

Also from the United Kingdom comes word that progress is being made with 
the analysis and future direction of the 5 MHz band experiment.  This, 
following a meeting between members of the 5 MHz Working Group and 
experts from the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. As a result, work is 
now under way to convert contact logs to a computer readable form with 
analysis results  by April. 

The meeting also looked a the fundamentals of the 5 MHZ experiment and 
came up with a number of suggestions of ways of improving how it should 
be  conducted in the future.  These ideas will require further 
development and consideration by the full 5 MHZ Experiment Working 
Group.  It is hoped that this experiment and others conducted around the 
world could eventually lead to a new ham radio band.  (RSGB)

**

RADIO RULES:  ARRL CONCERNED ON PROPOSED 70CM CHANGES

Back on this side of the Atlantic the ARRL says that its concerned about 
two FCC proposed actions.  Its says that both could negatively affect 
Amateur Radio and it has made its position known in comments filed to 
the FCC. 

Of the two proposals, the one with greatest impact comes from the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration.  It  would 
greatly increase the geographical area in New Mexico and western Texas 
where amateurs in the 70 cm band would be limited to 50 Watts peak 
envelope power to protect military radiolocation  operations.

The ARRL says that there are 67 Amateur repeater in the proposed area.  
It says that most of these are far beyond line-of-sight paths to any 
military facilities.  So the League has asked the FCC and NTIA to 
cooperatively evaluate the proposed restrictionton to determine whether 
it is overly broad.  The ARRL adds that weak-signal operations in the 
region could also affected.

The other propsal comes from the National Weather Service.  It wants to 
deploy wind-profiler radars in the 448 to 450 MHz segment of the 70 
centimeter band.  Here, the League says that it understands that the 
National Weather Service would notify ARRL of their locations as 
selected.  The League notes that amateur repeaters are incumbent in the 
band at this time.   It suggests that the National Weather Service 
select sites that minimize the effect on repeaters in that part of the 
band.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  HAM TURNS IN LICENSE FOR RUNNING UNLICENSED BROADCAST 
STATION

A Berkley Michigan ham radio operator has turned in his ticket after the 
FCC finds he has operated an unlicensed radio station.  The Commission's 
Daryl Duckworth, NNZ0W, explains:

--
Duckworth: "The Enforcement Bureau has issued a Notice to Thomas 
Brothers KI8BE, acknowledging the cancellation of his amateur license as 
a result of a finding by the Detroit office that he operated an 
unlicensed FM station."
--

The action rescinding Brother's ham radio license is the result of 
monitoring and direction finding by the Detroit Field Office.  It 
established that Brothers operated an unlicensed FM radio station from 
his home in 2001.  In addition to canceling his current ham radio 
license the Commission is prohibiting Brothers from applying for a new 
one until December 5th, 2007.   (FCC. RAIN)

**

ENFORCEMENT:   STILL MORE FINES

Hams are not the only ones feeling the sting of Uncle Sam.  In fact, the 
FCC is continuing its enforcement activities in all of the services it 
oversees.  Roy Neal, K6DUE, has the details on what they are doing 
outside of the world of Amateur Radio:

--
The CGC Communicator reports that a$ 5,000 Notice of Apparent Liability 
-- better known as a fine -- has been issued to an AM radio station.  
This, for failing to maintain a record of the its efficiency factor that 
is used to determine its actual operating power.  The station was also 
dinged for operating in excess of 105% of its  authorized power,  

Another A-M broadcast station has been socked for $10,000.  This, for 
failing to register its antenna structure and failing to maintain a 
presence at its main studio during its normal business hours.

But the big one --  a  fine of $20,000 went to a company for operation 
of radio transmission equipment without the required Commission 
authorization.  It was also cited for use of a radio frequency device 
that failed to comply with Commission regulations.

This is just a sample of the non-ham radio enforcement the regulatory 
agency has been involved with.  In all, its been a pretty busy time for 
the protecxtors of the airwaves at the FCC.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Roy Neal, K6DUE.
--

The details on all of these actions are on the FCC's website. You can 
read the details at 
http://www.fcc.gov/Daily_Releases/Daily_Digest/2003/dd030206.html  (CGC 
Communicator, FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  UK MAN CONVICTED OF SELLING ILLEGAL CCTV GEAR

Meantime, across the Atlantic a British electronics supplier has been 
convicted of selling Closed Circuit TV transmitters that operated 
illegally in an amateur radio band.  According to Jim Merachen, ZL2BHF, 
the British might say what he did just isn't cricket.

--
The United Kingdom's Radiocommunications Agency says that    David 
Burrows plead guilty on February 10th in Newark Magistrates' Court to 
two charges of selling non compliant radio apparatus.  The prosecution 
by the Radiocommunications Agency followed a complaint about 
interference from a licensed U-K radio amateur in May 2002.  

The source of the interference was identified as an illegal Closed 
Circuit TV transmitter installed at a farm in Lincolnshire.  The 
Radiocommunications Agency says that the tranasmitters had been bought 
from David Burrows's company valled A-E-R-C.  

