[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1339 - April 11, 2003

Sat Apr 12 22:03:05 EDT 2003

Amateur Radio Newsline 1339  - April 11, 2003

The following is a closed circuit report.  Here is Amateur Radio 
Newsline's support fund administrator, Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

For the month of February we heard from: Monthly contributors Joseph 
Bartzi, Jr., KC8DKF of Wadsworth, OH, and Scott Hensley of the Area 
Communications Team, of San Jose, CA.  Total contributions were $25, 
with NO clubs heard from. On the other hand, our expenses were $661. 

That doesn't work!  We need your help to keep these newscasts on the 
air!

I'll make you a deal: you send whatever you can, and I will take the 
next few weeks to catch up on who's been helping us stay on the air over 
the past year.

A reminder that Am,ateur Radio Newsline is a federal, 501 (c)(3) non-
profit corporation.  All contributions are tax-deductible. 

The address for the Newsline Support fund is PO Box 660937, Arcadia, CA 
91066. If you missed it, it will be given again at the end of this 
week's newscast.  I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

The following is a Q-S-T. Australia says its time to restructure that 
nations Amateur Radio Service and ham radio in Iraq.  These stories and 
more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1339 coming your way right 
now.

**

RESTRUCTURING:  AUSTRALIA SAYS TWO LICENSES WILL DO

The Wireless Institute of Australia says that its time to restructure 
ham radio down-under and that two licenses will do.  David Jones, VK4OF, 
reports from last weekends W-I-A Annual General Meting in the city of 
Adelaide:

--
Audio report only.  Hear it at http://www.arnewsline.org
--

Jones' report quotes a press release from Wireless Institute of 
Australia President Ernie Hocking, VK1LK.  We will have more in future 
Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (Q-News)

**

AMERICA AT WAR:  BAGDHAD RADIO CLUB STATION CLOSED FOR DURATION OF WAR 

Ham radio will hopefully re-emerge in Iraq after the war has ended.  In 
the meantime, the Daily DX and the ARRL Letter relay information from 
Diya Sayah, YI1DZ.  This, on the plight of one of that nations best 
known Amateur Radio operations.

YI1DZ, is one of the primary operators at the Baghdad Radio Club YI1BGD 
station in Baghdad.  He reported that just prior to the outbreak of 
hostilities in Iraq that he had dismantled the station.  Also, that all 
of the equipment is stored in as safe a place as possible. 

Daily D-X Editor Bernie McClenny, W3UR, says that he doubts there will 
be any activity in the near future from YI1BGD or any other Iraqui 
Amateur Radio station.  The YI1BGD club station went on the air in the 
1970s and the Iraqi Association for Radio Amateurs remains an 
International Amateur Radio Union member-society.  (ARRL, Daily DX)

**

IN THE PUBLIC LIGHT:  AMATEUR RADIO AT NAB-2003

I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Las Vegas Nevada, where the National 
Association of Broadcasters Convention Amateur Radio  Reception is just 
winding down.  An estimated 700 hams involved in the broadcast 
profession spent the last 2 hours enjoying one anmothers company.  They 
also heard a brief talk  by ARRL Presodent Jim Haynie, W5JBP, who used 
the occasion to thank thee Las Vegas Amateur Radio Club for an important 
monetary donation:

--

Haynie:    "I want  to thank the members for the $1000 donation to the 
(ARRL) Education and Technology Fund.  We think it is particularly 
important in as much as the  Big Project as we call it -- in slang terms 
-- is teaching kids about Amateur Radio who will hopefully be the next 
engineers at your radio station or something like that.  This exposure 
to electronics is very important to Amateur Radio and very important for 
industry.

So with that, have a good time , and again my thanks to the Las Vegas 
Amateur Radio Club for your vey wonderful and generous donation."

