[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1363 - September 26 2003

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Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1363 - September 26 2003

The following is a Q-S-T.  Two more nations go code free and if you 
wanted to go to Albania to teach ham radio, you are to late.  Find out 
the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1363 coming your way 
right now.

**

RESTRUCTURING: TWO MORE NATIONS GO NO-CODE

Two more countries have dropped the Morse code requirement for operation 
on the High Frequency bands.   Amateur Rado Newsline's Don Wilbanks, 
AE5DW, has the details:

--

Two nations on opposite sides of the world have opted to join the 
growing no-code brigade.  On September 15th, Ireland announced that they 
no longer require a Morse test.  As a result, all Irish B licensees now 
have Full license privileges.  But with a few caveats.

At this point there will be no change to existing callsigns.  But Class 
B  licensees may apply for a Class A callsign but to do so they will be 
required to pass a Morse test.  New license applicants who have passed 
the Theory Test will continue to be issued with a callsign having a 
three letter suffix ending in B, unless they also pass a Morse Test.  
Also, because not all countries operating under the CEPT agreement have 
yet removed the mandatory Morse requirement, operation abroad on the HF 
Bands by Irish Class B licenses is confined to those countries that have 
done so.

Meantime, the Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society has been 
advised by the nations Info-comm Development Authority that, as of the 
15th of September, the requirement for a Morse code examination for High 
Frequency operating privileges in Singapore has been removed.  And as 
from the 16th of September all current and future licenses became 
convertible to the Singapore General Class.  This, with full High 
Frequency operating privileges. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in New Orleans.

--

By the way; Singapore is thought to be the first country in Asia to 
adopt the recent amendments of Article 25 of the ITU Radio Regulations.  
Many others around the world are expected to follow in coming days.  
(GB2RS, Q-News)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  CQ READERS FAVOR HF PRIVILEGES FOR TECHS BUT ARE SPLIT 
ON CODE TESTS

A survey of CQ magazine readers shows respondents are strongly in favor 
of granting at least some high-frequency operating privileges to 
already-licensed hams who have not taken a Morse code test, but are 
evenly split over the question of continued Morse code exams for amateur 
licenses.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovitz, NT3V, took a look 
at the survey results and has more:

--

According to CQ Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, nearly two-thirds of the CQ 
readers who responded to the survey favor giving limited High Frequency 
privileges to currently-licensed Technician Class hams who have not 
taken a code test.  Another 36% of those responding said there should be 
no changes in operating privileges.  

Among those who favor changes, 43% support merging the current Novice 
and Technician licenses and combining the privileges of both, while 
another 26% favor expanded privileges for both classes, including High 
Frequency subbands offering voice, CW and data at limited power levels.  
In addition, 14% supported giving Novice High Frequency privileges to 
Technicians, but not giving full VHF privileges to Novices. The 
remaining 17% were split between giving current Technicians only current 
Novice voice privileges and only current Novice code privileges.
         
Moseson says that readers were split, 50-50, on the question of whether 
the FCC should change its current code test requirements.  Of those who 
favored change, 50% called for the elimination of code tests for both 
General and Extra Class licenses, while 42% favored eliminating the 
General Class code exam but keeping it for the Extra Class license.  The 
remaining 8% supported replacing the current code test with a code 
recognition test similar to the exam used for the Foundation class 
license in the United Kingdom.
         
And heres a big surprise.  While only half the CQ readers want the FCC 
to change the current code test requirements, three quarters of those 
who sent in the survey said they agreed with the decision at the 2003 
World Radiocommunication Conference to leave the question of code tests 
up to each country to decide.

Finally, the ARRL and International Amateur Radio Union got a strong 
vote of support for the time and money they invested in securing the 
compromise agreement on 40 meters.  One that will eventually double the 
size of the band for amateurs in Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania, while 
removing broadcasters from the 7 point 100 to 7 point 200 MHz segment by 
2009.  Seventy-eight per cent of C-Q readers responding to this question 
said the effort was a worthwhile investment of member dues and staff 
time.  On the other side only 9% said the benefit was not worth the 
cost.  13% had no opinion on the issue.

According to Moseson, a significant aspect of these survey results is 
that 84% of the readers responding already have High Frequency operating 
privileges, 75% report being active on HF, and 58% hold Extra Class 
licenses. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in 
Philadelphia.

