[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1380 - January 23, 2004

Fri Jan 23 19:04:35 EST 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1380 - January 23,  2004

CLOSED CIRCUIT ADVISORY

This is Andy Jarema, N6TCQ, Newsline Support Fund Administrator. We haven't 
asked for quite some time, but we need contributions TODAY. If you value 
this service, please help.

We're here to serve you for as long as you want us. Your response over the 
next several weeks will provide that answer.

The address for the Amateur Radio Newsline is Post Office Box 660937, 
Arcadia California, 91066.

Looking forward to hearing from you REALLY soon, I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

**

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1380 with a release date of Friday, 
January 23, 2004 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.  The ARRL says that it will petition the FCC for 
a code free entry level license with high frequency phone privileges and 
Amateur Radio Neewsline announces the Roy Neal, K-6-D-U-E, Amateur Radio 
Mentoring Project.  These stories and more coming your way on Amateur Radio 
Newsline report number 1380 coming your way right now.

**

HAM RADIO POLITICS:  A NEW DIRECTION

Topping the news this week -- honoring one of our own.  Enlisting an army 
of volunteers to make us all a little bit better -- and doing it in the 
name of the late Roy Neal, K6DUE.  But first -- the biggest organization of 
Amateur Radio operators in the world finally takes a position on the code 
versus no-code issue.  The ARRL is asking the FCC in a petition for 
rulemaking to create a no code entry level H-F license for anyone who can 
successfully pass a written exam of a mere 25 questions.  If the FCC 
accepts the ARRL idea, it would keep the more stringent requirements for 
the Amateur Extra Class license, including their ability to send and 
receive Morse code.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, takes a 
look at the details of what the ARRL is asking the FCC to do:

-- Code free access to ham radio's high frequency bands ... it's part of 
what could change amateur radio's complexion forever.  And it could become 
reality.  The ARRL says it will ask the FCC to make sweeping changes to the 
United States amateur radio service.  Perhaps the biggest change of all: 
Creating a new entry level ham radio license that grants access to high 
frequencies without requiring any Morse code proficiency.

But that's not all.  The League also proposes consolidating all amateur 
radio licenses into three classes: Novice, as it's being called for now, 
General and the highest level, Extra.  And only the Extra class license 
would require Morse code proficiency--of 5 words per minute.  The new 
Novice license would require a 25-question written test and would offer 
limited HF, Morse code, data and phone and image privileges on 80, 40, 15 
and 10 meters.  Novices would also have VHF and UHF privileges, including 
access to 6 meters and 2 meters.  Their power levels would be restricted to 
100 watts on 80, 40 and 15 meters, and to 50 watts on 10 meters and higher.

The middle amateur radio license would continue to be the General, but it 
would include all current Technician, Tech Plus and present General license 
holders. This license would not require a Morse code test.  Under this 
proposal, if you are a current Technician or Technician Plus, you would 
automatically obtain General class privileges with no additional 
testing.  The current General examination would remain unchanged for new 
applicants.

The third license class, the Extra, would involve the fewest 
changes.  Under the League proposal, hams with Advanced class licenses 
would essentially automatically become Extra class because of similarities 
in the technical proficiency required for both levels.  New applicants for 
the Extra class license would have to pass a 5 word-per-minute code 
test--the written test would stay as is.  If you're currently a Novice, 
Tech Plus or General license holder, you would receive a lifetime 5 
word-per-minute credit.

The proposed changes got the blessing of ARRL's Board of Directors January 
16th. The proposals are the creation of a League Executive Committee acting 
at the Board's direction.  The new structure suggestions come as a result 
to changes in international radio regulations that are part of the World 
Radiocommunication Conference 2003.  At the same time, the FCC has been 
wanting to streamline the amateur radio licensing structure which it began 
more than five years ago.

How do radio amateurs feel about the changes?  Reaction is mixed:

-- Janice Rock AF4LT - Audio Only Report:  Please listen to audio version 
of newscast. --

Janice Rock, AF4LT, sees benefits and drawbacks:

-- Janice Rock AF4LT - Audio Only Report:  Please listen to audio version 
of newscast. --

Supporters say the new structure offers a true entry level license with HF 
privileges that should boost growth in the amateur radio service.  While 
some hams may claim that taking away code for HF access damages amateur 
radio, other hams dispute that.  Bill Levey, WA4FAT:

-- Bill Levey, WA4FAT - Audio Only Report:  Please listen to audio version 
of newscast. --

Supporters say the changes will help amateur radio by allowing new Novices 
to participate in emergency nets on HF sideband.   The impact of this 
proposal on amateur radio's long term future has Janice Rock concerned for 
another reason:

-- Janice Rock AF4LT - Audio Only Report:  Please listen to audio version 
of newscast. --

League Executive Vice President David Sumner K1ZZ says the Novice class 
license could wind up getting a new name, more appropriate for the times -- 
this, as amateur radio faces what could be one of the biggest changes in 
its history.