--

Well over 100,000 broadcasters and those in allied businesses attended 
the 2003 National Association of Broadcasters convention.  Among  them 
where three friends who hads not seen one another in almost three 
decades.  They are Dick Flanagan, W6OLD, Martin Geisler, WA6TIC and this 
writer.  All of us were members of the Palisades Amateur Radio Club back 
in the 1970's.  Ill be back with more about this radio club after a 
short airplane ride home.

Annd less we forget.  The N-A-B Amateur Radio Reception was again co-
sponsored by Kenwood Communications and CQ Magazine.

Reporting from a quiet alcove just outside the Las Vegas Convention 
Center on my way to McCarren airport,  I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, for 
the Amateur Radio Newsline.  Don.  (ARNewsline)

**

RADIO LAW:  HAM RADIO CC&R BILL REINTRODUCED IN CONGRESS

Another Congressional attempt is under way to provide relief to amateurs 
prevented by private deed covenants, conditions and restrictions from 
installing outdoor antennas.  The ARRL Letter says that New York 
Representative Steve Israel has again introduced the "Amateur Radio 
Emergency Communications Consistency Act" into the current session of 
Congress. The measure, designated HR 1478, would require private land-
use regulators such as homeowners' associations to reasonably 
accommodate Amateur Radio antennas consistent with the PRB-1 limited 
federal preemption.  PRB-1 now applies only to states and 
municipalities.  (ARRL)

**

RADIO LAW:  CALIFORNIA PRB1-LIKE LAW TAKES A GIANT STEP

Some good news for hams living in the Golden State.  ARRL Southwestern 
Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, says that the California version of 
PRB-1 passed the Local Government Committee on a unanimous vote at its 
April 2nd meeting.  Goddard says that the next step for A B 1228 is the 
full California State Assembly. 

Representing ARRL at the Committee hearing were Dean Straw, N6BV and 
Pacific Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG.  In his bulletin, Goddard took the 
time to thank Mike Mitchell, W6RW, Assembly member Bob Dutton and his 
staff as well.  (ARRL SW Div. Newsletter)

**

SPECTRUM SHARING: SATELLITE-FED TRANSLATORS IN THE COMMERCIAL FM BAND

The FCC has assigned RM-10609 to a proposal by Calvary Chapel of Twin 
Falls and two smaller broadcasters. This, for authority to allow 
satellite-fed translators or Satellators in the "non-reserved" F M 92 to 
108 MHz band.  Amateur Radio's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more.

--
As we all know, 92 to 108 Mhz is the band that is currently used by 
commercial broadcasters, over-the-air-fed translators and most Low Powe 
F-M stations.  Currently, what are called Satellators are restricted to 
the 88 to 92 MHz band and the translator must be owned by the primary 
station.  

But Calvary Chapel of Twin Falls and the other petitioners want the FCC 
to allow satellite-fed translators in the non-reserved F M 92 to 108 MHz 
band.  The petitioners claim this proposal will have little impact on 
existing stations in the spectrum.  This is because there is currently a 
freeze on new terrestrial translators in that band.  

The FCC has not indicated when it might act on the Calvary Chapel of 
Twin Falls rules change request.

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

--

So far the only major objection has come from National Public Radio.  N-
P-R generally supports the Twin Falls petition, but proposes that 
coverage distance limitations be set for Satellator operations. More is 
on the web at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/prod/ecfs/comsrch_v2.cgi (CGC 
Communicator) 

**

HAM TESTING:  FCC AND VEC'S TO MEET IN JULY

The 2003 National Conference of Volunteer Eximination Coordinators  
Conference in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is set for July 25th.  This is 
the annual get-together between the FCC and the Volunteer Examination 
Coordinators that maintain the question pools and handle all Amateur 
Radio testing.  

Planners say that last years conference was a success and that they are 
looking for input for this year'a agenda.  Please send any thoughts you 
have for this years conference to John Creel, WB3GXW.  John's e-mail is 
WB3GXW at arrl.net  (NCVEC)

**

RESCUE RADIO COMS: THE BOSTON MARATHON NEEDS YOU

If you are planning a trip to Massachusetts later this month and will 
have a hand held radio with you, the ARRL Letter says that the Boston 
Marathon can use you.

