[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1417 - October 8, 2004

Sat Oct 9 10:31:06 EDT 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1417 -  October 8, 2004

The following is a Q-S-T.  A New Jersey radio club makes a big donation 
to the local community and hams in Great Britain may get more privileges 
on 40 meters.  These stories and more on Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1417 coming your way right now.

(Billboard Cart Here) 

**

PUBLIC SERVICE:  RADIO CLUB DONATES $400,000 TO NJ PARK

A radio club has donated $400,000 to Essex County, New Jersey.  This, to 
pay for renovations already made to Irvington Park where the club has 
its headquarters.  And there's more money on the way.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, has the rest of the story:

--

According to a story in the September 29th edition of the Newark Star 
Ledger, the $400,000 donated by the Irvington Amateur Radio Team came 
from the states Green Acres program.  It will be used  to pay part of 
the $1.1 million in renovations that included new tennis courts, 
basketball courts, benches and a track.

The club, a nonprofit organization that volunteers as keepers of the 
park.  It is expecting another $500,000 in Green Acres funds to pay for 
the second phase of the parks upgrade.  Phase I of the $2 million 
overall was completed during early summer.  Phase II, scheduled to begin 
next year, will include a second floor addition to the field house, 
where the radio club has its headquarters.

Phase I was completed during early summer.  Phase II, scheduled to begin 
next year, will include a second- floor addition to the field house, 
where the radio club has its headquarters. The funds obtained by the 
club have been matched by Essex County.

Charles Freeman, N2JGC, is the clubs president.  He says that the  park 
renovations have boosted community pride.  

--

Freeman:  "Its all volunteerism.  Its a bunch of wonderful people who 
dedicate their time and service to I-ART - the Irvington Amateur Radio 
Team, the Office of Emergency Management, CERT, and any way we can get 
involved in helping out our community."
--

Feeeman says that this has helped get some of the children off the 
street by getting them involved in computers and amateur radio.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ.

--

The club brought its headquarters to the park in 1998.  Soon after, 
members became the primary caretakers of the facility.  (Star-Ledger, 
ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESTRUCTURING:  VICTORIA VK HAMS LOOSE LOWER HALF OF 70CM

The bottom half of the 70 centimeter band is no longer available for 
amateur radio in most of Australia's Victoria state.  This, as the 
result of a new exclusion zone that has just become law.  W-I-A reporter 
Jim Linton VK3PC explains:

--

The ACA has prohibited all amateur radio activity on the 420-430 MHz 
band within Victoria in an area of up to a 250 kilometre radius of the 
Melbourne General Post Office. That band will now be used for a new 
state-of-the-art digital radio system to replace the current analogue 
systems of the Victoria Police, Metropolitan Ambulance Service and 
Metropolitan Fire Brigade. 

The exclusion zone has been anticipated and comes after other permanent 
Exclusion zones were imposed for similar purposes around Perth and 
Sydney, including the Australian Capital Territory. The band 420-430 MHz 
has been used for amateur fixed links and amateur television. The WIA 
has assisted with the timely closure and migration of those links in 
Victoria in liaison with the Bureau of Emergency Services 
Telecommunications and the ACA. 

The new digital voice and data radio system now being installed for 
Emergency services will also provide common coordination channels to 
support multi-agency response to major incidents and events. The aim is 
to have it fully operational well in advance of the Melbourne 
Commonwealth Games in 2006. This has been 

Jim Linton VK3PC for WIA National News. 

--

Where else the A-C-A will impose these exclusion zones is not known as 
we go to air.  (WIA News)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  MORE 40 METERS FOR UK HAMS

Meantime there is much better news coming from the U-K.  That's where 
Ofcom -- the Office of Communications -- says that it might change the 
rules and give that nations hams more access to 40 meters.  Jeramy Boot, 
G4NJH, is in Nottingham with more:

--

Ofcom is proposing to vary the Foundation, Intermediate and Full amateur 
radio licenses to permit UK amateurs to operate in the band 7,100 to 
7,200kHz. 