 From Birmingham, Alabama, I'm David Black, KB4KCH for the Amateur Radio 
Newsline.

--

More is in cyberspace at the League's website.  You will find it at 
www.arrl.org (ARRL, ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESCUE RADIO:  NYC ARES ACTIVATES FOR COLD WEATHER

The New York City District Amateur Radio Emergency Service was called into 
action last Wednesday evening, January 14 th.  This, after the American Red 
Cross of Greater New York contacted Mike Lisenco N2YBB.  Lisenco is the 
District Emergency Coordinator for ARES and the message was clear:  Call 
together the members of ARES to provide emergency communications between 
the warming centers being established in the five boroughs and Red Cross 
headquarters in Manhattan.

--

Lisenco:  "Once I received the phone call from the coordinator of disaster 
volunteers at the Red Cross of greater New York, the first thing that I did 
was to call the five EC's we have here in New York City.  Each borough 
which constitutes a county has its own EC.  In turn they called their 
people looking staff the shelters."

--

By the next morning, New York City District ARES Emergency Coordinators had 
more than a dozen Amateur Radio operators on standby awaiting the 
activation.  Friday evening they went into action after Mayor Bloomberg 
announced the shelter openings.  The ARES radio operators manned their 
posts throughout the operation, which lasted the better part of a day 
during some of the most frigid weather ever recorded in the Big Apple.  The 
hams finally stood down on Saturday afternoon.

This is not the first time that New York City District ARES has provided 
critical communications for emergencies.  They were active with the oil 
barge explosion at Port Mobile on Staten Island, the Northeast Blackout in 
August 2003 and did heroic work following the terrorist attacks of 
September 11, 2001. (ARNewsline(tm), NYC ARES)

**

ANNOUNCING THE ROY NEAL, K6DUE, AMATEUR RADIO MENTORING PROJECT

Amateur Radio Newsline is paying tribute its late vice president, Roy Neal, 
K6DUE, by naming an ongoing mentoring program in his honor.  Roy became a 
silent key last August after surgery.  He was 82.

The Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring Project is designed to pair 
new hams -- often called "newbies" -- with veteran amateurs.  This, in the 
hope that some of the established hams' operator skills can be passed down 
to new generations.

--

Pasternak:  "ere is a long tradition of mentoring, often called "elmering," 
in Amateur Radio.  No one knows the origin of the term, but the first 
teacher might well have been named "Elmer."  My mentor was a guy named 
Charlie Zussman.  Back in the 1950's he was WA2AKX.  Today he's WE2R.  And 
his helping me become a ham has lead to a friendship that has lasted a 
lifetime.  What he taught me was that tradition is an important part of the 
hobby.

--

That's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, who has produced these newscasts since 
1977.  He and the Newsline Board of Directors came up with the idea for 
this project. Bill says that ham radio has become a tremendously complex 
arena and new hams often don't know where to turn for help:

--

Pasternak: "We have licensed hams who are truly experts in numerous fields 
ranging from bouncing radio signals off the moon, to writing complicated 
software which enables new forms of two-way communication.  We want to take 
advantage of that knowledge base to help newcommers."

--

While Amateur Radio includes world-class experts in a number of 
specialties, there are literally thousands of hams who have operating 
skills also worthy of passing on.  For example, contesting is very popular, 
yet it is a tough nut to crack for a beginner.

--

Pasternak:  "Contesting is intimidating.  I know.  I'm just getting 
started. Good contest operators often are able to contact four stations per 
minute for hours at a time.  The great ones do even better than that.  How 
they are able to do that is a skill that should be passed on to 
newcommers."

--

Two large pools of Amateurs are needed to make this mentoring project work. 
First, there must be a group of volunteers who have a skill and are willing 
to share their time.  The second group is made up of the large number of 
beginners who want to learn.

