[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1436 - February 18, 2005

Sat Feb 19 10:22:33 EST 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1436 -  February 18, 2005

The following is a closed circuit advisory. Amateur Radio Newsline 
Report 1436  will follow in a moment.  Right now, with more thank-you's 
to our supporters here is our financial administrator Andy Jarema, 
N6TCQ.  Andy:

--

Continuing with our thank-yous from September, all of the rest of our 
contributors hail from California.  They are Monthly contributor William 
Walters, WA2IBM, of San Jose;  monthly contributor Scott Hensley of the 
Area Communications Team, also in San Jose; Robert Springer, AD6YD of 
Los Gatos; Julian Lorenz, KE6VL of Paradise;  Bob Paquette, W6ZPL of La 
Habra' Mike Herr. WA6ARA of Ridgecrest; The Southern California Amateur 
Transmitting Society of West Covina; Paul Seabern, KO6VG of San Dimas; 
The Rio Hondo Amateur Radio Club of Whittier; John Rice, KE6YFV of San 
Pedro;  Tom Hobbs, KG6UCC of Mission Viejo; William Baumruck, K6GZ of 
Hesperia and  our old friend Dave Bell, W6AQ of Hollywood, who also paid 
for this year's  Young Ham of the Year presentation plaque.

A reminder that Newsline now has a PayPal account. We are busy adding 
the code to our website, but in the mean time, you can go directly to 
PayPal.com and contribute. You don't even need a PayPal account, just 
use your regular plastic.  It will ask you for an email address, and it 
is: N6TCQ at arnewsline.org. Be sure and give us your name and callsign, so 
we can name you on the air in one of these reports.

I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ, for Amateur Radio Newsline

--

Thanks Andy.  Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1436 with a 
release date of Friday, February 18th 2005 follows in 5-4-3-2-1.   

The following is a Q-S-T.  BPL may be coming to a major Southern 
California city even as it gets knocked by a market analyses firm down-
under.  Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 
1436 coming your way right now.

(Billboard Cart Here) 

**

THE BPL FIGHT: SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC JUMPS ON THE BPL BANDWAGON

Broadband Over Powerline may be coming to San Diego, California.  This, 
as the utility announces that it is exploring the possibility of 
offering high speed Internet access to all of its 1 point 3 million 
customers.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Tuck Miller, NZ6T, is in San Diego 
with more:

--

San Diego Gas & Electric appears to be coming a lot closer to deploying 
a pilot project that would let its electrical lines deliver its 
customers high-speed Internet access using BPL Technology.  According to 
a story appearing in the February 10th issue if the San Diego Union 
Tribune, the power provider says that it has a team at work defining the 
elements of a pilot project to provide high-speed access in the form of 
broadband over its power distribution system.  

San Diego Gas & Electric says that it does not yet have a start date or 
even a target date for submitting its proposal to the California Public 
Utilities Commission.  Their permission is required before the utility 
could  proceed with any BPL project using the regional power grid.  

Previously the company had said only that it was studying the technology 
but has been non-committal until now.  If it proceeds, the utility's 
broadband service would compete with offerings from SBC and local cable 
companies.

Right now there are hand full of utilities nation wide that are involved 
in pilot projects or testing of BPL,  but the San Diego Gas & Electric 
project would be the first in California.  Pacific Gas & Electric 
Company, which serves the San Francisco Bay Area, was exploring the 
possibility of a pilot project until its partner A-T & T  bowed out last 
year.  Southern California Edison, the state's other major utility, says 
that because of technical challenges, it has no current plans to invest 
in BPL.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Tuck Miller, NZ6T, in San Diego. 
reporting

--

As we go to air Newsline has learned that local and national officials 
of the ARRL are aware of the proposed San Diego Gas & Electric BPL 
project and that they are monitoring developments very closely.  More on 
this story in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (CGC Communicator, 
ARNewsline™ from published news reports)

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  ARRL FILES PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION

Meantime, the ARRL says that it has asked the FCC to take its broadband 
over power line Report and Order back to the drawing board.  In a 
Petition for Reconsideration filed February 7th, the League called on 
the Commission to ''reconsider, rescind and restudy'' its October 14, 
2004, adoption of new Part 15 rules spelling out how BPL providers may 
deploy the technology on H-F and low-VHF frequencies. 