The band would be allocated to the Amateur Service on a Secondary basis, 
and would be available on the basis of non-interference to other 
services, inside or outside the United Kingdom.

Ofcom announced a one-month consultation period beginning on 23rd  
September and all license-holders are invited to make representations to 
this proposal in writing or by e-mail.

Jeremy Boot, G4NJH

--

The cutoff date for U-K hams to comment on this proposed Notice of 
Variation to the nations Amateur Service rules is October 23rd.  (GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  SATERN IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST

Ever hear of SATERN?  Not the planet but a group of true helping hams 
that are always ready to serve the public need.

In our reports on the numerous hurricanes that hit the United States 
mainland the past few weeks we have often referred to several high 
frequency service nets. These include the Hurricane Watch Net, the 
Maritime Mobile Services Net and of coarse SATERN - the Salvation Army 
Team Emergency Network.  You heard a lot of audio from the Hurricane 
Watch Net and the Maritime Mobile Services Net in our reports, but 
little of SATERN.  That's because it was not really audible at our 
studio here on the U-S west coast.  But we recently caught it being 
relayed on the Internet by K-A-4-E-P-S audio website and grabbed a few 
minutes of it in operation.  Sometimes it takes nothing more than a 
referral to help out.  Take a listen:

--

SATERN Net Audio.  Hear it in the audio report at www.arnewsline.org.

--

Some of you may say that it sounds a little boring to just sit there 
hours on end, taking messages or directing people to a website.  But 
that's an important part of the Salvation Army's job and the SATERN Net 
is one of its most important tools.  

Major Pat McPherson, WW9E, explains it all on the SATERN website.  He 
says that the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network provides 
emergency communication support to the Salvation Army wherever needed.  
As a result, SATERN members have found themselves in tornadoes, floods, 
hurricanes, fires, aircraft accidents, bombings, earthquakes -- just to 
name the more expected types of emergencies.

In short, SATERN is not your ordinary radio club or net. Maybe not the 
most exciting to listen in on but it is ham radio in service to the 
public, at its very best.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

ENFORCEMENT:  ENNIS COMMUNICATIONS IN $300,000 CONSENT DECREE

Turning to enforcement news, word that Emmis Communications has reached 
a $300,000 settlement with the Federal Communication Commission.  This, 
after admitting that it broadcast indecent material on the airwaves. 

Emmis owns 27 stations nationwide. The settlement comes in part from 
comments made by a nationally syndicated Chicago shock jock named Mancow 
Muller.  Muller is an air personality at  WKQX-FM and has been the 
source of every previous FCC fine issued to Emmis.  To date that totals 
$42,000.

Besides the $300,000 payment, Indianapolis-based Emmis has also agreed 
to implement a company-wide plan intended to prevent future violations.  
(FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: ONE LAST CHANCE FOR K1MAN

The FCC appears to be giving Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, one final chance to 
strictly conform to the agency's Part 97 rules.  This, before taking 
action against the Belgrade Lakes, Maine ham.  The FCC's Daryl 
Duckworth, NN0W, explains:

--

Duckworth: "A warning letter went to Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, of Belgrade 
Lakes, Maine.  Back in April of this year the Commission notified him of 
two areas of operation that would lead to enforcement action and / or 
designation for a hearing to determine his qualifications to remain a 
licensee.  This is regarding deliberate interference to ongoing 
communications and using the station for pecuniary interest.  

Copies of the warning notice were also went to the United States 
Attorney in the United States Department of Justice, District of Maine.  

This is Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, reporting."

--

In the September 15th Warning Notice the FCC's Riley Hollingsworth tells 
Baxter that the Commission has received approximately a dozen complaints 
that K1MAN Amateur Radio transmissions started on top of ongoing 
communications of individual operators, as well as on top of ongoing 
communications of the Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Net.  
Hollingsworth says that this is a net that has been handling health and 
welfare traffic for this season's hurricane victims.

