[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1434 - February 4, 2005

Sat Feb 5 18:23:05 EST 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1434 -  February 4, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.  Amateur Radio will take part in a major 
emergency communications conference this spring, an astronaut ham tells 
what its like to celebrate new years in space and a look back at ham radio 
on the silver screen.  All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1434 coming your way right now.

**

RESCUE RADIO:  FINLAND TO HOST E-COMMS CONFERENCE IN JUNE

A very important ham radio emergency communications meeting will be taking 
place in Europe this spring. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, reports from Nottingham in 
the U-K.:

--

The IARU has announced that the first Global Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications conference, or 'GAREC', will take place in Tampere, Finland, 
on 13th and 14th June 2005. In recent years, the importance of providing 
assistance in emergency and disaster situations by the Amateur Radio 
Service has increased further and it has become a major argument in the 
defense of the amateur radio bands and the protection of this valuable 
resource against potential interference by new technologies.

In some countries, the role of the Amateur Service in case of  emergencies 
and disasters is well established and organized. In a large number of 
countries, however, amateurs can perform this important public service only 
in an improvised manner if and when a disaster occurs.  This seriously 
affects the efficiency of what amateurs can contribute, and it is therefore 
essential to review existing mechanisms and to allow all national amateur 
radio societies to benefit from existing experiences. The purpose 
of  GAREC-2005 is to allow such an exchange.

The organizers and the Finnish amateur radio society SRAL are inviting 
amateurs from all countries to gather in Finland in June. The conference is 
open to everyone with an interest in the topic.

Details of the agenda will be published as they develop. The organizers are 
open to suggestions and in particular welcome presentations on the 
situation and experiences in different countries.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.

--

For further information please contact the conference chairman by e-mail to 
Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR, at his callbook address or Ojakatu 3 A 18, FI-33100 
Tampere, Finland or by e-mail to seppo.sisatto at uta.fi.  Also go to 
www.iaru.org/emergency/garec.html for the latest confereence 
updates.  (GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  CONVENTION EASES INTERNATIONAL EMERGENCY TELECOMMUNICATIONS 
REGULATIONS

Meantime, when an international disaster does strike, humanitarian 
organizations now will be able to provide telecommunications more quickly 
and effectively.  This, thanks to a treaty that became effective January 
8th.

The ARRL Letter says that the agreement is called the Tampere Convention on 
the Provision of Telecommunication Resources for Disaster Mitigation and 
Relief Operations.  More important than its impressive name is that the 
treaty largely eliminates roadblocks to moving telecommunications personnel 
and equipment into and within disaster-stricken areas, such as those 
affected by the December earthquake and tsunami.

The International Telecommunication Union says that until the Tampere 
Convention, regulatory barriers often impeded the ability of humanitarian 
organizations to deploy telecommunications equipment across borders in an 
emergency.  These delays have cost lives.

Delegates to the Intergovernmental Conference on Emergency 
Telecommunications actually adopted the 17-article treaty in June of 1998 
but it only took effect last month.  (ARRL)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  WHAT THEY DID IN SPACE ON NEW YEARS EVE

Ham radio has answered the question of what an astronaut does on-orbit to 
celebrate New Years Eve:

--

KE5BRW:  "We marked new years as we went around the Earth and marked the 
big cities.  Unfortunately, we didn't have very much to toast with but we 
did have some chocolates to enjoy.  Over."

--

That was Astronaut Leroy Chaio, KE6BRW, on board the International Space 
Station as he spoke with the 1132 Air Training Corps Squadron from Stalham 
High School in Norfolk, England,  on Wednesday, February 2nd.   And this 
was not the only question he answered about life in space.  One questioner 
asked how an astronaut sleeps in space:

--

KE5BRW:  "We sleep pretty much on a regular schedule.  We have a 24 hour 
clock and we run on GMT and you should be used to that.  I sleep over in 
the right side of the station which is in the U-S side of the station."

--

In all, over a dozen students got to question KE6BRW about what its like to 
live and work in space.  Audio from this contact was recorded by Howard 
Long, G6LVB.  You can hear it in MP-3 format by taking your web browser to 
http://www.g6lvb.com/images/ISSgb2atc16kbps8kHz.mp3  (ARISS Remailer)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NO PC SAT AFTER DARK

Bob Brunuinga,WB4APR, reports that P-C Sat has been working perfectly while 
in full sun which began on January 24th.  Unfortunately,  the period ends 
on February 5th when the bird  re-enters eclipses.  And says Brunuinga, it 
only takes too many packets in a row while P-C Sat is in the dark to cause 
a momentary battery low voltage reset.

Why is this worrisome?  If that happens, WB4APR says that if P-C Sat resets 
the bird may not be recoverable until the next full sun winter period.  In 
other words, an on-orbit reset failure now would mean that we would not see 
the bird again until next November.  To avoid this happening, please 
refrain from using P-C Sat while its in an eclipse.

