[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1382 - February 6, 2004

Sat Feb 7 07:29:44 EST 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1382 - February 6,  2004

The following is a Q-S-T. A major problem for Amsat Oscar 40, a surprise 
BPL rollout in Pennsylvania, UPS says that illegal 10 meter radios will be 
ordered out of company trucks and another view of the ARRL's restructuring 
proposal. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 
1382  coming your way right now.

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  AO-40 SUFFERS CATASTROPHIC POWER FAILURE

The main battery pack on board the AMSAT Oscar 40 satellite has failed and 
controllers are unsure if the bird can be brought back to life on the 
reserve power system.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, tells 
us what happened on-orbit:

--

According to AMSAT Executive Vice President Rick Hambly, W2GPS, AO-40 began 
its tumble to obscurity on Sunday, January 25th.  That's when the 
satellites battery voltage momentarily dropped to 24 point 5 volts.  This 
triggered a fail-safe that shut down the satellites passbands. Then, at the 
beginning of the eclipse on orbit 1486 the battery voltage rapidly dropped 
just below the cutoff voltage of 24.0 volts and this shut down the 
transmitters to protect the battery and other on board equipment.

AMSAT controllers kept a close eye on the bird and on Tuesday the 27th the 
battery voltage suddenly dropped from to 14V.  Mission commanders currently 
believe that more battery cells short circuited.  Control stations 
immediately began transmitting blind commands to the spacecraft in an 
attempt to switch over to the auxiliary battery.  Eventually, the auxiliary 
battery pack came on line, but in parallel with the main pack. This means 
that the shorted main Ni-Cad battery is loading down the back-up Nickel 
Metal Hydride cells are clamping the voltage low and keeping the auxiliary 
battery from fully powering the spacecraft.

AMSAT is hopeful that one of the cells in the main battery will eventually 
fail open circuit.  This would effectively remove the damaged battery from 
service and permit the back up battery to assume the full load of 
AO-40.  In the meantime its a waiting game with fingers crossed that no 
other catastrophic failures to other parts of the satellite take place.

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

--

A set of spare A0-40 back-up batteries were found at the AMSAT lab in 
Orlando Florida.  Using them Stan Wood, WA4NFY and Lou Mc Fadin, W5DID 
performed a series of tests that showed the auxiliary battery pack on board 
the satellite should work well if they are otherwise 
undamaged.  Unfortunately, than will only happen if the main battery pack 
can be pulled off line.

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  MIKE FOALE TALKS HOME

Still with ham radio in space, Wednesday, January 28th was a very special 
day on board the International Space Station for Astronaut Mike 
Foale.  That's because the space traveler got the chance to speak to 
students at the school he used to attend and he did so  using Amateur 
Radio.  Take a listen:

-- Contact Audio no print transcript --

The contact between Foale on board the I-S-S and the kids at The King's 
School, Canterbury, England began at 17:42 UTC when the I-S-S answered the 
call of G-B- 4-F-U-N.  That station was operated by G-Zero-A-K-I and the 
audience kept its breath as Foale answered 12 questions.

-- Contact Audio - No print transcript --

Media coverage of this contact was impressive.  Meridian TV, BBC TV, BBC 
Radio Kent, Invicta Radio and the Kent Gazette interviewed the students and 
put reports in the main newscasts.  The BBC World Service and the Press 
Association asked for information and contact transcripts.   (ARISS, ON4WF)

** THE BPL FIGHT:  PA HAMS ORGANIZE TO FIGHT ALLENTOWN ROLLOUT

Hams in Northampton County in eastern Pennsylvania, just outside of 
Allentown, are organizing a campaign to protest announced plans by PP&L to 
offer Broadband Internet Service over power lines in a development in 
Hanover Township.  The Allentown-based utility has been doing field tests 
of the technology in nearby Emmaus, Pa.

The ARRL's Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager Eric Olena, WB3FPL says 
PP&L sent out 2,000 letters to residents in a section of Hanover Township 
and already has received replies from 200 people interested in subscribing 
to the service.

Olena says an ARRL District Emergency Coordinator and other hams met with 
township officials to warn them about the massive inteference Broadband 
over Power Lines brings to the radio spectrum, including fire and emergency 
frequencies. But, he says, the officials apparently were swayed by the 
utility's assurances no such interference exists.

