[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1432 - January 21, 2005

Sat Jan 22 12:16:40 EST 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1432 -  January 21, 2005

The following is a closed circuit advisory.  This is just a reminder 
that the address for the Amateur Radio Newsline support fund id Post 
Office Box 660937, Arcadia, California, 91066.  Your continued support 
is appreciated.  That ends the closed circuit advisory with Amateur 
Radio Newsline report number 1432 with a release date of Friday, January 
21st 2005 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   

The following is a Q-S-T.  The European Union says no to B-P-L, ham 
radio tsunami relief continues and a trip to the Consumer Electronics 
Show in Las Vegas with Gordon West WB6NOA.  All this and more on Amateur 
Radio Newsline report number 1432 coming your way right now.

(Billboard Cart Here) 

**

THE BPL WAR:  EU ACTS TO LIMIT BPL INTERFERENCE

Good news for hams across Europe.  The European Parliament now has a new 
law that may become the global turning point against radio frequency 
pollution from Broadband over Power Lines systems.  With this major 
development here is Jim Linton, VK3PC.

--

Europe enters 2005 with some very positive news indeed that the European 
Union has amended its 1989 Electromagnetic Compatibility or EMC 
Directive.

Its new Directive includes protection against electromagnetic 
disturbance for both radio broadcast reception and the amateur radio 
service - clearly against the hopes of the  BPL lobby. This is an 
important first step in the battle against BPL emission pollution in the 
radio spectrum.

The International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 EUROCOM Working Group, in 
its efforts, also gained a much broader definition of Electromagnetic 
Disturbance.

It was a long process for the Working Group that included meeting with 
and working through Members of the European Parliament to have 
amendments submitted to the European Parliament Committee on Industry, 
External Trade, Research and Energy.

Arguments put by the Working Group stressed the role of amateur radio 
including its safety and emergency communications and the human right to 
have access information including that provided through radio 
broadcasts.

And of course the inherent protection for radio services from harmful or 
substantial interference provided by the International 
Telecommunications Union radio regulations.

The BPL lobby has been trying to have European, and other regulators, 
let them off the hook in relation to radio frequency interference caused 
by BPL systems.

Its tactic has been to try and categorise amateur radio and some other 
radio services as being "less important" and not that worthy of being 
protected against harmful interference generated by BPL systems.

There is no cause for satisfaction by BPL lobby in the new European EMC 
Directive that became be European Law on 20 January 2005 binding on the 
25 member states of the European Union.

Congratulations to all involved with the IARU Region 1 EUROCOM Working 
Group - a job well done.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Linton VK3PC, in Melbourne 
Australia.

--

While this is an important first step in the battle against B-P-L 
pollution in the radio spectrum, the war is far from over. The Pan-
European law will not have any effect on the Broadband over Powerline 
technology rollout here in the USA where our FCC under White House 
pressure has given providers what amounts to a blank check to interfere 
almost as they please.  (Jim Linton VK3PC amateurradio.com.au Amateur 
Radio Victoria)

**

THE BPL WAR:  A SCIENTIFIC SOLUTION AND A WARNING

And more news on the B-P-L front.  This from New Scientist dot com which 
says that some technical fixes may be in the works to minimize 
interference to shortwave broadcasting brought on by the rollout of the 
technology.  

New Scientist points to the British Broadcasting Company which is 
reportedly developing a B-P-L modem that makes use of the fact that the 
short-wave frequencies for broadcast radio change throughout the day, as 
ionospheric conditions dictate. The B-B-C modem reportedly will detect 
which frequency bands are in use by B-P-L at any one time and filters 
them out.  Such technology is not part of any BPL system currently in 
trials.