Inspectors searched the company's premises last July.  At that time they 
seized a number of television transmission modules capable of illegal 
operation on amateur frequencies.  The company website had claimed the 
surveillance equipment was exempt from the need to obtain a U- K 
licence.

Burrows, of Newark England,  was sentenced to serve 60 hours of  
community service and ordered to pay 300 Pounds in court costs.  Also, 
the equipment seized from Burrows business was ordered forfeitted to the 
government.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF.
--

It appears as if the Radiocommunications Agency may be using the Burrows 
case to send a message to others thinking of selling similar equipment 
by calling it ham radio gear.  (GB2RS)

**

RADIO LAW:  NY STATE HAMS TRY AGAIN TO GET ANTENNA PREEMPTION

For the third year in a row, Amateur Radio antenna legislation has been 
introduced in the New York Legislature.  If approved and signed by 
Governor George Pataki, it would prevent passage of any zoning ordinance 
that would prohibit or -- effectively prohibit -- the construction of an 
antenna support structure by a federally licensed Amateur Radio 
operator.

But theres more.  The ARRL Letter says that municipal ordinances in New 
York State that impact the placement, screening or height of antenna 
support structures would have to reasonably accommodate amateur radio 
antennas and impose the minimum regulation necessary.  It would also 
prohibit municipalities from passing laws or ordinances to restrict 
antenna support structure height to less than 95 feet above ground level 
or restrict the number of antenna support structures. The legislation 
also would require municipalities to adhere to the provisions of  PRB-1.

Last year's bill passed in the State Senate but died in the Assembly's 
Rules Committee.  (ARRL)

**

THE WAR AGASINST TERRORIOSM:  FREE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION ALERTS

Even though the government says that it may downgrade the national 
terrorism alert back to Code Yellow, the Emergency E-mail & Wireless 
Network says that it is increasing its efforts to encourage everyone to 
sign up for its free Homeland Security notices.  This  by e-mail and 
wireless device. You can sign up for the messaging notifications at 
www.emergencyemail.org

The Emergency E-mail & Wireless Network is the largest public service 
notification network and a provider of e-mail notification and wireless 
messaging services to government, the private sector and non-profit 
organizations.  The organization serves over 3160 local areas in all 50 
U. S. States.  Its website is located in cyberspace  at 
www.911message.com.  (EEWN)

**

THE WAR ON TERROR:  THE FIRST RESPONDER

The latest terror alert has law enforcement agencies on guard and 
preparing for the worst.  And after September 11, 2001, emergency crews 
are better prepared for disasters, thanks to new technology.  Amateur 
Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, tells us about First Responder:

--   
One major problem on September 11th 2001 was communications between 
emergency crews.  Most could not talk to one another because they were 
all using different types of radios, in different services and on 
different frequencies.  In fact, the only group with common 
communications channels in the days immediately following the 911 terror 
attacks were the ham radio operators who had their own gear and 
volunteered to assist.

But that all could soon change thanks to a a new mobile command center 
built into a Sports UtilityVehicle and dubbed First Responder by its 
designer Raytheon.

While the exact information on how it works has not been made public, 
First Responder is designed to allow emergency crews to communicate on 
the same radio channel anywhere, anytime - even if phone and power lines 
are down.  In addition to normal two-way radios, the design includes 
satellite phones, a mapping system, hacker-proof computers and infrared 
cameras.  Just about any type of communications you can imagine except 
for ham radio and C-B.  

Raytheon says that it developed First Responder to improve homeland 
security.  It will also soon be equipped to detect biological and 
chemical agents as well as providing inter-service communications.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.
--

According to news reports, the first, First Responder is already in use 
in the Los Angeles California area, but more of these S-U-V's may soon 
be seen nationwide.  This, thanks to new federal legislation that could 
release billions of dollars in Homeland Security funding.  (Published 
news reports)

**

WITH THE HANDI HAMS:  A-R-T FOR THE BLIND

A descriptive audio version of the new ARRL video "Amateur Radio Today" 
will soon be available for the visually impaired from the Handi Hams.  
According to Pat Tice, WA0TDA, the ARRL has agreed to let the Handi Hamd 
reproduce a special  version of the show in audio for its members  with 
disabilities who cannot use regular video. 

Tice says that the audio only version will contain added dialogue to 
describe the action that would be on-screen in the original version.  No 
date for when this special version of Amateur Radio Today will be 
available, but you will have to be a Handi Hams member to be eligable to 
receive a copy.  You can join by calling the toll free Hamdi Ham 
membership line at 1-866-HANDIHAM.  For those who perfer numbers, thats 
1-866-426-3442.  (HandiHams)

**

COLUMBIA DISASTER:  NASA SEEKS HELP FROM SKY WATCHERS

NASA is still seeking help from the American public to supply video and 
still images of the Space Shuttle Columbia on its return flight to 
Earth. The agency says that while there has been a great public 
response, more material will help the investigation of the Columbia 
accident.