As to the pecuniary interest allegation, the FCC says that this is   
because Baxter's website lists a bulletin service transmission schedule 
and items for sale on the same pages.  The FCC says that this is in 
violation of Sections 97.113(a)(2)and (3) of its rules.

Hollingsworth ends the letter by saying that failure to correct the 
violations will subject Baxter to enforcement action against his station 
and operator licenses. Baxter was given twenty days from the date the 
warning notice was issued to resoind.   (FCC, RAIN)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FINE "KIND OF" REDUCED FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR

And a follow-up to a story we reported some time ago about a few  
unauthorized transmitters coming on the air in California.  This, in 
2003 around the time of Super Bowl thirty-seven.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, is here with an update:

--

As listeners may recall, Global Radio, Inc. had requested that the FCC 
issue authority for it to operate on transmitters 89.1, 92.9, 93.7, 
96.9, 104.1 and 106.9 Mhz.  This, in conjunction with the Super Bowl 
thirty seven activities at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.  T

he FCC granted operation on 93.7 and 96.9 Mhz under the call sign 
WN3XFL, but it specifically denied Global's request to use 89.1, 92.9, 
104.1 and 106.9 Mhz.  This based on possible interference to existing 
stations in Mexico and the U.S. as outlined under bi-lateral agreements.  

But on January 26, 2003, an agent from the San Diego FCC field office 
was listening to the FM band.  He observed that WN3XFL was active and 
operating, without authorization, on 88.98, 104.1 and 106.9 Mhz.  This, 
in addition to its permitted operations on 93.7 Mhz and 96.9 Mhz.

Global's willful violation of its operating authority initially resulted 
in a fine of $12,000.  In its reply, the company claimed it could not 
pay that amount but the Commission didn't buy that argument.   Global 
also argued that its otherwise unblemished compliance record should be 
taken into account.  

Well, the FCC did just that.  Well, kind of.  Because of the unblemished 
record, the Commission reduced the fine by $1200.  If you do the math, 
that's now a fine of  $10,800 that Global has been told it has to pay.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los 
Angeles.

--

The full FCC finding in this case is on line at 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-04-3017A1.doc (CGC)

**

THE HAM BUSINESS WORLD: A HEALTHY C3I

Turning to the ham radio industry, C3I says that it is not out of the 
ham radio business.  In fact, following a short pause to reassess the 
current business climate, the concern is shipping out products and its 
business as usual according to company owner Owen Wormser, K3CB.

--

Wormser:  "We are fully operational.  We have built up a good stock of 
out standard antennas.  We have taken special orders the last two weeks.  
So, we have been able to recover in about two to two and a half weeks 
time."

--

C3I is a unique company that manufactures printed circuit board modules, 
VHF, UHF and Super High Frequency, high-performance Yagi antennas and 
related accessories for the Amateur Radio and land mobile market.  More 
information is on-line at www.c3iusa.com and look for a complete company 
profile with K3CB on an upcoming Rain Report.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  TITUSVILLE FL. IN OCTOBER

Florida's North Brevard Amateur Radio Club will be among the first to 
begin celebrating the return of the good days following the hurricanes 
of 2004.  This, as it announces that its Titusville Hamfest will be held 
on Saturday, October 23rd.

This year's venue is the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 109 building 
in Titusville.  The event is open to the public from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.  
Eastern time.  More information is on the club webpage at 
www.northbrevardradioclub.org  (Via e-mail)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  SAN DIEGO HAM RADIO ROUNDUP & HAMFEST  

And on the West side of the country the San Diego Roundup and Hamfest 
hosted by ARRL San Diego Section takes place October 30th from 8 a.m. to 
4 p.m.. The location is Hilltop Recreation  Center on Ovieda Way at San 
Diego.  For more information contact KC6NXZ by telephone at area code 
619-561-6678 during normal business hours Pacific coast time.  (Via e-
mail)

**

RALPH WRIGHT (MIKE RIVERS), W5JVI - S.K.