One of the nations top mentors, kit building expert Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, 
has agreed to help set up databases and to begin the process of matching 
mentors with beginners.  All we need to know is if you need assistance or 
if you are able to mentor others.  We also need your name, call letters, 
address with zipcode, phone number, e-mail and when its best  call.

The special e-mail address to register is mentor at arnewsline.org.

Mentors might be matched by zipcode - and be in the same town, or they 
might be half-way around the world from each other and communicate by 
e-mail.  Either way I think we can make it work.

--

Pasternak:  "The project's namesake, Roy Neal, K6DUE, was himself a mentor 
and not only in ham radio.  I know this first hand because he is the one 
who taught me to become a better writer and producer.

More important:  Those of us who knew Roy, also know that helping others 
was a very important part of his life.  As such. we feel that the least 
that we here at Amateur Radio Newsline can do is keep his memory alive with 
this project."

--

Again, that e-mail address to register for the Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur 
Radio Mentoring Project is mentor at arnewsline.org  More information is on 
our website at www.arnewsline.org

And Roy, old buddy, this one is for you!  (ARNewsline(tm), W6RCL)

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  NORTH CAROLINA HAMS MEET WITH POWER PROVIDERS

Slow but steady progress in dealing with the imminent release of Broadband 
over Poweerlines in North Carolina.  Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, is here with more:

--

Progress Energy fulfilled their promise to North Carolina Amateur Radio 
operators and invited several Raleigh area hams to observe their new Phase 
II BPL trial in a rural subdivision south of the city on January 15th.

BPL - Broadband over Power Lines - is a system for delivering high speed 
Internet through neighborhoods and into homes and businesses via the power 
lines.  The technology places radio frequency signals on the power lines in 
parts of the spectrum between 2 and 80 MHz.  Those signals radiate to some 
extent, and can cause interference to a receiver in the vicinity of the 
power lines.  Naturally this has become cause for great concern among hams 
worldwide.

In Raleigh, three ham radio operators met with engineers for both Progress 
Energy and Amperion, the equipment manufacturer.  Two of the Progress 
Energy engineers were also hams.

The BPL trial consisted of a half-mile of overhead feeder along a highway, 
and a few dozen homes passed by buried power lines.   A "repeater" 
amplified the signal about every other block.

We were particularly interested in the spectrum used.  We learned that each 
run of BPL, from repeater to repeater, uses two blocks of spectrum, 2.5 and 
3.5 MHz wide.  At each repeater, a different block of spectrum is required.

The overhead feeder segment in this trial used spectrum blocks around 25 
and 29 MHz.  We listened with mobile equipment driving on the road adjacent 
to the power line, and received S-9 signals in the immediate vicinity of 
the line that sounded like this when tuning across the 10 meter band:

-- [audio clip of BPL signal] --

The signal fell off quickly when driving away from the line, but a ham at a 
home station almost a mile away heard the 10-meter BPL signal about S-6 
using an 80- meter dipole antenna.

Amperion says a Network Operation Center can move any repeater to another 
block of spectrum, or notch part of a block by remote control, to eliminate 
interference, but they were unable to demonstrate that for our test.

Even with that flexibility, fitting 3.5 MHz wide blocks of energy in 
between ham bands would be a delicate jigsaw puzzle.  That much "empty" 
spectrum exists only between the 30, 20 and 17-meter bands, and it's empty 
only from the perspective of Amateur Radio.

Skip could completely upset the equation.  BPL signals, which are similar 
to very low power QRP Amateur signals, could reflect off the ionosphere and 
appear hundreds or thousands of miles away.  The energy of one isolated 
trial area might not have much impact, but a mature nationwide system with 
hundreds or even thousands of installations using the same spectrum blocks 
could be a very different story.

Yet to come in BPL is a comprehensive report from the NTIA; an FCC Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking for changes in Part 15, based on last year's Notice 
of Inquiry; and a decision by your local utility about getting involved in 
BPL.

