[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1365 - October 10 2003

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Amateur Radio Newsline 1365 - October 10 2003

The following is a Q-S-T.  

Deciding the future of ham radio was not an easy task in Geneva and the 
problem of Broadband over Powelines continues to grow world-wide.  Find 
out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1365 coming your 
way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here) 
 
**

IARU:  HOW RADIO REVISIONS CAME TO PASS

The word is out.  Some of those who attended last springs World 
Radiocommunications Conference in Geneva Switzerland are now saying it 
was not all that easy to reach decisions.  Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB, 
has the rest of the story:

--

Just now some of the background work done at WRC-03 is coming to light.  
The work was intensive.  The main conference hall had over 1500 seats, 
simultaneous translation in 7 languages often more than 10 meetings 
going on at the same time, distributed in three adjacent buildings.

Some meetings went on till the wee hours of the morning and resumed at 
the usual time the next morning!

The growing number of completely new radio services clamouring for 
spectrum allocation, such as for example space borne radars for 
terrestrial observation, high altitude platforms together with the ever 
increasing number of new ITU Member States with active participation 
made the  deliberations that much more difficult.

For Q-News Australia, I'm Graham Kemp. VK4BB, reporting for the Amateur 
Radio Newsline.

--

It was the decisions made at this conference that lead some nations to 
abandon C-W testing of radio amateurs and also spur the ongoing, world-
wide Morse code debate.   (Q-News)

**

RADIO LAW:  BPL BECOMMING A HOT ISSUE WORLD-WIDE

Meantime, down here in Kiwi-Land as well as around the world, the debate 
is heating up over Broadband Over Powerline or BPL as its called in 
North America.  This is the technology that claims to provide broadband 
high-speed Internet services using domestic power lines for system wide 
transmission and Internet connectivity.  

For those not aware, BPL works by injecting the data signal into the 
powerline near the electricic substation and it travels along the line 
to the user.  In some proposed systems, it interconnects cities using 
existing long distance power distribution grids.  

The problem, of course, is that powerlines are not radio frequency 
cables. They are not shielded and leak RF energy causing a level of 
wideband noise in the vicinity of the cable.  And as tests conducted by 
the ARRL have graphically proven, powerlines radiate for long distances.

AC powerlines are a very noisy transmission medium, with spikes and 
other noise.  To make it work, BPL operators have to use higher 
injection powers to get their data signals to propagate along the cable.  
Higher injection power mean higher emissions, and this is bad news for 
all High Frequency radio operators.

By way of example, current proposals in Europe would raise the level of 
the background noise level on H-F by some 60-70 dB within 3 meters of 
the cable.  Further away, the rise would be less, but still 
considerable.

Because of this, Broadband Over Powerlines poses a threat not only to 
amateur radio.  Users of many low power devices such as security systems 
that tag products in shops are very concerned.  And High Frequency 
broadcasters world-wide are fighting to support sensible emission limits 
for powerline breoadband communications. 

But that's not where it ends.  In many places security services are 
worried.  Unfortunately, in some countries, government departments 
involved in security have been told to not object to BPL as the 
government policy is to support it.

Civil Aviation communication and aero-navigation can be threatened by 
BPL. There are reports of an air accident in Canada being directly 
attributable to interference from broadband cable systems. 

And this is only the beginning. New plans for BPL will attempt to use 
much higher frequencies which could immediately pose a threat to some 
nations emergency service communications.  This is an extremely serious 
issue for amateur radio world-wide and for other users of the High 
Frequency spectrum as well.  (NZART)

**

RADIO AIDS:  NOAA PROPAGATION SERVICE TO GO QRT

Amateurs around the globe may soon loose the propagation information 
system operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.  This includes real time data on the state of the 
interaction of the earth's  magnetosphere with the solar wind and state 
of the earth's magnetic field.

These tools have been invaluable to ham radio operators world-wide for 
many years.  The reasons it may be going away?  Budgetary cutbacks and 
lack of future funding.  (Published news reports)

**

ENFORCENMENT:  HAM REPEATERS ARE NOT FOR BUSINESS

Back in the United States, the FCC has written to a Lakewood New Jersey 
to ask him why a repeater bearing his his call sign is being used as an 
adjunct to a business band radio system.  The FCC's Daryl Duckworth, 
NN0W explains:

--

Duckworth: "Martin Gross, N2DCG, of Lakewod New Jersey, has 20 days to 
reply to an inquirey about a repeater on 448.825/443.825 MHz and is used 
as an adjunct to WNVF 627, a business radio system for the Hatzolah 
Emergency Medical Services, rather than for Amateur Radio purposes as 
set forth in Section 97.1 of the Commission's rules."