But there is also some good news regarding P-C Sat and it also involves the 
I-S-S.  Word that the Kenwood radio on board the International Space 
Station was changed over to 145.825 MHz shortly after a successful contact 
over England on February 1st.   This is because P-C Sat and the I-S-S will 
have several extended periods when the satellites will be in view of each 
other.  This means that double satellite relay communicastions should be 
possible.

But please remember what was said at the top of this story.  No unattended 
operations are being permitted due to P-C Sat's limited power budget.  The 
International Space Station radio system should remain on 145.825 MHz until 
February 10th.  (AMSAT Remailer)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THATS NOT INDECENT STUFF

The Federal Communications Commission has issued several orders denying a 
total of 36 complaints alleging that various television station licensees 
had aired indecent material during a variety of programs. Bill Pasternak, 
WA6ITF, has more:

--

Audio report only.  Download this weeks newscast at www.arnewsline.org.

--

While no broadcaster or production company has publicly commented on the 
decision, the various industry discussion boards call the FCC decision a 
vindication of the programmers free expression and an important step in 
protecting free speech.  (Published news reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  CB OP FINED $10000 ENFORCEMENT:  CB OP FINED $10000

A Florida CB operator has been fined $10,000 for transmitting without 
Commission authorization.  This, after Tommie Salter of Jacksonville 
apparently refused a Commission edict to stop interfering with his 
neighbors home electronic gear.

The story begins in March of 2004.  That's when the FCC restricted Salter's 
hours of operation.  The ban was lifted sixty days later under the proviso 
that Salter would operate his C-B gear in full compliance with the 
Commission's rules.  When interference complaints resumed last July, the 
FCC notified Salter it was again restricting his hours of operation.

In his defense, Salter claimed that the notice restricting his operation 
had been accepted by another family member and he had not read it.  He says 
that he never saw it and as a result he continued his normal operation 
until the $10,000 Notice of Apparent Liability arrived in October.

But the FCC is not buying Salter's excuse nor his claim that he couldn't 
pay the amount the has been assessed. He was given the customary 30 days to 
pay or to file a further appeal.  (WB4IUM)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THE FCC ACTS

With more ham radio enforcement news, here's the FCC's Daryl Duckworth, 
NN0W:

--

Audio report only.  Download this weeks newscast at www.arnewsline.org.

--

All of those contacted were given the usual amount of time to 
respond.  (FCC, RAIN)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE WEB:  AOL DROPPING USENET GROUPS

America Online will stop providing direct access to the Usenet newsgroups 
including those enjoyed by thousands of radio amateurs.   According to 
Technology News the decision by A-O-L's management comes as on-line 
requests for Newsgroup access has shrunk to fewer than 1,000 users a month.

An A-O-L spokesperson told the press that dropping Usenet access will 
permit A-O-L focus more on more popular community features such as message 
boards, chat rooms and online journals.  Users of America Online will still 
be able to access Usenet groups from other providers, including Google Inc. 
which calls them the  Google Groups.

Thousands of Usenet groups exist, covering a wide range of topics.  The 
most popular for radio amateurs are reported to be rec.radio.amateur.policy 
and rec.radio.amateur.misc.  (Published news reports)

**

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS:  RAIL ENTHUSIASTS ON IRLP

Hams interested in trains are invited to join the RailHam Roundtable every 
Sunday night on IRLP reflector number 9454 at 21:00 Eastern USA Time.  This 
is not a net, just an informal rag chew between hams  who like trains, 
whether it's models, prototypes, passenger,  freight, or what have 
you.  There is no net control so just throw out your callsign and ask who 
else is listening to get things started.  For more info point your web 
browser to: http://members.trainorders.com/boteman/railhamnet.html  (Via 
E-Mail)

**

RADIOSPORTS:  US ARDF CHAMPIONSHIPS TO ABQ

It may be cold and snowy where you are right now, but it's time to start 
planning for outdoor radio fun this summer.  Opportunities to win medals by 
finding hidden transmitters are coming, as Newsline's Joe Moell K0OV 
explains.

---

In last week's Newsline, you heard about the IARU's Region 3 Amateur Radio 
Direction Finding championships, taking place in Japan this coming 
September. Several stateside foxhunters are planning to attend. There are 
three IARU Regions, and Region 3 encompasses eastern Asia and Australia. 
USA is in Region 2, which includes both North and South America. Every 
odd-numbered year, each of the three regions has a foxhunting championship, 
and this year, ours will be in Albuquerque.

