[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1337 March 28, 2003

Sat Mar 29 02:55:51 EST 2003

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1337  March 28, 2003

The following is a Q-S-T. 

Keeping a repeater on the air in New Zealand could become very expensive 
and Australia considers complete restructuring of its Amateur Radio 
service.  Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 
1337 coming your way right now

RADIO REGULATIONS:  NEW ZEALAND MAY START REPEATER LICENSE FEES

Ham radio operators could soon be paying a lot of money to keep a 
repeater on the air in New Zealand.  This as government regulators down-
under look at instituting a new license fees that could make keeping a 
system on-the-air prohibitive for many clubs that sponsor multiple 
machines.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF,  is in Auckland 
New Zealand with the rest of this breaking story:

--
NZART stands for The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters and 
it is the official national ham radio society here in New Zealand. It 
also functions much the same as the ARRL in the United States and is a 
member of the International Amateur Radio Union.

NZART has received proposals from government telecommunications 
regulators that could cost hams in this nation a lot of money just to 
stay on the air.  What the New Zealand regulators want to do is go to 
lifetime licensing with a one off license payment, That's the good idea. 
But there is more.

Regulators have also proposed fees for repeater and beacon licenses that 
are just plain unacceptable to NZART or the New Zealand ham radio 
community.  Right now there is no repeater or beacon license fee. Under 
the proposed revision, there would a NZ$250 initial fee to put a one on 
the air and an on-going annual NZ $200 charge per system to keep it on 
the air. Currently the NZ to US Dollar exchange at just under 2 for 1.

The current no fee for beacons and repeaters was introduced some years 
ago for good reason.  This proposal is a very significant policy change 
with what NZART says are serious and unacceptable implications.  This is 
because, by definition and by international agreement, the Amateur 
Service is non-pecuniary and by international agreement cannot be used 
for money-making. Unlike other services that can pass on costs to 
others, in the world of Amateur Radio, there are no "others".  As a 
result, the NZART
intends to oppose this one, all the way.

Reporting from below the Southern Cross in Auckland New Zealand, I'm Jim 
Meachen, ZL2BHF, for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

An example of what Jim was talking about?  Since each repeater would pay 
the $200 license fee, a club with 5 systems -- which is quite common -- 
would be paying $1000 New Zealand dollars every 12 months.  (NZART)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  WILL AUSTRALIA CHANGE ALL?

The debate in Australia about the need for a new Entry Level license has 
now been expanded into a call for the review of the entire amateur 
licensing system.  Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB, in Brisbane is here with 
the details:

--

A research report entitled "Amateur radio and the challenge of change"  
has been co-authored by Jim Linton VK3PC and Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. Here 
is Jim Linton VK3PC giving a summary report of the Linton-Harrison  
Paper 2003.

--

(Note:  This is an expanded version of what is found in the audio 
newscast)

VK3PC:  "Amateur radio is at the crossroads, it can continue straight 
ahead down hill  and virtually disappear, or set its own path by 
changing the amateur  licensing system.

The time to act is now. When the UK Foundation License was introduced at  
the beginning of last year, there was not instant support for Australia  
to take a similar approach.  However, some 15 months later there is 
majority support for a new license in Australia.

What the Linton-Harrison Paper 2003 does is to refocus the debate on the 
entire licensing system in Australia, the types of licenses, the 
syllabuses and examinations.  We must not be tempted to simply copy the 
UK Foundation License.  It does not meet Australian conditions and 
needs, and will not provide the necessary sustained growth for amateur 
radio here. 

Australia's new Entry Level License should not be strictly an 
"operators'  license" - a simple permit to use a type-approved 
transceiver.  Entry Level Licensees should be able to enjoy the thrill 
and satisfaction of operating a radiocommunication system under as many 
circumstances and conditions and on a wide variety of bands across the 
RF spectrum as they  wish to explore.  This should be in keeping with 
long-standing amateur radio tradition and  in line with the ITU 
definition, which says amateur radio exists for the purpose of self-
training, intercommunication and technical investigations. 

