[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1372 - November 28, 2003
ham-news-admin at mailman.qth.net
ham-news-admin at mailman.qth.net
Sat Nov 29 09:04:05 EST 2003
Amateur Radio Newsline 1372 - November 28, 2003
The following is a Q-S-T. Australia plans a celebration to welcome no-
code, a New Zealand ham plans an Amateur Radio replacement for a
frequency standard station and the U-S-A is on the verge of banning
unsolicited junk e-mail. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline
report number 1372 coming your way right now.
**
RESTRUCTURING: WELCOMING NO CODE "DOWN-UNDER"
Last week Australia's decided to abolish code exams on the 1st of
January. Now its planning a world-wide on-the-air celebration as 2003
gives way to 2004 and Morse testing disappears. Jim Linton, VK3PC, has
the story and an invitation for you to take part:
--
On New Year's Day 2004 Australian radio amateurs will gain access to the
High Frequency bands using licenses that don't require the passing of
Morse code telegraphy tests. The Wireless Institute of Australia
invites the world's amateur radio fraternity to join an on-air
celebration of this special occasion.
To celebrate the event, there will be a "WIA Welcome to HF QSO Party"
beginning at 0001 Australian Eastern Daylight Time and conclude at 2400
UTC on New Year's Day - a total of 35 hours. The VK radio amateurs
appearing on HF bands for the first time can be identified by three-
letter VK callsign suffixes that begin with the letters H, T, U, X, Y
and Z.
WIA amateur stations will be on air to join the HF QSO Party, and these
have two-letter callsign suffixes "WI" or three letter suffixes
starting with "WI." Listen for the call "CQ WIA Welcome to HF QSO
Party".
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Linton VK3PC.
--
Many in Amateur Radio have been campaigning for years to have code tests
removed as a license requirement to operate on amateur bands below 30
MHz. For Australia this will happen on the 1st of January, 2004 with
this very special on-the-air celebration.
(DO NOT READ. Find out more by e-mailing hfqsoparty at wiavic.org.au (Q-
News))
**
INTERNATIONAL - NEW ZEALAND: A PROPOSAL TO REPLACE VNG
Still down-under, word that well known "Digital Modes" Amateur, Murray
Greenman, ZL1BPU, has proposed that New Zealand and Australian hams put
together a network of simple and inexpensive transmitters. This, to
provide a high accuracy Standard Frequency Service to replace the VNG
standards station that has now gone QRT. Amateur Radio Newslines Jim
Meachen ZL2BHF is in Auckland with the details:
--
Amateurs in the South Pacific have for many years relied on VNG
transmissions as a prime source of accurate frequency reference. With
the closure of VNG in December 2002, the sole remaining precision signal
source in our area is WWVH, in Hawaii. Unfortunately the WWVH signal
quality in the South Pacific is generally too poor for reliable use,
either to zero beat a simple calibrator, or using more sophisticated
computer based techniques.
ZL1BPU says that a series of tests over the last two years has shown
that simple low power carrier transmissions on the 80m band would
fulfill most of the requirements of a Standard Frequency Service:
--
Greenman: "Using simple HF transmitters that I've designed, we have
confirmed that low power transmissions are very useful, for both
calibration and propagation study, up to at least 3000 km range.
Anyone can monitor these signals, using a stable receiver and freely
available software to look for small frequency shifts that accompany
each propagation path. Classic effects such as multiple paths with
different refractive indices for different signal polarization's are
easily observable.
Doppler shift is particularly marked around sunrise and sunset.
Observing these signals gives a better understanding of propagation,
which is the key to accurate on-air frequency measurement."
--
The Service now operates on a test basis with transmissions from a high
precision local reference on an exact kHz point 80m frequency using a
carrier power of 1-5W. The Transmissions are identified in Morse every
30 minutes. Operation is from a different geographical location each
weekend. Transmission times are announced and coordinated beforehand by
e-mail.
Reporting from Auckland New Zealand I'm Jim Meachen ZL2BHF for Newsline
--
ZL1BPU adds that these are privately owned, operated and attended test
transmissions, not beacons. Establishing a Standard Frequency Service
formally, perhaps under the auspices of the NZART, might be considered
in the future. (NZART News)
**
COMMUNICATIONS LAW: HOUSE PASSES ANTI-SPAM LAW
Here in the U-S-A, Congress has moved closer to passing the first-ever
federal protections against unwanted commercial e-mails. This, with the
House passing a bill on Saturday, November 22nd that would impose new
limits on sending direct advertising offers -- commonly called spam
mail.
