[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1353 - July 18, 2003

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Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1353  - July 18, 2003

The following is a Q-S-T. 

WRC 2003 says no more Morse but it may be years before codefree 
operation comes to the USA.  Find out why on Amateur Radio Newsline 
report number 1353 coming your way right now.
 
**

INTRODUCTION

G'day and welcome to the first Amateur Radio Newsline report ever 
recorded in Australia.  I'm this weeks host Graham Kemp, VK4BB, at the Q 
News studios in the city of Brisbane.  And our first story as you might 
expect has to do with WRC 2003.

**

WRC FALLOUT:  S.25 AND A CODEFREE USA

The now concluded World Radiocommunications Conference may have rule 
that Morse Code is no longer a world standard for getting a high 
frequency ham license, but don't expect it to disappear very quickly in 
the USA.  That's because there's lots to be done by Congress and the FCC 
before any action can or will be taken.  Our team coverage starts here:

--

I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW in Los Angeles.

The International Telecommunication Union has dropped the international 
requirement that amateurs operating below 30 MHz must first pass a Morse 
code exam.  According to the CQ website, this was among several actions 
related to amateur radio taken by the World Radiocommunication 
Conference and reported by the International Amateur Radio Union.  The 
change took effect on July 5. 

According to the IARU, the new language of International Radio 
Regulation Article 25.5 now reads: "Administrations shall determine 
whether or not a person seeking a license to operate an amateur station 
shall demonstrate the ability to send and receive texts in Morse code 
signals." 

This leaves the question of requiring a code test optional for each 
government licensing authority.  According to an IARU explanation, 
several countries still feel the code is important as a license 
requirement and wanted to be sure that any country dropping it did so 
via what it called a positive decision not to require Morse. 

In the United States, FCC rules continue to require passage of a 5 word-
per-minute code test for access to the amateur bands below 30 MHz, 
although it is widely expected that opponents of the code requirement 
will quickly file petitions with the FCC to drop it. 

How long  will it take?  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, 
has that part of the story from our South East bureau in Birmingham 
Alabama.

--

Nobody can be quite certain when or even if the Morse requirement will 
disappear in the United States, but here's the way it has to play out 
thanks to the way our government works.  

Since the agreements reached at WRC `03 are essentially an international 
treaty, the document has to be ratified by the United States Senate.  
Depending on their workload, that could happen before years end or it 
could be put off into the 2004 session or even beyond.

Senate approval has to take place can the FCC begin the process under 
the Administrative Proceedures Act and issue a Notice of Inquiry.  A 
Notice of Inquirey or N-O-I is the first step in the rule making process 
to make any change and gives the general public a chance to voice its 
opinion. And by public we mean every American.  Not just ham radio 
operators.  

If there is enough interest shown in going ahead then a Notice of 
Proposed Rule making will be issued that again invites public comment.  
This will be followed by another time period for reply comments by those 
who might have arguments to counter what some initial commenters have to 
say.  Then matter goes to the staff to prepare a Report and Order or 
Memorandum, Order and Opinion that is circulated to the five 
Commissioners who run the agency.  If they approve, then the change 
become law on a date specified in the document.

So once again the rhetoric question of how long?  Here's our guess.  
About two years minimum from the time the Senate ratifies the accords, 
but only if the FCC decides to proceed immediately there after.  

Why two years?  Well as Fred Maia W5YI of the NCVEC pointed out to us, 
since Novice Enhancement some two decades ago, just about every major 
change in the structure of ham radio has taken about two years.  Fred is 
a pretty good Washington watcher and his guess is 2005 at the earliest.  
But for now, we will all have to just wait and see.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline,. I'm David Black, KB4KCH, reporting.  
Graham..

--

As we go to air, the ARRL Board of Directors is meeting to discuss the 
WRC `03 agreement and its impact on the U-S Amateur Service.  Next week 
the people who give ham radio tests -- the VEC's will be meeting with 
the FCC to do the same.  (IARU, ARRL, CQ, FCC, ARNewsline(tm))

**

WRC FALLOUT:  SWITZERLAND GOES 100% NO-CODE

Meantime, Switzerland may be the first country in the world to take 
advantage of the revised Radio Regulations.  According to the website of 
the Swiss national amateur radio society, the licensing authority there 
will be writing to all Swiss CEPT Class 2 amateurs to give them 
"provisional authorization" to immediately start using the High 
Frequency bands.  