An interview with Olena and others involved in the battle, coming in next 
week's Newsline.  (ARNewsline(tm), NT3V)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  EVEN MORE COOPERATION COMBATTING 10 METER PIRATES FROM UPS

A follow-up to our recent story concerning the use of unlicensed 10 meter 
radio gear on-board United Parcel Service Trucks.  As reported, back on 
January 7th the FCC notified the U-P-S offices in Elkhart Indinana and 
Middleburg Heights Ohio of its findings.  The company offered its full 
cooperation to end the problem.

Now comes word from the FCC that they have been contacted by UPS national 
corporate headquarters has contacted the regulatory agency and the company 
did not mince any words.  It told the FCC that the agency has its full 
cooperation in removing any unlicensed radio gear and any non-certified 
two-way gear from their delivery fleet, nation wide.

According to UPS, the only personally owned radio gear permitted in their 
trucks under a collective bargaining agreement with their union drivers are 
commercially built unmodified C-B sets, and that only on a regional 
as-needed basis.  No other radios are allowed.  (FCC, UPS, others)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THE FCC ACTIVE IN A NUMBER OF CASES

Meantime, the FCC has been active in a number of other enforcement issues 
involving ham radio operators.  The agency's Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, has 
more:

-- Duckworth:  "An Extra class license was downgraded to Technician class 
due to a failure to appear for a retest in Solidad California.  Also, 
cancellation of an Extra class license in Medera California for the same 
reason.

A notice for retesting was sent to a General class licensee in Hialeah 
Florida. The deadline for that one is March 1st.

A letter requesting additional information pursuant to Section 308(b) of 
the Communications Act -- in order to make a decision on a General class 
renewal went out to Newton Square PA..

A letter settling enforcement action with a General class licensee in Bart 
VT. has resulted in voice operation prohibited for three years on 20 
meters.

Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, reporting. --

Even though its still not naming names of alleged violators the FCC is 
making sure that those thinking about breaking its rules know its still 
around.  (FCC, RAIN)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  ANOTHER LOOK AT THE ARRL PROPOSAL

Even though there are more than a dozen restructuring proposals before the 
FCC, its the American Radio Relay Leagues recent filing  that really has 
the world of Amateur Radio talking.  The obvious question is why, and thats 
what we asked correspondant Mark Abramovich, NT3V, to find out:

--

As more amateurs find out what the ARRL has to say, they're starting to pay 
attention.

When the ARRL speaks, the FCC generally listens.  In the past, the FCC has 
used the organization's proposals as a foundation for decisions.

To understand where the ARRL is coming from, you might want to get some 
perspective from the past.  Who better to offer it than Harry Dannals W2HD 
- elected ARRL president in 1972 and re-elected to five consecutive terms. 
Now retired and living in Charlottesville, Va., Dannals is on top of the 
debate.

"It's a long cry from the days of incentive licensing when we did have 
people who resigned their membership, withdrew their membership, or did not 
renew their membership, just to show their disappointment and utter 
dissatisfaction with the incentive licensing proposal as it was named," 
Dannals recalls. "Because that was indeed (what it was), in the minds of 
the ARRL board headed at that time by President Herb Hoover.

He believed that in order for us to show that we were improving ourselves 
and becoming better at what we do that we should upgrade our license 
structure."

Dannals says the claim the ARRL proposal for a "no code" HF license "dumbs 
down" the hobby is off the mark.

"I think the new proposal, despite the criticism by those who say: 'I had 
to do it and therfore, you have to do it,' I think the new proposal will 
bring more people into amateur radio than the 'no code' proposal ever did," 
Dannals says.

Dannals says the Novice concept will go a long way in revitalizing 
interest.

"The introductory grade of license will give them some of the things that 
will make amateur radio mean more, the long-distance communication, the 
long friendships that develop over the many thousands of miles," Dannals 
says. "And I do believe we need this."

Dannals laughs at the fears that we'll need hundreds of FCC types to police 
the new hams.

"I think if the amateurs themselves who have experience, the older timers - 
and they don't have to be white-haired and grizzly old-timers - they can be 
relatively newcomers, maybe 5-10 years," Dannals says. "They can take care 
of tutoring the newcomers more than adequately."

Dannals says local radio clubs are the key to success for any license 
restructuring.

"Put out a handshake and say: 'Come on board. We'll help you, we'll teach 
the courses that you can use to get your license and we'll help you once 
you've got your license.' The old Elmering still is working."