The 107th running of the event is slated for Patriots' Day, Monday, 
April 21st.  Planners say that they still need more Amateur Radio 
volunteers to assist with communications for this year's event.  If you 
want to donate your time, please  contact Paul Topolski, WSEX by e-mail 
to w1sex at arrl.net or Steve Schwarm, W3EVE, at w3eve at arrl.net.  

Once again, that's the Boston Marathon, on Monday April 21st and its 
looking for hams top help out.  (ARRL)

**

ON THE AIRWAVES:  THE LIBERAL RADIO NETWORK

Venture capitalists from Chicago are reportedly behind an effort to 
start a liberal leaning talk radio network.  One  that might offer an 
alternative to conservative talk show hosts heard across the airwaves 
these days. 

The group will be called AnShell Media L.L.C..  Its backers are  
reportedly investing an initial $10 million.  They are also hoping for 
assistance from like minded entrepreneurs.  

With the intent to be on the air by this fall, the are talking with 
comedian and author Al Franken about working with the network.  They 
also hope to attract other politically liberal entertainers and 
political guests as well.  (ThePolicyPeport nerwsletter)

** 

UPCOMING EVENTS:  FIELD DAY - VCARS AT THE REAGAN LIBRARY 

The Ventura County Amateur Radio Society will conduct it's Field Day 
2003 operations on the grounds of the Ronald Reagan Persidential Library 
and Museum, in Simi Valley, California.  According to Peter Heins, N6ZE, 
this will mark the third year of Field Day operations in conjunction 
with and co-sponsored by the Reagan facility.  (N6ZE)

**

UPCOMING EVENTS: COMMEMORTING FRANK LLOYD WRIGHTS WESTCOTT HOUSE

The Westcott Wireless Preservation Association will be hosting special 
event station W8AGA on Saturday, May 3rd.  The operation will taker 
place from  Frank Lloyd Wright's Westcott house in Springfield, Ohio.  

The Westcott Wireless Preservation Association serving the Westcott 
House Foundation by continuing radio operations at the Frank Lloyd 
Wright designed Westcott home.  Wright designed Ohio's only prairie 
style house for Burton and Orpha Westcott in 1907. The house is now 
undergoing extensive restoration and will eventually be opened to the 
public as a house museum.

But in the here and now, the special event station is coming on the air.  
A special QSL card will be issued to any station with a confirmed QSO 
with W8AGA and who sends a QSL card and SASE to the Westcott Wireless 
Preservation Association.  QSL information is on the web at  
www.westcotthouse.org/w8aga  (Press release)

**

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  MILWAUKEE - A SUPER SUCCESS

On the convention and hamfest circuit, word that last weekends A-E-S 
Superfest in Milwaukee Wisconsin is being called a super success. A late 
season storm made for some fairly inclement weather but it did not 
dampen the spirit of the regions ham community that showed up in droves 
to see what was new and buy what was hot.  

According to industry sources the weather may have played to the 
advantage of dealers by driving the crowds to the display floor.  And 
while Friday was a bit slow, Saturday more than made up for it with lots 
of high tickeet items moving out.  We are told that averaged out sales 
were pretty good on both days and nobody is complaining.