Approved on a 392 to 5 vote, the measure would prohibit senders of
unsolicited commercial e-mail from disguising their identity by using a
false return address or misleading subject line. It would also
prohibit bulk mailers from harvesting addresses off websites and require
such e-mails to include a mechanism so recipients can indicate they do
not want future mass mailings. Penalties for failure to comply could be
up to five years in prison in some circumstances.
The House bill largely mirrors ant-Spam legislation the Senate approved
last month. Supporters hope that slight differences between the two
measures can be resolved before Congress adjourns for the year. The
Bush administration says that it supports the anti-spam efforts.
(Published news reports)
**
RADIO LAW: THE FCC ON PRIVACY OF INFORMATION
The FCC has put in place a temporary policy that will keep the public
from knowing who is facing enforcement action by that agency. Amateur
Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, picks up the story:
--
Don't look for names and call signs of alleged regulatory violators to
be released by the FCC anymore. At least not for a while. This is
because the agency has revised the format in which it's supplying the
media and the public with information regarding alleged regulatory
scofflaws, including those in the Amateur Radio service.
The revised temporary policy is based on privacy concerns within the
FCC. Until further notice, the agency says that it will only provide
the location where a violator lives along with a very brief synopsis of
the action taken.
Following a policy review now taking place the FCC says it will announce
a new privacy policy for all future information releases.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.
--
No timetable has been announced for the privacy policy review to be
completed. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: NO MORE ADS AND WE RENEW YOUR LICENSE
And without mentioning any name or callsign, the FCC has acted in a
pending non-certified radio equipment marketing case. This, as a Tomah,
Wisconsin, licensee is informed that renewal of his Technician license
would be granted on the condition that he permanently remove from the
World-Wide-Web certain information.
The FCC says what it wants removed includes any advertisements for, or
references to, the sale of transmitting equipment that operates, or is
intended to operate, on frequencies in the Citizens Band service. Also
references to gear for any other radio service requiring the use of
certified transmitting equipment but which has not been certificated by
the regulatory agency.
If he says O-K, he gets his ticket renewed. If he refuses to comply,
the FCC says that his renewal will be designated for hearing before
Administrative Law judge. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PA REPEATER PROBLEM
The FCC has also warned a Lewistown, Pennsylvania, Extra class licensee
that he must heed the request by a repeater owner to stay off that
system and that technical problems with his own repeater must be
corrected immediately.
And in an Order issued by Philadelphia FCC office that licensee was told
that his repeater could not operate under automatic control until
further notice. He was also requested to provide operational
information about the repeater, including names and addresses of control
operators. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: TOWER VANDAL FACES 27 MONTHS IN PRISON
And you can just about write the words "the end" to the case of a
Washington man accused of tampering with more than 20 high voltage power
towers in four western states that we have been reporting on. 62-year-
old Michael Poulin has admitted the charges and has entered a plea
bargain agreement with federal prosecutors. As a result, he will serve
no more than 27 months in prison. He also faces a possible fine of
$500,000. Without the plea agreement he could have been sentenced to
jail for up to 10 years. (CGC)
**
RADIO LAW FOLLOW-UP: THE NEVADA HIGHWAY PATROL VS THE FCC
Some enforcement news of a different kind by way of the Reno Gazzette
Journal and the C-G-C Communicator. Both bring word that the Nevada
Highway Patrol has turned over a 255 page investigative report and 2,500
pages of supporting documentation to that states Attorney General's
office. The Attorney General will now consider the possibility of
criminal charges will be determined in connection with the police
agency's use of a radio system on frequencies for which it holds no
licenses.
As previously reported, the highway patrol launched the investigation
earlier this year when it was discovered that it didn't have the proper
licenses to operate the $14 million communications system built for it
in 2000. The FCC has threatened to fine Nevada and block the states
future license requests if the Nevada Highway Patrol does not quickly
abandon use of the unauthorized frequencies. (CGC)
**
WITH THE ARRL: 2004 ELECTION RESULTS
The ARRL has announced that Frank Fallon, N2FF, retained his seat as
Director of the League's Hudson Division. This, by defeating Vice
Director Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, by a vote of 1933 to 1470.
