[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1426 - December 10, 2004

Fri Dec 10 18:53:58 EST 2004

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1426 -  December 10, 2004

The following is a Q-S-T.  Hams nationwide are asked to help find two 
missing radio amateurs and the president says its time to define future 
spectrum needs.  These stories and more on Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1426 coming your way right now.

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO COUPLE MISSING AFTER SELLING BOAT IN NEWPORT 
BEACH, CA USA

Police are asking your help in finding a husband and wife ham radio team 
who seem to have vanished off the face of the Earth:

---

Saunders: "They have disappeared.  Their familky and friends are worried 
anout them.  They have been missing for for a couple of weeks."

--

Thats Richard Saunders, K6RBS, asking the nations ham radio community 
for help in locating Thomas Hawks, KD7VWJ, and his wife Jackie, KD7VWK.  
The pair have been reported missing by family members after they 
recently sold the boat on which they have been living and then vanished.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, picks up the story from 
here:

--

Authorities describe Thomas Hawks, KD7VWJ, as a 57 year old male 
caucasian.  He is 5' 8" tall and weighs 185 pounds with short brown hair 
and hazel eyes.  Jackie Hawks, KD7VWK, is said to be 47, with brown hair 
and  brown eyes.  She stands, 5' 6" and weighs about 110 pounds

Thomas Hawks is  a retired Arizona Probation Officer.  He and his wife  
had spent much of their time traveling on their boat between Newport 
Beach, San Diego and San Carlos, Mexico.  Though they claim residency in 
Prescott, Arizona, they have been spending much of their time living on 
their boat in the area of 15th Street and Balboa Blvd. in Newport Beach, 
California.  But they recently sold the boat and thats the last anyone 
has seen of them. 

--

Saunders:  "Initially, we thought that they may be traveling on their 
boat down to Mexico to Baja, however we have since found out -- or the 
police have since found out that they sold their boat about 8 weeks 
ago."

--

They last spoke with family members on or about November 15th and had no 
known Thanksgiving plans.

The Hawks own a 1998 Silver Honda C-R-V with Arizona license plates of 
774CPE and could be traveling in that vehicle. While the Hawks could be 
traveling anywhere, they would likely be traveling between Newport 
Beach, Arizona and Mexico.  Its not known if there is ham radio gear 
mounted in the vehicle.  Police say that they have no specific facts to 
indicate foul play but the family told detectives it is unlikely the 
Hawks would go this long without being in touch with them by telephone.   
Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of the couple are 
asked to contact Newport Beach Police Department detectives at 1-800-
550-NBPD or 1-800-550-6273. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reporting.

--

Once again, if you can provide any leads to the whereabouts of Thomas 
and Jackie Hawks, please contact the Newport Beach California Police 
Department at 1-800-550-NBPD or 1-800-550-6273  (ARNewsline(tm), K6RBS)

**

RADIO LAW:  PRESIDENT BUSH ORDERS AGENCIES TO DEFINE SPECTRUM USE

Turning to regulatory issues, word that President Bush has issued a 
memorandum directing executive departments and agencies to better manage 
their current and future radio spectrum use.  The memo says that under 
the existing framework, the federal government generally reviews every 
change in spectrum us.  It says that this process is often slow and 
inflexible, and can discourage the introduction of new technologies.  It 
also stated that the current legal and policy spectrum has not kept pace 
with the dramatic changes in technology and spectrum use.

While the memo sets deadlines for agencies to submit their requirements 
and planned uses for electromagnetic spectrum it must be noted that it 
was the very scenario that prompted the President to establish the 
Spectrum Policy Initiative in 2003.  At the same time me also directed 
the Commerce Secretary to make recommendations on ways to improve 
spectrum management.  The Commerce Department then established a Federal 
Government Spectrum Task Force and held a series of public meetings 
seeking input to improve policies affecting spectrum use. 

Badri Younes, director of Defense Spectrum Management applauded the 
president's memo.  He is quoted as saying that spectrum is a national 
asset and a resource that's critical to the Department of Defense 
operations.  As such It needs to be protected and we need to ensure that 
this national asset remains viable.  This, as we rely more and more on 
it to enable our war-fighters to do their missions,

What affect this memo and its political fallout might have on Amateur 
Radio is unknown, but traditionally the military has favored having ham 
radio as a spectrum sharing partner.  This is because they know that 
they can count on ham radio for full support in just about any 
situation.