There will be changes to the licensing system as a direct result of the 
World Radiocommunications Conference in Geneva later this year where the 
mandatory Morse code testing requirement is to end.
The amateur radio community and the Wireless Institute of Australia must 
be ready to take action to revitalize the amateur radio licensing system 
at the earliest opportunity.

If the right action is not taken, the decline of amateur radio that the 
Linton-Harrison Paper identifies as being in now its 6th year, will lead 
to its ultimate demise.

Again, sustainable growth is absolutely essential. It is important to 
encourage people into the hobby who retain their license and their 
interest  in amateur radio. A hobby that continues to interest, 
challenge or reward  them.

Linton-Harrison advocates a two license system.  An Entry Level with a 
syllabus set at a basic standard, along the lines of  the original 
intention of the Australian Novice license.  An Unrestricted License 
with a syllabus that is revised to comply with the  ITU Recommendations 
for amateur licensing. 

The Linton-Harrison Paper describes the current Novice and AOCP 
syllabuses as being "bloated" and beyond what is expected 
internationally.  The WIA Federal Council agrees.

The current Novice license standard is recognized as being too high.  It 
should not take 40 weeks study to get an amateur license.   The Novice 
license is equivalent to the United States Technician License. 

The current AOCP examination is also not relevant to the needs of today,  
and is at least two decades behind the times.   The Linton-Harrison 
Paper calls for the whole licensing structure, the examination system 
and syllabuses to undergo a fundamental rethink. In its 8-pages the 
Paper covers much more than I can in this audio report.

--

Linton and Harrison wrote a similar paper in 1985 that is still being 
referred to today.  (Q-News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  THE PARTNERSHIP FOR PUBLIC WARNINGS DRAFT IS NOW 
AVAILABLE

Here in the United States as well as around the world, letting the 
public know that an emergency situation is taking place can save lives.  
Because of this government agencies as well as the private sector are 
always trying to find betters methods of issuing alerts.  

Now, comes word of a draft document for a new United States national 
emergency warning strategy from a group called the Partnership For 
Public Warning.  A plan that some say holds the potential to truly 
modernize the way the public is informed.  

For those not aware, the Partnership for Public Warning is a national 
organization formed in November of 2001.  Its Board of Trustee's include 
representatives from every area of public warning communications 
including at least one radio amateur.  The stated goal of the 
Partnership for Public Warning is to promote and enhance efficient, 
effective, and integrated dissemination of public warnings and related 
information so as to save lives, reduce disaster losses and speed 
recovery.

This document they have released is said to represent the first time 
anyone has proposed an overall emergency warning strategy for the United 
States.  The concepts outlined help to look ahead to more advanced 
warning systems than the current E-A-S, weather service products, and 
other offerings.  After reading it, the Partnership for Public Warning 
invites your participation and comments.  You will find it in cyberspace 
at: http://www.ppw.us/ppw/docs/nationalstrategy.pdf  (GCC, PPW))

**

RESCUE RADIO:  S.DAKOTA EMERGENCY COMMS LOOSE TOWER

The town of Mitchell South Dakota has last its 180 foot communications 
tower used for public safety and public radio.  According to Jeff Pierce 
of the South Dakota Bureau of Information and Telecommunications, the 
tower fell Tuesday, March 18th after a ground anchor rotted and gave 
way.

Pierce said it knocked out State Radio communications used by law 
enforcement and other agencies, though nearby towers picked up that 
radio traffic.  South Dakota Public Radio in the area was off the air 
until a portable tower was put up the next day but reception of weather 
alerts will not be possible until the fallen tower is replaced.  Also, 
Mitchell police have not been able to use handheld radios and instead 
must rely on radios in their cars.  A replacement tower should be 
installed and operational the week of April 1st.  (CGC)

**

RESCUE RADIO: NJ HAMS RESPOND FOLLOWING PROPANE BLAST

New Jersey radio amateurs were called up following a large propane 
explosion in the city of Newton the weekend of March 8th.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Ken Locke, N8PJN, has the rest of the story:

--

It was Robert Stepanek, N2TTT who put out the call for more assistance.  
Stepanek is the ARES District Emergency Coordinator of Susan County who 
requested assistance in the form of additional operators after a propane 
tank exploded in the town on Newton New Jersey on March 14th.  Hams from 
several other New Jersey counties responded. 