Meantime the Radio Society of Great Britain says that nations 
Radiocommunications Agency has already stated that it will bring in 
code-free High Frequency licences as soon as it is practical to do so.  
An announcement will be made as soon as permission is given for United 
Kingdom Full and Intermediate Class B amateurs to start using the H-F 
bands.  (RSGB)

**

WRC 2003 FALLOUT:  IMPROVED EMERGENCY COMMS - WORLDWIDE

Ham radio emergency communications also got a boost at WRC `03.  Jeramy 
Boot, G4NJH, is in Nottingham England with more:

--

Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, the RSGB Radio Communications Voluntary Services 
National Co-ordinator, has pointed out the enhancements to amateur radio 
emergency communications that have come about due to the revision of 
Article 25 of the ITU Radio Regulations.

Article 25.3 now reads: "Amateur stations may be used for transmitting 
international communications on behalf of third parties only in the case 
of an emergency or disaster relief. An administration may determine the 
applicability of this provision to amateur stations under its 
jurisdiction." 

This is a notable change from the old wording, which was: "It is 
absolutely forbidden for amateur stations to be used for transmitting 
international communications on behalf of third parties."

Paul says, "A completely new regulation, Article 25.9A, has been 
approved, a provision which needs no explanation: It reads: 
'Administrations are encouraged to take the necessary steps to allow 
amateur stations to prepare for and meet communication needs in support 
of disaster relief.'"

It is hoped that administrations will make regulations that facilitate 
amateurs preparing for emergency situations and providing communications 
in emergencies and for disaster relief.  This was an important IARU 
objective.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH

--

Reports from the 2003 World Radio Communications Conference and its 
impact on Amateur Radio can be found on the IARU website.  Its in 
cyberspace at www.iaru.org.  (RSGB)

**

THE WAR ON TERROR:  FCC ESTABLISHES OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY 

The FCC has taken another important step in helping to fight the war on 
terrorism.  This as the agency names James Dailey as Director of the its 
newly established Office of Homeland Security.  

Operating under the Enforcement Bureau umbrella the FCC Office of 
Homeland Security will deal with many emergency related issues including 
those involving Amateur Radio.  It will also oversee the establishment 
of an Emergency Relocation Board  or E-R-B.  The E-R-B will deal with 
the evacuation of FCC headquarters with little or no advance notice as 
well as overseeing the relocation of selected FCC staff members.  More 
is on the web at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-
03-167A1.doc and   
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-236436A1.doc (CGC 
Communicator)

**

RADIO LAW:  AB-1228 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR


California hams now have their own PRB-1 "like" protection.  This as 
Governor Gray Davis signs Assembly Bill 1228 on Monday, April 14 th. 

Assemblyman Bob Dutton and his staff shepherded the measure through the 
Local Government Committees and the floors of both houses of the 
legislature.  It eventually passed without a single dissenting vote.  
The new law officially recognizes the doctrine of Federal preemption as 
outlined in  PRB-1 over Amateur Radio antennas and their support 
structures as now being California state law.

In his cover letter to the California Legislature, Governor Davis took 
time to acknowledge the numerous Californians who are licensed amateur 
radio operators.  He said that each year these volunteers give thousands 
of hours of service to the state and local governments.  He added that 
since the September 11, 2001 attack on America, the state has also have 
come to rely on them and appreciate their commitment to the security and 
well being of all those living in the state.

California is the 20th state in the nation to adopt PRB-1 like ham radio 
anenna legislation.  (ARRL SW Div. Bulletin)

**
RESCUE RADIO:  RACES VS. FIRES ON THE 4TH
Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service volunteers acted as dispatchers 
for the Huntington Beach, California, Fire Operating Center over the 
July 4th holiday weekend.  Operating from the city's Central Net 
Training Center, eleven members of the towns own Radio Amateur Civil 
Emergency Service took incoming fireworks related calls from the public, 
verified addresses, and dispatched the appropriate fire patrol arson 
investigator teams.  
But thats not all.  Two communications volunteers were also assigned as 
spotters on the roof of City Hall.  Two other hams got the experience of 
a lifetime when they lucked out and were attached  to the Huntington 
Beach Police Department eye-in-the-sky helicopter.  
Equipped with digital cameras interfaced to two-way ham radio gear, the 
field team transmitted live slow-scan television images from their 
lookout locations to the Fire Operating Center and the Huntington Beach 
Police Department sub-station command post.  Glorria Morrison, who is 
the city's Emergency Services Coordinator said that everyone is proud to 
have such an extensive network of dedicated and skilled communications 
volunteers in Huntington Beach.  (KH6WZ)
** 

RESCUE RADIO:  VARACES PULLS OUT OF VA STATE EOC

Meantime, a big change in emergency communications support has taken 
place in the state of Virginia.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, 
AE5DW, has the rest of the story:

-- 
The tug of war between the independent VARACES Incorporated and the ARRL 
affiliated Virgina state ARES and RACES group has tipped in favor of the 
ARRL group.  This, according to the latest Repeater Journal that reports 
VARACES State Emergency Officer Tony Amato, KR4UQ, annouced in March 
that he and other officers were withdrawing support of operations at the 
state Emergency Operations Center in the city of Richmond.  