More on this is on-line at http://www.gcn.com/vol1_no1/daily-
updates/28018-1.html  (CGC, other published reports)

** 

RADIO LAW:  THE NEW AMERICAN UHF WOODPECKER REVISITED

And speaking about ham radios relations with the military, we have an 
update to last weeks story about the pulsing or clicking  noise on a 
number of weak UHF repeater users in the South-West.  The one that hams 
in the Denver area have nicknamed "The woodpecker."  

Amateur Radio Newsline has learned that the American Radio Relay League 
is aware of the situation and has been investigating it for some time.  
According to our sources. the ARRL feels it is best for them to handle 
it through their high level channels and request that the ham radio 
community to be patient, not to act unilaterally, nor in haste.  

More on this story in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

NEW MILITARY RADIO SYSTEM: TROUBLE FOR GARAGE DOOR OPENERS

Meantime, the CGC Communicator reports on a new military radio system 
thats causing garage door openers to malfunction.  The system is being 
installed at at least 100 military bases around the nation.  It just 
happens to operate in the 390 MHz band, where spectrum is shared with 
millions of garage door openers.  

The garage door openers are secondary users with the military having 
primary status.  Pentagon sources say the system's adverse effects will 
primarily be confined to garage doors located within 10 miles of a base, 
although in some cases interference have already been noticed much 
further away.

Government and industry officials differ on how widespread the eventual 
negative effect will be on consumers.  The government predicts it will 
be limited but the garage door opener industry says it will be worse but 
wants more information on it from the military.  One group estimates 
that at least 50 million garage door openers in the United States use 
the same frequency as the new military radios. (CGC)

**

THE BPL FIGHT: MORE MOTIONS TO RECONSIDER FILED WITH FCC

The National Antenna Consortium and the Amherst Alliance have asked the 
FCC to reconsider its recently adopted changes to ease deployment of 
"Broadband over power lines" technology. 

The National Antenna Consortium and Amherst have many amateur radio 
operator members, who are concerned about interference to ham 
frequencies from BPL devices.  The groups believe the FCC should wait to 
help more BPL devices get into the marketplace until interference 
studies are completed by the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration. NAC and Amherst believe the commission "has failed to 
implement all of the reasonable options for mitigating BPL interference 
and is essentially promoting all such technologies "regardless of 
quality." 

As previously reported, the regulatory agency recently changed some of 
its Part 15 rules to ease deployment by wired carriers of broadband. The 
two trade groups now call for a moratorium on installation of most BPL 
devices, pending further studies. More information is on line at 
www.antenna-consortium.org.  (RsdioWorld On-Line)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  ANOTHER $21,000 FINE PROPOSED FOR EX-KG6IRO

>From the "we told you so department" comes word that the FCC has 
proposed an additional twenty-one-thousand dollar fine against Jack 
Gerritsen, the former KG6IRO.  This on the heels of a ten thousand 
dollar fine that the agency affirmed against the former California ham 
in October.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has been 
following the Gerritsen saga and has the rest of the story:

--

The FCC wants to hand Jack Gerritsen, the ex KG6IRO a proposed fine in 
the amount of $21,000.  But it has to find him first.  And for the past 
three weeks or so, Jack Gerritsen is no place to be found.  At least the 
unlicensed male operator using the null and void call sign KG6IRO has 
not been heard on any of the Los Angeles area repeaters for that amount 
of time.  

Word of the latest Notice of Apparent Liability to Monetary Forfeiture 
to Gerritsen has spread like wildfire across the Internet and packet 
radio networks after the ARRL posted a news item on it to its website.  
In a nutshell, it said that the FCC was hitting Gerritsen with the 
$21,000 N-A-L because of interference he caused to hams operating 
numerous Southern California repeaters.  This, in a time frame from June 
through September of this year.  

This latest notice comes on the heels of a $10,000 fine for earlier 
violations.  One affirmed by the FCC only a few weeks ago and not 
associated with other allegations of  jamming Coast Guard Emergency 
Communications that we reported three weeks ago.  That matter is 
reportedly still under investigation by military authorities.

Gerritsen, or at least the voice on the air claiming to be Jack  
Gerritsen has never denied making the transmissions.  Quite the 
opposite.  On numerous occasions he has come up in the middle of an 
ongoing Q-S-O and announced that his intentions to take over the 
channel.  He has then proceeded to cause interference, usually by 
playing a tape of his anti government political rhetoric and his 
opposition to the U.S. military action in the Middle East.