Asserting that the Report and Order fails to adequately take into 
account the technology's potential to interfere with Amateur Radio and 
other licensed services, the League called the FCC's action to permit 
BPL a gross policy mistake.  The ARRL also presented its view that the 
Report and Order represents a classic case of prejudgment by an FCC that 
should have known better but ignored evidence already at its disposal.  
(ARRL)

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  AUSTRALIAN INVESTMENT FIRM SAYS BPL A BAD IDEA

Some bad news for those pushing BPL down-under.  One of Australia's 
leading market research firms is saying that Broadband Over Powerline 
technology may not be a good place for investors to hedge their money.  
John Williams, VK2BUI, is in Coffs Harbor with the rest of the story:

--

A leading Australian Internet research, analysis and strategies 
consultancy, Caslon Analytics Pty Ltd has reviewed the state of play 
with BPL and drawn a number of conclusions and makes several 
observations. 

In its review, aimed at industry and the investment sector, Caslon 
Analytics finds that some observers have characterized BPL as a 
marketing phenomenon, and not a technology that will gain global 
acceptance. 

The Canberra-based Caslon Analytics says the theoretical claims for BPL 
to provide every home with a fast Internet connection have not been 
tested on a large scale in a commercial environment. BPL industry media 
releases, it says, promote major benefits for consumers and power 
companies, but contain no substantive mention of technological or 
regulatory concerns. A lack of balance is occurring with little or no 
reporting of criticism of BPL or the failures of the industry when 
commercial backers withdraw from projects.

 Caslon Analytics refers to BPL in New Zealand as having followed the 
same trajectory as overseas, with initial hoopla, small-scale trials and 
little follow-up. The trial in Auckland by United Networks and Vector 
ceased after it "failed to produce commercial results", with Vector 
commenting that "we haven't been able to get anything commercially 
viable ... We can't get enough distance and the equipment is a bit 
expensive". 

The review is extensive, discusses the radio pollution concerns 
surrounding BPL, and can be read on the Internet at www.caslon.com.au

I am John Williams, VK2BUI. If Coffs Harbor.

--

Again the text version is on-line at 
http://www.caslon.com.au/powerlinenote.htm   (WIA News)

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  TASMANIA OPTS FOR FIBER INSTEAD OF BPL

Tasmania is going broadband, but it will not be using BPL.  ZD-Net 
Australia reports that broadband in Tasmania will use optical fiber.  
This will provide  transmission speeds up to 400 times faster than 
current ADSL technology without the interference to radio services 
associated with Broadband Over Powerline operations.  The full story is 
on-line at 
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/0,39023166,39179217,00.htm  (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 Montgomery 
Amateur Radio Clubs net serving Rockville, Maryland.

(5 sec pause here)

**

RADIO RULES: DX'ERS DENIED DESECHEO ISLAND LANDING PERMIT

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has again said "no" to a group of Ohio 
radio amateurs seeking to visit Desecheo Island.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reports:

--

Desecheo Island is a prized DX location.  So much a prize that for years 
it has been in the top-ten of the most-needed list for D-X-C-C. 

According to the ARRL Letter, the denial came in a letter from the Fish 
and Wildlife Service to United States Representative Mike Turner of 
Dayton, Ohio.  Turner had acted on behalf of well-known DXer and 
contester Harry Flasher, A-C-8-G.  He and three other members of the 
South West Ohio DX Association want to operate from the island.  Flasher 
was last on Desecheo in the 1980s.

In denying access to the island, the Fish and Wildlife Service told 
Representative Turner that the Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge is 
closed to all public entry for safety reasons.  This, due to unexploded 
artillery shells in the area. The agency also cited problems with drug 
traffickers in the region as yet another reason to deny.

It turns out that Desecheo Island was at one time a military training 
ground and the site of war games.  The Fish and Wildlife Service has not 
issued Amateur Radio landing permits since 1993.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in New Orleans.