The Superfesrt is held every April and is sponsored by Amateur 
Electronic Supply.  (ARNewsline)

**

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  RENO NEVADA IN MAY

And word that the Spring 2003 Reno Ham Swap will be held Saturday May 
10th between 7:00 AM and 1:00 PM local time.  The event is sponsored by 
the Reno Nevada Area Metro Simplex Amateur Radio Club.  For Complete 
Details Visit the website at  http://k7xc.tripod.com/hamswap/  (Via e-
mail)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  BIG UK ARISS SUCCESS

Its one of the best ARISS contacts to date.  This, as students at the 
Rushey Mead secondary school near Leicester England spent about 10 
minutes talking with U-S Astronaut Ken Bowersox KD5JBP on board the 
International Space Station.  It took place on Friday April 4th, and 
this is how it sounded:

--
contact audio 
--

Rushey Mead is a U-K secondary school for 11 to 16 years olds.  It also 
has an active amateur radio club.  But for this special occasion, the 
GB2NSC station of the National Space Center was chosen for the space 
talk.  John Heath, G7HIA operated the station. Here's more of the QSO.  

--
contact audio
--

Students, teachers, parents, and the media were present as twelve 
youngsters asked questions about life in space of Ken Bowersox, KD5JBP.  

More contact audio is at Howard Longs website.  It is in cyberspace at 
http://users.skynet.be/fa059641/2003_04_01.htm  (ARNewsline audio with 
courtesy of Howard Long, G6LVB.)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  PC SAT ECLIPSE POWER PROBLEMS

AMSAT says that PC Sat is still going strong, but is on ragged edge of 
power budget during maximum eclipses.  This is according to Bob Bruinga, 
WB4APR, who reports that controllers have caught the satellite on 
several occasions  doing a low power reset.  

Bruninga adds that fortunately they have been able to restore the bird  
before the batteries went to negative power budget.  WB4APR recommends 
that since there are as many as 50 users per day, it is best if everyone 
turns off any unattended user stations at night when PC Sat is in 
eclipse.  (ANS)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  SECURITY PROBLEM WITH SENDMAIL - PSTCH AVAILABLE

According to its developer, the most widely used program for 
transferring e-mail between computer networks has a security flaw.  One 
that could allow attackers to disrupt the flow of e-mail and intercept 
messages.

The program involved is called  Sendmail. The security flaw does not 
directly affect your personal computers but it does put e-mail and 
information sent over the Internet at risk. Fixes for the vulnerability 
are available, free of charge, at Sendmail's Web site by applying a 
patch or upgrading to the latest version of Sendmail.

Atlanta-based Internet Security Systems Inc estimates that Sendmail 
handles as much as three-quarters of all Internet e-mail traffic.  
Sendmail Inc. which developed the program is located in 
Emeryville, California.  (Published news reports)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  TUBE-TYPE PC'S

It seems that a venerable old friend simply refuses to die the death of 
technical obsolescence.  The vacuum tube continues its reemergence into 
the audio marketplace, this time -- believe it or not -- in Personal 
Computerss.  

The first tube motherboard appeared last year in  response to PC gamers 
who craved the allegedly "more natural" sound produced by vacuum tube 
technology.  Those who have seen the boasrds call it a strange sight to 
behold.  

More on this May-December marriage of filament and silicon can be found 
at the website at  
http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Hardware/Reviews/aopenax4btube  (CGC 
Communicator, Clayton Creekmore and neoseeker.com)

**

ON THE AIRWAVES:  DIGITAL RADIO MONDIALE IS ON ITS WAY

After long years of gathering a consortium, prototyping and testing, 
Digital Radio Mondiale has announced that there will be an official 
launch at the World Radio Conference in Geneva, in June.  Thiis 
according to a report in shortwave.com.

Digital Radio Mondiale, better known by its initials D-R-M is the 
world's only non-proprietary, digital broadcasting system for short-
wave, medium-wave and long-wave with the ability to use existing 
frequencies and bandwidth across the globe. With near-FM quality sound, 
DRM hopes to revitalize the AM broadcasting bands below 30 Mhz in 
markets worldwide. 