Anyone who may have video or stills of Columbia's entry path are 
encouraged to send it to investigators. You can mail videotapes to the 
NASA Johnson Space Center, Mail Code JA17, 2101 NASA Road 1, Houston, 
Texas 77058.  Email digital images to columbiaimages at nasa.gov

NASA adds that videotapes and photos can be returned upon request and 
the materials will not be released to the media without the submitter's 
permission.  For more information call the Johnson Space Center 
Emergency Operations Center at area code 281-483-3388.  (NASA)

**

VOLUNTEER NEEDED:  AMSAT SATELLITE REPORT NEEDS NEW EDITOR

AMSAT says that it s looking for a new Editor for its Weekly Satellite 
Report.  If you are interested in volunteering to help your fellow 
satellite operators stay abreast of the latest status of the ham-sats, 
please e-mail n1jez at amsat.org  (AMSAT-NA)

**

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  CHARLESTON W VA IN MARCH

Between 600 and 700 Amateur Radio Operators are expected to gather on 
Saturday, March 15th, for the 19th Annual Charleston Area Hamfest and 
Computer Show.  The venue for this one is the Coonskin Armory, on 
Coonskin Drive in Charleston.  The event is a giant flea market of new 
and used amateur radio, computer and related gear.  

Representatives of Governor Bob Wise will be present, along with people 
the Board of Public Works.  Also, the states Office of Emergency 
Services will have their Mobile Command Center on display.  And for 
those want to get into the hobby or upgrade, ham radio testing will be 
availabe.  

The Charleston Area Hamfest, which is open to the public draws attendees 
from West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky.  It runs from 9 AM to 3 PM with 
an entry fee of only $5.00.  For more information on the Charleston 
Hamfest, e-mail n8tmw at arrl.net or call  304-965-5349 during normal 
business hours Eastern time.  (N8TMW)

**

INTERNATIONAL - BAHAMAS: 6 METER BEACON MOVED

On the international scene, Steve Rutlidge reports that his C6AFP beacon 
is back on the air from grid square FL16.  The beacon, which operates on 
50. 062 MHz was moved from Great Abaco Island to Green Turtle Cay.  The 
distance is about five miles and the grid square in the same.  The 
beacon is now operating from the home of C6AGN.  (VHF Reflector)

**

INTERNATIONAL - FINLAND:  BEACON STOLEN

Users of the five-band Northern California D-X Foundation beacon network 
may have noticed the absence in recent weeks of transmissions from the 
Finnish OH2B beacon.  The reason?  The transmitter hass been stolen.  
The good news -- the beacon is expected to resume transmissions in the 
European spring.  No other transmitters in the word-wide NCDXF beacon 
string have been affected.  (RSGB)

**

INTERNATIONAL - SINGAPORE:  NEW FREQUENCIES FOR HAMS

And word that Singapore's telecommunications regulators have approved 
several UHF spot frequencies for Amateurs to operate.  They are 433.425 
, 433.450 and 438.450 MHz, and a maximum of 5 watts effective radiated 
is permitted.  (Q-News)

**

DX

In D-X, Q-News reports that the Air Force has closed down Johnston 
Island and demolition will start shortly on the remaining buildings. 
There will be probably DXpeditions to the island later but not under  
the call of KJ6BZ.  The good news is that the history of the Johnston 
Island Amateur Radio Club will be held in the Air Force archives.  (Q-
News)

The ARRL DXCC Desk has announced that the VKZ0MQI Macquairie Island 
operation from January 1, 2002 through March 15, 2003 has been 
authorized for DXCC credit.   Also approved the 3C2MV Equatorial Guinea 
DXpedition from November 11 through December 12, 2002.  (ARRL)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  HAPPY RETIREMENT TO N6AWE

Before we go, a word of congratulations to Amateur Radio Newsline's own 
Mert Garlick, N6AWE, on his retirement from Fox Television's KTTV in Los 
Angeles.  Mert started with the station back in October of 1966 when it 
was still a part of Metromedia.  Over the years he has done every job a 
broadcast engineer can perform at a television station.  From manning 
the transmitter atop Mt. Wilson to microwaving signals back from the 
scene of a breaking news story to covering the annual Tournament of 
Roses Parade in Pasadena -- Mert Garlick, N6AWE, has done it all -- and 
a lot more.  

Now its time for him to travel other roads and Mert tells us that 
retirement will not really slow him down.  Instead it will give him a 
lot more time to pursue his other interests which include genealogy and 
of coarse Amateur Radio.  And you will still be heraring him regularly, 
right here, on these weekly Amateur Radio Newsline reports.

So before we sign off, please join us in wishing one of the nicest 
people in ham radio -- Mert Garlick, N6AWE --  many happy and fulfilling 
years of retirement.  And don't be surprised if you run into him more 
regularly on the air.  (ARNewsline)

**

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.  Our e-mail address is newsline at arnewsline.org.  
More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's 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. 

**