[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1431 - January 14, 2005

Sat Jan 15 09:43:26 EST 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1431 -  January 14, 2005

CLOSED CIRCUIT ADVISORY

The following is a closed circuit advisory.  Here is Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Support Fund Administrator, Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

Let me begin by thanking those of you who responded to our emergency 
plea just before Christmas.  It is because of your generosity that you 
are hearing this weeks newscast.  We were that close to folding out tent 
and giving our final 73 when I came to you.

That's the good news.  Hers the bad.  The financial problems continue 
because most of what was donated has already been spent closing out 
2004.  As we begin 2005, we do so with very little in the account.  
Maybe enough to get us through this month and February, but not much 
more than that.  And this is why we need your ongoing support to keep 
Amateur Radio Newsline coming your way.

As you know, Amateur Radio Newsline is both a California State and a 
federal 501 C 3 not for profit corporation.  That means your donation to 
us is fully tax deductible.  

Our address is simply the Amateur Radio Newsline Support Fund, Post 
Office Box 660937, Arcadia, California, 91066.

In the coming weeks Ill be back with a list of those whose Christmastime 
contributions made it possible to continue these newscasts and for me to 
be with all of you right now.  Meantime from everyone at the Amateur 
Radio Newsline, we say thank you for your ongoing support of this 
service.  

Now, please stand by for  this weeks newscast. I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ in 
Los Angeles.

--

Thank you Andy.  Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1431 with a 
release date of Friday, January 14th 2005 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   

The following is a Q-S-T.  Hams continue tsunami relief and the FCC says 
that its made progress in its own disaster planning.  Find out the 
details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1431 coming your way 
right now.

(Billboard Cart Here) 

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS CONTINUE TO AID TSUNAMI VICTIMS

Rescue efforts are still continuing in the wake of last months killer 
earthquake and tsunami that ravaged many Indian Ocean nations.  Ham 
radio is still a part of the effort and the effort is not just limited 
to providing emergency communications. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, in Brisbane, 
Australia, has more:

--

The United States:  Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, reports that the Boat Watch Net 
is seeking and coordination reports on vessels that have not been heard 
from since the earthquake and tsunami. Pilgrim has begun a listing in 
the "Current Watch Full Text" link of the International Boat Watch Web 
site http://www.boatwatchnet.org Pilgrim emphasises that the Boat Watch 
Net service is strictly limited to mariners in the affected area and is 
not intended nor prepared to handle general health-and-welfare 
inquiries.

The Pacific Disaster Centre on Maui has launched the Indian Ocean 
Tsunami Geospatial Information Service to support emergency managers 
responding to the tsunami disaster in South and Southeast Asia.  
Specifically, the Indian Ocean Tsunami Geospatial Information Service 
will support emergency managers by providing geospatial information 
including baseline Landsat imagery, SRTM-derived shaded relief images, 
LANDSCAN-derived population density, detailed coastlines, damage 
polygons and high-resolution imagery as it becomes available. The 
Service can be accessed at www.pdc.org

Salvation Army Salvation Army teams have been at the forefront of 
offering aid and relief to the people.  In addition, the Salvation Army 
Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) is helping people locate loved 
ones missing in the region. When there are no other forms of 
communication, SATERN is a ham radio team that helps families and 
emergency workers find each other.  In Chicago, National director of 
SATERN Major Pat McPherson reported that by listening, some SATERN 
members have been successful in establishing contact with the missing 
members.

United Kingdom:  The RSGB President, Jeffrey Smith advises they have 
been in touch with IARU through Don Beattie G3BJ, Secretary of Region 1 
IARU, who in turn has contacted many national societies throughout 
Region 3. Responses have been received from Tony HS0ZDX and Mayuree 
HS1YL of RAST, Musa YB0MOS of ORARI and Gopal VU3GMN of ARSI. Responses 
from other Societies in the affected zone are being collated whilst 
colleagues in Japan, Australia and Malaysia are waiting to respond to 
any direct requests. 

At this point RSGB have not received any direct requests for equipment 
or personnel either from local Radio Societies or from the Foreign 
Office. The RSGB  HQ was specially re-opened, to assess the situation. 
accordingly they do not expect any delays in responding, should RSGB  be 
asked so to do. 

Australia: Radio amateurs in Australia are requested to listen on these 
frequencies and advise Ken VK4KF the WIA Coordinator of any emergency as 
well as heath and welfare messages which may not be getting through, 
remember VK hams the exercise as far as we are concerned is still as a 
Listening Watch.