And right on the heels of the launch announcement came the granting of 
two highly significant standards for DRM.  First, the International 
Electrotechnical Committee has given the Digital Radio Mondiale on-air 
system its highest stamp of approval as an International Standard.  This 
was followed by the International Telecommunication Union granting 
permission for any broadcaster to use existing frequency assignments for 
DRM digital transmissions.  This, provided that there is no interference 
with other stations.  (ASWLC)

**

INTERNATIONAL -IRELAND"  A WALKERS FESTIVAL

Over in Ireland, word that theTipperary Amateur Radio Group provided 
emergency communications support for up to 300 walkers expected to take 
part in the A-her-low Hillwalking Festival.  The event was held the 
weekend of April 5th and 6th in  Irland's Galty Mountainsl.   (GB2RS)

**

DX

In DX, word that G3RWL, will be active as 8P6DR from Barbados through 
the 20th of April on 10 to 40 meters.  He will also be on 80 and 6 
meters if he can arrange the antennas.  (GB2RS)

And VK3OT will be active as VK9XI from Christmas Island through April 
21st.  He will be concentrating on CW on the H-F bands and 6 metres.  
Priority will be given to High Frequency CW when 6 is closed.  More info 
is on the web at http://members.datafast.net.au/electronics/path.htm

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE PARC FIELD DAY FILM LIVES AGAIN

And finally this week some very good news for ypou ham radio cinema 
fans.  After having been among the missing for over two decaders, a 
famous ham radio movie has surfaced.  And it will soon have its first 
official public screening since its restoration was completed.  The guy 
who has the movie on his shelf -- our own Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has 
some background on this ham radio cinematic classic:

--
The film's real name is simply Field Day 1971.  It is a tongue - in 
cheek look at the planning and execution of the ARRL Field Day operating 
event by what was then one of the most active radio clubs in the United 
States.  My home radio club   The famed Pallisades Amateur Rado Club of 
Culver City California. Home of "good-guy the gokld plated radio" 
repeater.

Field Day 1971 was produced and edited by George Hively, W6GRH, -- then 
WA6YEA -- as a club project over thirty years ago.  Hively, who has 
spent his life in the motion picture business wrote the script, 
supervised the filming, edited it together and provided the music and 
the narriation.  And notice we said filming.  Field Day 1971 was 
produced long before the advent of home videotape.  It was shot using 
Super 8 millimerter motion picture film and consumer cameras.  The sound 
track was on a separate tape cassette.  In fact, it still must be 
projected that way -- even today.

A preview screening of the restored movie took place a March 8th at the 
HandiHams winter camp in Malibu California.  They loved it.  As a result 
of that enthuiastic welcome, a public showing of Field Day 1971 to the 
California ham radio community has been tentatively scheduled for 
Wednesday evening May 14th.  This, hosted by the Santa Clarita Amateur 
Radio Club that meets just North of Los Angeles.

And for those of you who are wondering where the movie has been hiding 
the past 20+ years, this might surprise you.  It has been kept safe and 
well protected by a former PARC member -- Richard Burton, the ex-WB6JAC.  
Richard contacted us a few months ago asking if we would like to have 
the movie.  We said yes, and with the assistance of Anita O'Delll, 
N2IHX, the movie was brought back to projectable condition.

Because there is only one projectable print of Field Day 1971 available 
it cannot be lent out.  But W6GRH tells Amateur Radio Newsline that 
plans call for it to be transferred to video -- either VHS casssette or 
possibly DVD.  And the sound will always match the picture that way.  We 
hope.

With Field Day `71 -- the movie -- sitting on my desk as I record this,  
I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.

--    

Meantime, those wanting to attend this first public screening in two 
decades of this riotous movie, you should consult the Santa Clarita 
Valley Amateur Radio Club website for meeting details.  Its on-line at 
www.w6jw.org.  Scroll down and click on "Monthly Meetings" for more.  
(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(tm).  Our e-mail address is newsline 
@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. 

Don't forget that the nominating period for the 2003 Amateur Radio 
Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award is now open.  You will find all 
the rules and a fill-in-the blank nominating form in cyberspace at 
www.yhoty.org