[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1356 - August 8 2003
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Sat Aug 9 00:37:25 EDT 2003
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1356 - August 8 2003
The following is a Q-S-T.
The ARRL tells the FCC to set R-F-I immunity standards for consumer
electronic gear, the FCC says it won't decide the merits of a California
frequency coordinators actions, and the price of a vanity call sign is
going up again. These stories and more follow on Amateur Radio Newsline
report number 1356 coming your way right now.
**
RADIO LAW: ARRL TELLS FCC TO SET INTERFERENCE REJECTION STANDARDS
The ARRL has told the FCC that improved interference standards for consumer
electronic devices is among the most pressing needs being faced by the ham
radio community. This, as the Commission considers the interference
immunity performance of receivers. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce
Tennant, K6PZW, has more:
--
The ARRL made its position known in comments July 21st in response to an
FCC Notice of Inquiry titled Interference Immunity Performance
Specifications for Radio Receivers. That probe was released last March as
ET docket 03-65. In its filing the ARRL says that no receiver immunity
standards are necessary or practical in the "essentially experimental"
Amateur Service. Instead, says the ARRL, the real need for receiver
immunity specifications is in the area of consumer electronics and the FCC
must establish stronger interference rejection standards for such devices.
The ARRL's 21 page reply also recounted the recent history of efforts to
come to grips with interference from RF sources, including amateur
stations, to receivers used in other services, such as TV and radio
broadcasting, and to consumer electronics. The ARRL suggested that the FCC
mandate a standard for all consumer electronics or adopt a labeling or
grading system. It also suggested that the FCC not rely exclusively on
manufacturers to set standards as a way of lessening the problem.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
--
The politically powerful Electronic Industries Association which represents
the manufacturers of consumer electronic gear is categorically opposed
mandatory RFI immunity standards. (ARRL)
**
RADIO LAW: FCC REFUSES TO DECIDE ON MERITS OF COORDINATORS ACTIONS
The FCC has told the attorney for one side in a California coordination
dispute that it will not offer any opinion on the actions of the local
frequency coordinator. This most likely means that a rumored law suit in
the mater may now proceed to court.
Attorney Ted Smith of Santa Rosa California had written to the FCC on July
3rd. In part, Smith asked for the Commission decide if the Northern
Amateur Relay Council of California's revocation of the Sonoma County
Repeater Association coordination status exceeded the coordinators
authority under the organizations bylaws, policies, and procedures, or if
the Commission consider such an issue a local matter.
But in his July 15th reply, FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio
Enforcement Riley Hollingswoth states that the Commission does not
anticipate making a such decision on the merits of Northern Amateur Relay
Council of California's action. He also stated that the Commission
considers coordination in the Amateur Radio Service a matter more
appropriate for the parties to resolve among themselves locally, or by
mediation, dispute resolution or in the local courts.
With the FCC declining not to take any stand in regard to the merits of the
Northern Amateur Relay Council position in the dispute between the W6SON
and KD6LSO repeaters, it appears as if the decision of the coordination
council will stand unless a expected legal challenge goes ahead. Its also
a sure bet that repeater coordinators across the nation will be keeping a
very close eye on what happens in Northern California if this issue
actually goes into court. (FCC, ARNewsline( tm))
**
RADIO RULES: VANITY FEES GOING UP IN SEPTEMBER
The cost of getting a vanity call sign is going up again this fall. This
as the FCC announces that the the ten year license term fee for a vanity
call will rise to $16.30 for as of September 9th.
The action to raise the fees comes in answer to petirtions from the ham
community to eliminate the fee completely. But the FCC says it expects to
collect close to $160,000 from 9800 Amateur Radio vanity call sign
applicants during Fiscal Year 2003. That's up by almost $30,000 and 800
applications from Fiscal Year 2002.
Applicants for vanity callsigns will continue to pay the $14.50 fee until
the new fee goes into effect in September. Further details on the FCC's
position and its response to amateur requests to eliminate the fee can be
found in cyberspace at www.arrl.org (ARRL, FCC)
**
RESTRUCTURING: NCVEC NO-CODE PROPOSAL GETS LITTLE AIR TALK TIME
The petition by the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators
to the FCC to end Morse testing in the United States is getting allot of
discussion in cycerspace, but apparently very little on the air. Over the
past week the Amateur Radio Newsline team has monitored the ham bands to
try to gauge on-the air reaction and so far there does not seem to be very
much at all. An occasional mention of the proposal is about all thats been
heard over the past 7 days.