When you hear of any request for assistance from any of the disaster 
zones by Amateur Radio please contact Ken on 3901 1037

ROAR, the Rotarians Of Amateur Radio's Secretary, Noel McLaren VK2IWT 
has a novel little fund raiser in operation, a personal project to 
support relief for the Tsunami victims - 5 cents for every spam message 
and 10 cents for every ROAR and ROTI message that comes to his address!

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, in Brisbame, 
Australia.

--

More on this story and with Graham Kemp, VK4BB, in future Amateur Radio 
Newsline reports.  (WIA News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  AO-51 CONTINUES TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT

AMSAT North America reports that the AO-51 ham satellite is still 
configured for use in the post Indian Ocean tsunami relief effort.  This 
means that the FM repeater will of until further notice.  

According to AMSAT, the Packet Radio Bulletin Board System is open, but 
there are a few restrictions on its use.  AMSAT says that amateur not 
involved in tsunami relief efforts should be ready to cease B-B-S 
operations at any moment when the satellite is handling emergency 
traffic.  Because of this, the operators of unattended terrestrial 
packet bulletin boards that normally link to AO-51 are asked to cease 
doing so until further notice. 

Also, be aware that regular AO-51 PBBS users may be requested to help 
download and forward messages. More information about how amateur 
operators can help will be posted on line.  Keep an eye on 
www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo for breaking news on the A0-51 disaster 
relief operation.  (amsat-na)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  FCC DISASTER PREPAREDNESS RECOVERY ON TRACK

The FCC says that it is well on its way to developing a recovery plan to 
continue its operations in the event of a disaster.  This, according to 
inspector general, H. Walker Feaster III who recently told Congress that 
the agency has made considerable progress in its Information Technology 
recovery program in 2004 after starting an intensive effort to develop 
such a plan two years earlier.  Feaster went on to say that the chief 
information officer and his staff have developed a comprehensive 
disaster recovery plan to support the recovery of information systems if 
an incident disrupts service.  (fcc)

**

PROTECTING THE BANDS:  20 METER INVADED BY PIRATE OPS IN VK

Meantime, a popular international ham band has been invaded by a pack of 
unlicensed stations.  This with a report that tht a group of Australian 
pirate radio operators appear to have set up a voice net on low end of 
20 meters.

According to the W-I-A News, the operators all appear to be short haul 
truck  drivers who are using 14.000 MHz U-S-B as a chat channel.  The 
stations appear to be located in the coastal coast areas the Australian 
states of Queensland or northern New South Whales and operate 
intermittantly throughout the day.

20 meter operators are being asked to monitor 14.000 Mhz.  If you hear 
the pirates please report any  information that might assist in 
identifying them to  Wireless Institute of Australia Director Glenn 
Dunstan, VK4DU.  You reach him by e-mail to vk4du at hf.ro  (WIA News)

**

Break 1

>From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, 
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N8VAA repeater 
serving Moorefield, West Virginia.

(5 sec pause here)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  QSL CARD CAMPAIGN TO RID THE AIRWAVES OF EX-KG6IRO

A Southern California ham is tired of waiting for the United States 
Attorney to take on the operator of an unlicensed ham radio station off 
the air.  Tim Thompson, W6DCE, of Oceanside has started an Internet 
based campaign to force the government to prosecute Jack Gerritsen, the 
ex-KG6IRO.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennat has the details:

--

Jack Gerritsen had his license grant set aside in soon after it was 
issued in 2001.  This, after the FCC learned of a previous conviction 
for interfering with police communications.  But that has not stopped 
Gerritsen, or at least a person with his voice and using the K-G-6-I-R-O 
callsign from harassing repeaters and their users with his personal 
political rhetoric.  This has already lead to $21,000 in fines from the 
FCC, which, to date, have been ignored.  

And the voice claiming to be KG6IRO has gotten more brazen in its 
attacks on local communications.  This includes the alleged jamming of 
Coast Guard emergency communications as we reported here on Newsline.

Why is this station permitted to keep operating?  Thompson lays it all 
out in a new topic posted to the Talk and Opinions forum on QRZ.dot com 
titled "A Call To Action."  There W6DCE asserts  that the FCC has now 
referred the matter to the United States Attorneys Office in Los Angeles 
for criminal prosecution.  Unfortunately, thats where it has stalled.  
Months have now gone by with no action.  And says Thompson, valuable 
emergency service assets are forced to sit idle because the activity of 
the person alleged to be Gerritsen' gets them turned off daily.