--

In a September 11th letter, the FCC notes that Gross's repeater is not 
coordinated.  (FCC)

**

AT THE FCC:  THE FCC's MASTER SEARCH ENGINE

The CGC Communicator reports that there is an obscure but very important 
search engine at the FCC website.  One that allows you to comb through 
most of the Commission's licensing systems for specific information. 

According to CGC, member databases include Universal Licensing System, 
Experimental, Cable Operations, Mass Media and International Bureau.  
Queries can be set up by frequency range, state, county, location call 
sign and licensee name.  More information is in the cyperspace address 
found at http://gullfoss2.fcc.gov/reports/index.cfm  or the backup site 
at
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/reports/index.cfm  (CGC)

**

RADIO LAW:  CABLE TOLD TO SOLVE ITS OWN PROBLEMS

FCC Chairman Michael Powell has told the cable industry that it needs to 
work out its own problems before appealing to regulators for remedies.  
At a recent appearance at the annual cable sector conference Powell 
highlighted issues that have driven a wedge between cable companies and 
local broadcasters.  Specifically, the rules that dictate what over the 
air channels cable outlets must carry on their systems. 
    
Currently, cable companies are required by law to carry local broadcast 
channels. But broadcasters are also hoping regulators will eventually 
force cable companies to carry both digital and analog signals during 
the broadcasters' transition period to all digital transmission.  But 
cable companies argue that if they were forced to carry both a 
broadcaster's regular analog signal and digital signals, it would 
significantly deplete their capacity to air other channels.  (Published 
reports)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  ORGANIZING 60 METERS IN VA

Bringing emergency communications to 60 meters is the theme of a new net 
organized by Virginia RACES, Inc.  This, by providing a twice monthly 
opportunity for equipment tests in the new spectrum asllocation.

The Mid-Atlantic Emergency Net began opeeration on October 1st.  It now 
takes place  the first and third Wednesdays of every month at 2000 hours 
Eastern Time on 5330.5 using upper sideband.  

All ARES, RACES and other emergency communications organizations within 
reliable communication range of the net are encouraged to participate.  
Liaisons are also invited with similar groups in neighboring states.  
(Via e-mail)

**

GETTING YOUR E-MAIL:  AOL BLOCKS QRZ.COM

If you use America Online as an internet service provider and are 
waiting for e-mail or a password from QRZ.com, this is for you. A-O-L 
has decided to unilaterally block delivery QRZ.com e-mails unless a 
specific A-O-L user goes  to the trouble of unblocking his or her own 
account.  

According to QRZ, they have been getting up to 50 emails a week from 
America Online users who have not received their QRZ passwords or Links.   
QRZ advises that it is A-O-L and not them that has placed spam filters 
on incoming e-mail.  To fix the problem, users must log onto A-O-L,  go 
to "SPAM CONTROL" and set it so that e-mail from QRZ.com as an allowable 
e-mail address. 

QRZ adds that it has no other way of sending America Online users a 
password or log on information as A-O-L has QRZ e-mail filtered out.  
(qrz.com)

**
 
HAMVENTION 2004:  YOUR IDEAS ARE SOLICITED

Turning to the convention scene, the planners of Hamvention 2004 are 
putting out a call to the world-wide ham radio community.  They say give 
us your input and we will listen. 

According to the Hamvention website, those in charge of next years 
gathering have implemented what they call a new "open door policy."  In 
other words, they want to hear your suggestions or comments on how to 
improve their show.  They also promise to consider your ideas, discuss 
them, and implement them if possible. 

If you want to help make Hamvention even bigger and better, now's your 
chance.  Sit down at your keyboard and write the 2004 Hamvention team 
directly at w-mail to info at hamvention.org.  And yes, they promise a 
personal response to every e-note that's received.  (Hamvention)

** 

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  DENVER COLORADO IN OCTOBER

Still with hamfets and conventions, the Rocky Mountain Radio League 
welcomes everyone to the 2003 R-M-R-L Hamfest slated for October 18th at 
the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden Colorado.  For more 
information e-mail Ron Rose to N0MQJ at rose3.com.  (Press release)

** 

CONVENTIONS AND HAMFESTS:  SOCORRO N.M. ON OCT 25

Also, mark down Saturday October 25th for New Mexico's Socorro Hamfest.  
Socorro is about 80 miles South of Albuquerque.  This year the venue is 
the Firefighters Training Academy with R-V parking available.  For 
information by e-mail please write to ac5bx at arrl.net.  (e-mail)

** 

WITH THE SCOUTS:  A SPECIAL ON JOTA

Last reporter Mark Abramovich, NT3V, told you that the 46th annual Boy 
Scouts of America Jamboree on the Air will take place on October 18th 
and 19th.  Now Mark has prepared a special report that details the 
Jamboree on the Air and the very unique relationship between scouting 
and ham radio.  