--

The survey was included in the September, 2003 issue of the magazine. CQ 
Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, said over 400 CQ readers responded to it.  
Moseson admits that it was in no way a scientific poll but he says that 
it does provide a "snapshot" of reader views on various topics.   
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

RADIO LAW:  A BPL DOCUMENT FOR HAM RADIO

Turning to the latest in ham radios war against the introductuion of 
Bradband Over Powerlines or BPL, the Wireless Institute of Australia has 
prepared a document detailing the pros and cons.  Phil White, VK2DKN, is 
its author:

--

White:  "The purpose of the document was not only to advise the WIA of 
the exact position of BPL in Australia, but also to educate the general 
Amateur fraturnity on the situation wth BPL that was likely to affect 
them."

--

White said that he tried to present a balanced view of the BPL 
situation, covering both sides:

--

White:  "I tied to present a fairly balanced view in the document so 
Amateurs can see both sides of the argument.  And there are some very 
strong arguments for and against the adoption Broadband Over 
Powerlines."

--

How best to fight the introduction of this technology?  White says hams 
need to forge alliances with others who will be affected:

--

White:  "My opinion is that Amateurs need to for an associatoon wih 
other HF users, and those users may include people like defense, four-
wheel-drive groups, CB'ers -- any people who are affected by the 
introductuion of BPL technology."

--

According to White, alliances like this will put Amateur Radio in a much 
stronger position to gain access to any standards committees working on 
the introduction of BPL.  (Q-News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  TEXT MESSAGE RESCUE

If you think that Morse code is still needed for a successful rescue at 
sea, guess again.  Three men who were rescued from the hull of a 
capsized boat on Saturday, September 13th definately know this.  You 
see, they were saved after one of the sailors sent an electronic text 
message to his father using a two-way pager.

Caught in what the British Coastguard later described as rough seas and 
gusts up to 45 knots, the men used a combination of a mobile phone and 
VHF radio to call for help.  The Coastguard first received an emergency 
assistance request at 4:50 pm UTC but that call was dropped due to poor 
signal strength.  

Then came a signal from an emergency locating beacon triggered by the 
men.  It showed the vessel to be south-west of St. Catherine's point on 
the Isle of Wight.  But it wasn't until the Coastguard received a call 
from one man's father - calling from his home, near Southampton - that 
the position was confirmed.  His son had sent him a text message that he 
passed on to the Coastguard.  A helocopter was dispatched and the men 
were plucked to safety.

Commenting on the rescue, and the way text messaging can often make it 
through when coverage is patchy was Watch Manager Colin Griffiths.  He 
said that the incident adds to the number of times the Coastguard has 
been alerted to a marine incident by just such a text message.  
(silicon.com via KB4KCH)

**

HAM RADIO BUSINESS:  ROHN FILES CHAPTER 11

A company that literally as well as figuratively supports more ham radio 
antennas than any other is fighting for its survival.  This as tower 
manufacturer Rohn Industries announces that it and five of its 
subsidiaries have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief in federal 
court.  

Subject to the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code, the September 16th 
filing means that Rohn remains in possession of its properties and 
continues to operate its business.  The company says that the objective 
of the Chapter 11 proceeding is to maximize recovery to creditors by 
facilitating an orderly sale of its assets. (QRZ.com)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  SEATTLE CB'ER FINED FOR REFUSING STATION INSPECTION

A Citizens Band radio operator has been ordered to pay the FCC $500 for 
his refusal to permit agency inspection of his station.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Mert Garlick, N6AWE, has the rest of the story.

--

Tacoma Washington resident William A. Woods is the CB operator in 
question.  According to the FCC, Woods was initially fined $7000 for  
failure to make his CB radio station available for inspection at the 
request of authorized Commission personnel.

On September 3, 2002, the Seattle FCC Office received a report from the 
City of Tacoma, Washington, concerning complaints about interference to 
home entertainment equipment in the 3000 block of South Madison Street.  
A few weeks later agents determined that an interfering signal on 27.025 
MHz was coming from Woods home.  The agents also observed that the 
signal strength levels were significantly higher than those expected 
from an authorized CB transmitter.  

After a second observation on November 5th, 2002, the agents, who were 
accompanied by two police officers, requested that Woods make his CB 
station available for inspection.  After a delay, Woods allowed the 
agents but not the police officers to enter his residence.  Once the 
agents began the inspection of the CB station, Woods changed his mind 
and refused to allow the examination to continue.  The agents then 
informed Woods that his refusal to allow an inspection could result in a 
monetary forfeiture.