--

Sample of Gerritsen anti-war audio recorded off-air:  "...those high 
explosives are now in the hands of patriots defending their country from 
our invasion kiling hundreds of the coalition forces and more than a 
thousand Americans who are still looking for weapons of mass 
destruction.  Do we need four more years of this?  Kilowatt 6 
(undescernable....) Oscar.)

--

One way that hams in the area have handled these attacks on their 
repeater systems has been to simply shut them down.  Others, with 
multiple sites tend to turn off receivers that the Gerritsen voice can 
access to while keeping communications going through other receive sites 
he cannot reach.  Some of these countermeasures have at times seemingly 
angered the voice claiming to be Gerritsen.  

--

Sample of voice claiming to be "KG6IRO voice" admonishing repeater 
owners:  "Your attention please.  To all repeater owners and operators.  
For those of you who demand or request that I not (undescernable) their 
repeater with my radio signal, I have the same demand and request that 
you stay out of the receiver of my radio equipment.  Kilo Golf 6 India 
Romeo Oscar."

--

On several occasions he has threatened legal action against those taking 
him off the air based on his First Amendment Constitutional guarantee to 
freedom of expression.  So far those threats have proven groundless.  
Now, the real Jack Gerritsen is no place to be found.  There are a 
number of rumors that he has left the United States for Central or South 
America, but at airtime none have been substantiated.  

All that's definite is that former radio amateur Jack Gerritsen owes the 
government at least $10,000 and has the new proposed $21,000 fine 
waiting in the wings.  And there's still that Coast Guard issue that 
could bring with it a much harsher penalty.  We will all have to wait 
and see.

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

--

Back in 2001, the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau  rescinded 
its Amateur Radio license grant to Gerritsen.  This, after learning of 
his earlier state conviction for interfering with Los Angeles area 
police radio communications.  (ARNewsline(tm) from numerous sources 
includinh K6PZW, ARRL, and numerous others)

**

ENFORCEMENT: PIRATE FINE REDUCED

Meantime, the FCC has reduced a fine issued to Angelo Avena from $10,000 
to $1,000.  This, based on Avena's providing proof to the regulatory 
agency of his inability to pay the larger amount. 

Avena had repeatedly operated an unlicensed radio transmitter on 87.9 
MHz after being warned by the FCC not to do so.  The incidents occurred 
in the city of Linden, New Jersey.  (CGC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  TELL US WHY YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR TICKET

Still with enforcement news, the FCC has sent a follow-up letter to an 
unidentified Sommers Point, New Jersey ham concerning interference to 
the Dover Township Police Department.  The agency's Daryl Duckworth, 
NN0W, reports:

--

Duckworth:" His request for dismissal of the matter before the FCC is 
denied.  The Commission has the authority to obtain information 
regarding qualifications to remain a licensee.  He is requested to 
respond in detail to the circumstances involving his interference with 
police communications.  

This has been Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, reporting,"

--

in its letter the FCC also clarified an earlier error where in it had 
stated that the unnamed licensee had entered a guilty plea ri 
interference to emergency communications.  The FCC now says the guilty 
plea was to a charge of disorderly conduct.  (FCC, RAIN)

**

HAMVENTION NEWS:  NEW AGREEMENT WILL KEEP HAMVENTION AT HARA THROUGH 
2007

The Dayton Hamvention will remain at the HARA Arena at least another 
three years.  This, according to General Chairman Gary De Combes, N8EMO.

On Tuesday, December 7th, De Combes announced a new pact with the owners 
of the HARA Arena complex.  One that will keep the world's biggest 
gathering of Amateur Radio enthusiasts at its long time home at least 
through 2007.

Over the years there have been persistent rumors that the Hamventionr 
would leave the Dayton area.  Last May Hamvention planners promised that 
that they  would do all within their power to keep the Hamvention in its 
birthplace of Dayton, Ohio.   De  Combes says that now this important 
goal has been fulfilled.  

The 2005 the Dayton Hamventionr is scheduled for May 20th through the  
22nd.  Next years Hamvention will also host the 2005 ARRL National 
Convention.  This means that there will be some special added 
attractions and very special guests in attendance. 

Full information for those planning to attend the combined 2005 Dayton 
Hamvention and ARRL National Convention is on line at our newly 
redesigned, easy to navigate website.  Its in cyberspace at 
www.hamvention.org  (Dayton Hamvention(r))

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY 2005

Mark Sunday, January 9, at 8AM for Ham Radio University, 2005.  As 
usual, the venue is  Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, New York with the 
event sponsored by the ARRL New York City/Long Island Section 
Convention.