Ballots were counted November 21 at ARRL Headquarters. The Hudson
Division's was the sole contested seat in the current director-vice
director election cycle.
Incumbents running in the Central, New England, Northwestern and Roanoke
Divisions ran unopposed and were declared elected. Joyce Birmingham,
KA2ANF, was the lone candidate for the vice director's seat that W2ML
vacated to run for the division's top spot and was also declared as
elected.
And don't look for as many League elections to take place in the future
as in years past. These candidates were elected to serve three-year
terms of office that begin at noon on January 1, 2004. The change from
two year to three year terms was instituted by the ARRL Board a few
years ago. (ARRL)
**
REQUIRED READING: SURGE PROTECTION - SEPARATING MYTH FROM FACT
If you think that $2.98 bargain basement power strip will protect your
ham gear from power line spikes, you could be in for a rude and very
expensive awakening. This is the gist of a feature article in the
December issue of Popular Communications Magazine titled Surge
Protection: Separating Myth From Fact.
The author is Popcom Editor Harold Ort, N2RLL. In it, Ort takes you on
a mind boggling journey into the world of powerline surge protectors. He
tells you why power surges take place and what really works to protect
your station -- and -- what does not.
The article is must reading for any ham that operates his station from
mains power. You can find Popular Communications on many newsstands
worldwide or subscribe over the web at www dot popular dash
communications dot com. (ARNewsline(tm))
**
INDUSTRY NEWS: ROHN ANNOUNCES ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Amateur Radio and telecommunications industry tower manufacturer ROHN
Industries has announced that it's entered into an asset purchase
agreement. This with SPX Corporation which is described as a global,
multi-industry company.
According to the ARRL Letter, ROHN filed for Chapter 11 debtor-in-
possession relief in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District
of Indiana on September 16. The deal, if approved by the court would
include ROHN subsidiaries that are party to the bankruptcy proceeding.
(WA6KLA, ARRL)
**
WITH ARNEWSLINE: YOUR INPUT NEEDED
Amateur Radio Newsline will be holding its annual Board of Directors
meeting in early December and those in charge want to find out what you
would like from us in 2004 and beyond. If you have any ideas on how to
improve the newscast, the Young Ham of the Year Award, funding, or any
aspect of our operation, we welcome your thoughts. E-mail is best. You
reach us at newsline at arnewsline.org. (ARNewsline(tm))
**
HAM HELP: DX SOUND BITE NEEDED
Did you have a tape recorder running the weekend of the CQ World Wide
SSB contest? If you did then Glen Lowery, K2FF needs to hear what you
have.
The reason? Well, it seems that Daryl Goldman, KD5CQT, and Randy
Becnel, W5UE , spent a week in Suriname in October. Goldman operated
as PZ5CQ while Becnel was on as PZ5UE. The duo also activated PZ5A in
the contest.
Anyhow, when the team got back home they realized that they had recorded
everyone on tape except PZ5UE. And now there is a presentation planned
for early December and audio of Becnel in QSO is needed to complete the
show.
If you happened to be listening in and have the one missing station
recorded, please contact Glen Lowery by e-mail to k2ff at aol.ccm Everyone
involved will be very appreciative if one of you can help out.
More is on the web at www.mdxa.org/pz_2003.html (OPDX)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: CELL PHONES WILL POSSESS LOCATION-BASED BEHAVIOR
According to a report on the National Institute of Standards and
Technology website, your cell phone may one day be able to adjust its
behavior or call handling based upon where it determines you are
located. Such phones could, for example, advise you of the closest
bank, dial the nearest emergency specialist or automatically forward
your calls while you're in a conference room. The N-I-S-T website
carries many other interesting stories too. Its updated regularly and
is in cyberspace at www.nist.gov (CGC)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ARISS GEAR PASSES PREFLIGHT TEST
Some exciting news on new ham radio hardware slated to be carried to the
International Space Station. We have more in this report:
--
ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, reports that he and
other members of the USA team just returned from Russia where we they
were supporting a series of meetings and tests at the Energia facility.
According to Bauer, the primary reason for the US team visit was to
complete the testing of the Phase 1 Ericsson 2 meter and 70 cm radios,
along with the Phase 2 Kenwood D 700 radio system using a set of flight
identical ARISS antenna systems.
