[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1397 - May 21, 2004

Sat May 22 15:51:18 EDT 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1397 - May 21,  2004

The following is a Q-S-T.  

Mr. Haynie goes to Washington D C and Dayton, Ohio comes alive with 
the sound of ham radio.  These stories and more on Amateur Radio 
Newsline report number 1397  coming your way right now.

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  MR. HAYNIE TO MEET WITH WHITE HOUSE TELECOM ADVISORS

This weeks top story starts in Dayton Ohio and ends in Washington D-
C.  It was at the Dayton Hamvention that ARRL President Jim Haynie, 
W5JBP, announced that he would be meeting with presidential advisors 
art the White House Telecommunications Office to discuss the 
Broadband Over Powerline situation.  Amateur Radio Newsline was there 
when a horse but upbeat W5JBP thanked the ham radio community for 
making the meeting come about:

--

Haynie:  "When we ran the story about my FAX'ing the
President of the 
United States a powerful letter, what you helped me do with your 
letters and your e-mails was to get me an appointment Thursday 
morning, 10 a.m. in Washington.  So you helped me to do that. 
(applause).  

--

The meeting between President Haynie and those advising Peresident 
Bush on telecommunicastions matters was scheduled for Thursday, May 
20th.  We will have a full report on it, next week.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  HAM TURNS THE TABLE ON BPL PROPVIDER

Still with BPL news, word that a ham attending an industry sponsored 
demonstration of the technology in Australia came prepared to do 
battle.  From Brisbane, Q-News reports:

--

A presentation was given by Piero Peroni, who is the Business 
Manager  for the BPL trial within Aurora Energy and Adrian Wild who 
is the  Corporate Affairs Manager within Aurora Energy.

 Martin, VK7GN gave an audible demonstration of the interference on  
his portable HF receiver and I think it would be fair to say by  all 
accounts the Corporate Affairs Manager was quietly horrified at the 
noise!

--

Whether or not the ham radio counter demonstration to Aurora Energy 
will slow down or stop the rollout of BPL down-under is, at this time 
unknown.  (Q-News)

**

DAYTON HAMVENTION NEWS: A BIG SUCCESS

Back here in the U-S-A, Jim Haynie's White House meeting
announcement 
was just another layer of frosting on the very sweet ham radio cake 
known as the Dayton Hamvention.  By all accounts, Hamvention 2004 was 
as good as any of those in the past and maybe better than some.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V, takes us on an
audio 
tour of this years show:

--

The big buzz at Dayton was the introduction of two new, top-of-the-
line HF radios.

Yaesu introduced thousands of visitors to its booth here to the FT DX 
9000 - a radio the company has been developing four years. Here's 
Chip Margelli K7JA of Yaesu's Vertex Standard division.

Over at the competition, Icom introduced showgoers to its sleek, new 
IC7800. It's already been out for more than a month and Icom 
representatives concede they underestimated the market demand for 
this high-end radio.

Here's Ron Rotino, W9WL, represting Icom.

 In other Dayton news, Alinco announced a new distributor 
relationship. Evelyn Garrison WS7A  tells Amateur Radio Newsline 
about the new partnership.

Now Amateur Radio Newsline Editor Bill Pasternak WA6ITF also took in 
the show besides running his annual Town Hall forum. Bill couldn't 
help himself when he stopped a the U.S. Towers booth where two lovely 
sales, eh, models were posing for pictures. Here's the exchange 
between our own California guy and some young ladies who came to the 
Dayton Hamvention for the first time..

Behind any Dayton Hamvention is the general chairman. This year Gary 
De Combes N8EMO took on that enormous responsibility. At the close of 
the show, he summed it all up for Amateur Radio Newsline.
And how did one of the big radio manufacturers we didn't mention yet 
think things went. Kenwood's Leo Famie was pleased with this year's 
event.

And, of course, Chip Margelli, summed up what Yaesu Vertex Standard 
thought.

Finally, there were lots of new friends and acquaintances made during 
the Dayton Hamvention 2004. And, despite the rain, spirits of those 
scouring the flea market for goodies weren't dampened.

It was one for the record books, too, in terms of participation.

Hope to see you here, next year.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, from the 
convention floor at the Hara Arena - home of the Dayton Hamvention.

