[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1410 - August 20, 2004

Sat Aug 21 09:06:32 EDT 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1410 - August 20,  2004

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1410 with a release date of Friday, 
August 20th, 2004 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   

The following is a Q-S-T.  Ham radio is ready as Hurricane Charley comes 
ashore.  Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 
1410 coming your way right now.

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO AND HURRICANE CHARLEY

Packing 145-mile per hour winds Hurricane Charley slammed into west-
central Florida, ravaging oceanfront homes and trailer parks, tearing 
apart small planes and inundating the coast. More than a half million 
customers were left without power or telephone service statewide. Damage 
was especially heavy in downtown Punta Gorda on Charlotte Harbor.  
Warren Elly, W1GUD, is a Tampa based TV reporter sent to cover the 
aftermath of Charley coming on shore:

--

Audio report only.  Hear it in mp3 audio in the current newscast posted 
at http://www.arnewsline.org/quincy

--

Warren's report was filed early Monday the 16th.  Since then President 
George Bush has declared some sections of Florida as a major disaster 
area.  His brother, Florida Governor Jeb Bush, projected damage from 
Charley could exceed 15 billion dollars, but that estimate was 
preliminary.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESCUE RADIO RULES:  FCC CLARIFIES EMERGENCY DECLARATIONS

The FCC has issued what amounts to a white paper to clarify the  rules 
hams must follow when providing communications during an emergency.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, is here to sort it all 
out:

--

With the hurricane season upon us and wildfires and other severe weather 
hitting various parts of the nation, the Federal Communications 
Commission believes now is the time for a clarification on Emergency 
Communications Declarations.

What is an Emergency Communications Declaration or ECD?

When a natural disaster or accident interrupts or disrupts normal 
communications systems in a particular area, the FCC - at the request of 
emergency management officials or an amateur radio operator acting on 
behalf of emergency officials - issues an Emergency Communications 
Declaration.

Essentially, the order defines special conditions and special rules to 
be followed by amateur radio stations providing service during the 
communications emergency in that particular area. 

The FCC says occasionally, it receives requests for Emergency 
Communications Declarations before a hurricane or tropical storm hits. 
The FCC says such requests generally arrive anywhere from 24 to 72 hours 
in advance of weather predictions citing potential damage to a 
particular area.

But under Section 97.401(a), emergency communications before an event 
CAN be established to meet essential needs of a community or to help 
prepare relief activities. The commission acknowledges  preparations to 
meet a disaster may overload or damage normal communications systems so 
it allows amateur stations to make emergency transmissions at any time 
prior to or even during a disaster.

In essence, the FCC says there's no need for an ECD because the actual 
event disrupting communications has not occurred.

So, the FCC says such declarations WILL NOT be issued until AFTER the 
disaster disrupts normal communications in a geographic area subject to 
FCC regulation.

Speaking of emergencies, it doesn't necessarily have to be a weather-
related incident, as we found on September 11, 2001. It can also be a 
transportation accident such as a railroad incident or a fire or 
explosion.

Whatever the emergency, once communications are disrupted, the FCC says 
there are only two sources from which it will accept an application for 
an ECD. The first is an emergency management official responsible for 
communications in the affected area. The second is an amateur radio 
operator acting at the request of an emergency management official.

The FCC says such applications must contain very specific information 
such as:

-	The date the event has taken place.
-	The nature of the disaster.
-	A description of the communications system disrupted and a contact 
person who can verify the damage.
-	The geographic area affected - city, county, state or region.
-	Listing of the VHF/UHF, MF or HF frequencies to be used during the 
emergency.
-	An estimated time the disruption of normal communications is 
expected to last.

The FCC says an Emergency Communications Declaration will contain an 
expiration date. However, the commission says that date can be extended 
at the request of the emergency official or authorized party making the 
original request.

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

--

The FCC's Communications and Crisis Management Center is the place where 
Emergency Communications Declaration requests are sent.  You can reach 
them by phone at 202-418-1122, that's 202-418-1122.  FAX requests are 
handled at 202-418-2813, 202-418-2813. Or, you can make the filing by e-
mail to  comm(hyphen)ctr at fcc.gov.  (ARNewsline (tm))

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  AUTOMATING EMERGENCY ALERTS

A new technology soon to debut in 12 states will significantly extend 
Amber alerts, reaching cell phones, e-mail and handheld computers.  It 
could also be used to transmit weather and 
terrorism alerts.  

According to news reports the system uses a simple broadcast technology 
that takes the information from a Web portal and reconfigures it for 
different types of broadcast.  By way of example, a state department of 
transportation might receive it in one format for its road signs and 
another for its information number. 