Meantime Michael Copps, the one FCC commissioner who opposed B-P-L, 
believes the organisation has made a major mistake. Copps says that the 
FCC is going to have to work hard to monitor, investigate and take quick 
action over any power-line internet interference to radio amateurs and 
others.  You can read more on line at 
http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn6866  (New Scientist)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS & SHORTWAVE SAVED TSUNAMUI VICTIMS

Media Network correspondent Victor Goonetilleke, 4-S-7-V-K, believes 
that uncomplicated shortwave radio saved lives following the recent 
earthquake and tsunami.  In an e-mail to the Holland based newsletter, 
4-S-7-V-K , who is also president of the Radio Society of Sri Lanka, 
noted that ham radio played an important part immediately after the 
earthquake and tidal wave and will continue to do so for some time. 

4-S-7-V-K cites one operation in particular.  He says that the Radio 
Society of Sri Lanka operated a shortwave radio link between Hambantota 
and the Prime Minister's disaster management office, and government 
offices in the stricken area.  4-S-7-V-K said that the hams went in 
because the District Secretary's office only had a satellite phone and 
communications were difficult.  The Hambantota station was operated by 
4-S-7-A-K, 4-S-7-D-Z and 4-S-7-K-E.  The ham radio relay system was 
closed after the police got a communications link up in Hambantota.  
More is on line at http://medianetwork.blogspot  (Media Network)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  AO-51 TSUNAMUI RELIEF OP CHANGE

As the ham radio aspeect of the Indian Ocean tsunami relief operation 
winds down, AMSAT is slowly returning the A Oh 51 Amateur Radio bird  to 
near normal operation.  On Sunday, January 15th the satellites mode were 
changed to allow both FM repeater and digital operations.  This means 
that the FM repeater is be back operational and open for amateur use. 

The plan is to run in this mode until the end of January unless word is 
received from the disaster area that a different setup would be useful.  
Controllers add that of another configuration of A-Oh 51 is identified 
as providing more benefit to those in the disaster area, AMSAT will 
adjust A Oh 51's operations to meet the need.  (AMSAT)

**

Break 1

>From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, 
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N5LEZ repeater 
serving Wichita Falls, Texas.

(5 sec pause here)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  SOCAL HAMS ON STAND-BY FOR HOSPITAL AFTER LEAKS 
DISCOVERED IN NEARBY DAM

Even after the rains stopped and the sun came out, Amateur Radio 
continued to provide support to flood ravaged areas of southern 
California.  One incident involved a hospital that feared a near by dam 
might burst.  Newsline's Joe Moell K0OV has the details in this report:

--

The 86th emergency activation of the Hospital Disaster Support 
Communications System (HDSCS) of Orange County, California came at the 
request of Kaiser  Permanente Hospital in east Anaheim on January 14.  
This 200-bed facility is located next to the Santa Ana River.  Heavy 
rains during the previous two weeks had caused the accumulation of 26 
billion gallons of water in the flood control basin behind Prado Dam in 
Corona, ten miles upstream.

Due to seepage in the dam structure, the Army Corps of Engineers had to 
release water into the river at a rate of 4.5 million gallons per 
minute.  Riverside County officials evacuated over 800 homes in two 
downstream residential areas as a precaution because of the river's 
rise. Kaiser Hospital management prudently called in the hams so that 
they would already be in place if the situation worsened and 
communications failed or became overloaded.

Members of this special ARES group joined staff at the hospital's 
Emergency Operations Center and kept the facility in contact with Orange 
County Emergency Medical Services Agency. They remained until officials 
announced that the dam's integrity was no longer of concern and that a 
greater release rate would not be needed.

>From southern California, this is Joe Moell K0OV for Amateur Radio 
Newsline.

--

More information about this incident and the important mission of ham 
radio support to hospitals can be found in cyberspace at www.hdscs.org. 
The letters are short for the Hospital Disaster Support Communications 
System.  (K0OV, ARNewsline(tm))

**

RADIO LAW:  PRB-1 WINS TWO HAMS TOWERS IN THE MID-WEST

The ARRL says that PRB-1 has made it possible for two Midwestern radio 
amateurs to succeeded in their efforts to gain permission to erect 
antenna support structures on their residential properties.  

