[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1369 - November 7, 2003

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Amateur Radio Newsline 1369 - November 7,  2003

The following is a Q-S-T.  Rain brings the California wildfires under 
control but ham radio stays on the job.  A report from the scene on 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1369 coming your way right now.
 
**

RESCUE RADIO:  CALIFORNIA WILDFIRE COMMS WINDING DOWN

The Southern California wildfires are on their way to full control.  
This as the winter rains come early to the region.  As a result, many 
hams who had been full time fire communications volunteers have gone 
back to their regular jobs and ham radio emergency communications 
efforts are winding down.  Others are still on the front lines and now 
its time for assessment.  Gordon West, W-B-6-N-O-A, spent most of last 
week at a Red Cross Shelter in the city of Fontana.  He takes a look at 
the contributions made by the regions Amateur Radio communicators:

--
Audio report only.  Hear it by downloading this weeks audio newscast 
file at http://www.arnewsline.org
--

Emergency service officials agree that having ham radio made a big 
difference in successfully handling this disaster situation.  
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESCUE RADIO:  REPEATERS LOST IN SOCAL WILDFIRES

We all heard the grim statistics of the homes and businesses were 
destroyed by this years California wildfires over a million acres of 
land has been scorched.  But there is one total that the mass media 
won't report.  That's the number of ham radio repeaters knocked off the 
air by the blazes.  While exact call signs are not yet available, we did 
ask reporter Matt Lechleiter, W6KGB, to find out which radio sites were 
most affected.

--
It's estimated that close to 30 repeater or remote base systems have 
been affected by the recent Southern California firestorm.  These 
systems are either off-air, were before switching to backup power, or 
were destroyed by the fires. The number of systems actually destroyed by 
the fires is unknown - we'll follow up on this in a subsequent report. 

Communications sites affected include Oat Mountain just north of Los 
Angeles, Sunset Ridge and Heaps Peak to the East, and Mount Otay near 
San Diego to name a few.   Each of these major sites lost power due to 
one of the fires.  News reports say that it could be over a month before 
power is restored to these locations. Until then, battery and generator 
power are keeping the commercial and amateurs two-way systems on the 
air.

There are also several repeaters that are believed to be safe but which 
are still off the air.  This is because they live at more remote 
mountaintop sites that also lost electrical service to the flames.  And 
just like the more accessible sites that I mentioned, it might be a 
quite a while before commercial power is returned.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Matt Lechliter, W6KGB reporting.

--

If you are a Southern California repeater operator whose system was 
affected by the firestorms, or if you know of one that was, please send 
the details to us. We will include it in an upcoming report.  Our 
address in cyberspace is nerwsline at arnewsline.org  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NEW GEAR FOR THE ISS

Radio gear from some well known ham radio manufacturers is in space.  
This, as the group known as Amateur Radio on the International Space 
Station announces the delivery of the so-called Phase 2 ham equipment to 
the ISS.  Norm Seeley, KI7UP,  has the details in this report:

--
A Russian Progress supply rocket has delivered a Kenwood TM-D700E, dual 
band transceiver to the International Space Station.  The installation 
of this new radio will mean a significant boost to the power output of 
the ARISS station from 5 watts to 25 watts.

The Chairman of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station is 
Frank Bauer, KA3HDO.  He says that the software for the D700 has been 
programmed for five modes of operation.  These are for standard F-M 
phone, crossband repeater, APRS, packet and an emergency mode.  Bauer 
predicted that APRS probably will be the default mode when a crew member 
is not actively using the ham station.

Next up will be gear from Vertex-Standard, the Yaesu brand folks.  Bauer 
says that a Yaesu FT-100D, some SSTV equipment, along with new headsets, 
will be taken to the space outpost on Progress Flight 14P.  Look for it 
to launch in January.   

But says Bauer, that will be the endof the transport of any more ham 
radio gear for quite a while.  At least until the space shuttle returns 
to flight in September 2004. 

But that in itself could be a blessing in disguise.  KA3HDO says that  
the equipment still on the ground will be tested this month at the 
Service Module facility in Moscow.  This will permit making sure that 
the Phase 1 and 2 systems are compatible. RF testing will also take 
place.

According to Bauer, current plans call for the current Expedition 8 crew 
of Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Alex Kaleri, U8MIR, to install the new 
hardware after ground tests are complete.  Previous crews already 
installed four Amateur Radio antennas to cover HF, 2 meters, 70 cm and 
microwave frequencies.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP.