Amateur radios' primary role was to provide back-up relief shelter 
communications.  Many of the evacuated residents were sheltered by the 
Susan County Chapter of the American Red Cross. 

Pat Day is the Executive Director of that Red Cross chapter.  According 
to Day, about 1000 residents who were forced out of their homes.  Those 
who did not have other places to stay went to nearby shelters operated 
by the relief agency where some stayed until March 16th.  Hams from 
Somerset, Union, Morris and Hudson
counties volunteered during the emergency.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Ken Locke, N8PJN, reporting

--

Rich Krajewski, WB2CRD is the Public Information Coordinator for the 
ARRL's Northern New Jersey Section and  provided most of the information 
for this story.  (WB2CRD)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  KILLER TORNADO HITS GEORGIA

Amateur Radio operators in southwestern Georgia have been helping in the 
wake of tornadoes that hit the region on March 20th.  The storms left 
six people dead and over 200 injured.  Georgia's Governor has declared a 
state of emergency in two of the hardest hit areas.

According to an ARRL Bulletin, ARES was activated in Mitchell, Worth, 
Lee and Dougherty counties.  There, hams have been assisting various 
relief agencies including the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and 
Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief.

ARES members of the Albany Amateur Radio Club also responded. Most of 
them are Red Cross volunteers.  They took emergency response vehicles to 
the affected areas to feed victims and provide communications. 

The ARRL Lee County Georgia Emergency Coordinator is Bob Smith, K4PHE.  
He says that several ARES members have been volunteering continuously 
since the tornadoes hit.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  NY HAM WARNED ABOUT INTERFERENCE

A Patchogue New York ham has been told that he could face a fine of up 
to $7500 if he continues to violate the Amateur Service Rules.  The 
FCC's Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, tells us who and why:

--

Duckworth: "Anthony Satornino, N2QPY, was issued a Warning Notice 
concerning deliberate interference with other licensees' on the 2 meter 
Amateur band and engaging in unlicensed operation in the 10 meter  
band."

--

Satornino was also asked to clarify his actual address for FCC records 
and to do  so within 20 days.   (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THE FCC VS. K1MAN - AGAIN

The FCC has again written to Maine radio amateur Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, 
regarding he operates his Amateur Radio station.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Paul Courson, WA3VJB, is in Washington with the details:

--

In its latest letter to Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, the Commission says he has 
not corrected problems that prompted their letter in January, which was 
based on monitored information and numerous
complaints to the FCC. 

The FCC claims that Baxter's Amateur Radio station is apparently being 
used for broadcasting non-ham radio matter including programs, talk 
shows, and children's shows.  The agency also alleges transmissions from 
his station are being used for deliberate interference and for 
communications where Baxter apparently's trying to make money.  

The FCC also notes that some of the transmissions start and stop 
erratically, and leave the air with no identification as required by 
Commission rules.  An enforcement official who wrote the letter said 
such operation indicates the transmissions are not under the control of 
a licensed operator.

The FCC goes on to say that the transmissions from Baxter's station are 
tape recordings, which themselves wouldn't be illegal, but that in some 
cases it sounds to the FCC as if the recordings may have been 
questionably taken from an answering machine and off the telephone and 
broadcast without full compliance with the law.  Enforcement authorities 
also wrote some of the transmissions are repetitive, apparently for 
weeks, of the same telephone calls.    

Baxter has raised controversy for years with what he portrays as a daily 
bulletin service on 14.272, 3.972 and 3.890 MHz, prompting interference 
complaints from sideband and AM communities alike.  

Baxter has patterned his program to the style of commercial talk radio, 
right down to having a toll free telephone number for listeners to call 
in and chat.  The FCC wants Baxter to respond to its latest letter to 
decide what if anything to do next.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Courson, WA3VJB, near FCC 
headquarters in  Washington.