So Thompson is taking a cue from the late Joseph Merdler, N6AHU.  W6DCE 
is asking hams nationwide to send a Q-S-L card to United States Attorney 
Debra W. Yang in Los Angeles with a message that demands she act quickly 
in the Gerritsen case.  The idea is the same today as in the late 1970's 
when Merdler began a campaign to rid ham radio of jammers of that era.  
This, by getting the attention of Congress with a Q-S-L card campaign.  
Back then it lead to dozens of license revocations and a handful of 
people going to jail.  Thompson hopes by overwhelming the U-S Attorney 
with tens of thousands of Q-S-L cards that he can achieve the same in 
this case.  We will let you know if it works.

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

--

You can read more about W6DCE's campaign and why he needs your help at 
www.qrz.com/ib-
bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=ce34e1450aac36cf4d674729e2b87a87;act=ST;f=7;t=80697  
(QRZ.com)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC CITES HOMEOWNERS FOR CAUSING INTERFERENCE TO RADIO AMATEUR

As the ARRL Letter puts it, things aren't all that friendly in one 
Friendswood, Texas, neighborhood, where a dispute over interference from 
one couple's battery chargers to a neighboring radio amateur has 
resulted in an official FCC Citation to the couple.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH,  takes a look at an escalating feud 
that's pitting neighbor against neighbor:

--

The December 10th Citation is the latest development in a long-running 
dispute FCC Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth calls "an unfortunate 
neighborhood situation." The action comes after complaints by William 
Cooper, W5ZAF. Cooper says his next-door neighbors' battery chargers are 
the source of interference to his ham radio activities. 

And the FCC agrees. In its Citation, the agency says a December 7, 2004 
investigation by its Houston Office reveals that the unnamed neighbor 
was operating battery charging devices that were generating radio 
frequency pulses on various high-frequency radio bands. These pulses 
were determined to be causing harmful interference to the Amateur Radio 
Service. And it was only after FCC agents visited the couple's home that 
the interference stopped. 

The dispute between Cooper and his neighbor started more than a year ago 
when the interference first appeared. In an earlier reply to the FCC, 
the neighbor suggested that they be permitted to operate the battery 
chargers intermittently. But the FCC answered, saying that simply 
unplugging the chargers when not in use was not an acceptable solution. 

The Citation does not require a response from the couple. However, it 
does warn them that subsequent violations could lead to fines, equipment 
seizure and even possible criminal sanctions. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm David Black, KB4KCH, at the South-
East bureau in Birmingham, Alabama

--

The ARRL says that its laboratory has been working with the FCC and 
W5ZAF for some time to help broker a resolution to the interference 
issue.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  YOU CANT CALL A BET ATOP A DXPEDITION

A Florida ham has been asked to explain why he tried to call a bet on 
top of an ongoing D-X operation.   That's the question to Robert C. 
Gradolph, W8RZZ, of  Lake Worth, in a December 27th 2004 letter that 
contained a copy of a complaint made against his station during the 
operation of a net on December 12th, 2003. The complaint alleges that 
the frequency was in use by the V-U-4 DX expedition when Gradolph 
repeatedly attempted to call the "Florida Milwaukee Net."  He was given 
20 days to respond.  (FCC)

**

NEEDED ENFORCEMENT:  PROGRAMMER RELEASES CABIR VIRUS CODE ON-LINE

More problems for the owners of certain advanced cellular telephones.  
This as the source code for a worm that targets these devices is made 
available on the web.  Amateur Radio Newslines Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF is in 
Auckland, New Zealand, with more:

--

A Brazilian programmer has made the source code for the Cabir mobile 
phone virus available online. Cabir is a malicious worm that  infects 
phones using the Symbian operating system.  Its the same worm that 
caused skulls to appear on Nokia phones as reported by us a few weeks 
ago.  

Anti virus providers say that Cabir was first created in June 2003.  New 
variants recently were reported that show the worm has evolved into a 
faster-spreading threat than originally thought.

The source code for Cabir.H and Cabir.I was publicized online in Brazil 
after a programmer there claimed he received repeated requests for the 
Cabir code from other virus hobbyists.  The release of Cabir code is of 
concern in the security community. Because of the code's availability 
researchers expect to see many more variants created in the next few 
months, which could lead to a much larger virus threat to cellphone 
users. 

Early versions of Cabir were passed only from one phone to another, and 
were considered sluggish in their spread.  But now the worm has been 
modified, experts say it can spread to multiple phones and replicate 
itself at a speedy rate.  