--

Not only is Desecheo off limits to ham radio operations.  It appears 
that Navassa Island is as well.  The Fish and Wildlife Service continues 
to deny access to Navassa Island over which it also has jurisdiction.  
Navassa is on the most-needed list for DXCC as well.   (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC ASKS FRITO-LAY TO KEEP DRIVERS OFF 10 METERS

The FCC has written to the Frito-Ley food products company seeking 
assistance in keeping its delivery drivers from operating illegally in 
the 10 meter Amateur service band.  In a late January letter to Terrell 
Woods of the Frito-Lay Fleet Safety Office in Plano, Texas, the FCC 
details instances where on December 8th, 2004, drivers have been alleged 
to be operating on 28.085 MHz.  The FCC goes on to note that operation 
of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of the 
Communications Act and could subject drivers caught operating radio gear 
without licenses to fine or imprisonment, as well as seizure of any non-
certified radio transmitting equipment.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  NO EAS BRINGS $10,000 FINE
The Halifax Christian Community Church, Inc. in Flagler Beach, Florida 
which operates low power F-M radio station W-F-B-O has been hit with a  
ten thousand dollars monetary forfeiture notice.  The FCC says that W-F-
B-O willfully and repeatedly violated rules requiring installation and 
operation of E-A-S equipment and overpower operation with a non-
certified transmitter from an unauthorized location. Halifax Christian 
Community Church was given the customary time to respond or to file an 
appeal.  (FCC)

**

RADIO MYSTERY:  THE CASE OF THE DISAPPEARING TWO-WAYS

The California state. Department of Justice is helping to coordinate the 
investigation into a string of two-way radio thefts in that San Joaquin 
Valley.  This, according to the Modesto Bee which says that more than 
300 radios have been stolen recently, mostly from school buses parked 
for the night.  And so far none have been found.  Bruce Tennant, K6PZW 
has more:

--

Its a real mystery as to where the radios are going, but more on that in 
a moment.

The last victim is the Turlock Unified School District with 34 radios 
stolen last month.  Thieves also have struck the Modesto City Schools 
District, along with school bus yards in Madera, Clovis and Fresno.  
There are also reports that the thefts might have reached as far South 
as San Diego county.

Modesto Police Department spokesman Rick Applegate says that the 
Department of Justice is coordinating all of the cases, but not taking 
over the investigations. 

Thefts reported so far have involved only Kenwood two-way radios. In 
each case, the thieves carefully unscrewed the radios from connectors 
and mounting brackets. In several instances, older radios were left 
untouched. 

Investigators do have one lead.  They are trying to identify images that  
showed up in surveillance video taken during the Turlock thefts.  The 
videos provided images even though the thieves cut power to lights in 
the bus yard. 

Along with the who-done-it, the big mystery is why.  Investigators say 
that have no information as to what the destination of the radios might 
be.  They say that so far, none have shown up on public auction sites or 
electronics swap meets anywhere in the state, and they are baffled as to 
how so many two-way radios could just simply disappear of the face of 
the Earth.

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

--

While police say that they are mystified as to where the radios are 
going at least one two-way dealer has an idea where they might be.  The 
Bee quotes Jim Vincent of Vincent Communications in Fresno.  Vincent 
believes that the thieves are transporting the stolen radios to Mexico 
and selling them down there.  (Published news reports)

**

RADIO LAW: SEN. MC CAIN PROPOSES CUTTING BROADCAST LICENSE TERM

Senator John McCain of Arizona has unveiled legislation aimed at 
shortening the license terms of broadcasters from eight years to three.  
Mc Cain says that the proposed rules change is intended to let the 
public and Federal Communications Commission keep closer tabs on the 
industry's public interest programming.  Under the measure, broadcasters 
would also be required to cite on station Web sites the programming they 
have aired to meet their public interest obligations.  In announcing his 
legislative proposal McCain said that he thinks that citizens deserve 
more than they're getting from their local news.  (Information Daily)

**

NEW TECHNOLOGY:  RADIO FOR KIDS

The Hasbro company will soon be targeting children ages 11 to 14 with a 
new consumer electronics item that bridges the gap between toys and 
communication devices.  The company's new Chatnow Two-Way Radio 
Communicator includes an integrated digital camera and text-messaging 
functions and sells in both clamshell-style and slide-style mobile-phone 
designs. 