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

--

Keep an ear open for more on this from both Harry Dannals and Mark 
Abramovich as all of the restructuring petitions wind their way through the 
FCC rules making process over the next several months. ARNewsline(tm))

**

ON RAIN:  JIM HASYNIE W5JBP

Meantime an in-depth conversation about this issue with ARRL President Jim 
Haynie, W5JBP, is available from RAIN -- the Radio Amateur Information 
Network. Its in cyberspace at www.rainreport.com or on the phone at area 
code 847-827- 7246.  (RAIN)

**

REGULATORY:  CROSS BORDER RADIO DISPUTE BETWEEN US AND MEXICO BROADCASTERS

A cross border radio war may be brewing between the United States and 
Mexico. This as complaints of massive interference to United States 
broadcast operations from a new station on 560 kHz in Tecate Tijuana Mexico 
lead to a high level telephone call between the FCC and the Mexico's SCT on 
Thursday, January 29th. A call that many hoped will defuse the situation 
before it escalates any further.

According to the CGC Communicator, the SCT which is Mexico's 
telecommunications regulator is said to have promised swift action in 
eliminating the interference that XEKTT is currently causing to U.S. 
stations. But the story does not end here.  Concern for Mexico's planned 
operations as XESS on 780 kHz and XEDD 920 kHz, also in the vicinity of 
Tijuana continues to mount.  A printed copy the authorization for 780 kHz 
has surfaced.  It  confirms that operation with 20 kilowatts dayside and 10 
kilowatts night with non- directional facilities both times and a 
quarter-wave tall broadcast tower is in fact sanctioned by the SCT.

The CGC Communicator says that this confirms the power figures it published 
a few weeks ago and establishes what it terms as more blow torch 
situations. Meanwhile, additional broadcasters are joining the list of 
companies concerned with the current 560 kHz interference.  (CGC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THE FCC VS. THE SUPERBOWL HALFTIME SHOW

FCC Chairman Michael Powell has ordered an investigation of the telecast of 
last weeks Superbowl half-time show in which rock performer Justin 
Timberlake ripped part Janet Jackson costume on-camera.  The stunt brought 
a massive number of complaints to the regulatory agency from viewers of the 
game.

In a press release obtained by the Amateur Radio Newsline, Powell states: 
"I am outraged at what I saw during the halftime show of the Super 
Bowl.  Like millions of Americans, my family and I gathered around the 
television for a celebration.  Instead, that celebration was tainted by a 
classless, crass and deplorable stunt.  Our nation's children, parents and 
citizens deserve better."

CBS which aired the game denied that the incident was 
preplanned.  None-the- less, Powell instructed the Commission to open an 
investigation into the broadcast.  He also stated that the inquiry will be 
thorough and swift.

At least in theory, each station that permitted the video to be aired could 
be fined or have its license designated for a hearing if the investigation 
finds that the material was either indecent or obscene.  (FCC release)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  AGENCY WARNS OF BIG FIRE SEASON IN THE SOUTHWEST

Hams involved in emergency communications in the Western United States 
should get ready for a rather busy fire season.  At least that's what a 
recently released preliminary outlook for 2004 seems to imply.  Bill 
Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the retails:

--

According to Jay Miller, W-A-5-W-H-N and Raleigh Stout A-C-5-J-W, the 
Southwest Area Coordination Center in Albuquerque, issued the report.  The 
center is a multiagency hub for the region's wildfire operations and it 
says that persistent drought and millions of dead or dying trees have set 
the stage for a fire season as bad or worse than 2002.  That's when 
millions of acres burned across the region.

In southeastern Arizona and southern New Mexico, field surveys reveal that 
the snow pack holds less than 20% of the average moisture of a 
normal  mid-winter. Coupled with the 2003 monsoon season being one of the 
driest in a century, the center says that tinderbox conditions are 
manifest.

And its going to get worse.  With little relief in sight, the fire season, 
which usually begins in April, could start a month or more earlier.  Public 
land managers are being urged to complete training and preparations sooner 
than usual and to put more firefighters on duty.  It also means that hams 
involved in support of firefighting efforts will need to hone their skills 
a lot earlier this year in order to be prepared.

For the Amateur Radio Nerwsline, I'm Bill Passternak, WA6ITF

--

Its beginning to look as if firefighters and the ham radio operators who 
support them may have a tough fire season ahead.  (ARNewslin(tm), WA5WHN)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  TEXAS CELLPHONE HERO

A 40-year-old flight attendant in El Paso, Texas is being hailed as a hero. 
This,  for her fast and efficient handling of 15 to 20 9-1-1 calls which 
were sent to her home phone due to a routing error at S-B-C Communications.