--

Already the Finnish antivirus firm F-Secure has issued a warning against 
mounting virus attacks on numerous advanced technology mobile phones. 
(Published reports)

**

HAPPENINGS:  NATIONAL ENGINEERS WEEK IN FEB

National Engineers Week takes place from February 20th to the 26th. The 
week is dedicated to raising public awareness of engineers' positive 
contributions to quality of life.  Through National Engineers Week 
organizers hope to promote recognition among parents, teachers and 
students of the importance of a technical education.  Also to  motivates 
young people to pursue engineering careers in order to provide a diverse 
and vigorous engineering workforce.  To learn more about National 
Engineers Week take your web browser to www.eweek.org  (Press release)

**

RADIO HONORS:  ARMSTRONG LAB BECOMES LANDMARK

There's a new historic landmark in the Big Apple and it has all to do 
with radio.  The New York Daily News reports that the Columbia 
University lab where Edwin Howard Armstrong developed FM radio 
technology has been given National Historic Landmark status.  This, to 
preserve it for future generations.

Armstrong's home in Yonkers, New York had been similarly listed years 
ago.  It was however demolished in 1983, according to the National Park 
Service's landmark Web site. (Daily News)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  SM7CRW - 50 YEARS A HAM

A Swedish radio amateur is celebrating his fifty years as a ham with a 
year long operation and a special call sign.  John Iwar Winbladh, 
SM7CRW, of Farjestaden on Oland Island has received permission to use 
the call SF50A from now through December 31st.  John promises a special 
commemorative ard to anyone he works and who sends him a QSL.  Send your 
card to SF50A via W3HNK.  (Modern DX)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur.  From the United 
States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the 
world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being 
relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  IARU REGION 3 CHAIR PETER NAISH, VK2BPN - SK

One of Amateur Radio's world leaders has passed from the scene.  This as 
the Wireless Institute of Australia reports that its past Federal 
President and the current International Amateur Radio Union Region 3 
Chairman, Peter Nash, VK2BPN, of died on Sunday, January 9th from an 
apparent heart attack that he suffered on Thursday, January 6th.

A front page article at the Wireless Institute of Australia website 
described VK2BPN as a a tireless worker for Amateur radio over many 
years.  It notes that it was only last February Nash had been 
unanimously elected to succeed Fred Johnson, ZL2AMJ, as chairman of the 
IARU Region 3 Board. 

The W-I-A says that Nash's family was at his side when he passed away St 
Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.  Funeral services were scheduled for 
Friday, January 14th St Kevin's Catholic Church in the city of Eastwood.  

The Wireless Institute of Australia has set up a webpage where people 
can leave their personal thoughts about VK2BPN.  Its in cyberspace at 
tributes at wia.org.au.  (WIA)

**

RADIO SECURITY:  A PRIMER ON TRANSMITTER SITE VANDALISM

Vandalism to radio transmitter sites is on the rise and some people are 
asking if its really something more.  And now, Chris Imlay, W3KD, in his 
title of General Counsel for the Society of Broadcast Engineers is 
addressing the topic in an on-line article.  Evie Simons, has more:

--

In his article titled "Vandalism - or something more serious" attorney 
Chris Imlay, W3KD, looks at a number of recent cases.  He says s that in 
some of them there may be reason for concern.  

W3KD points to incidents where vandals went to great length to get into 
remote transmitter sites.  The sites were trashed and stations taken off 
the air, but little of value was stolen.  

Imlay also talks about a recent Texas SBE meeting where the problen was 
discussed.  And it was determined that at most locations where the 
break-ins have occurred, there are some common elements.  

W3KD says that most occurred over a weekend or a holiday period during 
early morning hours.  In most instances, the exterior locks were cut off 
and taken away and exterior lighting was disabled.  In many cases, 
nothing of significance was stolen.  Typically, power was turned off at 
breakers inside the building so that the transmitter was taken off the 
air. 

Imlay also talks about an incident last October where, over a three-day 
period, about 40 fraudulent Form 301 broadcast applications were filed 
at FCC..  He rhetorically asks if this was just a crank or someone 
exploiting a filing vulnerability in the FCC's computerized system.  

Chris Imlay makes it clear that the FCC's computers were not hacked. 
They were merely exploited, and apparently the vulnerability is now 
being corrected.  But says W3KD, the filing of these applications 
represented a lot of work.  He says it makes a person wonder why all of 
the effort was spent when the purpetratior had to know that it would 
quickly be discovered and fixed.   Imlay says that exploring future 
opportunities comes to mind as a possibe  explanation.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Evi Simons, in New York.

--

So, why tell you about this?  Well more than just a couple of ham radio 
repeaters co-located at broadcast installations.  And, if the 
broadcaster gets vandalized, chances are that so will any ham gear at 
the site.  Therefore the article by W3KD is as important for radio 
amateurs to read as it is to the broadcast community.  You can view it 
on-line at at http://emergencyalertsystem.org/vandalism.htm  (CGC)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  A 3 D FLAT SCREEN DISPLAY

A three-dimensional flat-screen display could be coming to a computer 
near you.  That is, if you are willing to pay the price. 