The focus of Ham Radio University 2005 will be "hands on" with many 
demonstrations presented by experts in many areas.  This will include a 
Voice Over Internet Protocol forum hosted by author Jonathan Taylor, 
K1RFD. 

New this year are forums on "Urban Ham Radio" for those who live in 
apartments or in gated communities where no antennas or towers are 
allowed.  The keynote speaker this year will be Riley Hollingsworth of 
the FCC Enforcement Bureau. 

For more information contact George Tranos N2GA by e-mail to 
N2GA at arrl.org or take your web browser to 
www.hudson.arrl.org/nli/hru2005.htm.  (K2DO)

**

ARNEWSLINE™ SUPPORT FUND REPORT WITH N6TCQ

Ladies and gentlemen, once again here is Amateur Radio Newsline's 
Support Fund Administrator, Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

Before I get into the main business of my report, please permit me to 
extend a warm welcome to our new corporate Secretary, Joe Shrader, 
W9JUV, of Gllenview, Illinois.  As longtime listeners know, Joe has been 
part of the Amateur Radio Newsline family ever since its early days as 
Westlink Radio.  Before that he was the Editor of H-R- Report, the first 
ever ham radio mailout newsletter.  Joe replaces Robert Sudock, WB6FDF, 
who stepped down earlier in the year for personal reasons.  

Now to my job.  That of treasurer and chief fund raiser for Amateur 
Radio Newsline.  And right now, the news is not very good.

Yes, Newsline did get some support since my last report two months ago, 
but not enough to see it through the winter months.  In fact, it will be 
lucky to be here through the end of January with the meager amount now 
on hand.  Obviously this means turning again to its listeners for 
support.

As we have often said, the future of Amateur Radio Newsline is in the 
hands of the listening public.  Just like your local PBS television 
station, Newsline is listener supported.  You keep it on the air with 
your generous, tax deductible donations.  ARNewsline simply cannoy exist 
without you.

Once again, the address for the Newsline Support Fund is Post Office Box 
660937, Arcadia California.  The Zipcode is 91066.  Again, that's the 
Newsline Support Fund at Post Office Box 660937, Arcadia California 
91066.  

On behalf of the entire production team and the world wide Amateur Radio 
family, I say thank you once again for your ongoing generosity and your 
support.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline support fund, I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

Thank you Andy.

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  HAM RADIO INVENTOR HAS HIS EYE ON WATCHING LOCAL 
TV FROM ANYWHERE

A 57-year-old New York inventor, entrepreneur and amateur radio operator 
who has spent a considerable amount of time living and working in Moscow 
has found a way to satisfy his desire to tune in local television 
programming.  This, as long as he can access a broadband Internet 
connection. 

Ken Schaffer, N2KS, calls his new invention "TV2Me" and says that it is 
the wave of the future.  So far, N2KS has put his PC-based system into 
the hands of a only few dozen others willing to pay several thousand 
dollars.  But Schaffer hopes to make it available to everyone by getting 
the price down to less than $1,000 within a year. (CGC, The New York 
Times)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  HAM DESIGNED RADIOTELESCOPE MAPPING KNOWN UNIVERSE

A massive radio telescope designed by a ham radio operator is now 
mapping the known galaxy.  This, with word that Puerto Rico's Arecibo 
Observatory has undertaken the daunting task.  

It was the late Sam Harris, W1FZJ, who engineered the Arecibo radio-
telescope.  The same Sam Harris who also is credited with making the 
first ever E-M-E contact.  

According to astronomer Dan Werthimer, a $1 million upgrade to the scope 
was completed a few weeks ago and 12 scientists have no  begun using it 
to map the night sky for future generations.  The Arecibo team expects 
to find thousands of new pulsars, supernovas, black holes and planets 
during the process.  The mapping could be completed in a few months if 
the observatory devoted all of its telescope hours to the project

The observatory and its gargantuan 1000 foot wide dish were built under 
W1FZJ's guidance in 1963 by the Department of Defense.  It is now run by 
Cornell University under grants from the National Foundation of Science.  
(Science OnLine, ARNewsline(tm))

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  GB3ORK BEACON IS ON THE AIR

Great Britain's new  GB3ORK 5 MHz beacon began  operation on December 
3rd.  This,  in support of the United Kingsom's '5 MHz Experiment'.