News reports say that Maria Chaidez Karam processed the calls for help - 
including several emergencies - during the 41-minute glitch.  In fact, she 
relayed  details via her own cellular telephone to the police dispatch 
center's seven-digit non-emergency number.

Complete details about this story are on the web at 
http://www.borderlandnews.com/stories/borderland/20040119-70359.shtml 
(CGC)

**

RADIO LAW:  ABRAMS VS. RPV - ANOTHER WIN

An update on the case of radio site owner Mark Abrams WA6DPB versus the 
city of Rancho Palos Verdes California.   Abrams has been embroiled in 
litigation against the city for several years and has won every 
round,  This is no different.  The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on 
Thursday, January 15th, that Abrams is entitled to damages, attorneys fees 
and court costs from the city, but there is a catch.  Abrams says that the 
decision only entitles him to a trial to determine the amount of  money 
involved.  It  does not set an award amount.  (WA6DPB)

**

THE WAR ON TERROR:  SECURITY ALERT FOR CELL PHONE GUNS

Don't be surprised if you're asked to make a call on your cellphone the 
next time you go through airport security.  Time Magazine quotes sources as 
saying handguns disguised as regular cellular telephones have been seized 
in several drug raids across Europe.

The potentially deadly devices look exactly like a normal cellular handset 
but are capable of rapidly firing four .22-caliber rounds of 
ammunition.  They are manufactured in Croatia and are fired by punching 
buttons on the keypad

So far, none of the phony cellphones are known to have surfaced in the 
United States.  Aviation security experts say screening equipment now in 
use can detect these cellphone guns as well as all other improvised 
explosive devices..  The rest is on-line at 
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1101040202- 
581402,00.html  (CGC, Time Magazine )

**

POSTAL PROBLEMS:  CQ INVESTIGATES DAMAGED MAGAZINES

If you are wondering why your ham radio and other magazines have been 
showing up with torn covers or their insides missing, you are not 
alone.  So were the folks at CQ who were receiving complaints from their 
readers.  So they launched their own probe and what they found that its 
likely a problem at the United States Postal Service.

According to CQ Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA, the postal system has installed 
new equipment that's designed to speed up the processing of mail through 
automated sorting.  Ross says that it usually works quite well but 
unofficial information coming to him says that the units can cause problems 
if they are even slightly out of adjustment.  As Ross says, it sounds as if 
the new technology demands maintenance far beyond having a service crew fix 
it when it breaks.

Ross says that his magazines have already taken steps to get around the 
problem until the postal service finds a permanent fix.  This includes new 
imported paper for the magazine covers.

What Dick Ross found out about the foibles of the postal services automated 
sorting system makes good reading.  You can find it on page 4 of the 
February issue of CQ Magazine.  (CQ)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  FCC ENGINEER MICHAEL J. MARCUS HONORED BY IEEE

A word of congratulations to Dr. Michael J. Marcus, N3JMM, of the FCC's 
Office of Engineering and Technology.  This, after recently being conferred 
as a Fellow by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers based 
on his extraordinary record of accomplishment.

The IEEE chosen to honor Marcus' contributions in the field of radio 
technologies with specific recognition to his creative technological vision 
that significantly advanced policies.  This helped to lead to the 
deployment of spread spectrum and Wi-Fi technologies.

Dr. Marcus joined Office of Engineering and Technology in 1979 and 
currently serves as its Associate Chief for Technology.  He received his 
bachelor's and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering from 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  Before joining the FCC, Dr. Marcus 
worked for Bell Laboratories, the U. S. Air Force, and the Institute for 
Defense Analyses.  (FCC release)

**

HAMFESTS:  AM EXPO 2004 IN NEW JERSEY IN APRIL

Turning to the ham radio social calander, AmExpo, an event within an event 
will take place on Friday April 30 through Sunday May 2nd 2004 at the 
Millville Airport located in Millville, New Jersey.  In addition to the 
hamfest, the 2004 "Wheels & Wings" air show is occurring at the Millville 
Airport at the same. This event features many extraordinary aerobatic 
exhibitions including the Air Force Thunderbirds.