--

As of the time this report is being prepared the Hamvention Committee 
has not announced a final attendance figure, but several vendors told 
Amateur Radio Newsline that their sales were way up over the past few 
years.  And thats good news for both the United States economic 
recovery as well as for Amateur Radio.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

DAYTON HAMVENTION NEWS:  N8EMO AND WX8F ASKED TO RUN HAMVENTION 2005

In a related development, on Monday night, May 17th the Dayton 
Amateur Radio Association's Planning Council  unanimously
recommended 
the clubs Board of Directors reappoint Gary De Combes,  N8EMO and Jim 
Nies, WX8F as General Chairman and Assistant General Chairman 
respectively, for Hamvention 2005.  The two were affirmed to lead the 
2005 show on Tuesday night the 18th.  That's only two days after the 
close of this years show.  Normally , no action is taken to fill 
these positions until the June Board of Directors meeting.

More on the 2004 Dayton Hamvention in future Amateur Radio Newsline 
reports.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS TAKE PART IN SIMULATED AIRPORT DISASTER

Over a hundred ham radio operators from seven counties in two Eastern 
states, provided emergency communications support for the Saturday, 
May 8th disaster drill at Dulles International Airport.  The exercise 
consisted of a simulated plane crash and fire. The aim of the session 
was to provide treatment and transport of 200 volunteer "victims" to 
area hospitals by helicopter, ambulance and bus.  Bill Pasternak, 
WA6ITF, picks up the story from here:

--

Larry Hughs, K3HE, is the Public Information Officer for for the 
ARRL's Virginia Section.  He tells Newsline that the job of
Amateur 
Radio was to provide communications between agencies at the simulated 
crash site, those providing patient transportation, and the 
participating hospitals.  To accomplish this, hams from a number of 
the regions Amateur Radio Emergency Service groups set up several 
portable repeaters in and around the airport grounds.   They also 
provided a live Amateur Television link between the site and the 
airport Operations Center.  This allowed airport management to 
monitor the progress of the drill.  

Hams also accompanied some of the officials at the simulated crash 
site to provide instant communications to other temporary operational 
areas.  Others rode the buses that transported ambulatory victims to 
local hospitals.  This gave planners  voice communications and real-
time position data via Automatic Position Reporting System.  
Meantime, other radio amateurs were stationed at ten area hospitals.  
They helped to coordinate the arrival and departure of those 
simulating the victims of the crash.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reporting.

--

Dulles International Airport is in Northern Virginia, near 
Washington, DC..  Its also not that far from where Al Quida 
terrorists crashed a jumbo jet into the Pentagon building on 
September 11th of 2001.  Back then ham radio was among the first of 
the "First Responders" on scene and is credited in helping to
save 
numerous lives.  (K3HE, ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESCUE RADIO:  SUIT BLAMES MOTOROLA HT'S IN 911 DEATHS

The families of twelve firefighters killed when the World Trade 
Center in New York City collapsed on 9-11 have sued the manufacturer 
of the hand held radios the men were carrying.  According to Popular 
Communications magazine, the five billion dollar action against 
Motorola and the City of New York claims that Motorola failed to warn 
the Fire Department that its hand-helds could not transmit or receive 
in a high rise building.  Because of this, the plaintiffs contend 
that firefighters could not hear an order to evacuate.  (Popular 
Communications)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  NC HAM MAY FACE LICENSE RENEWAL HEARING

A North Carolina ham who allegedly interfered with repeater operation 
in that area may not get his license renewed.  This, as FCC chief 
rules enforcer Riley Hollingsworth writes to Daniel Barrett, KE4NOK 
of Kings Mountain to tell him that his application to renew his 
ticket has been referred to the enforcement arm of the agency by the 
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. 

According to Hollingsworth's letter, the action was based on 
information coming to the Commission's attention that Barrett is 
alleged to have used his station to interfere with various repeater 
operations on 145.350, 145.450 and 147.120 MHz and that he  ignored 
requests of repeater control operators to refrain from using their 
repeaters.  Hollingsworth's note also says that Barrett ignored
the 
Commission Warning letter dated December 24th of 2003 regarding use 
of and interference to the repeaters and that apparently
Barrett's 
use of, and interference to, these repeaters continues. 

Hollingsworth's letter tells Barrett that his renewal application 
will not be routinely granted.  Rather, that the Commission may need 
additional information from KE4NOK in order to determine his 
qualifications to remain a Commission license.  The letter also tells 
Barrett that it may be necessary to designate his application for an 
evidentiary hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.  In such a 
proceeding Barrett would be required to appear at a hearing in 
Washington, DC.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  UNLICENSED BROADCASTER CHALLENGES FCC's AUTHORITY

An unlicensed radio station taken off the air by the FCC last fall 
has challenged the regulatory agency in federal court.  Attorney Mark 
Vermeulen, representing San Francisco Liberation Radio, says that the 
seizure of the station's equipment in an October 2003 raid came 
without proper notice and violated Constitutional protections of due 
process and the First Amendment.