--
AUDIO HERE
--

Mark's report is our September Newsline Extra.  It can be downloaded as 
an M P 3 file from our website at www.arnewsline.org/quincy.  Just 
scroll down to the bottom of the page, click on ARNewsline Extra, turn 
your speakers up and enjoy.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

PROMOTING HAM RADIO:  JOTA VIDEO NEEDED

Are if you are planning to take part in this years scouting Jamboree on 
the Air and own a good quality home video camera, your help is needed.   
As you know, Dave Bell W6AQ, Alan Kaul W6RCL and Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, 
are always looking for good video of ham radio happenings that they 
might be able to incorporate into a presentation about the hobby.  As 
scouting and ham radio enjoy a very unique relationship, this is an 
event that is sure to make it into one of their  shows, but only if they 
have the pictures and sound.  

Since the Jamboree on the Air happens only once a year, that's where you 
come in.  What's needed are volunteer camera people to take their gear 
to where the scouts are holding their JOTA gatherings and videotape them 
in action.  Pictures and sound of them setting up their JOTA campsites, 
ham stations and their on-the-air operations.  Also wanted is video of 
licensed scout hams introducing non-ham scouts to our very special new 
world of Amateur Radio.

If you can help in this project, or want more information, e-mail the 
production team to hamvideo at juno.com.  (The Producers)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  DANNY WEIL, EX-VP2VP - S.K. 

The changing of the guard in ham radio continues.  This with  word from 
the San Antonio Radio Club that Danny Weil, the former VP2VP, has passed 
away October 3rd at age 86.  

Weil is best known for his post World War 2 DX operations.  During the 
1950's and 1960's Weil took to the ham radio airwaves from numerous 
exotic locations that he sailed to in a boat named the YASME.  

Born in the UK in 1918, Weil had been living in a managed care facility 
in Texas since suffering  a stroke in 2001.  But during his lifetime his 
voyages lead to the setting up ham radio stations on remote islands 
around the world and contacts with over 100,000 amateur radio 
enthusiasts.  His exploits are credited with giving birth to the terms 
D-X'er and D-Xpedition.  

Weil's adventures and those of the Colvin's -- Lloyd W6KG-and Iris W6QL 
-- lead to the formation of the famed YASME Foundation that assists DX 
operations world wide.  Services for Weil were held in San Antonio Texas 
on Wednesday, October 8th.

More about the life and death of Danny Weil is on-liner at 
http://obit.porterloring.com/obit_display.cgi?id=82269&clientid=porterlo
ring  (San Antonio Radio Club, Paul Guido)  

**

RADIO TRAGEDY:  HAM KILLED TRYING TO ACTIVATE DX STATION

A ham radio operator has died while trying to put a rare location on the 
air.  RSGB News Reader Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has the tragic details:

--

We are sad to have to report the death of Richard Baker, M3RWB, who died 
as the result of injuries sustained while climbing Aran Fawddwy in North 
Wales. He was intending to activate the summit for the Summits on the 
Air, or SOTA, award programme. 

The Summits on the Air management team has released a statement which 
says, "Richard was an experienced hillwalker who saw SOTA as a good 
opportunity to 
re-ascend many summits that he had climbed in the past.  His death is an 
untimely reminder that while accidents can happen anywhere, the 
mountains can present special dangers to those who are experienced as 
well as those new to mountain travel."

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH

--

The Summits on the Air management team went on to stress that in all 
cases, the safety of those travelling must come above the desire to 
ascend to the mountain.   (GB2RSO)

**

RADIO RECORDS:  US TO CZECH REPUBLIC ON 24 GHZ

Shooting for the moon has provided two hams the first-ever United States 
to Czech Republic E-M-E contact on 24-Ghz.  The ARRL Letter reports that 
Amateur Radio moonbounce and microwave history was made September 24 at 
1400 U-T-C when Josef Sveceny, OK1UWA, and Al Ward, W5LUA, completed the 
24-GHz EME QSO between the two nations.  