Meantime, Hugh McElroy, W2AVN says that AmExpo itself is a celebration of 
the evolution of communications.  Included will be  demonstrations of ham 
radio satellites, Echolink, along with HF, VHF and UHF radio communication 
in every mode.   More information is on-line at 
www.p49millville.org.  (W2AVN)

**

SEMINARS:  COMM ACADEMY IN WASHINGTON IN MARCH

The sixth annual Communications Academy set for March 20th and 21st at the 
Shoreline Conference Center, in Shoreline, Washington just north of 
Seattle. This years theme is  Interoperability and the Expanding Role of 
Amateur Radio Communications.  The keynote speaker is retired Police Chief 
Gerald W. Boyd, KW7J.  Boyd is the author of five books including three on 
amateur radio emergency communications.  You can find out more in 
cyberspace at www.commacademy.org  (Press release)

**

CONFERENCES: EASTERN VHF CONFERENCE IN CT. IN APRIL

And the 30th  Annual Eastern VHF/UHF Conference will be held on April 16th 
to the 18th at the Radisson Hotel in Enfield, Connecticut.  Guest speakers 
to date include Dan Henderson, N1ND, on the status of ARRL VHF/UHF 
Contesting & Awards, Del Schier, K1UHF, with a talk called What's New at 
West Mountain Radio and many others.  And, as a special thank-you to all 
those who have supported the conference the planners are providing a free 
dinner to all who register for the event.  More, including registration 
forms can be found on-line at www.newsvhf.com (VHF REflector)

**

INTERNATIONAL - UK:  WORKED ALL BRITAIN AGM ON FEB 15

In international news, the Worked All Britain Awards Group Annual General 
Meeting will take place on the 15th of February.  The venue is the 
Radiosport Communications and Computer Show at Stevenage in the United 
Kingdom. Nominations for the committee to consider should be sent to G0NLX 
at her call book address no later than February 13th.  (RSGB)

**

CONTEST OPERATIONS:  K7BV TO TURKS AND CAICOS FOR ARRL DX CW

 From the contest calendar word that Dennis Motschenbacher K7BV will be 
in  the Turks and Caicos Islands from Feb 19th to the 26th.  This, to 
operate in the ARRL DX CW contest using the probable call sign of VP5M.  He 
will use VP5 stroke K7BV outside the contest with operating emphasis placed 
on the WARC, 6 and 2 meter bands. VHF WSJT meteor scatter scheduled 
contacts can be arranged.  QSL via KU9C.  (VHF Reflector)

**

DX

In DX, word that five German operators are from Tobago active as 9Y4 slash 
their home calls through the 14th of February.  Look for them around 
14.277,  21.377 and 28.377 Mhz.  (GB2RS)

And F6AIG is currently on the air from Mayotte.  Look for him around 17.00 
UTC on about 14.130 Mhz.  (GB2RS)

Lastly, DL2GAC is again active as H44MS from Honiara in the Solomon 
Islands.  He plans to stay there a while and is active on 80 through 10 
meters on SSB.  For all of these operations, please QSL as directed on the 
air.  (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES - AUSTRALIA SHOULD WAIT AND SEE

And finally this week, the pitfalls of broadband over powerlines technology 
have been highlighted down-under by a group calling itself The Spectrum 
Issues Group Australia or S-I-G-A.  This, in a letter published in the 
Sydney Morning Herald and The Age news papers.  Q-News Graham Kemp, VK4BB 
has the details.

--

While BPL holds out the promise of always-on internet availability from 
every household power point, overseas experience with this new technology 
shows Australia should not rush into adopting it.

BPL/PLC systems installed here would cause significant interference to high 
frequency communications users across Australia which include emergency 
services, aircraft, police, rural and remote services, maritime, government 
agencies and private users such as we Radio Amateurs.

Roger Harrison, VK2ZRH, speaking for the group says they are an informal 
alliance of organisations and individuals across Australia with interests 
in RF communications and technologies. Alliance members come from 
broadcasting, community service bodies, consultancies, emergency services, 
equipment manufacturers and suppliers, government, industry bodies, the 
radio amateur community and other radiocommunications users.

Graham Kemp, VK4BB.

--

The S-I-G-A letter makes fascinating reading no matter where you are in the 
world.  It can be viewed on line at the Fairfax f2 website.  That U-R-L is 
in this weeks printed Amateur Radio Nerwsline report.

(DO NOT READ:   http://smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/19/1074360700131.html)

**

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.

A reminder that the newly created Roy Neal, K6DUE, Amateur Radio Mentoring 
Project is up and operating.  We already have signed up over two dozen hams 
who are willing to assist others.  If you can help, or if you need 
assistance please drop a note with your name, address, hone number and area 
of expertise to mentor at arnewsline.org and we will get back to you as fast 
as we can.