--

This latest letter to Baxter came from Vincent F. Kajunski who is the 
FCC's District Director in Boston Massachusetts.  Kajunski also directed 
K1MAN to submit weekly reports detailing certain aspects of his stations 
on air operations.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  ALASKA  BROADCASTER FACES FINES $137,000

A Christian broadcaster is facing up to $137,500 in fines for alleged
wetlands damage on Alaska's Kenai Peninsula.  Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, of the 
National Radio Club's D-X Audio Service has more:

--

The Anchorage Daily News reported on March 13th that  Alexander Kozned 
of Ninilchik poured gravel and other fill into about three and a half 
acres of protected wetlands, as well as a stream and intertidal zone 
that drains into Cook Inlet.

The charges against Kozned come in a complaint filed this month by 
attorneys for the United States Environmental Protection Agency.  The 
alleged violations are reported to have taken place during the summer of 
2002 on Kozned's property a few miles north of Ninilchik.  That's a 
location where he reportedly  wants to install a broadcast antenna array 
to broadcast religious programming to Russia and China.

An attorney for Kozned said the area affected is less than a tenth of an 
acre and that volunteers, not knowing about the wetlands, made an honest 
mistake.  He also claims that the EPA's reaction amounts to overkill. 

But officials at the federal agency said Kozned knew of the wetlands and 
filled them without a permit, despite a 1998 warning.  The E-P-A and the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued cease-and-desist orders at that time 
after discovering that Kozned used earth-moving and road building 
equipment on wetlands to build antenna pads. The E-P-A ordered Kozned to 
restore and revegetate the wetlands he harmed.  Kozned complied and was 
not fined in that case.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Fred Vobbe, W8HDU.  

--

The charge marks his second run-in with federal environmental 
regulators. (Anchorage Daily News)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  A NEW KIND OF POP UP SPAM

As if junk e-mail and pop-up ads weren't annoying enough on their own, 
now there's pop-up junk e-mail.  This, as the result of a  developer of 
bulk-mail software has figuring out how to blast 
computers with pop-up spam over the Internet through a messaging 
function on many Windows operating systems.  Amateur Radio Newslie's 
Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, is here with more on how it works:

--
The software is called DirectAdvertiser.  The company that developed it 
is reportedly based in Romania.  In recent weeks, Internet users have 
reported receiving pop-up messages such as one touting university 
degrees without classes or books. 

DirectAdvertiser does not hack into computers. Rather, it 
uses a part of the Windows operating system called Messenger.  It comes 
turned on by default with many Windows systems  including 2000 and XP. 
Its meant for system administrators to broadcast service notices and 
should not to be confused with the various other instant messaging 
programs.

DirectAdvertiser was first reported by Wired.com, and appears to 
represent the latest attempt to bypass the increasingly sophisticated e-
mail spam filters employed by leading Internet service providers and 
individual users.  It also appears to circumvent federal and state laws 
designed to curb junk e-mail.  

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

--

There is one major fault to DirectAdvertiser that makes it easy to beat.  
To receive the pop-ups Windows Messanger must be turned on.  If you 
don't want to get them --  just turn Messanger off.  (OnLine Technology)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM SEEKS PAPERS

The 2003 AMSAT-NA Annual Symposium, scheduled for October 17 to the 19th 
in Toronto Canada has put out its first call for papers to be presented 
at the event.  The subject matter should be of general interest to 
amateur radio operators involved in satellite communications.  

Papers may be presented by the author during the Symposium or simply 
offered for inclusion in the Symposium Proceedings publication.  A brief 
abstract of the proposed paper should be submitted as soon as possible.  
The final date for abstracts is June 15th with copy ready papers must be 
received no later than August 15th. Electronic submittal is preferred in 
Microsoft Word format.  E-mail electronic submittals to Wayne Chandler 
at ve3whc at amsat.org  (AMSAT)

**

INTERNATIONAL - AFGHANISTAN:   NEW KANDAHAR RADIO STATION TO BE LAUNCHED

On the international scene, the Boston-based N-G-O Afghans for Civil 
Society has announced that former BBC producer Akhtar Kohestani will 
serve as station manager for Afghan Independent Radio or A-I-R.  This is 
a new station which is to be launched this spring.  