More sad news to report with word of the passing of Ralph Wendel Wright, 
W5VJI.  Better known to his many fans as Mike Rivers, Wright dominated 
the airwaves at radio station CKLW from 1967 to 1970.  

Wright suffered a cerebral bleed in May from which he never recovered.  
He passed away at his home in Antioch, Tennessee on Monday night 
September 13th.  

In addition to being a top rated air personality W5JVI was also a gifted 
musician, jingle writer, a master at radio production and a very active 
ham radio operator.  No public memorial service was  planned.   (W2JKD)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  FRANK TUREK, DL7FT - S.K.

Also, noted D-Xpeditioner, Frank Turek, DL7FT, became a "Silent Key"  on 
August 17th.  Over the years Turek traveled to many rare locations to 
hand out new country  contacts to many operators worldwide.  He is 
survived by his wife Siegrid, DL7CN, who will be handling QSL duties and 
will continue to keep the DL7FT Post Office Box open.  (OPDX)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  RAC LEADERS RESIGN FOR HEALTH ISSUE

Two key officers of Canada's national Amateur Radio Society have stepped 
down for health related reasons.  According to an RAC bulletin issued on 
October 5th, President Daniel Lamoureux, VE2KA, and First Vice-president 
Bob Nash, VE3KZ have resigned after having been hospitalized with heart 
related problems. 

The bulletin says that the Radio Amateurs of Canada Board of Directors 
will convene a special meeting as quickly as possible.  This, to deal 
with the vacancies created by these resignations.  No date for the 
meeting has yet been announced.  (RAC)

**

RADIO HEALTH:  KOREAN RESEARCHERS CLAIM CANCER CONNECTION TO HIGH POWER 
RADIO TRANSMISSIONS

Korean scientists sat that they have found that regions near some A-M 
radio broadcasting towers show 70 percent more leukemia deaths than 
those without.  This, according to Wired News which reports that  the 
study, to be published in an upcoming issue of the International 
Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, also found that 
cancer deaths were 29 percent higher near such transmitters. 

Two years ago an Italian investigation found death rates from leukemia 
increased dramatically for residents living within two miles of Vatican 
Radio's powerful array of transmitters in Rome.  The Koreans looked at 
the death rates in 10 regions with AM radio transmitting towers 
broadcasting at more than 100 kilowatts and compared them with control 
areas without transmitters. 

The substantially higher cancer mortality in those who lived within two 
kilometers of the towers led researchers to conclude that more 
investigation was needed.   However, they also said their study did not 
prove a direct link between cancer and the transmitters.  (Published 
news reports)

**

HAM RADIO NEAR SPACE:  A NEW ALTITUDE RECORD BY SIMSAT 1B

Pat Kilroy, N8PK, reports a new altitude record of over 112,900 feet was 
set by the SimSat-1B mission when it flew last week.  Pat says that 
while the VHF telemetry failed early in the flight there are numerous 
clues as to why and the group is piecing the puzzle to help improve for 
future operations.

The Simulated Satellite or SimSat project is an education and outreach 
activity being developed by N8PK at the NASA Goddard Space Flight 
Center. A SimSat spacecraft uses a small high-altitude weather balloon 
platform to fly experiments designed and built by students to near-space 
altitudes. 

In this case, a tiny CricketSat transmitter on UHF was also on board as 
a last minute hitchhiker.  Powered by a standard 9 Volt  alkaline 
battery and producing under 20 milliwatts, it operated all the way 
through splashdown and saved the day for tracking the flight. 