Sveceny used a 3-meter Prime Focus dish with 35 watts at the feed, 
vertically polarized.  Ward's station also utilized a 3-meter Prime 
Focus dish with but with 70 Watts at the feed.  Ward was horizontally 
polarized to account for the spatial offset between North America and 
Europe.  Previous international 24 GHz EME QSO's have taken place 
between the US and Canada, the US and Russia and Canada and Russia.  
(ARRL)

**

INTERNATIONAL - INDIA:  ECHOLINK COMES TO VU

News out of India is that a new EchoLink VHF Repeater has been installed 
at the Indian National Institute of Amateur Radio.  The new system 
allows local hams in Hyderabad to contact Amateur stations all over the 
world twenty-four hours a day.  According to Jose Jacob, VU2JOS of the 
National Institute of Amateur Radio, this is the second such repeater to 
go into service in India.  (GB2RS)

**


INTERNATIONAL - UK:  RAYNET AT 50

The Radio Society of Great Britain is hosting RAYNET's 50th Annniversary 
Emergency Communications Convention in Birmingham, England on Saturday 
the 25th of October.  RAYNET is the U-K equivlant to our RACES an d ARES 
combined. Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, tells Newsline that in addition to the 
convention, a special event station will be taking to the airwaves as 
GB50RAEN.  It will be on the air from October 20th till the 31st.  QSL's 
go via RSGB Bureau. Further information is in cyberspace at 
www.rsgb.org/emergency  (GB2RS)

**

ON THE AIR

On the air, HE2GR is a special event call for the USKA club station 
HB9GR.  It's on the air to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Swiss 
Cantons of St Gallen and Graubuenden. HE2GR will be active on CW, SSB 
and digital modes until the 30th of December.  QSL as directed on the 
air.  (VHF Reflector)

**

DX

In DX, ZL3CW will be active as ZM8CW from Raoul Island in the Kermadecs 
through the 18th of October. Jack says that he will be there doing 
maintenance work for the Department of Conservation and hopes to be 
active in his spare time. This is actually not a DXpedition, but ZL3CW 
is considered to be one of the better Morse operators and enjoys the 
challenge of the pile-ups.  (Modern DX'er)

And a D-Xpadition to Annobon Island was forced to shut down prematurely.  
This after authorities ordered operations curtailed on October 4th local 
time.  According to the various D-X remailers, no reason was given for 
ordering the 3CZ0V ham radio operation off the air.   (Via Internet)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  HAM RADIO AT THE NYC MARATHON

For this weeks final story we turn the ham radio sports page and one of 
the biggest events of the year thats about to take place.  And its 
Amateur Radio that makes it happen.  We have the details in this report:

--

If you want to see a shining example of how valuable amateur radio can 
be as a public service, look no further than New York City the first 
week in November.  Providing communications for the marathon is no small 
job. Just ask Communications Director Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML.  When the 
marathon was run back in 1976, 26 hams provided communications 
assistance. This year, 425 hams will help, and they'll do it using 9 
repeaters on 2 meters and 440. Mendelson says it's a source of pride for 
the ham volunteers who come from across the country:
-- 
Mendelsohn: "Just like Disney's fantasy land, once you hav e been there 
you want to come back over, over and over again."
--

The marathon isn't just for New York area hams. Mendelsohn says amateur 
radio operators show up from more than half a dozen states to help:

--
Mendelsohn:  "We have people coming back from Colorado, coming back from 
Vermont, from florida.  They come in  from all over.  Seven states, 
twenty-six miles, no waiting."
--

New York's boroughs will be flooded with over 30-thousand runners this 
year.  The hams helping will be part of more than 9-thousand people 
volunteering.  How you manage that many people could be a massive 
challenge -- but Mendelsohn says race organizers figured out how to do 
it:

--
Mendelsohn: "You break the nets up into sizable chunks.  You name a Mile 
Captain for each of the miles, and the Mile Captain manages a staff of 
anywhere from 3 to 15 people.  Oncve you get further along in the race 
where there is more of a chance of the runners falling and dropping out 
because thery are tired, you increase your manpower."
--

18 net controllers with 2 standby operators will be on duty.   
Communications start at 3 a.m. race day and go until 6 o'clock that 
evening.   35 hams will be on hand at the starting line alone. Once the 
race is done, Mendelsohn says the hams' work doesn't end. For this many 
runners and their family members to reunite takes up an area of more 
than five blocks. 

Hams help there, too. And they'll tag along not just with race 
organizers, but with translators who will need amateur radio operators 
by their side, too. It's a huge undertaking that takes a lot of planning 
and makes for a very long day. But the hams helping out with New York 
City's marathon wouldn't trade it, because Mendelsohn says, it's just 
plain fun.