GB3ORK transmits from the Orkney Islands on 5 point 290 MHz.  It has a 
stepped transmit power sequence and a 30 second sounder sequence of 
0.5ms pulses at 40 Hz.   

reports are welcomed by the 5 MHz Working Group.  Further information on 
how to file them is available on the RSGB Spectrum Forum website at 
www.rsgb-spectrumforum.org.uk/5Mhz.htm (RSGB)

**

ON THE AIR:   MASADA DX-PEDITION

A truly historical D- operation is about to take place.  This as a group 
of seven Israeli hams activate the historic Masada Castle near the Dead 
Sea.

According to information provided by Jan Misgav, 4X1VF, the group will 
be on the air beginning on Friday, December 24th at about 10: 00 hours 
UTC.  They will continue until 10:00 UTC on Sunday, December 26th using 
two stations on 80 through 10 meter C-W and SSB.  

The call sign to listen for is 4X0MS and the operation qualifies under 
the  Holyland Award Program.  QSL requests going direct to 4Z4BS at his 
Callbook address.  

More information about the site is on-line at 
www.bibleplaces.com/masada.htm  (Via E-Mail)

**

DX

In other D-X, word that the VU4 Andaman Islands DXpedition is scheduled 
to be on the air though December 31st  The latest news is that two 
stations will be on the air simultaneously from two locations separated 
by a few miles.  Also keep in mind that this is not a major Dxpedition.  
The equipment being used is simple and the operators are relatively 
inexperienced.  (OPDX)

And F6COW, F6EPY and F6GNZ are operating as portable F Zero from the 
Marquesas Islands.  They will be there between 11th and 23rd December.  
QSL  these operators as directed on the air.  (GB2RS)

Lastly,  VC9COAL will be on the air during the whole of December to  
commemorate the 100th anniversary of the naming of Minto, New Brunswick, 
in Canada. QSL via VE9WGS.  (Via E-Mail)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  A LOOK AT THE NEXTEL TALKIE PHONE

And finally this week a close look at a piece of radio gear that's been 
in the ham radio headlines a lot the past few weeks.  We are talking 
about the Nextel Direct Talk walkie-talkie cellular telephone.  Some 
hams involved in public service communications claim that event 
organizers are replacing them with these units.  But can a talkie phone 
handed to an untrained communicator really replace a network of highly 
skilled Amateur Radio volunteers?  That's the question we asked our Mark 
Abramovich, NT3V, to explore:

--

By now, most of us are familiar with the "beep" of the Nextel "walkie-
talkie." But, many never expected the cellular giant to put its foot 
down on the back of Amateur Radio operators who - without charge - offer 
their services to their communities.

Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, public service editor for CQ Magazine, has been 
following Nextel's newest feature - Direct Talk and what it might mean 
to the future of public service communications. He tells me the system 
already has limitations.

"There's only right now, from what I understand, two models of Nextel 
phones that are offering this service so it means that all the public 
service agencies would need these particular models and be programmed 
for that particular frequency or P-L tone to hear what's going on," 
Josuweit says.
And that, he concedes, could be a costly proposition for upgrades. 

Another question that might enter the equation is reliability. Nextel is 
claiming the Direct-Talk, off-digital network has a range of about two 
miles. Although the company's promotional literature concedes terrain, 
weather, buildings and trees may impact the range.

On another front, Josuweit says Nextel had lots of problems maintaining 
its network in Florida during the time it was needed most by public-
service agencies.

"During the hurricane season in Florida, there were several Nextel 
failures because towers losing power, no generators being available. The 
land-line telephones that connect to the cell towers not being in 
operation," Josuweit recalls.

He says the company is pledging to the Florida counties affected by the 
loses that it will fix the problems by the next hurricane season.

Even so, Josuweit says Direct Talk still has a big hole. 

"I still think you still have to remember, they're using, bascially one 
frequency and we all know what happens on FM with signals being 
overloaded or not being able to hear because of interference or whatever 
else is going on," Josuweit says. "We have the ability to also change  
multiple frequencies on multiple bands and still get a message through; 
something that Nextel just can't offer at this point."

Josuweit says the message is clear to hams who participate in public 
service activities: Take whatever training you can, and go a little bit 
beyond.

"We need to be able to offer our services, be up on the skills, be 
possibly a little bit more than a plain communicator," Josuweit says. " 
We may need to be involved with the agencies involved."

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

--

Its likely that a lot of event planners will give these talkie phone at 
least one try.  But don't be to surprised if its only once.  

**

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. 