More information and the part ham radio plays is on line at 
www.patkilroy.com/simsat on the World Wide Web.  (N8PK)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  MICROSAT ON DISPLAY

And some news from Dr. Perry Klein, W3PK, who says that The Smithsonian 
National Museum of American History has put a Microsat Mechanical Test 
Model on display in time for AMSAT's 35th Anniversary meetings.  The 
satellite is suspended from the ceiling outside the NN3SI Smithsonian 
Amateur Radio Club station.  That's located at "The Information Age" 
exhibit on the first floor at the West end of the American History 
Museum.  (ANS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SOLDERING ON-ORBIT

Meantime, the ham astronauts on the International Space Station have 
been trying to solder in zero gravity, and the results are intriguing.  
The NASA website says that the solder, heated, became a molten blob with 
a droplet of rosin clinging tight to the outside.  As the temperature 
increased, the droplet began to spin, round and round, faster and 
faster, like a miniature carnival ride.  You can see and enjoy the video 
of this experiment at at: 
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2004/16aug_solder.htm (ANS)

**

DX

In D-X, word that G3UML is joining the Oceania DX Group operation from 
Lord Howe Island which is scheduled to start on 9th October. Separate 
stations will be active on CW and SSB.  (GB2RS)

And look for DF7XE to be active portable SV8 from Thassos Island through 
the 13th of October.  He will be using CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY on 10 to 
80 meters.  (OPDX)

Lastly, information that PA0CJH operating as 9G5JH is active from Ghana 
until November 13th.  He is on 80, 40, 20, 17 and 15 meters using SSB, 
CW and PSK31.  For each of these operations, Q-S-L as directed on the 
air.  (OPDX)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  ITS JOTA TIME

And finally this week, its time for scouts around the land to get 
together and take to the ham bands in the annual Jamboree on the Air.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, is also a parent 
involved in the scouting program and has this inside look at the big 
event:

--

It's one of the best operating events of the year.

 Why?

Because it showcases the best of our hobby to thousands of young people 
across the country and around the world.

For me, and others, it also gives us as operators a chance to reach out 
in brotherhood and friendship to young people. We get to serve as a 
bridge with our radios to other children and teens who share similar 
interests in Scouting.

Charlie Beck, chairman of Venture Crew 59, sponsored by the Frankford 
Radio Club and based out of Kutztown, PA is excited about his group's 
plans.

He says they will be operating KC3BSA from the Hawk Mountain Scout 
Reservation in Summit Station in eastern Pennsylvania.

"We're going to set up a couple stations in our science and tech 
center," Beck says.

At this point, he says you'll find Crew 59 on the HF bands on phone, CW 
and PSK 31. He says there are also plans to set up a VHF station and an 
EchoLink position.

Becks says the best part of the weekend event is getting visitors to the 
operation involved.

"I know we have some Girl Scout units and Cub packs and Boy Scout troops 
that will be stopping by," Beck explains. "They'll all get a turn to get 
on the air and try to make a contact with another Scout in another part 
of the world."

Beck says some get mike-shy, but that quickly dissolves with the help of 
a Venture Crew member sitting beside them.

"They'll be giving their name, their rank and talk about their hobbies 
and tell them where they're calling from which would be Schuylkill 
County in eastern Pennsylvania," Beck says.

Beck says the special part about JOTA is its diversity.

"There are Girl Scouts and Girl Guides. There's the World Association of 
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts that are invited to join in the JOTA," Beck 
says. "There's also a patch that the Girl Scouts can earn just like the 
Boy Scouts can earn for making contacts."

And, he says, for those who are a little shy about grabbing the 
microphone, there's also a keyboard.

"It's interesting to find the quiet Scout or the quiet boy to come in 
and sit down and get behind PSK 31 and really get in there and spend an 
hour chatting with different people around the world," Beck says.

Beck says Scouts across the country and around the world will be camping 
out and working radios from field conditions. Others will be going to 
stations of operators who've invited them in to take part.

Operators play a big part in making it happen and whether you've been a 
Scout in your lifetime isn't a factor. It's simply sharing the joy of 
the Amateur Radio service we've all come to appreciate.

Hope to hear you on the air during JOTA weekend.

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

--

The 47th Jamboree on the Air takes place October 16th and 17th.  More 
information is on line at www.scout.org/wse/jota.shtml and the Leagues 
website at www.arrl.org.

**

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. 