In the first, city officials in Wheaton, Illinois, have granted John 
Siepmann, N9NA, a permit to build a 42-foot tower in his back yard.  
This case is interesting in that the Wheaton City Attorney was convinced 
that it would not be easy to win a court battle against PRB-1.  
According to news reports on December 6 the attorney told city council 
members that because of federal preemption order, the city would likely 
lose any court case. Therefore it had no choice but to issue Siepmann a 
permit for his tower. 

In the Ohio matter more than two dozen neighbors had signed a petition 
and presented their opposition at the hearing in early December to a 
proposal by Brian McGraw, W8BTM, to erect a 48-foot tower on his land. 
But armed with a working knowledge of PRB-1, some thirty radio amateurs 
showed up for the session, and many spoke in support of the McGraw's 
application.  As a result, McGraw has now received an okay for his tower 
from the Colerain Township Board of Zoning Appeals

Both cases hinged largely on the requirement of the PRB-1 limited 
federal preemption order.  It says that that localities must 'reasonably 
accommodate' Amateur Radio communication with a minimum of practicable 
regulation.  (ARRL Bulletin)

**

RADIO LAW:  BROADCASTER FINED FOR RF EXPOSURE THAT CAUSED SMOAKING 
CLOTHES

How would you feel if you were climbing a radio tower to perform a 
repair when suddenly the clothing you are wearing started to smoke,  
Thats what happened to one tower climber when he noticed that his pants 
were actually smoking.  

No, its not a laughing matter.  In fact, that smoke will cost a 
broadcaster several thousand dollars in fines.  Amateur Radio 
Newslines's Evi Simons is here with the rest of the story:

--

Three brand new Notices of Apparent Liability have been issued by the 
FCC.  They went to the Cumulus Communications, Infinity Broadcasting and 
the Entravision broadcast group.  All involve apparent violations of 
basic human exposure to R-F radiation rules.  The Cumulus case may be 
the most signifigant.

According to the FCC, on June 5, 2003, a tower maintenance climber and a 
Cumulus engineer agreed to turn off the KEKB, KBKL and KMXY FM station 
transmitters so that tower repairs could be made.  Once the transmitters 
were powered down the rigger proceeded up the tower.  Along the way he 
turned off his personal R F monitor and also removed the hood from his 
protective suit.  The understanding was that the Cumulus engineer would 
be kept the transmitters off the air until the rigger finished his work.

About forty minutes later the climber felt a burning sensation on his 
lower legs.  Another three of four minutes went by and he said that he 
saw smoke coming from the bottom of his protective suit.  He attempted 
to contact the Cumulus engineer but was unsuccessful so he descended 
down the tower to what he thought was a safe place.

According to the Cumulus engineer, he did indeed turn off all the 
transmitters but indicates someone must have turned two of them back on.  
He says that when he heard the tower climber yelling about the radiation 
level, that he immediately ran back to the transmitter building and 
discovered that the KBKL and KMXY transmitters were back in operation.  
The engineer indicated that the main breaker for the transmitters was 
back on and he quickly turned it off.  

But more important, the Cumulus engineer acknowledged that due to the 
sense of urgency on the part of the tower crew, that he failed to 
explicitly follow the established procedures.  Nor did he notify all of 
those who had access to the transmitters feeding antennas on the KEKB 
tower of the repairs that were taking place.

And now the FCC says that the powering on of one or more of the 
transmitters without warning to the tower climber while he was in the 
proximity of the antennas was a major mistake.  And because of this 
Cumulus has been hit with a hefty $10,000 fine.  The company was given 
the customary time to pay or to file an appeal.