Reporting for Newsline, this is Gary Pearce KN4AQ in Raleigh, North 
Carolina

--

The hams at the test included Wake County ARES E-C Tom Brown, N4TAB, 
Technical Specialist Frank Lynch, W4FAL, and reporter Gary Pearce, KN4AQ. 
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  K1IGD NAMED NEW QCWA GENERAL MANAGER

Chuck Walbridge, K1IGD is the new General Manager of the Quarter Century 
Wireless Association.  Walbridge is already at work and has set up a new 
postal address.  You now write to QCWA at PO Box 3247, Framingham, 
Massachusettes, 01705.  He can be reached by e-mail to 
qcwagm at rcn.com  (E-Mail)

**

RADIO LAW:  CA COMMERCIAL SITE OWNER LOSES A ROUND IN BATTLE OVER ANTENNA 
FARM

Commercial mobile radio service provider James A. Kay has been dealt a 
setback by a California state appellate panel.  The court has upheld a 
superior court finding that the antenna farm Kay maintains at his Rancho 
Palos Verdes home is not exempt from city permit requirements.

Late word is that Kay is continuing his fight with the city.  This,  even 
though he obtained permits for two of his 20 antennas with the condition 
that he remove the others.  More is on-line at 
http://www.dailybreeze.com/content/news/nmpntenna7.html (CGC)

**

HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS:  GAINSVILLE FL. IN APRIL

Looking ahead in the social calendar we find the Gainesville Hamfest slated 
for April 24th and 25th at the Leach County Fair Grounds near GAINSVILLE 
Florida. The event will feature fun, food, prizes, tailgate selling , 
camping, ham radio testing and lots more.  For more information write to 
GARS,  PO Box 140383, Gainesville, Florida 32614, or visit 
www.gars.net/hamfest on the world wide web. (E-Mail)

**

HAMFESTS AND CONVENTIONS:  THE AES SUPERFEST IN APRIL

Molly Schreiber of Amateur Electronic Supply says that now is the time to 
schedule your organization for a display at the 2004 AES Superfest.

Molly says that the  new web pages are up and running.  Just go to 
www.aesham.com, select MENU from the right-hand side bar and click 
SUPERFEST in the menu listing on the page that appears.

After that all; you need do is click on RADIO CLUB REGISTRATION.  After 
registering your organization, you will receive a conformation E-mail with 
the confirmation and itinerary.

Molly adds that the deadline for signing up is March 1st.  Superfest 2004 
is slated for April 2nd and 3rd at the A-E-S location at 5710 W. Good Hope 
Road in Milwaukee Wisconsin.   (AES)

**

** HAMVENTION 2004:  THE HAMVENTION "SHOPPING CART"

Hamvention 2004 says that it is now accepting VISA, MasterCard, American 
Express and Discover Cards for tickets, booth spaces and flea market 
spaces.  This, using its brand new on-line "Shopping Cart."

Planners say that this is a simple and secure way to set up your personal 
Hamvention experience and assures that you can get what you want.  And you 
can do it all without having to ever leave your home.

The Hamvention "Shopping Cart" is located in cyberspace at 
www.w8bi.org/hamvention/shop.html.  When the page loads, click on the green 
box with the words: "Enter The Shopping Cart" and take a look at what's 
being offered over the world-wide-web.

This years Hamvention dates are May 14th, 15th and 16th.  The venue is the 
HARA Arena in the Dayton suburb of Trotwood Ohio.  (Hamvention)

**

SYMPOSIUMS:  CSVHFS IN JULY IN CANADA

The 38th annual Central States VHF Society Conference will be held July 
22nd to the 25th and planners are already seeking presenters of technical 
talks that will also be published in the conference proceedings.

The deadline for submitting final papers will be May 1st.  This years 
gathering will be held at the Delta Meadowvale Resort and Conference Centre 
in Mississauga Ontario, Canada not far from Toronto.  More information on 
the event and the need for speakers is available from Bob Morton, 
VE3BFM.  His e-mail is VE3BFM at csvhfs.org  (CSVHFS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  ECHO TEAM REPORTS PROGRESS

AMSAT North America reports that work on the Echo satellite is progressing 
smoothly.  According to the ham radio space agency, an integration and 
testing team lead by Jim White, WD0E, and Mike Kingery, KE4AZN, was 2003 at 
SpaceQuest in December.  SpaceQuest is in Virginia and during the initial 
satellite integration session, about 90% of Echo's hardware was 
successfully tested. Also, most of the telemetry calibration was 
accomplished.  Especially encourage is word that the new experimental 
L-band receiver and S-band transmitter functioned well during their first 
tests.

