[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1392 - April 16, 2004

Sat Apr 17 21:08:42 EDT 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1392 - April 16,  2004

The following is a Q-S-T. Iraqi hams put out a plea to keep ham radio alive 
in that war torn nation and the ARRL asks the FCC to extend the filing 
deadline on B-P-L.  Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1392 coming your way right now.

**

A PLEA FROM A WAR ZONE:  PLEASE HELP HAM RADIO SURVIVE IN IRAQ

Even as the bloodshed continues, hams in Iraq are asking their counterparts 
world-wide to keep Amateur Radio alive in the war torn nation.  Amateur 
Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW has more:

--

A widely publicized e-mail from Laith Adhary, YI1SRA, in Baghdad asks the 
worlds radio amateurs for support in keeping ham radio a part of a new 
Iraq.  This, as the June 30th date for handover of the government to local 
authorities approaches.  

Adhary is a member of the Iraqi Association for Radio Amateurs and works at 
the University in Baghdad.  He says that it is urgent that Iraq establish a 
viable ham radio program in the country before the shift of governing takes 
place.  To accomplish this, Laith and Iraqi Association for Radio Amateurs 
president Diya Sayah, YI1DZ are asking hams around the globe to and their 
national societies to a letter of support for the future of the hobby in 
Iraq.

Both men indicate that this is a time sensitive issue and request support 
right away.  

With thanks to Ian Abel, G3ZHI, for passing the information along, I'm 
Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

The best way to make sure your letter of support arrives is to send it by 
E-mail   We have two addresses.  Sayah can be reached at yi1dz at hotmail.com 
and Adhary is at laithtariq at yahoo.com.  (G3ZHI)

**

THE BPL WAR:  ARRL ASKS FOR FILING DEADLINE EXTENSION IN BPL NPRM

Back here in the United States, the ARRL has asked the FCC to extend the 
deadline for comments and reply comments by 45 days in the Broadband over 
Power Line Notice of Proposed Rule Making.  Thats E-T Docket 04-37.  

The ARRL filing says that it anticipates the National Telecommunications 
and Information Administration report on B-P-L to go public on or around 
April 16th.  Also, that the current deadline would allow only a couple of 
weeks at best to evaluate the study's results and incorporate its findings 
into comments in the proceeding.

Although the FCC does not routinely grant such extensions, the ARRL says 
that it is important to allow time for the N-T-I-A to conclude its study at 
B-P-L field trial locations.  Unless the extension is granted, the last day 
to file comments is May 3rd and reply comments is June 1st.  (ARRL 
Bulletin)

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  SWL'S VS. BROADBAND OVER POWERLINES

Short-wave listeners can complain to the FCC if a Broadband Over Powerline 
installation interferes with their reception, but there are some caveats.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, has the rest of the story:

--

Progress Energy has made a concerted effort to move BPL signals out of the 
ham bands in their trial areas near Raleigh, North Carolina.  But the 
systems, which are governed by FCC Part 15 and are prohibited from 
interfering with licensed services, are still radiating signals across much 
of the rest of the short-wave spectrum.  That's leading short-wave 
listeners to ask if they have "standing" to complain to the FCC, since they 
don't have licenses themselves.

The - General Council Chris Imlay W3KD says they do, if the BPL signals are 
interfering with international shortwave broadcasts from other countries, 
but not if they are trying to listen to domestic shortwave broadcasters.  
Replying to an e-mail inquiry, Imlay adds that "One does not have to be a 
licensee of a transmitter in order to receive harmful interference."  

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner K1ZZ noted that the US is a 
member of the International Telecommunications Union, whose Radio 
Regulations require member nations to protect HF communications from 
harmful interference.  

RR 15.12 reads, "Administrations shall take all practicable and necessary 
steps to ensure that the operation of electrical apparatus or installations 
of any kind, including power and telecommunication distribution networks, 
do not cause harmful interference to a radiocommunication service operating 
in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations."