More important, people with cell phones can sign up  to receive Amber 
alerts with their local county or with state authorities. The text of an 
alert can be sent immediately to local TV news stations and Web sites.  
(Science OnLine)

**

RADIO RULES:  INTERNET LINKING IN THE UK

Telecommunications regulators are about to make ham radio internet 
linking a lot easier on the other side of the Atlantic.  This, as Ofcom 
which is the U-K equivalent of our FCC issues new and more liberalized 
rules.  RSGB news presenter  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has more:

--

Ofcom has announced the decisions it has taken about changes to the 
procedure and terms of issuing Notices of Variation (NoV) for Internet 
Linking Gateways.

Ofcom proposes to pass the Internet-linking NoV process to the RSGB to 
issue NoVs on behalf of Ofcom. The RSGB will be announcing procedures 
for NoV renewal shortly and queries on the 
renewal process should be directed to the Society.

Ofcom's decisions were made following the notification of four proposals 
which gave those holding an NoV the opportunity to make representations.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham.

--

For those interested the complete set of new U K Internet linking rules 
is on line at http://tinyurl.com/4LE8P  (GB2RS)

**

RADIO RULES:  VANITY FEE REMINDER

Back here in the USA, a reminder from the FCC that the new Amateur Radio 
vanity call sign fee of $20.80 for the 10-year license term became 
effective on Tuesday, August 10th.  Not on Friday, August 6 as we and 
and others had announced.  

The reason for the last minute change?  A management-level staffer in 
the FCC's Office of Managing Director explained to the ARRL that the 
Commission was not necessarily bound by the August 6 effective date The 
Federal Register indicates.  That date was 30 days after publication of 
the order containing the new fee schedule.  (ARRL, FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  NO LICENSE - STAY OFF THE AIR

Meantime the FCC has written to a pair of unlicensed operators telling 
them to stay off the air.  The agency's Daryl Duckworth, NNZ0W, 
explains:

--

Duckworth: A warning notice went to Rick Shepherd of Crescent City, 
California for unlicensed operation on 146.515 MHz along the 
Oregon/California border aboard the fishing vessel Sunset.

David Shoemaker of Sebina, Ohio, also apparently not in the FCC 
Licensing Database was issued a warning notice for unlicensed operation 
from a vehicle with license plates registered in his name.  The 
transmissions were on 28.085 MHz near the intersection of I-71 and U.S. 
36.

--

Shepherd and Shoemaker were both told that operation of radio 
transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of Section 301 
of the Communications Act of 1934.  They were also informed that 
continued operation could lead to fine or imprisonment, as well as  
seizure of any non-certified radio transmitting equipment that they own.  
Monetary forfeitures for unlicensed operation normally range from $7,500 
to $10,000.  (FCC, RAIN)

**

RADIO RULINGS:  FCC PERMITS SAN JOSE STATION TO BUILD SAN FRANSCISCO 
TRANSMITTER

The San Franscisco Chronicle reports that thousands of people in and 
around San Francisco will be able to watch NBC television over the air 
again.  This, courtesy of a Federal Communications Commission ruling on 
Thursday, August 12th, that will let KNTV build a new transmitter to 
cover the area. 

According to the news story, the San Jose based station will be 
permitted to construct a new transmitter atop San Bruno Mountain which 
overlooks San Francisco.  The station claims this site will reach 
400,000 people who lost service when KNTV became the Bay Area's NBC 
affiliate in 2001.  (FCC, San Franscisco Chronicle and other published 
news stories)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  ANOTHER OPERATION FROM IRAQ

Even as the military action in Iraq continues another ham radio stAtion 
has come on the air from that war torn region.  This, word that Ryszard 
Nowakowski, SP8HKT has been licensed to operate as YI9KT.  

Ryszard will be there for five months.  He uses a 100 watt radio into a 
vertical antenna on all bands from 40 to 10 meters.  He operates mostly 
on C-W but will come onto SSB if you make the request.  (GB2RS)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  NEW QCWA OFFICERS ELECTED

Former FCC rules man John B. Johnston, W3BE, is the new President of the 
Quarter Century Wireless Association.  Also elected are Vice-President 
Bob Roske, NOUF: Secretary Alan Pickering, KJ9N and Treasurer Frank 
Harris,  WA4PAM 

Elected to serve as QCWA Directors are Tom Atkins, VE3CDM: Harold Chase, 
W1EES: Lew Gordon, K4VX: Jerrel Jones, W5TUU; Ray Minichello, W1BC: Len 
Nathanson, W8RC: Blanche Randles, W4GXZ, and Ed Yoder W3YMB.  

Both Gordon and Nathanson are former Directors of the ARRL.  2307 QCWA 
members returned ballots in this years election.  (QCWA)

**

EVENTS:  2004 QCWA NATIONAL CONVENTION IN OTTAWA

And speaking about the QCWA. word that the organization will hold its 
2004 international convention in Canada.  The dates are October 15th 
through the 17th at the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa.  