On December 30, 2002, the Seattle Office issued a Notice of Apparent 
Liability to Monetary Forfeiture in the amount of $7,000 for refusing to 
allow an inspection of his station.  In his response Woods claims that 
the agents who came to his residence on November 5, 2002, did not 
present any identification and that he did not refuse to allow the 
agents to inspect his station.  He also stated that he had taken 
medication before the agents arrived at his house.  Woods also submitted 
financial documentation concerning his inability to pay the proposed 
monetary forfeiture.  After considering his response the FCC elected to 
reduce the fine to the $500 level and gave Woods the customary 30 days 
to pay.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mert Garlick, N6AWE, reporting.


--

No word if Woods plans to pay the $500 fine, or file a further appeal.  
(FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FAILURE TO REGISTER TOWER BRINGS $3000 FINE
The FCC has fined Dewey D. Lankford $3000 for his failure to register 
his broadcast tower. Lankford is the licensee of station WANA-AM in 
Anniston, Alabama, and owns that station's antenna structure.  
According to the Commission's records, the towers height above ground is 
over 200 feet.  On June 26, 2002, an agent from the Atlanta Office 
inspected the antenna structure.  A recent check of the of the 
Commission's tower registration records indicates that WANA's tower 
still remains unregistered.
In his defense Lankford asserted that the previous owner of the station 
told him that everything regarding the station was "in order" and there 
was a "variance" regarding registration.  Lankford further states that 
he believed, on the basis of a telegram from the FCC received by the 
previous licensee of WANA, that the tower was not required to be 
registered because it has no marking or lighting requirements.
But in imposing the fine the FCC says that Section 17.4(a) of the Rules 
requires the registration of antenna structures which require notice to 
the Federal Aviation Administration.  FAA notification is required for 
towers whose height above ground level exceeds 200 feet.  According to 
the Commission's records, the height of Mr. Lankford's antenna structure 
is over 200 feet. The antenna structure is, therefore, required to be 
registered.  The FCC adds that the lack of marking and lighting 
requirements does not negate the tower registration requirement.  (FCC)

**

HAM ENTERTAINMENT: UPDATE ON THE HUMAN RACE

Remember the proposed television show The Human Race.  The one which 
would pit two teams of hams against one another in a race around the 
world?  Well, the producers have announced the availability of a short 
video to that they have produced to accompany grant applications and 
have also posted it on the shows website.  The mini show is an 8 
megabyte file.  You can download and view it www.humanrace.fr.st or 
www.qsl.net/w1zy/archive/july/video.html  (Q-News)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  W6OBB RETURNS TO COAST TO COAST AM

Some names in the news.  First up is Art Bell, W6OBB, who has returned 
to the radio show he made famous, but only for two days - or should I 
say two nights -- a week.  According to an announcement from Premiere 
Radio Networks, Bell has agreed to replace Barbara Simpson as weekend 
host of Coast to Coast AM.

W-6-O-B-B began broadcasting live on Saturday night September 20th.  His 
new version of weekend Coast to Coast AM is live from 1-5 a.m. Eastern 
Time on Saturdays and Sundays with a re-feed from 5 from 9 a.m. 

Bell broadcasts from a studio in his home studio in Pahrump, Nevada.  
According to Premiere Netwoks Bell staid that for him, a return to radio 
is both mysterious and reassuring.  (Premiere Radio)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  PRODUCTION COMPANY SUES WALTER CRONKITE, KB2GSD

And a Florida company has sued Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, for $75,000.  
WJMK, Inc. claims that the former CBS anchorman illegally backed out of 
a contract to film what amounted to infomercials.

According to the Charleston Post-Courrier, Cronkite had agreed to show 
up for two days of taping with WJMK Inc..  This is a company which 
provides segments for TV stations on health care and the drug industry.  
Cronkite backed out in May after a New York Times article questioned 
whether he was being paid to help produce commercials designed to look 
like news. 

The lawsuit was filed Wednesday September 17th by WJMK in Manhattan 
federal court.  It claims the 86-year-old Cronkite and his production 
company knew his name and image could be used for any and all media.  
But Cronkite's lawyers insist he was misled into believing he was 
filming educational programming when in fact WJMK was taking money from 
health care companies to produce segments on their products.