The tests were performed in the KIS facility at Energia that houses all
their flight equipment. Inside the KIS is a flight equivalent Service
Module. The good news is that the group not only successfully completed
the end-to-end testing of the Kenwood and Ericsson radio systems but the
SSTV system as well.
The successful completion of these end-to-end tests was a requirement by
the Russian team. This, to clear these radio systems for use in the on-
orbit Service Module.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP.
--
By the way, the International Space Station celebrated its fifth
anniversary in Earth orbit on November 20th. (ARISS)
**
ON THE AIR: NEW SPANISH LANGUAGE IRLP REFLECTOR
A Spanish language reflector has come to the Internet Repeater Linking
Project. This, with word that Reflector 9201 is in full operation and
all users with Spanish skills are invited to join in the fun.
Jay Santiago, KP4EOP, is the operator of node 7040. He and the Chicago
based Asociacion Iberoamericana de Radio Aficionados are the people
behind the project. They say that 9201 is not closed to non-Spanish
speakers. Rather it is a place in ham radio cyberspace where the
Spanish language will be primary.
Up until now, IRLP- has been dominated English and French speaking nodes
and reflectors. This left a large portion of the worlds Spanish only
speakers out of communications over the very popular repeater linking
system -- a problem that's now been corrected thanks to the Asociacion
Iberoamericana de Radio Aficionados. (K9DC)
**
PROPAGATION TECHNOLOGY: NEW SOLAR FLARE THEORY
The recent series of solar storms to hit Earth may be caused by the
sun's iron-rich interior. So says one solar researcher who theorizes
that the sun's core is made of iron rather than hydrogen.
Dr. Oliver Manuel is a professor of nuclear chemistry. He believes that
iron, not hydrogen, is the sun's most abundant element. And, in a
paper accepted for publication in the Journal of Fusion Energy, Manuel
asserts that the standard solar model which assumes that the sun's core
is made of hydrogen has led to misunderstandings of how such solar
flares occur.
As ever ham knows, these flares can play havoc with high frequency
communications while turning some VHF frequencies into world-wide D-X
bands. (ANS and Space Daily)
**
DX
And speaking about DX, word that OK1TN will operate portable KP2 from
St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands through the 13th of December. If you
make contact, QSL as directed on the air.
Also, K3JT is active as 5X1X from Uganda for the five or six weeks.
Sorry. No other information on this operation is available at this
time.
Lastly, the Council of Europe Radio Amateur Club, has launched a
competition open to all radio amateurs. This, to commemorate the 18th
anniversary of its establishment in June 1986. The challenge involves
sending a list of all contacts made with their club station TP2CE using
its various special prefixes before the end of June 2004. Complete
rules can be found on the Internet at ewwa.free.fr
(This weeks DX news provided by OPDX, GB2RS and Modern DX'er)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: T-HUNT TIME AGAIN
And finally this week, whether you're young or old, you could become a
champion at hidden transmitter hunting. It's time to start training
now, as you'll hear in this report from Amateur Radio Newsline's Joe
Moell K-Zero-Oh-V
--
USA's best on-foot hidden transmitter hunters will be heading west next
summer. The fourth annual USA ARDF Championships will begin June 16
near Santa Barbara, California. Get ready for practice sessions
followed by separate days of intense competition on the two meter and 80
meter bands. Medals will be awarded in nine age and gender categories,
following the rules of the International Amateur Radio Union.
The competitive courses are open to anyone of any age, experienced or
not. Here's your chance to learn from experts like Jay Thompson W6JAY,
Newsline's Young ham of the year. He was a medal winner at this year's
Championships in Ohio.
These USA Championships will take place just in time for final selection
of Team USA members who will travel to the Czech Republic for the ARDF
World Championships in September.
Event sponsor for 2004 is the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio club. General
Chair is Marvin Johnston KE6HTS, a member of USA's first team to the
World Championships back in 1998 and winner of medals at the last two
USA Championships.
The official Web site of the 2004 Championships is now being prepared,
announcing the location of event headquarters, rules and technical
details. Meanwhile, you can find out all about championship direction
finding, and how your can have events in your home town, at the "Homing
In" Web site, www.homingin.com
You'll learn the rules for this fast-growing sport, meet some of the
current champions, get equipment suggestions and find out how to get on
an e-mail list for the latest radio-orienteering news. That's homingin,
one word, homingin.com
More information about the Ham-News
mailing list