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

--

The bottom line:  If you are trying to listen to Radio Netherlands and a 
Broadband Over Powerline installation covers the station up -- complain to 
the FCC.  (KN4AQ, ARNewsline(tm))

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  EXPEDITION 9 HEADED TO THE ISS 

The International Space Station's next set of ham radio residents will 
arrive this month.  Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight 
Engineer Mike Fincke are slated to launch to orbit from the Baikonur 
Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on April 18.  They will arrive at the I-S-S on 
April 21 to replace Expedition 8 explorers Mike Foale, KB5UAC, and Sasha 
Kaleri, U8MIR.

Padalka is a space flight veteran having spent 198 days aboard the Russian 
Mir space station in 1999. On the other hand, Expedition 9 is Fincke's 
first trip to space.  Both are hams.  Fincke holds the call sign KE5AIT and 
Padalka is RN3DT.  

European Space Agency Astronaut Andr‚ Kuipers will also travel to the 
Station with Fincke and Padalka and return to Earth with Expedition 8 about 
nine days later.  Padalka and Fincke will then spend about six months on-
orbit.  Their tasks include maintaining ISS operations, continuing science 
operations, conducting two spacewalks and operating the ham radio station 
as time permits.  Their tour of duty is scheduled to end in late October 
when the Expedition 10 crew rockets up to replace them.  (ANS, ARISS, 
MAREX)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  PHONE TUNNEL FIRE BRINGS HAM RADIO CALLOUT

Raynet -- the United Kingdom's version of RACES -- was called on as March 
drew to a close.  This, as fire rips through a tunnel carrying telephone 
lines across a wide area.  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is in Nottingham, with more:

--

Raynet groups in Cheshire, Greater Manchester and Derbyshire were put on 
standby following a fire in a BT underground tunnel in central Manchester 
in the early hours of Monday the 29th of March. The fire disrupted more 
than 130,000 telephone lines in Lancashire, Merseyside, Derbyshire and 
further afield. Cheshire Police were concerned about the effects on 
communications, and via the Cheshire Emergency Planning Department 
requested the availability of Raynet operators to cover the affected area.

The Greater Manchester ambulance service lost landline and radio 
communications with their vehicles, but were able to use mobile phones as a 
means of contact. Other difficulties included a loss of 999 calls and 
disruption to the broadband data network. Large areas of the High Peak area 
of Derbyshire were without landlines or mobile phones.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.

--

The majority of Raynet members were dismissed by the evening of March 29th, 
but the Cheshire Group and County Controllers were on call through 
Wednesday afternoon the 31st.  Thats when the emergency call in 999 service 
was finally restored to the worst-affected area of Cheshire.  (GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  TV CHANNEL 16 GOES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES IN NYC

On this side of the Atlantic pond the FCC has permanently reallocated 482 
to 488 MHz in the New York City metropolitan area to the land-mobile 
service.  This, for public safety communications.  

482 to 488 MHz which is also known as UHF television Channel 16 has been 
used in New York for that purpose since 1995 when the FCC issued a 
Conditional Waiver of its rules to permit the initial operation.  

The entire story is on-line at   
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-04-80A1.doc (CGC)

**

RADIO RULES:  BY-BY FORMS

And a change of forms at the FCC.  Effective with Monday, May 3, the 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau will dismiss any applications filed on 
an FCC Form 605 issued earlier than December 2003.  

Form 605, the Quick-Form Application for Authorization in the Ship, 
Aircraft, Amateur, Restricted and Commercial Operator, and General Mobile 
Radio Service, is the hard-copy version of the Amateur Service application.  
The FCC has been accepting both older and current Form 605 applications 
that included room for a Taxpayer Identification Number or a Social 
Security number.  The FCC would then issue the applicant an FCC 
Registration Number or F-R-N without additional paperwork.  

All amateur service applicants must have and use an F-R-N when filing an 
application such as Form 605 with the FCC.  The change does not affect 
applicants filing on-line with the Universal Licensing System.  (ARRL 
Bulletin)

** 

ENFORCEMENT: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF CB RADIO

Turning to the enforcement arena, never underestimate the value of an 11 
meter Class D C-B radio set in catching a bad guy.  Even when the alleged 
perpetrator happens to be the C-B operator at the controls.  Bill 
Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details:

--

According to the CGC Communicator, complaints about interference from a 
citizens band radio led police to the home of one Vernando Malone of South 
Bend, Indiana.  When they searched the premises they found more than 
$20,000 worth of Nextel cellular telephones and another $20,000 in Motorola 
phones.  Also located was a computer that Malone allegedly used to activate 
the phones

Malone has now been charged with forgery and theft.  This, in connection 
with what police claim was scheme to fraudulently order large numbers of 
cell phones, activate them with a home computer, and then sell them on the 
street at discounted prices.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles.