--

What about hams on the ground getting more chances to talk to the crew 
on the ISS?   Bauer says he's been working with U-S and Russian space 
officials to have them dedicate a few additional hours each month for 
operation and amateur station maintenance.  (ANS, ARISS K7CCC)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SPAIN SCHOOL CONTACT A BIG SUCCESS

Still with news of ham radio on board the International Space Station, 
word that the Ourense, Spain school contact on October 23 was very 
successful.  75 children and 25 parents gathered at Ceip Seixalbo school 
as European Space Agency astronaut Pedro Duque answered sixteen 
questions in Spanish using the ARISS radio system.  All nationwide 
radio, TV broadcasters, and newspapers were
present.  Duque has since returned to Earth along with the Expedition 7 
crew.  (ANS, ARISS)

**

RADIO LAW:  HAM ACCUSED OF AIRPORT SECURITY BEACH GETS CONGRESSIONAL 
SUPPORT

The ham who is accused of breaching airport security has gotten some 
unexpected congressional support.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark 
Abramovich, NT3V, has the rest of the story:

--
Leading Democrats have openly criticized federal authorities for 
prosecuting Nathaniel Heatwole, W-Zed-3-A-R.  Hes the ham who admits to 
planting banned items on airliners, allegedly to show flaws in airport 
security.  And some in congress think he is almost a hero for pointing 
out the Transportation Security Authority's inability to properly 
protect airline travelers.   

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is quoted in print as saying:  " "I don't 
think he had criminal intent.  I think what he was trying to do was to 
show how exposed we are and what our vulnerability was, and he tried to 
tell TSA and he gave a trail to them."  

Pelosi said that if theres any penalty imposed, it should be some kind 
of community service.  And Representative Ed Markey, a powerful  
Democrat from Massachusetts agrees.  In fact, Markey says that any 
community service sentence imposed on Heatwole should be with the TSA.   
And  Markey adds that TSA officials should listen to him so that they 
know exactly how to prevent a terrorist from doing the very same thing.  

And even the Republicans are getting into the act. Representative John 
Mica of Florida is chairman of the House aviation subcommittee.  He said 
that prosecutors should concentrate on people who actually pose a 
threat, adding that Heatwole should not be the fall guy.

None of the politicians are not trying to excuse Heatwole's action, but 
they more and more are beginning to agree with Pelosi and Markey who 
apparently believes that the punishment should fit the crime.

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

--

Heatwole is headed back  to court on November 10th for a preliminary 
hearing.  What was not expected is the level of support of some in 
congress and the obvious pressure that puts on prosecutors working on 
the case.  (From published news reports)

**

RADIO LAW:  THE BPL WAR - THE ARRL VS. MANASSAS VA.

The ARRL has put officials in Manassas, Virginia, on notice that the 
League will act on behalf of its members.  This, to ensure full 
compliance with  FCC regulations when the city's Broadband over Power 
Line system  starts up in a few months.

Manassas is a suburb of Washington, DC.  The League said that it was 
responding to media reports that Manassas has approved plans for a 
citywide B-P-L rollout in the near future.  As such, ARRL Executive Vice 
President David Sumner, K1ZZ, has faxed the Mayor of Manassas to point 
out the potential for RF interference from and to any Broadband over 
Power Line data distribution system.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC ISSUES 2ND LARGEST FINE IN HISTORY

Meantime, the  FCC has proposed issuing the second largest fine ever for 
on a broadcast indecency issue.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW, has the details:

--
The FCC wants to force Infinity Broadcasting to pay a fine of $357,000.  
This, for airing a shock jock radio segment in which a couple was said 
to been involved in the most intimate of human experiences in New York 
City's  famed St. Patrick's Cathedral.  

According to news reports, the FCC proposed record forfeiture is in 
response to complaints from the public following an August 2002 
broadcast of the "Opie and Anthony" show and aired over thirteen 
Infinity owned radio stations.  The nationally syndicated show was 
canceled a week later and hosts were fired. 
   
Four commissioners voted for the fine. The fifth said the agency should 
have taken even stronger action.  He said that the FCC should have gone 
after Infinity's radio licenses and taken their stations off the air.  

Infinity has 30 days to pay the fine or appeal. The company has 
indicated that it will use the legal recourse.  

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

--

If upheld the amount paid would be second only to the $1.7 million 
dollars Infinity paid in 1995 to settle several cases against shock-jock 
Howard Stern.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  USERS RESPONSIBLE FOR REPEATER INTERFERENCE

Users and not the operator of a repeater are responsible for 
interference problems to another New Jersey repeater system.  This is 
the gist of a September 12th letter to Andrew Woerner, K2ETN, who 
operates a repeater bearing his callsign.

Back on July 7th the agency notified Woerner that it had received 
complaints that his repeater,  operating on the 146.355/146.955 MHz 
channel pair, was causing interference to the coordinated W2RAP repeater 
on the same frequencies.  The complaints alleged that Woerner's repeater 
was previously coordinated but that it has relocated since the 
coordination was issued.  

The FCC requested that Woerner provide information in response to the 
complaints.  He did, and in a follow-up letter, the FCC said that it has 
reviewed his information as well as detailed reports provided by the 
Metropolitan Coordination Association and the Area Repeater Coordination 
Council.  