A-I-R will be the first independent radio station to be based in the 
former Taliban stronghold of Kandahar in southern Afghanistan.  Plans 
are under development for program sharing with the BBC, Radio Free 
Europe, Radio Liberty, the Voice of America and Radio Afghanistan.  
(Stewart McKenzie)

**

INTERNATIONAL - POLAND:  NEW BANDS FOR SP HAMS

Also, SP5HS reports that Poland's new national frequency allocation 
table came into effect on February 27th and its pretty good news for 
that nations hams.   The new rules allows S P amateurs to use the 136 
kHz band, while the 50 MHz band is now allocated to amateurs in Poland 
on a secondary basis.  6 meters is still shared with government 
services.  (GB2RS)

**

BEACONS: 2 METER K7XC/B ON THE AIR FROM NEVADA

A new 2 meter propagation beacon is on the air from the state of Nevada.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AD5DW, tells us who put it on and 
where to find it:

--

Tim Mareck,  K7XC reports that the 2 Meter beacon operating under is 
call sign is now installed at it's new mountain top home here in grid 
square DM-09.  Tim says that its on 144.288 MHz and operating from 4900 
feet atop Lahotan Peak.  This is above the Lahotan Reservoir near Silver 
Springs Nevada.  Currently, the beacon consists of a 10 watt C-W 
transmitter into a single K-Q Loop at the 30' level on the tower.  If 
you hear it, you can be pretty sure that 2 meters is open to Nevada from 
where ever you are. 

Tike adds that the next project is a 6 meter beacon from the same site.  
It will use a Yaesu FT-620B running at 10 watts into a old style KB6KQ 
loop.  This antenna will be placed 2' above the 2 meter loop on the same 
mast.  Tim's target date to complete this phase of the project?  He says 
hopefully sometime in June.

--

Again, the frequency of the K7XC beacon is 144.288 MHz.  If you hear it 
you can send Q-S-N reports to Tim by e-mail at timm at cccomm.net  (VHF 
Reflector)

**

DX

In D-X, six German operators will be active as A-35-X-M from Tonga to 
the 4th of April.  They will concentrate on working Europe.  More 
information is at www.df3cb.com/a35xm  (OPDX)

And Tim Totten, N4GN, reports that all Oh-J-one thru Oh-J-8 QSL cards 
for W-R-T-C 2002 have been printed and ready for release.  If you want 
to obtain your QSL cards directly, send an S-A-S-E before April 15th to 
Toni Linden, OH2JTE, Ohratie 16E218, 01370 Vantaa, Finland. Tim also 
says that plaque and T-shirt and Early Bird submission   winners can be 
viewed at the following site.  Its out there  in cyberspace -- at 
www.n4gn.com/wrtc.  (N4GN)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  YHOTY 2003 NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

And finally this week, the nominating season for the 2003 Young Ham of 
the Year Award is now open.   Our producer, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is 
here with the details:

--

Each year, we at the Amateur Radio Newsline join forces with Vertex-
Standard and C-Q Magazine to honor the accomplishments of a young radio 
amateur who has contributed in some special way to the hobby or to 
society through the hobby.  

The rules are still the same.  A nominee must be age 18 or younger, hold 
any class of Amateur Radio license issued by the FCC and live in the 
contiguous 48 states.  And this year, thanks to Kevin Boudreaux, N5XMH, 
its easier than ever to file a nomination.

Kevin was the 1993 Young Ham of the Year award winner.  He has now 
created a new on-line home for the award that has all the information, 
rules and downloadable forms needed to submit a nomination.  And Kevin 
has taken it a step further.  He has also created our first-ever fill in 
the blank on-line nomination form.  Just provide the information on-
line, click at the bottom of the page and your nomination is on its way 
to us.

After you finish filing your nomination, please click on some of the 
other pages and take a look around.  You will find it in cyberspace at 
www.yhoty.org/2003.htm . There is also a link to it from our website at 
www.arnewsline.org .  Printed forms are available for an SASE to the 
Young Ham of the Year Award, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita 
California 91350.

--

Our thanks to Kevin Boudreaux, N5XMH, of Dynamic Marketing for taking 
the time to create this new website.  He is one Young Ham of the Year 
who is still an important part of the award.  (ARNewsline)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

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Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio 
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can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. 
Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066. 