--

Stamp this one 10-4 good buddy. And if you want to read more, its on-line 
at http://tinyurl.com/ytb3z  (CGC)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  W4RWG ELECTED PRES OF SERA

On a more positive note, Repeater Journal reports that Roger Gregory, 
W4WRG, has been elected as the new President of the giant South Eastern 
Repeater Association for 2004 through 2005.  Gregory replaces Don Williams, 
W4VT, who has served in the post for the past six years.  

The South Eastern Repeater Association -- better known as SERA Incorporated 
-- is one of the nations largest repeater coordination umbrella 
organizations providing service to Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, the 
Carolina's, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.  It also publishes the 
Repeater Journal magazine four times a year.  (SERA)

**

CONFERENCE:  THE DCC IN IOWA IN SEPTEMBER

The 2004 joint Tucson Amateur Packet Radio and ARRL Digital Communications 
Conference will be held September 10th to the 12th.  The venue this year is 
the Airport Holiday Inn in Des Moines, Iowa.  More on the conference is on-
line at www.tapr.org/dcc/. (TAPR)

**

CELEBRATIONS: OARC AS K4H IN MAY

The Owensboro Amateur Radio Club in Western Kentucky will celebrate its 
50th anniversary as an ARRL affiliated club.  This, by  using the special 
event call sign K4H.  K4H will be valid for all club members to use both 
mobile and from their home station location from May 15th through the 31st.

By the way.  Only two members of the Owensboro Amateur Radio Club are still 
is here from its formation. They are Max Douglas, W4VJV and Jim Rush, 
W4EWL.  Both are were instructors at early Amateur Radio classes run by the 
club.  Also, W4EWL has three "QST Cover Plaque" Awards over the years.   
(Via e-mail)

**
TECHNOLOGY:   KNRC AM IN COLORADO TURNS OFF IBOC

A broadcaster has shut down its A-M stereo system to avoid interfering with 
listeners of another near-by station.  KNRC A-M on 1150 kHz in Littleton, 
Colorado, turned off the I-B-O-C  or High Definition Radio encoding 
equipment in response to listener complaints of interference to the signal 
of KJJD, on 1170 kHz in the town of Windsor.  

Rodger Tighe writing in the CGC Communicator calls this is a second 
adjacent channel situation.  He reports that part of the decision to 
silence I-B-O-C was based on the thinking that interference to a small mom 
& pop station like KJJD was totally unwarranted since consumers have so few 
H-D radios in their hands at this time.  

Tighe is the Chief Engineer of KNRC.  He says that the I-B-O-C encoding 
equipment is still in the racks and  the whole issue could be revisited at 
a later date.  (CGC)

**

CONVENTIONS:  THE NAB HAM RADIO RECEPTION IN LAS VEGAS NV. APRIL 21

A reminder that this week, on April 21st is the National Association of 
Broadcasters `Amateur Radio Reception'. This years `Ham Radio Reception' 
will be hosted by Heil Sound, Limited and its well known owners Bob, K9EID, 
and Sarah Heil.  They would like to invite any and all amateur radio 
operators who will be in attendance at the NAB show to join them for this 
annual fun event. 

---
Audio Only:  Hear it at http://www.arnewsline.org
--

This years NAB Ham Radio Reception takes place Wednesday April 21st, from 6 
to 9 P.M. local time.  The venue is the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel, Ballrom B.  
Of coarse, thats in Las Vegas, Nevada.  For more information please feel to 
contact Bob or Sarah at 618-257-3000 or by e-mail to bob at heilsound.com.  
The Heil's say that they hope to see you there.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

WORLDBEAT - ALBANIA:  FIRST DX COM JUNE 19-20

Turning to news from around the world.  Datline Albania where that nations 
hams will hold their first DX convention this spring.  The dates are June 
19th and 20th in the city of Tirana. 