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

--

By the way, the Cumulus case is unique in that it is the first-ever 
forfeiture notice  issued for tower climber exposure. More is on line at 
www.fcc.gov/eb/fieldnotices/ (CGC Communicator)

** 

NAMS IN THE NEWS:  HANDIHAM NET QSL CHANGE

Gene Schneider, WM9H, has agreed to take on responsibility for operating 
the 3905 Century Club's Handiham QSL Service and Bureau.  Schneider is 
the clubs 75 meter, 160 meter, CW and digital bureau manager and set up 
to handle cards for Handiham check-ins to nets.  Handihams checking into 
the Century Club's nets now have the option to have Gene act as their 
QSL Manager or they may simply file envelopes and cards with him like 
other checkins or members. There is no charge for this service.  (Handi 
Hams)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  SWL'S MEET MONTHLY IN SOCAL

The American Shortwave Radio Listeners Club holds its next meeting at 
noon on Saturday February 5th.  The location is 16182 Ballad Lane in 
Huntington Beach, California.  Topics covered include Shortwave Radio 
listening. updates of the current international broadcast schedules, 
Clandestine Radio, Pirate Radio and much more.

This event repeats on the First Saturday of every month.  More 
information is on-line at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aswlc  (ASWLC)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  MIAMI FLORIDA - THE TROPICAL HAMBOREE - FEB 5-6

Two major events coming up in Florida in a few weeks.  First is the 45th 
annual Miami Tropical Hamboree.  It takes place the 5th and 6th at the 
Fair Expo Center which is located on S.W. 24 Street in Miami.  

The Hamboree opens at 9 a.m. both days and is believed to be the only 
ham radio gathering that provides guests with free Wireless Internet 
access in the exhibit buildings and the outside swap area.  All you need 
to do is bring along your 802.11b WiFi devices and you'll be able to 
send and receive e-mail, surf the web, look up a name attached to a 
callsign badge that walked by and much, much more.  

And yes, there will be lots of ham radio at this years Tropical Hamboree 
including numerous commercial exhibits, indoor and outdoor swap meets, 
two ham radio exam sessions and much more.  Plus there is the warm South 
Florida weather that makes for a pleasant few days away from the frigid 
winter that's been enveloping most of the country.  

You can find out all about the 2005 Miami Tropical Hamboree by taking 
your web browser to www.hamboree.org.  If you don't have e-mail you can 
write to the Dade Radio Club of Miami, 8567 Coral Way, #143 Miami, 
Florida 33155.  (Tropical Hamboree)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  ORLANDO FLORIDA - THE HAMCATION - FEB 11 - 13

And if you make the trip to the Tropical Hamboree then plan to stay in 
Florida at least a week so that you can attend the Orlando Hamcation the 
weekend of February 11th to the 13th.  Its held at the Central Florida 
Fairgrounds on West Colonial Drive in Orlando and this year features a 
wealth of commercial exhibits, swap tables, tailgate sales, numerous 
forums on a wide variety of topics and even a meeting of the Florida 
Repeater Council. All of this and more costs only $10 at the gate and 
covers entry for all three days.  More information on the 2005 Orlando 
Hamcation is on-line at www.hamcation.com.  (Orlando Hamcation, WA2ARS)

**

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)

**
FOLLOW-UP:  TIME PUBLISHES LETTER FROM HAM

Time Magazine has published a letter critical of a negative editorial 
comment made in a recent article by writer Lev Grossman.  As previously 
reported, in his report on the blog of the year, Grossman referred to 
Amateur Radio as faintly embarrassing.  

Neither Time nor Grossman have issued an apology, but in the January 
24th issue which went on sale Monday the 17th, Time did publish a letter 
to the editor by a ham who takes the magazine to task over the incident.  

The letter is from John Raydo, K0IZ, of Westcliffe, Colorado.  In it, 
Raydo points out that ham radio operators provided emergency 
communication after recent the Indian Ocean tsunami.  Also. that radio 
amateurs have supplied  similar public services in many other 
situations, including last falls Florida hurricanes.  

The rest of Raydo's comments can be read at the Time website at 
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1018058-2,00.html  
(QRZ.com)

**

IN THE NEWS:  QUANTEGY CLOSES

The last U-S based magnetic tape manufacturer has shut its doors.  This 
with word that Alabama based Quantegy shut down operations without 
notice with the coming of the new year.  