The FCC says that coordination does not appear to be an issue in this 
case.  Rather, the interference problem seems to result from users of 
the K2ETN repeater, which is located in Northern New Jersey, attempting 
to access that repeater from locations in Southern N/ew Jersey.  As such 
its repeater users who are interfering with the W2RAP repeater and not 
the person running the K2ETN machine.

The bottom line.  The regulatory agency says that this situation does 
not appear to warrant its intervention.  Instead its calling on 
everybody to work together to minimize any interference to the W2RAP 
machine.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC PROPOSES $120,500 FOR ANTENNA STRUCTURE VIOLATIONS

Meantime, its the fine of all fines for radio tower violations.  This, 
as the Federal Communications Commission releases a Notice of Apparent 
Liability on October 31st.  One proposing a $120,500 forfeiture against 
SpectraSite Communications, Inc., of Cary, North Carolina for safety-
related violations of the Communications Act and the Commission's 
antenna structure rules.

Specifically, the FCC is going after SpectraSite for its failure to 
register and light its antenna structures following an investigation 
conducted by the Commission's Norfolk, Virginia Field Office.  

The FCC says that the amount of the proposed fine represents the 
statutory maximum available.  The Commission says that it decided to 
propose a significantly higher forfeiture than generally used in such 
cases because SpectraSite has a prior history of antenna structure rules 
violations.  It  says that SpectraSite has received three previous 
forfeitures in less than three years for at least 13 instances of 
failure to comply with the antenna structure rules.   (FCC)

**

RADO LAW:  EMDERGENCY OFFICIALS CONCERNED ABOUT PUBLIC ACCESS TO "MIRT"

Emergency responders are concerned that  MIRT, or mobile infra red 
transmitters are falling into the wrong hands.  Mainly, into the hands 
of people not willing to obey traffic laws.

A mobile infra red transmitter allows personnel aboard emergency 
vehicles responding to emergency calls to quickly change specially-
equipped traffic signals in their favor.  That was fine until Internet 
websites began offering the same devices for use by the public for 
around $300 a pop.  

Unlike radar jammers and certain laser detectors that emit radio 
signals, the mobile infra red transmitter and other signal changers send 
out a beam of invisible light.  Since light is not controlled by the FCC 
the devices do not run  afoul of the agency's rules.   

Needless to say that this is causing concern for those who rely on the 
technology for legitimate needs.  Don't be to surprised if states begin 
enacting their own laws to control the sale and purchase of the units.

More on the situation and the device is in cybrspace at   
www.detnews.com/2003/commuting/0310/26/a01-307303.htm and 
  http://www.themirt.com  (CGC, others)

**

COMMUNICATIONS CRIMES:  INDUSTRY VS. IDENTITY THEFT

Microsoft and other technology giants have launched an industry alliance 
to thwart identity theft and boost confidence in e-commerce.  The 
Coalition on Online Identity Theft will campaign to improve e-commerce 
record-keeping, beef up Internet security and enforce penalties against 
identity thieves. The formation of this group comes in response to 
growing concern over the growing tine of identity theft crimes and 
government pressure on industry to help to thwart it.  (Published news 
reports)

**

T-HUNTING NEWS:  THE BIRDS OF FALL

If you are into hidden transmitter hunting, listen up.  This one is for 
you.  Keeping track of over 300 migrating radio tagged birds.   Joe 
Moell, K0OV, is here with the details.

--

Since 1998, you've heard me reporting on hams and scanner fans tracking 
Burrowing Owls that migrate from Canada to southern states and Mexico.  
Researchers are so impressed by the capabilities of hams to do this sort 
of thing that they are asking for help with other critters.  Right now, 
we're starting our biggest ever project, with more birds and more states 
involved.  Nick Myatt of the Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife 
Research unit has radio-tagged 360 American Woodcock in Minnesota, 
Wisconsin, and Michigan, and he wants hams to help him find out where 
they're going.  They're heading out now, and the list of possible 
stopover and destination states is big, including Southern Minnesota, 
Southern Wisconsin, Southern Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, 
Kentucky, Missouri, Eastern Kansas, Eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas, 
Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Eastern Texas.  If 
that's where you live or travel, please check my Web site for the list 
of active frequencies, all between 150 and 152 MHz.

Also at this time, Dave Sherman, a Biologist with the Ohio Division of 
Wildlife, is looking for help in keeping track of two radio-tagged 
Sandhill Cranes that should be leaving Ohio about the time you hear 
this.  More information, including the frequencies, is on the Web.  Go 
to www.homingin.com  

Besides the frequencies, you'll learn how to identify the special 
characteristics of a radio tag signal, and you can subscribe to an e-
mail list for fastest notification of these studies.  That's homingin -- 
one word -- homingin.com