VARACES had been providing  staffing  for the E-O-C since 2001.  This 
following its split from the ARRL after the League's Executive Committee 
removed Lynn Gahagan, AF4CD, from his post as Virginia Section Manager.  
Amato, who had been Gahagan's S-E-C cited difficulty in working with the 
states Department of Emergency Management Operations Director Fred 
Vincent.  Amato claimed that Vincent would not make a clear choice 
between his group and the ARRL.  For his part, Vincent had stated a 
desire to  work with volunteers from both ham radio groups.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reporting.

--

Those leaving have been replaced by a ham radio group organized by the 
local Richmond Amateur Radio Club.  (Repeater Journal)

**

OMARC 2003 TECH CLASSES IN SEPTEMBER 

Steve Hajducek, N2CKH, says that the The Ocean-Monmouth Amateur Radio 
Club of New Jersey will again sponsor Amateur Radio Technician theory 
classes this fall.  Classses beginTuesday, September 16th at 6:00pm and 
will continue through November.  All training and testing will be held 
at the InfoAge Center in Monmouth County, New Jersey.  For more 
information and directions go to www.qsl.net/n2mo on the World Wide Web.  
(OMARC)

**

NEW FOR HAMS:  GLOBAL OVERLAY MAPPER

Tim Makins, EI8IC, in County Roscommon Ireland says that what is perhaps 
the most comprehensive set of world prefix maps ever assembeled is now 
freely available.  This, in the demonstration version in his new Global 
Overlay Mapper software.  

Makins says that Global Overlay Mapper represents a new concept in the 
field of maps for radio amateurs.  That the software is packed full of 
features for all Amateur Radio  enthusiasts, including seven Continental 
maps, 27 Sub Continental Maps, country outlines, 2204 maps of major 
cities C-Q zones, ITU zones, time zones and much more.  

The on-line demo-version comes with with two fully featured maps to 
view. Online purchasing of the whole package is availasble in four major 
currencies.  Download for use on your own computer and try it at 
www.mapability.com or www.qsl.net/ei8ic  (EI8IC)

**

YOUTH RECRUITMENT:  SPECIAL OFFER FROM HAMTESTONLINE.COM

The HamTestOnline website has announced its new Youth in Amateur Radio 
program, which gives eligible school, scouting and youth amateur radio 
clubs a 50% discount on website subscriptions for students 18 and under.

HamTestOnline says that its offering this discount to support activities 
aimed at  bringing kids into amateur radio such as the ARRL's The Big 
Project.  For more information on the HamTestOnlineT website's Youth in 
Amateur Radio program, visit www.hamtestonline.com or send an email to 
K1RV at hamtestonline.com  (Press release)

**

FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE: UNDERSTANDING, BUILDING AND USING BALUNS AND 
UNUNS FROM CQ

If you're interested in how antennas work but don't know an unun from an 
onion, Understanding, Building & Using Baluns & Ununs from CQ Magazine 
should be part of your ham radio library. 

The new book by Jerry Sevick, W2FMI, is the successor to his earlier 
work, Building & Using Baluns & Ununs. The new edition includes new 
tutorial material, designs and explanations of how and why they work.  
And like its predecessor, this book provides a unique opportunity to 
learn about the application of these devices to dipoles, Yagis, log 
periodics, Beverages, antenna tuners and countless others. 

Interested?  You can find out more and place your advance order on line 
at www.cq-amateur-radio.com.  Orders may also be placed by phone -- 
Monday through Friday -- 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time at 1-800-853-
9797.  (CQ)

**

5 MHZ FOLLOW-UP:  OPERATING TRENDS DEVELOP

A follow-up now on what's taking place on the new domestic United States 
5 MHz allocation.  As reported last week, opening night on July 3rd saw 
many stations making rapid contacts and cooperating together for an 
enjoyable operating experience.  Now, according to noted High Frequency 
back-pack operator Bonnie Crystal, KQ6XA, the novelty of the 5 MHz 
channels has settled down to a usable level for calling and QSO's.  

Writing to the q-r-zed dot com website Crystal notes that 5 MHz daytime 
propagation out to 250 miles is good, although summer noise limits the 
comfort level when working the 50 Watt domestic stations.  Nights bring 
good D-X and regional propagation, but lightning storms tend to make it 
harsh in some areas.

But her most important observation is that of a very positive trend.  
KQ6XA says that hams still are acting like they are on their first date, 
treating the new channels appropriately and showing off their best 
operating habits.  She says that they are observing the kind of brevity 
in operating procedures commonly used on a high-level VHF repeater or 
regional linked F-M system.  

Crystal adds her hope that in the future 5 MHz will continue to be an 
example of the best ham radio good operating techniques and behavior.