According to a report on National Public Radio, Quantegy roots date to 
the end of World War II, when Gen. Dwight Eisenhower assigned an officer 
to develop an American magnetic tape factory.  Major John Herbert Orr 
did so, using a German formula.  His company later became part of 
recording equipment giant Ampex.

In 1995, Ampex Recording Media was sold off and became Quantegy.  Most 
observers say that the company's closing could signal the end of the 
audiotape industry.  (Published reports)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: RADIO HEART MONITOR
A device that automatically detects early symptoms of congestive heart 
failure has been implanted in a patient in the United States for the 
first time.  The InSync Sentry is built by Medtronic Inc. of Fridley, 
Minnesota ans is about the size of a cigarette lighter. 
Congestive heart failure occurs when fluid levels around the heart get 
too high.  This can interfere with a normal heartbeat and cause arythmia 
and even death.  InSync Sentry monitors the amount of fluid in the 
chest.  If there is a buildup, it uses good old radio to transmit to a 
receiver connected to a computer at a medical facility.  Doctors who can 
then prescribe medication to reduce the fluid amount.
The new device costs about $30,000 and lasts five to seven years.  It  
should be available for widespread use by February.  (Technology)
**

THE TECHNOLOGY SCENE:  A TULIP OF A COMMODORE

Tulip Computers, based in the Netherlands, has agreed to sell its 
Commodore International subsidiary to Yeahronimo Media Ventures in a 
deal worth just over $32.7 million. According to a press release, Tulip 
Computers will remain active in the production of Commodore products.  

The Commodore name was very well known in the United States at the very 
dawning of the home computer revolution in the 1980's.  Its Vic 20 and 
C-64 were the low cost rivals to the Apple 2 E.  But the introduction of 
the IBM P-C spelled an end to the Commodore and many other non IBM 
compatible operating system machines.  Only Apple has survived.  Just 
what the two companies will do with the Commodore brand name is at this 
time, unclear.  (Computing)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  A CALL FOR PAPERS FROM PROJECT OSCAR

Project OSCAR has issued a call for papers for it's 2005 West Coast 
Space Symposium.  The date of this years event is  May 7th at the 
College of San Mateo in San Mateo, California. 

The Symposium is devoted to a broad range of topics that range from 
current satellite construction projects to satellite operations and 
general technical discussions.
For more information on how to submit papers, or for information about 
the Symposium, visit the Project OSCAR website at www.projectoscar.net.  
You can also e-mail the planners at symposium at projectoscar.net (Pdoject 
OSCAR)
**
WORLDBEAT - NEW ZEALAND:   THE  VHF WELLINGTON IN MARCH

And if you will be traveling in the Southern hemisphere in March, the 
Wellington VHF Group, Branch 74, invites you to attend their V-H-F 
Convention.  The dates are Easter Weekend, March 25th to the 28th at the 
Raroa Intermediate School in Wellington, New Zealand.  The Convention 
will offer an exciting mix of speakers, technical presentations, VHF 
Forum, a mobile rally and special interest groups.  More information is 
on-line at www.vhf.org.nz.  (NZART News)

**
DX

In D-X, look for PY2ZX and PY2OC operating January, 20th to the 26th 
from Comprida Island, near  Sao Paulo, Brazil.  This, in a test of 
Transequatorial Propagation on 6 meters, 2 meters and 70 centimeters. 
Modes will be SSB, CW, FM at about 100 watts. QSL PY2OC via direct or 
via the bureau.  Cards for PY2ZX must go direct to his latest call book 
asddress.  (VHF Reflector)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  CES 2005 - PART 1

And finally this week, we take a trip to Las Vegas and the 2005 Consumer 
Electronics Show.  And while most hams do not realize it, there is a lot 
at C-E-S to interest just about everyone involved in Amateur Radio.  Our 
guide to whats hot and whats not is Radio School's Gordon West, WB6NOA:

--

Audio report only.  Hear the newscast by downloading the MP3 file at 
www.arnewsline.or/quincy

--

More on C-E-S with Gordon West WB6NOA in next weeks Amateur Radio 
Newsline report.  (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 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. 