The Third IARU Region 2 ARDF Championships, combined with the Fifth USA 
ARDF Championships, will kick off on the first of August at the campus of 
the University of New Mexico, and you're invited. Anyone may enter. It's 
all on foot, with separate events on two meters and 80 meters. There are 
nine separate categories for men and women of all ages, with medals in each 
category for the winners.

The official Championships Web site is online at www.ards.us -- that's 
www.ards.us. To learn more about on-foot foxhunting, including the basic 
rules, inexpensive direction-finding equipment to use, and where to find 
local foxhunting practice opportunities, visit www.homingin.com. That's 
HOMINGIN, as one word, homingin.com. This is Joe Moell K0OV for Amateur 
Radio Newsline.

--

Again, those websites are www.ardf.us and www.homing in.com  (K0OV, 
ARNewsline(tm))

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  FORMER HARA ARENA PRESIDENT JOHNNY WALKER - S.K.

Johnny Walker was not a radio amateur but for many years he was a key part 
of the Dayton Hamvention. And now the sad news that the long-time 
broadcaster and former president of Hara Arena has passed away.

According to news reports, Walker died early Tuesday, January 25th in Lady 
Lake, Fla., just outside Orlando.  He was the former news director and 
anchor for WKEF-TV in Dayton and for 18 years hosted the Muscular Dystrophy 
Telethon.  And for 14 years, he was the president of Hara Arena and served 
at Hamvention Banquet emcee on several occasions.

Walker retired and moved to Florida in 2001. He was 63.  (Published news 
reports)

**

HAM RADIO BUSINESS SCENE:  HENRY RADIO OUT OF HF AND TUBE POWER AMP 
BUSINESS

Turning to news from the ham radio business community, word that Henry 
Radio brand high frequency power amplifiers are being discontinued.  This, 
according to Dan Magro, W7RF, of Radiodan who says that the high cost of 
manufacturing space and the ever rising cost of high power parts has lead 
to the that now is the time to close down that part of the assembly line.

Gone are all Henry brand tube type and all Henry High 
Frequency  amplifiers.  Henry will continue to manufacture solid state 
class C  FM VHF and UHF power amplifiers of up to 500 watts.  All 
warranties will be honored and for now service for all Henry brand high 
frequency products will continue with what parts are on hand.  (W7RF)

**

HAM RADIO BUSINESS SCENE:  ICOM DAY SUCCESS AT HRO BURBANK

On the other side of the coin, some ham radio business people say that 
things are really looking up for the industry as the worlds economy 
improves.  One of these is Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound Limited.  We 
caught up with Bob at a recent Icom Day outing at Ham Radio Outlet in 
Burbank California.  K9EID says that he was delighted with the turnout from 
the Southern California ham radio community:

--

Bob Heil, K9EID:  "Well, I have seen a lot of people today.  There are more 
here tan ever at one of these events.  We have representatives from Icom of 
coarse and the Comet Antennas guys are here.  We came in to show our new 
products for both the broadcast industry as well as Amateur Radio."

--

Bob says that from the time the doors opened the store was mobbed and most 
of those who showed up were there to buy.  (ARNewsline(tm))

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  HAM RADIO AS THE CES - PART III

Two things not usually lumped together are Broadband Over Powerline and 
touch screen control.  But both were a part of the recently concluded 
Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.  And in this final part of his 
report, Gordo touches on the both:

--

Audio report only.  Download this weeks newscast at www.arnewsline.org.

--

While ham gear was not shown at C-E-S a lot of the technology in other 
wireless services will definitely impact on Amateur Radio over the next 
several years.  (WB6NOA, ARNewsline)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  ADMINISTRATION TO PHASE OUT HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE

Reports on www.Space.com and in The Washington Post  say that the Bush 
administration plans to propose cuts in funds to fix the aging Hubble Space 
Telescope.   This, as the head of the telescope project said he hoped 
Congress would approve money for repairs.

A repair mission has been on hold since the February 1, 2003, 
disintegration of shuttle Columbia.  Debate in the astronautical community 
has raged over whether to send robots or astronauts to fix the telescope, 
or whether to fix it at all.

The 14-year-old orbiting observatory has produced path-breaking science and 
created a popular appetite for its spectacular images of the cosmos.  It is 
due for a servicing mission to replace its batteries and the gyroscopes 
that keep it steady, and to upgrade some of its equipment.  (NASA, 
Space.com, Sky On-Line, others)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  KIDS DAY ON AO-51

Amsat-North America says that it will sponsor a rescheduled Kid's Day on 
AO-51 from 1415 UTC on February 5th to 0300  UTC on February 6th.  During 
the event AO-51 will be configured  with an F-M voice uplink on 145.88 MHz 
using a 67 Hz access tone.  The downlink will be on 435.300 MHz, also FM 
voice. During this operation AMSAT asks that all stations use this short 
window to promote satellite operations to kids.  (AMSAT)