In an appearance before U.S. District Judge Susan Illston, Vermeulen 
argued that  -- quote -- "It's a bedrock principle that parties have 
a right to pre-seizure notice and a right to be heard.

But government attorney Sarah Winslow disagreed with Vermeulen's free 
speech arguments.  She told Judge Illston that there is no First 
Amendment right to broadcast without a license from the FCC.  

The FCC had monitored San Francisco Liberation Radio for years.  They 
eventually tracked the station to a laundry room basement in the San 
Francisco home of James and Charlotte Hatch.   The Hatches never made 
a secret of their operations.  They also claim that they  had 
unsuccessfully sought an FCC license to operate legally.  (Published 
reports)

**

FOR THE BIRDS:  FCC RETAINS BIOLOGICAL CONSULTANT

Remember all those stories about thousands of migratory birds getting 
killed by running into radio towers?  Well the FCC has now retained 
the services of Avatar Environmental Services of West Chester, 
Pennsylvania as a biological consultant.  This, to assist in 
fulfilling the FCC's role under the National Environmental Policy Act 
and other federal environmental statutes.

The CGC Communicator reports that Avatar will give the Commission 
access to the services of experts with training and experience in 
evaluating the impact of construction projects on animal and plant 
species.  

According to CGC, Avatar has performed similar services for other 
agencies.  The possible impact of communications towers on migratory 
birds is one of the immediate pressing issues.  (CGC)

**

RADIO CELEBRATIONS:  W6RO AT AGE 25

A big celebration out West in the world of Amateur Radio.  This as 
the Queen Mary Ocean liner ham radio station W6RO turned 25 on April 
29th.

W6RO is actually the club call sign of the Associated Radio Amateurs 
of Long Beach, California.  Long Beach is where the retired ocean 
voyager is permanently birthed and open to the public as a tourist 
attraction.  The club operates the W6RO station which is located in 
the Wireless Room adjoining the ships historic radio museum.  

In its two and a half decades of operation, visiting hams from around 
the world have called C-Q and made numerous contacts using its gear, 
and its well known call sign phonetics of W-6-Rolling Ocean.  (W6RO)

**

HAM RADIO BOOKS: NEW VHF PROPAGATION BOOK FROM CQ

CQ Communications has announced the publication of a new resource 
book for hams active on VHF and UHF bands.  Its a book for those who 
want to learn more about long-distance propagation possibilities 
available to them.  

Titled "VHF Propagation - A Practical Guide for Radio Amateurs" the 
book examine each of the most common long-distance 
propagation "modes" found on these bands. Topics covered include 
tropospheric scatter and ducting, Sporadic-E, Aurora, 6-meters and 
the F-layer, transequatorial and more.  The book then explains how 
each mode occurs and offer tips on making the most of these band 
openings.  

"VHF Propagation - A Practical Guide for Radio Amateurs" was written 
by Ken Neubeck, WB2AMU, and Gordon West, WB6NOA.  It  is available 
from many ham radio dealers or direct from CQ anytime through the CQ 
online bookstore.  To find it take your web browser to www.cq-amateur-
radio.com and then click on "Visit the CQ Store."  (CQ)

**

THE SOCIAL CIRCUIT:  ROCHESTER HAMFEST IN JUNE

With the 2004 Dayton Hamvention now a part of history, we turn to the 
ham radio social circuit for the rest of 2004.  Next up is the giant 
Rochester Hamfest the weekend of June 4th through the 6th.  As usual, 
it takes place at the Monroe County Fairgrounds and is combined with 
the ARRL Atlantic Division Convention.

Chairman Harold Smith, K2HC, tells Newsline that this years outing 
features over 100 inside exhibitors, 1200 flea market spaces and that 
very much coveted on site free parking.  He also says that area 
hotels can be found for $69 a nmight or less.

Interested in finding out more?  You can do it right on-line at 
www.rochesterhamfest.org or by calling the hamfest office at 584-424-
7184 during business hours Eastern Daylight Time.  (Rochester Hamfest)

**

RADIO HONORS: HAM HONORED FOR SERVICE IN IRAQ

The United States Department of Commerce has honored Fredrick Matos, 
W3ICM, of Annapolis, Maryland.  This by presenting him with its Gold 
Medal Award for Distinguished Achievement. 

The ARRL Letter says that Matos is an employee of the National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration.  He was given the 
honor for his work to help establish telecommunications in Iraq, 
where he was deployed for nine months. 