As most hams are aware, late last year Cronkite volunteered his services 
to the not-for-proft Amarican Radio elay League as host of its new video 
Amateur Radio Today.  As reported here on Nerwsline, that show was 
recently honored with a third place award at the Chicago Film Festival 
in Illinois. The story is in cyberspace at 
http://www.charleston.net/stories/092003/wor_20people.shtml  (Charleston 
Post-Courrier)

**

HAM RADIO EDUCATION:  ALBANIA HAM TEACHING POSITION FILLED

A follow up to last weeks story on the search for a ham radio instructor 
willing to teach Amateur Radio in Albania.  Well, if you wanted the 
position and waited to respond, forget it.  Word from the planners is 
that hey had quite a few responses.  They are now assessing the 
candidates and the person chosen will be announced shortly.  

The Albanian ham radio training course will be presented at the 
Technical University of Tirana in November.  It is being organized in 
coordination with the Albanian Ministry of Telecommunications in 
conjunction with the IARU using Radio Society of Great Britain Radio 
Amateur Examination documentation.  (Various sources)

**

WITH THE ARRL: 160 METER CW PRACTICE SHIFT

Starting Monday, September 29th, ARRL headquarters station W1AW will 
shift its 160-meter code practice and bulletin transmission frequency to 
1817.5 kHz.  The frequency shift not only brings W1AW's Top Band 
frequency in line with those the station uses on other bands, it also 
should help to eliminate possible interference from broadcast station 
harmonics and birdies. 

W1AW has been conducting code practice and bulletin transmissions on its 
current 1818 kHz since 1982. Prior to that, W1AW transmitted both CW and 
phone bulletins on 1835 kHz.  The frequency change is effective starting 
with the September 29th 2000 UTC code practice run. (ARRL)

**

HAM ANIVERSARIES:  THE WS9CAN REPEATER AT 25

The Southern Counties Amateur Network Harrisburg Il. is celebrating the 
25th Anniversary of its 146.880 repeater.  To share his milestone the 
club plans to operate a special event station on October 5th 2003.  W-S-
9-C-A-N will oprate from 1800 to 2300z UTC on 40 through 15 meters.  If 
you work them, Q-S-L with a self addressed stamped envelope to Vic Maue 
Jr., WD9EMF, RR#1 Box 102, Simpson Illinois. The zipcode is 62985.  (VHF 
Reflector)

**

CONFERENCES:  2003 MID ATLANTIC STATES VHF CONFERENCE IN PA

Make your reservations now for the upcoming Mid Atlantic States VHF 
Conference, this year at the Radisson North East in Trevose, 
Pennsylvania. The date is Saturday, October 11th.  The conference is 
sponsored by the Mt. Airy Radio Club and everyone is invited to attend. 
For more information via e-mail write to packrats_w3ccx at yahoo.com or 
visit www.ij.net/packrats on the world wide web.  (VHF REflector)

**

RADIOSPORTS:  ARDF REGION 3 GAMES THIS FALL

Planning for the 5th annual IARU Region 3 Amateur Radio Direction 
Finding Championships is reportedly progressing well.  The  games are 
slated to be held in the town of Ballarat Australia this November and 
December.  To register, e-mail registration at ardf.org.au.  Full details 
are on the web at www.ardf.org.au  (News release)

**

DX


In D-X S57CQ, is very active slash YI from Iraq, especially around 
14.270 MHz SSB. He expects to be in Iraq until mid-October. QSL via 
S57DX.  (GB2RS)

And YA1D in Afghanistan is active almost daily after 1230 UTC on 80 to 
10 meters.  His operation is mainly on SSB but with some slow CW.  
(GB2RS)

Lastly, G4VGO, reports that he will be active for about two years from 
Singapore as 9V1GO. His activity will be mainly on the low bands on CW, 
especially 30, 80 and 160 meters, at his sunset and sunrise.  QSL as 
directed on the air.  (GB2RS)


**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  TURNING BACK THE SANDS OF TIME

And finally, we began this weeks newscast with a restructuring story and 
we will end it on the same note.  In this case a look at some  petitions 
for rule making that are reportedly on their way to the FCC.  And when 
it comes to opening up ham radio to more people, one appears to want to 
turn back the hands of time.   Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW, is here with a little bit of information on two of the stranger 
ones being talked about in cybrspace:

--

Audio report only.  Hear it by downloding the newscast at 
http://www.arnewsline.org

--

Just before going to air we checked the FCC's website and could not find 
a Rule Making designation for either of these.  But it does not end 
here.  More petitions, both for and against continuing Morse testing are 
believed in route to the FCC.  (Listener reports)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, 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 Jim 
Damron, N8TMW, and I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for 
listening."  Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright  2003.  All rights 
reserved.