**

WORLDBEAT - CANADA:  VE8BDB RETIRES FROM ONTARIO SOUTH

 From up North, word that Bob Cooke VE3BDB has announced his reirement as 
Ontario South Director of Radio Amateurs of Canada.  During his tenure, 
Cooke, as the chair of the Membership Services Committee, was instrumental 
in the development of new promotional materials as well as a solid 
membership recruitment and retention program.  He was also involved in the 
finalization of RAC's Tru-Cas affinity program, and establishing the 
guidelines for continued membership recruitment in the society.  (RAC)

**

WORLDBEAT-CANADA:  CELEBRATING THE CANADIAN FLAG

And still up north, you may want to keep an ear open for special event 
station VE3TMG.  It will be active February 19th and 20th  to celebrate the 
40th anniversary of the Canadian Flag.  Operating times for both days will 
be from 1600 to 2200 UTC.  Activity will be  on or very close to 7.268 and 
14.268 MHz.  QSL via VE3TMG.  (VE3TMG)

**

WORLDBEAT - VK:  WEATHER CANCELLATION FOR TARC AUSTRALIA DAY

Meantime, down-under, the TARC Australia Day Family Radio Camp-out has been 
canceled.  This, because of heavy rains as this is the V-K monsoonal 
season.  And with the added possibility of some heavy winds springing up in 
the region, the event planners felt it prudent to cancel the event and let 
hams celebrate Australia Day on an individual basis and in a less hazardous 
way.  (WIA News)

**

DX

In D-X, VE2PIJ reports over the VHF Reflector on an upcoming D-Xpeditiuon 
to C-Y-9 slated for June 7th to July 7th.  Plans call for a dozen operators 
using two stations on the high frequency bands plus separate positions for 
2 meter weak signal and 6 meter weak signal contacts.  More information is 
on-line at www.cy9ss.com  (VE2PIJ)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  HAM RADIO ON THE SILVER SCREEN

And finally this week, with the OSCAR awards just around the corner its 
time to think ham radio, the silver screen and the little screen.  Some of 
you may be familiar with the 1960's British Broadcasting Company' Tony 
Hancock Half Hour series and itd bungling ham radio operator segment.  And 
here in the United States there was that famed t-v puppet who had a ham 
station of his very own.  Putting those two aside, Amateur Radio has been 
on movie and television screens numerous other times, but not always in a 
way that hams might like.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Evi Simons,  has more:

--

Possibly the earliest time amateur radio appeared in cinemas was the 1941 
movie called "The Men of Boys Town". The character played by Mickey Rooney 
was a radio amateur who chatted frequently from the home of his adoptive 
parents to a friend called Pee Wee, who operated the Boys Town amateur 
radio club station. Wonder just how many that inspired to join our hobby?

Probably the penultimate movie was a French film entitled "If All the Guys 
in the World" which featured a young radio enthusiast Jean Louis in Paris 
who received a distress message from a ship. Through his efforts and with 
the help of other radio amateurs around the world he tries to prevent a 
major disaster.

Another movie was "The French Atlantic Affair" in 1979 about a hijacked 
cruise ship where a ham radio set was the only independent communication 
with the outside world.

However the use of amateur radio by movie-makers in the past decade or so 
has often not portrayed it correctly, and probably done more harm than good 
to the cause of ham radio.

A string of movies including Phenomenon in 1996, Contact 1997 and Frequency 
2000 all concerned the supernatural, with amateur radio merely playing a 
convenient part of the storyline.

Maybe it's time for amateur radio to be portrayed accurately in a movie, or 
even a television soap opera using young actors. Perhaps there is a script 
writer, film industry executive, actor or someone else with influence who 
can make it happen - after all aren't dreams what movies are made from?

With thanks to VK3PC for much of this, I'm Evi Simons, in New York.

--

On the other side of the coin, one of the best ever portrayels of ham radio 
probably came in the late 1970's on the childrens television show "The 
Secrets of Isis."  There, the central character was a high school teacher 
named Andrea Thomas portrayed by actress Joanna Cameron.  And at the end of 
each episode Cameron, as Isis, would speak directly to her young audience 
explaining the moral of each story.  And in more than one episode the shows 
writers used ham radio to move the plot line along.  Of coarse it did not 
hurt that one of the people behind  "The Secrets of Isis" happened to be 
Hollwood producer Arthur Nadel, W6TZY..

(DO NOT READ:  More about the Secrets of Isis and its value as an 
educational program is on line at http://www.angelfire.com/tv2/isis/)

**

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.

A reminder that the nominating period for the 2005 Amateur Radio Newsline 
Young Ham of the Year Award is now open.  Full details along with 
downloadable and on-line nominating forms are at the awards website at 
www.yhoty.org.  Just click on 2005 Nominations at the top of the page.