Sharp Systems of America has introduced a new flat-screen computer 
display that delivers three-D images.   The 15-inch L-C-D display 
doesn't require the user to put on special glasses.  Instead, a special 
layer in the display allows users to switch between two-D and three-D 
modes. This helps create three-D illusions regardless of whether images 
were created in three-D. 

Analysts say it's the first three-D screen for consumers. Previously, 
the technology was produced for the medical and scientific industries.  
Oh yes, the price. It will go for almost 15-hundred dollars or about a 
hundred dollars an inch.  (Sharp)

**

WORLDBEAT - AUSTRALIA:  VK3RTG BEACON OFF FOR REPAIR

The longtime operational Melbourne, Australia 2-meter band propagation 
beacon VK3RTG  on 144.430MHz has gone temporarilly QRT.  This, after its 
12 MHz crystal failed after giving 40 years of reliable operation.  A 
replacement has been ordered and the beacon should be up and running 
again fairly soon.  (WIA News)

**

WORLDBEAT- MEXICO:  THE BAJA NET

The Baja Net is the boaters friendly net which is traditionally found on 
7.238 Mhz every morning at 8:00 a.m. local Pacific Coast time.  If its 
not there, check on  7.233.  It heads there when there is heavy QRM.  
(WB0YCQ)

**

WORLDBEAT - HUNGARY:  POET REMEMBERED ON-THE-AIR

And look for HA200CVM, to be active through the end January.  This 
station is dedicated in remembrance of the poet Csokonai Vitez Mihaly.  

And for those of you who never heard of Csokonai Vitez Mihaly, we can 
tell you that he is considered to be the outstanding poet of the 
Hungarian Enlightenment in the latter 1700's.  The Encyclopedia 
Britanica says that  Csokonai's early sympathies with the revolutionary 
trends of his age made life difficult for him in the wave of reaction 
that accompanied Napoleon's invasion of Europe.  

Now, some 300 years later his lifes achievements are being celebrated by 
todays radio amateurs.  Listen for HA200CVM on all the high frequency 
bands and QSL via direct to HA0NAR or  via the bureau.  (OPDX)

**
DX

In D-X, the "425 DX News" reports that HA8IB and HA9RE  will be active 
from Routuma between January 27th and February 21-22nd.  They plan to 
have two stations active on 160 through 10 meters CW, SSB and RTTY.  The 
operators also plan to participate in the CQ WW 160 Meter CW and ARRL DX 
CW Contests.  QSL as directed on the air.

Also, KL7JR portable KP2 continues to be active from St. Croix  He 
checks into the 247 DX Net on 14.247 Mhz every Monday through Friday. 
John has told the Ohio Penn DX newsletter that he will try to 
concentrate operations on 12 and 17 meters SSB until April. For E-mail 
skeds message John to kl7jr at aol.com. QSL with SASE to QRZ.com address.

And keep an ear open for station SQ75FMU which will be active through 
January 20th and again from February 15 to March 15th.  This activity is 
to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Polish Amateur Radio Union P-Z-K.  
QSL via SQ9FMU via the bureau or direct.  Return QSL cards will be sent 
to all after March 15th, 2005.

And W3HQ reports that due to the malaria situation in the Dominican 
Republic, he has been forced to reconsider his operation from there  
during the 160 meter contest in January. However, Curt is considering 
other islands such as Tortola as an alternate. More details as they are 
made available on this one.  

(Above from various DX sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: DONT MOVE THAT LIVE TRUCK - OPPS

And finally this week the story of a truck.  Not just any old truck, but 
one with a big radio mast and a 300 pound transmitter and anteena on 
top.  Want to guess the rest of the story?  You wont have to.  Bill 
Pasternak, WA6ITF, has it all:

--

An NBC television affiliate in Syracuse, New York recently made some 
news of its own.  This,  after the mast of a WSTM live truck came 
crashing down at a crime scene. 

Officials said the truck operator was moving the vehicle with the mast 
fully extended in the air.  As anyone who has ever been around neumatic 
air masts knows, thats a definate no-no.

Anyhow, capotalnews.com says that the extended mast began to wobble and 
the then  cracked off from the base.  In doing so, it took out nearby 
cable television and phone lines leaving some local cable customers were 
without service for some time.  It also likely left a lot of embarrased 
staff at WSTM.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF

--

There is some good news in all this.  Apparently nobody was hurt when 
the mast broke free and fell.  (Adapted from Shoptalk)

**

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. 