But the opposite is true in cyberspace where the NCVEC petition has become
the hot topic of discussion in places like the rec.radio.policy newsgroup
and on qrz.com. As far as we can tell, qrz.com com has the most
interesting discussion of all. Most of the comments are well thought out
with very little in the way of rhetoric. So far close to 350 hams have
dropped by to add their voice to the discussion. To read what they have to
say or add your thoughts, please take your web browser over to www.qrz.com
and scroll down to the topic titled NCVEC files no code petition.
(ARNewsline (tm))
**
HAM TESTS: GUNFIRE CAUSES HAM TEST CANCELLATION
I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, with a late breaking story. Dateline Ventura
County California where gunplay has caused the cancellation of a ham radio
test session slated for Sunday August 10th.
The exams we to be held at the East Valley Sheriff Station in the city of
Thousand Oaks. The session was canceled following an incident earlier in
the week where a disgruntled man drove up and attacked Ventura County
sheriff's deputies with a gun. No one in the building was injured. The
deputies responded and killed the attacker.
But as a result of her gunfire the community room where the ham radio tests
are held was damaged. It's also considered as a part of the crime scene
and is off limits to the public until further notice.
The Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club is the group that sponsors the bi-
monthly test sessions. It says that it hopes to resume its normal exam
schedule in October. (AA6JR)
**
INTRUDER WATCH: MORE CB'ERS ON 10 METERS
Sunspots activity may be down but that's not keeping rogue CB'ers and other
intruders off the 10 meter band and spectrum near-by. Q-News reports that
while normal ham radio activity on the 21, 24 and 28 MHz bands is down,
occasional openings of the 10 meter band shows a number of unlicensed long
line fishing net beacons in operation. Also being heard is Citizens Band
radio type traffic in the band. Q-News also says that CODAR pulse
transmissions in the region 24.950 to 24.995 MHz are continuing and are
sill unidentified. (Q-News)
**
RADIO LAW: UK HAMS OBJECT TO RADIO SHOW ON BPL
Last week we reported on the signal degradation that Amateurs in the United
States will face if the FCC permits power companies to become suppliers of
broadband Internet. But US hams are not alone. The United Kingdom's
national ham radio society is angry at a report by the BBC that touts the
system without telling the other side. They say the report is not fair and
balanced. RSGB news reader Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is here with the rest of
the story:
--
The RSGB has contacted the BBC to point out its objections to an item on
the BBC TV 6 o'clock News on Thursday the 24th of July. The item referred
to the use of the electricity supply as a medium for Internet access. This
is variously referred to as PLT, PLC or Powerline Communication.
The following is a quote from the e-mail sent to the BBC TV News: "The news
item was unbalanced in that no mention was made to the very serious
problems of radio interference inherent in Powerline technology. At the
present time there is strong disagreement as to how much radio interference
should be permitted. Needless to say radio interests, which besides
ourselves, include the BBC and many other organisations are anxious that
radio interference should be minimised."
The e-mail went on to point out the difference between the systems based on
ADSL technology, which are currently being deployed in considerable
numbers, and the proposed PLT systems.
Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.
--
At airtime, it is not known if BBC 6 plans a follow up report giving the
negatives of BPL. An interesting article on Broadband Over Powerline
communications is available by clicking the link marked "powerline
communications" on the RSGB website at www.rsgb.org. (GB2RS)
**
RESTRUCTURING: DENMARK GIVES HAMS 70 MHZ
Amateurs in Denmark have been given permission to operate on the 70 MHz
band. This, according to OZ2M who says that three frequencies are
available at 70.025, 70.050 and 70.100mhz.
Individual applications have to be filed for the relevant frequencies and
the maximum power is 25 watts, but there are no other restrictions. In
other words, the 70 MHz allocation is available to all license classes in
Denmark and all modes may be used. (UBE)
**
RESCUE RADIO: FIRES DAMAGES TWO REPEATER INTERTIES
Back here in the United States, Arizona wildfires have damaged two repeater
newtworks. Blazes wiped out repeater relay links on Mount Lemmon, Arizona,
for both the Zia Connection and the Cactus Intertie. Both are wide area
linking networks. The fires occurred in mid July. (Repeater Owners
Remailer)
**
RESCUE RADIO: ECHOLINK ASSISTS DURING HURRICANE CLAUDETTE
Traditional ham radio communications during Hurricane Claudette in Texas in
July were augmented by an Echolink connection keeping key players in
constant contact. According to the ARRL Letter, the Nacogdoches Amateur
Radio Club used Echolink to tie together coastal repeaters, the National
Hurricane Center, the National Weather Service, the Texas Department of
Public Safety and most coastal emergency operating centers. Club spokesman
Tim Lewallen, KD5ING, said that at the height of the storm, there was
"almost constant" activity on the link, mostly between the National
Hurricane Center and ham spotters providing real-time, first-hand reports.
(ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: $8,000 FINE AFFIRMED FOR FAILURE TO INSTALL EAS EQUIPMENT
The FCC has affirmed an $8,000 fine against WENA of Yauco, Puerto Rico.
This for the stations failure to install Emergency Alert System equipment.
The FCC says that Puerto Rico is a possession of the U.S., and is therefore
governed by the it's Regulations and rules. The complete story is in
cyberspace at: http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-03-
2360A1.doc (CGC)
**
AT THE COMMISSION: FCC OFFERS FREE WiFi TO VISITORS
The FCC says that it will provide free wireless Internet access to visitors
at its Washington, D.C. office, but there are a few caviats. Visitors must
bring their own hardware and software and can use the service only in two
specific locations. The FCC alao says that it won't provide any technical
support. More is on-line at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-237306A1.doc (FCC)
**
RADIO POLITICS: PRINTER ERROR IN AMSAT BALLOTS
An error by AMSAT's printer has resulted in a reprinting and remailing of
ballots for the amateur satellite organization's board of directors.
The CQ website reports that the mailing included biographies for candidates
from a past election. As a result, the original white ballot cards sent
out with the first mailing will not be counted. If you never mailed yours
in simply disguard it.
Only the replacement yellow ballot cards sent in the second mailing will be
accepted as valid votes by AMSAT members. These are due at AMSAT
headquarters by September 15.
By the way, AMSAT is not ouut any money on this one. The printer bore the
total cost of the reprinting and remailing. (ANS)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: A WEB PAGE FOR NIKOLA TESLA HISTORIANS
In the world of electronics and telecommunications, inventor Nikola Tesla
was one of the more mysterious of our early technological pioneers. His
experiments and demonstrations caused some to believe he was a genius,
while others had to wonder if he was engaged in witchcraft.
Much of what he wrote nearly a century ago still evades our understanding.
If you're intrigued by the man and his specific visionary approaches to
physics, you can visit his selected writings at
www.tfcbooks.com/tesla/contents.htm (CGC)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: KA3HDO PROMOTED AT NASA
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Chairman Frank
Bauer, KA3HDO, has been promoted to the highest technical rank
accorded a NASA scientist or engineer. Bauer, who works at NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center in Maryland has been named as a Special Technical or S-
T. This, in recognition of his record of exceptional technical achievement
in the field of guidance, navigation and control.
KA3HDO's promotion came through in time for him to be appointed to the NASA
deputy administrator's new blue ribbon panel on Alternatives to the Orbital
Space Plane. Bernard Seery, chief of the Mission Engineering and Systems
Analysis Division in the Applied Engineering and Technology Directorate,
said Bauer's new ST rank formally recognizes him as a lead guidance,
navigation and control expert at the Agency level. (ANS)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AN ALL HAM CREW FOR ISS EDITION 8
The ARRL reports that both members of the recently-announced Expedition 8
crew for the International Space Station are hams. Astronaut Mike Foale,
KB5UAC, will be the crew commander and science officer. Cosmonaut Alexander
Kaleri, U8MIR, will be I-S-S flight engineer and commander of the Soyuz
capsule used to transport the crew members to and from orbit.
Both Foale and Kaleri are veterans of the Mir space station. They'll be
joined briefly by a third ham, Spain's Pedro Duque, licensed in the U.S. as
KC5RGG, who will represent the European Space Agency. Duque will return to
Earth with the departing Expedition 7 crew. The crew exchange is scheduled
for mid-October. (ARRL)
**
INTERNATIONAL-UK: HAMS AT GASS 2003
Amateur Radio will be a part of a major science exhibition down-under. Q-
News Graham Kemp. VK4BB, reports:
--
The Great Australian Science Show (GASS) will be held in conjunction with
National Science Week at the Melbourne Museum, and amateur radio is to be
on display for three days.
WIA Victoria with the help of its member clubs are participating in the
show, for three days from Saturday 16, Sunday 17, and Monday 18 of August.
The Melbourne Museum is open from 10am to 5pm.