The actual DX convention will begin Saturday afternoon, concluding with a 
gala dinner and Sunday morning program.   Sightseeing tours of the region 
will be available on Sunday afternoon.  More information will be posted on 
line at www.za1a.com in the near future.  (OH2BH)

**

WORLDBEAT - JORDAN:  UK HAMS PLAN VISIT

Robin Bellerby, GM3ZYE, is in the early stages of planning an amateur radio 
trip to Jordan.  The excursion will take place either in May or September 
of 2005 and  will be mainly - but not exclusively - for members of the 
United Kingdom's Royal Signals, Royal Naval, and Royal Air Force Amateur 
Radio Societies.  Between 20 and 60 people  are expected to make the trip.  
(GB2RS)

**

RADIO RECORDS:  2413 KM on 70 CM

Congratulations to ZL1AOX and VK3EK for extending the Trans Tasman 70cm 
distance record. On the 3rd January the two made a path of 2,413 Kilometers 
using SSB.  The previous record was set on January 13, 1998 when  ZL2TPY 
and VK4ZSH conversed across 2402 kilometers on the 432 MHz band.  (NZART)

**

DX

In D-X, JE3MAS is in Tanzania for one year and will operate as 5H3HK.  QSL 
as directed on the air.

And the multi-operator T33C DXpedition to Banaba island started on schedule 
on the 4th of April.  The island counts as OC-018 for the Islands on the 
Air awards program.  (Various DX sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  WORLD CLASS T-HUNTING - PART 1

And finally, a question.  Have you tried ham radio's version of fox 
hunting?  It's not hard and you might win yourself some medals.  Newsline's 
Joe Moell K0OV has the story of the next Amateur Radio direction finding 
championships:

--

Most hams know that in Amateur Radio, the term "foxhunt" doesn't have 
anything to do with horses or hound dogs.  Our foxes are radio transmitters 
and the object of the hunt is to find them with radio direction finding 
equipment.  But what many hams don't know is that the equipment for hunting 
radio foxes can be very simple and inexpensive.  For a two-meter foxhunt in 
the park on foot, you can do very well by augmenting your handi-talkie with 
a simple yagi antenna made out of a steel measuring tape and some PVC pipe 
from the hardware store.  For closing in, build an offset-type RF 
attenuator for about 15 dollars worth of small parts.  Plans are on the 
Web, so warm up your soldering iron.  Then maybe you could be like 
Newsline's Young Ham of the Year Jay Thompson W6JAY, who has won a place on 
our country's team to the World ARDF Championships.  You don't have to be a 
super-athlete, just reasonably fit.

To see the USA's best on-foot foxhunters in action, to learn from them, and 
to try it for yourself, make plans to come to southern California this 
June.  The Fourth USA ARDF Championships get under way on June 16th, with 
practice sessions, a big two-meter hunt, and another hunt on 80 meters.  
Come out the weekend before, and you can take part in an optional intensive 
training camp.  It's all being put on by the Santa Barbara Amateur Radio 
Club and it's open to anyone at any foxhunting skill level, with or without 
a ham license.  If you're a senior, don't worry about trying to compete 
with W6JAY.  Equal medals will be awarded in five separate age category for 
OM's from under 18 to over 60.  There are four similar age categories for 
the YLs.

For everything you need to know about the Championships, including 
schedules, registration forms and equipment ideas, point your Web browser 
to www.homingin.com.  That's HomingIn, as one word, homingin.com.  I hope 
to see you there.  Next week, I'll tell you about a way to get the 
foxhunting fun going in your own home town.  From southern California, this 
is Joe Moell Kay-Zero-Oscar-Victor for Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

More with Joe in Next Weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report.

**

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 nominating period for the 2004 Amateur Radio Newsline 
Young Ham of the Year Award is now on.  This program is open to any FCC 
licensed young radio amateur age 18 or younger residing in the contiguous 
48 states and who has made a significant contribution to the community, the 
nation or ham radio though the United States Amateur Radio Service.  

More information and a downloadable on-line nominating form is at our 
website. That's in cyberspace at www.arnewsline.org.  The cutoff for 
nominations this year is midnight on Tuesday, June 31st. 

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Damron, 
N8TMW, and I'm Randy Damron, N8XEA, saying 73 and we thank you for 
listening."  Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2004.  All rights 
reserved.