While in Iraq, Matos who also holds the Iraqi call YI3DX helped 
establish a central telecommunications authority along with assigning 
frequencies to local law enforcement groups.  He was also responsible 
for issuing YI Amateur Radio licenses to both nationals and visitors. 

In presenting the award April 13, Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans 
welcomed Matos home and thanked him for his role in "expanding 
freedom around the world."  (ARRL, Daily DX)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  BEWARE OF FOREIGN PET CHIPS

Heres a communications story of a different sort, but one that 
affects anyone with a four legged friend around the house.  The 
United States Humane Society and other animal care organizations are  
cautioning pet owners that the nation's animal shelters may not have 
the proper scanning devices to detect and read some foreign 
manufactured pet identification microchip.

The warning comes as a European company has entered the microchip 
market and is selling its microchips in approximately 440 veterinary 
clinics housed in one of the nation's largest pet product retailers.  
But the company has not yet provided many of the nation's shelters, 
humane societies and veterinary hospitals with compatible scanners 
needed to read all the microchips currently in pets.  As a result, 
the animal protection groups recommend that pet owners thinking about 
getting their pets micro-chipped contact both the chip manufacturer 
and their local shelter.  This, to make certain that compatible 125 
kHz scanners are present in their community.  (Science OnLine)

**

WORLDBEAT - INDIA:  FREE FOR ALL

On the international scene, Amateur Radio training classes have just 
started at the National Institute of Amateur Radio in India and there 
is a very pleasant twist.  According to Administration Manager Jose 
Jacob, VU2JOS, the course is available free of charge to anyone in 
that nation who is age 12 or older.  (Q-News)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  NEW BARTG AWARDS MANAGER NAMED

Over in the U-K the British Amateur Radio Teledata Group has a new 
Awards Manager.  This, as the group announces that Phil Cooper, 
GU0SUP, has taken over from Nigel Roberets, G4KZZ, in that post.  
Cooper will handle all awards, including the well-known Quarter-
Century Award.  For more information e-mail awards at bartg.demon.co.uk  
(RSGB)

**

WORLDBEAT - SPAIN:  A WEDDING OPERATION

Spanish special event station A00FL will be on the air between the 
21st and 30th of May.  This, to celebrate the wedding of Prince 
Felipe and Doña Letizia Ortiz.  If you work this one, QSL as
directed on the air.  (Q-News)

**

ON THE AIR OPERATIONS:  THE MORRIS CANAL SPECIAL

Closer to home, July 10th and 11th are the dates when New
Jersey's Nutley Amateur Radio Society activates station W2GLQ.  
This, for the first  ever Historic Morris Canal Special Event.  

Stations will operate from various locations along the 109 miles 
route of he canal from 1300 to 2200 U-T-C.  Operations will continue 
thru 2005. 

More information is on the Nutley Amateur Radio Society website.  Its 
in cyberspace at  at www.hometown.aol.com/kc2aup  (Press release)

**

DX

In D-X, kook for K9OT and KB9LIE to be active portable F P from  
Miquelon from the evening of July 2nd until noon local July 11th.  
This is a 100 watt operation on 160 through 6 meters from the
ham radio friendly Maxotel Hotel.  They will also have a 6 meter  
breakable beacon on 50.120 Mhz. Emphasis will be on 6, 12 and 17 
meters SSB for Peg and 160 through 30 meters CW for Paul.  QSL via 
K9OT direct with SASE or bureau.  Sorry, no  electronic Q-S-L are 
available for this one.  (Various DX sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  UP - UP - AND AWAY

And finally this week, we go back to the Dayton Hamvention where 
Amateur Radio Newsline ran into one of the nations best known experts 
in Amateur Radio balloon launches.  And does Bill Brown, WB8ELK have 
a story about recruiting new young hams using high altitude ham radio 
carrying balloons.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH,
has the details:

--

Bill Brown's class is all about going up up and away--and getting 
college credit at the same time.  Brown teaches a course on building 
balloon payloads at the University of Alabama in Huntsville--and he 
makes amateur radio a big part of the curriculum.

--

Audio only:  Hear it at www.arnewsline.org

--

The ham bands get used not just by the students--but by what goes 
up.  Amateur radio experiments are aboard the payloads students 
assemble.

--

Audio only:  Hear it at www.arnewsline.org

--

Brown's class is also creating a positive effect on amateur
radio-by helping bring new people into the service:

--

Audio only:  Hear it at www.arnewsline.org

--

About five students become licensed each semester.  From the South - 
East  bureau in Birmingham Alabama,  I'm David Black , KB4KCH, for 
the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

Again that website for more information on this very interesting 
project is www.WB8ELK.com  (ARNewsline)

**

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
Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening."  