Displays of IRLP, Morse code, VHF Transceivers, Crystal sets, ARDF
equipment, Satellite tracking software, Power Point Computer Displays and
more are planned.
--
Again, those dates are August 16, 17 and 18 at the Melbourne Museum in
Melbourne Australia. (Q-News)
**
ON THE AIR: UK HAM TO DO SUMMIT BACKPACK
On the air, word that Richard Newstead, G3CWI, is planning a long solo ham
radio backpacking trip across the hills of South Wales this month. His
objective is to activate 15 of the hills in the Brecon Beacons National
Park on 40-meter CW for the U-K's Summits on the Air award program.
The walk will be over 90 miles with a nearly 25,000 feet of ascent. In
addition to the High Frequency radio gear, G3CWI will be carrying all his
own food and camping equipment. The walk is expected to be completed by
the 17th of August. (RSGB)
**
ON THE AIR: RUSSIAN POLAR MOUNTAIN EXPEDITION.
And speaking high locations, word that the Russian Robinson Club plans to
be active as R3RRC/9 from August 14th to the 25th from the Polar Ural
Mountains. Their operations will be on both the H-F and VHF bands. If you
can read Russian, more information is available on the web page link you
will find in this weeks print edition of the Amateur Radio Newsline report.
More is on-line at www.hamradio.ru/rrc/AWARDS/rma.htm
QSL via UA3SGV: Andy Blinushov, P.B. 180, Ryazan-35, Russia, 390035.
(OPDX)
**
DX
In D-X, word that M0GMT, and DJ9AO, are teaming up for an ambitious
DXpedition to Cambodia running through the 18th of August. hey will use
the callsign XU7ACT for normal operation and XU7ACU for the WAE CW Contest
on August 9th and 10th. QSL's for both calls go via G3SWH. (GB2RS)
And N6XIV/KH9 is expected to be active again from Wake Island for about
three weeks. This will be his last Wake Island work assignment for 2003.
He operates on SSB only whenever possible during his very limited spare
time. (GB2RS)
Lastly, word from Great Britain that nominations are being sought for the
G5RP Trophy. This is an annual award to encourage newcomers to High
Frequency D-X'ing and is awarded for making recent rapid progress in D-
Xing, which only newcomers have the scope to do. Nominations should be sent
to Colin Thomas, G3PSM, by e-mail to hf.chairman at rsgb.org.uk Nominations
must be received by the 31st of August at the latest. (GB2RS)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: THE NIGERERIAN SCAMMERS ARE AT IT AGAIN
And finally this week, theres another scam involving Nigeria and this one
is targeting Amateur Radio. But this time a ham has outwhitted the alleged
scammer. We have more in this report:
--
It all started about a month ago. That's when Jeff Novak, KB3DIV, of
Lucinda, Pennsylvania, placed an ad on the QRZ dot com website to sell his
Yaesu VX5 hand held. And in a follow-up posting to that website, Novak
tells the story of what happened next.
KB3DIV says that he was soon contacted through e-mail by a person
identifying himself as James Cruise. Cruise who stated he was from Africa
and that he wanted to purchase the unit.
To make a long story short Cruise insisted that a contact here in the
United States would send Novak a check for 4800 dollars. Cruise wanted
Novak to deduct the purchase price of his HT along with shipping cost and
send him a moneygram for the difference.
Soon, Novak received a bank draft for the 4800 dollars. Several phone
messages were also left on Novak's cell phone from Cruise. These urged
KB3DIV to quickly send him the difference and H-T.
But Novak became very suspicious. So he called the F.B.I. and explained
what had transpired. They told KB3DIV that the supposed bank draft is a
actually a credit card check and most likely already void. Also that the
person calling himself James Cruise was most likely a scam artist. In
other words, had he cashed it and sent Cruise the balance, the chances are
that his bank would have dinged him for the amount of the bounced check and
he would have been out his VX5 to boot.
But in this case the targeted victim was allot smarter than the alleged con
artist. He asked the F.B.I. what to do. It advised Novak to destroy the
check. He did, and also informed the person calling himself James Cruise
that the deal was dead. And when it was all over, KB3DIV still had his
VX5, and it was the person allegedly trying to scam him that was -
proverbially -- left holding the bag.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramovich, NT3V, in Philadelphia.
--
Score one for a rather smart ham.
**
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(tm) 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.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Norm Seeley,
KI7UP, in Scottsdale Arizona saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.
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