This years gathering is hosted by the National Capital Chapter 70.  More 
information is on line at www.qcwa.org/2004convention.htm  (QCWA)

**

ON THE NET:  LINUX CONTINUES TO GROW

The use of the Linux operating system especially among experimenters 
including ham radio operators is quietly growing.  One in five servers 
sold last year to handle Internet traffic and corporate networks ran on 
Linux.  

Observers say that the economic downturn may be responsible for the 
Linux move. The Linux operating system was created as the people's 
software, free and open for everyone to use in an attempt to thwart the 
commercialization of all Internet technology.  Amateur  radio was among 
tgher first to truly embrace it and may ham radio applications are 
written for Linux based operation.  (Published news reports)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NASA CELEBRATES ISS AT MARINA AIR FAIRE

Scott Avery, WA6LIE, reports over the AMSAT mailing list that NASA will 
have a booth set up at  the Marina Air Faire in Marina, California  on 
October 16th.  Scott says that the plan is to make a live I-S-S voice 
contact and to also have a video of Q-S-O's made with the space station 
playing for passers by to see.  Scott adds that any help in getting 
video files of school contacts with the I-S-S would be appreciated.  For 
more information please contact him by e-mail to wa6lie at msn.com  
(WA6LIE)

**

WORLDBEAT:  LIGHTHOUSES OF AUSTRALIA 2004 ANNUAL DINNER WEEKEND 

Turning to news from around the world, word that this year's Lighthouses 
of Australia Dinner will be held in Launceston, Tasmania Saturday, 
October 2nd. The dinner will include a tour to the National Archives 
Office Exhibition on Australian Lighthouses titled "Beacons by the Sea."  
Also scheduled is a visit to the Low Head Light and the Pilot Station 
Maritime Museum also at Low Head the same weekend.  (WIA News)

**

WORLDBEAT:  RADIO CLUB GETS GRANT TO TEACH THE HOBBY

The Thornton-Cleveleys Amateur Radio Society in the United Kingdom has 
recently received a grant of close to 5,000 British Pounds.  This, to 
help in the promotion of amateur radio. Over the past two and a half 
years the club has held 18 examination classes with 150 passing the U-K 
Foundation class ham radio license exam.  (GB2RS)

**

WORLDBEAT: GB4WTA COMMEMORATING THE UK WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ACT

GB2RS reports that Ted Moore, G7AIR, and members of the Eddystone Users 
Group will operate as GB4WTA on Sundays and some Saturdays through the 
28th of August.  The station commemorates the centenary of the United 
Kingdoms Wireless Telegraphy Act, which came into effect on the 15th of 
August 1904.  GB4WTA will operate from Wireless Hill in the Rutland 
area.  (GB2RS)

**

DX

In D-X word that K4QD will be QRV August 16 to 27 portable HH4 from.  
This, from the Northwest Christian Mission in Haiti.  Activity will be 
on most H-F bands plus 6 meters, using CW and SSB as time permits.  QSL 
to his home call. (K5SW via VHF Reflector)

And GB6LOP is a special events station that will take to the air to 
celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of Paris during Word 
War 2.  The station will operate on all modes, starting August 25th and 
will be on for 4 weeks. Your QSL card will be required beforehand in 
order to receive the special QSL from this station. Please QSL via RSARS 
QSL Bureau. For further information contact G0SWY by e-mail to 
G0SWY at aol.com  (G0SWY)

And also listen for HS7-B on from Thailand.  This special event call 
sign has been issued to celebrate the Queen's 72nd birthday. The call 
sign will be in use during any SEA NET activities. QSL via operators' 
instructions. (RSGB)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: THE BIG T-HUNT:  HOW THE U.S. NAVY KEEPS TRACK OF EARTH 
ORBITING SATELLITES

The U.S. Navy has built an exotic radar system to track earth orbiting 
satellites, and the system has been in place for many years.  Now, 
thanks to a couple of sleuths, details of the Navy's system have been 
posted on the web.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has 
the details:

--

The Navy's satellite tracking system appears to consist of multiple 
transmit and receive sites across the U.S., and one of the receive sites 
just happens to be located in San Diego County a few miles north of 
Brown Field.  This, according to web-published coordinate data as 
reported in the CGC Communicator broadcast industry newsletter. 

And if think UHF moon bounce antennas have gain, wait until you see the 
giant array built near Lake Kickapoo, Texas.  This two mile long antenna 
transmits continuously on 216.98 Mhz with an unmodulated carrier and has 
a beamwidth of only 0.02 degrees in one plane.   So powerful is the 
transmitted signal that when the moon passes through the beam, the 
return echo is said to be detectable on earth with only a dipole antenna 
attached to a receiver.  Talk about the ultimate E-M-E.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Bruice Tennant, K6PZW, in Los 
Angeles.

--

If all this is fascinating and you want to learn more, take your web 
browser over to:   http://www.gate.net/~tomk/navspasur/navspasur5.html 
and 
  http://www.jump.net/~crossley/NAVSPASUR/index.html  (CGC)

**

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 W-I-A 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. 