For more information on the progress of this new bird take your web 
browsder over top see www.amsat.org and take the "Echo Project Info" 
link.  (AMSAT--NA)

**

INTERNATIONAL - CANADA:  NEW ONTARIO SM

Radio Amateurs of Canada reports that Robert McKenzie, VE3SJQ, has stepped 
down as Ontario Section Manager.  His replacement is Rose Scholtyssek, 
VE3RIS. Scholtyssek's E-mail is rose at igs.net  (RAC)

**

DX

In D-X, word that F6FXS will be active as FG/F6FXS from Guadeloupe through 
the 13th of February. He will operate on 40, 30, 20, 15 and 10 metres on CW 
only. Look for him between 13.00 and 14.00 and again from 22.00 to 24.00 
UTC.  Q-S-L as directed on the air.

And GB4BLC, standing for 'Bedworth Lions Club', is being operated by Brian, 
G8GMU, until the 29th of January to raise awareness of the work of Lions 
International. (Varios DX sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE LIFE AND TIMES OF K2ORS

And finally this week, a new book is in the works about a broadcast legend 
who also happened to be a ham radio operator.  Take a listen:

-- Shep:  "Well there I am playing that character deep in the jungle.  We 
have $400,000 of camera equipment that's being eaten by mosquitoes.  They 
eat Betamax cameras.  You don't know about the tropics.  Leaches are coming 
up the tripods, when a runner comes down the beach.  He's a Chumaro Indian.

He's running.  He's sweating.  He arrives in the clearing.  This is exactly 
what happened.

The Director is standing there. He's sweating and saying: `...damn, we got 
to get this.'  We kept trying to clean the lens off.  It was a tough shoot.

And this Chumaro runner comes up and he's saying; `Message.  Message."  He 
has a message.  The Director looks at it and he hands it to me and the 
message said -- and I quote: `...The Dayton Hamvention called.  They want 
you to speak this spring.'

I said: `For cripes sake, how did they know I was in the 
jungle'  (laughter)"

--

That was the late Gene Shepherd, K2ORS, speaking at the Dayton Hamvention 
several years ago.  Shep as he liked to be called, passed away in 
1999.  Now, author Eugene Bergmann has set to work writing the definitive 
book about the ham who invented talk radio.  In a recent interview with 
Amateur Radio Newsline, he told us why:

--

Bergmann:  "Well I first started listening to Jean Shepherd way back in `56 
when I was in college and I think what he had to say and the way he said it 
affected my thinking for the rest of my life.  Soon after he died I 
realized how important he was to my way of thinking.  That he was like an 
old friend.  I got more and more involved in learning more about him and I 
finally decided that I had to write a book about his art."

--

In writing his book, Eugene Bergmann wants to make certain that every 
aspect of Shep's life and career is accounted for, including his love of 
ham radio.  And a love it was as in this very rare recording where he 
accurately predicted the explosive growth in F-M and repeaters in general 
and one New York City machine in particular:

--

Shep: "I don't think you guys who sit around every night like you do 
recognize the already legandary status of this repeater outside of this 
area.  I just came back from a trip from the Canadian border and all the 
way down through New England and way up in the Northern part of Maine I 
worked guys and the one thing that they all talked about was SUR 
(WA2SUR).  And they really was a quality of `wow' in their voice.  I think 
that in another ten years there's no telling how immense this repeater will 
be and what a structure it will be.  I am  very serious when I say this.  I 
think we are in the beginning of a thing here and I think that ultimately 
25 years from now people will look back on the early two meter guys like us 
-- we're considered early guys now -- with a legendary awe. You know, with 
a quality of awe, like `my god --  they started it all."

--

That was recorded way back the evening of June 21st 1972 over the 
then  WA2SUR repeater in New York City.   K2ORS was right on in his F-M and 
repeater growth forecast.  Bergmann says that's the kind of he plans to 
include:

--

Bergmann: "In May of 1968 in one of his broadcasts he said: `...I became at 
the age of ten, totally, maniacally and for life I might point out -- 
completely skulled out by Amateur Radio.'  So he was quite an enthusiast up 
to his death in `99"

--

Sound intriguing?  Well you can find out a lot more about Eugnene Bergann's 
book and how you can help to writer it on this weeks RAIN Report.  Just go 
to www.rainreport.com or dial into area code 847-827-7246, sit back and 
enjoy a quarter hour with Eugene Bergmann and his new book on the legendary 
Jean Shepherd, K2ORS.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

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), PO Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.

A reminder that the e-mail address to register to take part in the Eroy 
Neal, K6DUE Amateur Radio Mentoring Project is mentor at arnewsline.org