The device does not provide wireless wide area network support.  Rather, 
it reportedly relies on direct point to point two-way radio with a 
claimed range of about 2 miles.  This will allow youngsters to send and 
receive text messages and take up to 30 digital pictures.  It also 
includes predictive text input software similar to that supplied with 
most standard mobile phones.  

What spectrum the Chatnow will use was not specified in the product 
announcement nor did it say what radio service the device will operate 
under.  None the less, it could be a very useful tool to nudge kids away 
from the World Wide Web and introduce some of them to our world of hobby 
radio.  

Retail price for either case style is expected to be in the $75 range. 
(Hasboro via Tech OnLine)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  QCWA "ALMOST SPRING" IN PA IN MARCH

>From the ham radio social calendar comes word that Pittsburgh Chapter 6 
of the  Q-C-W-A will hold it's "almost spring"  get together on 
Saturday, March 19th.  The venue is Hoss's Steak and Seafood House in 
the Pleasant Hills section of town.  Doors open at 11:00 AM Eastern time 
with members, guests, visitors, friends and interested parties are 
invited to join in the festivities.  (QCWA Remailer, W3UHP)

**

HAM RADIO CONFERENCES:  ARRL/TAPR DCC IN SEPTEMBER

We have mentioned this before but its worth doing so again.  Technical 
papers are solicited for presentation at the 24th Annual ARRL and TAPR 
Digital Communications Conference and for publication in the Conference 
Proceedings. 

The conference is slated for September 23rd to the 25th in Santa Ana, 
California but presentation at the conference is not required for 
publication.  Submissions are due by August 9th to Maty Weinberg,  ARRL 
Headquarters, 225 Main Street Newington, Connecticut, 06111.  You can 
also e-mail them to maty at arrl.org

For more information, see the conference Web page at www.tapr.org/dcc on 
the World-Wide-Web.  (ARRL, TAPR, VHF Reflector)

**

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:  DAYTON HAMVENTIONr CREATOR JOHN WILLIG, W8ACE - 
S.K.

The ham who started the Dayton Hamvention has died.  John Willig, W8ACE, 
became a Silent Key on January 30th in Sarasota, Florida.

Back about 1950 John Willig lived in Ohio and was a member of the Dayton 
Amateur Radio Association.  He approached the clubs leadership with a 
suggestion that it sponsor its own ham radio convention.  At that time 
he was turned down but Willig persisted.  He eventually found support 
for his idea in the person the late Frank Schwab, W8YCP.  Schwab, who 
later became W8OK, was then the newly elected president of the club.  

A meeting was held and the Dayton amateur Radio Association Board 
allocated $100 to get started.  A committee was formed to peruse the 
idea with W8ACE as General Chairman.  The first organizational meeting 
was held in January 1952 and the Southwestern Ohio Ham Vention was born.  
The next year the name was changed to  "Dayton Hamvention" and was 
registered as a trademark.  

Willig served as Hamvention General Chairman from 1952 to  1956 during 
which he developed the format that Hamvention has followed ever since.   
He was also a past-President of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association and 
was the person who named the clubs monthly newsletter the "RF Carrier." 

After his retirement and subsequent move to Florida, W8ACE remained 
active in community service through Amateur Radio.  Outside the hobby he 
volunteered to the American Cancer Society, was a former president of 
the Kiwanis Club of Kettering, Ohio and served twice as Lieutenant 
Governor of Ohio.

In 1985 Willig returned to Dayton to accept the coveted "Radio Amateur 
of the Year Award."  It was presented to W8ACE in recognition of his 
long-term dedication to the Hamvention and to all of Amateur Radio.  

John Willig, W8ACE, was age 87.    (WB8IFM) 

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  GEORGE LOCKWOOD, KD8RJ - S.K.

Inventor George Lockwood, KD8RJ, of Centerville, Ohio, became a silent 
key on Saturday January 30th.  

Lockwood held some 15 patents.  Among them was the memory cell which was 
the first non volatile memory.  That is a type of electronic memory not 
dependent on being hooked to a power source.  The memory cell  was the 
precursor of today's widely used flash memory.

KD8RJ was age 76 when he succumbed to complications following a bout 
with pneumonia.  He formerly held the call WA8HRA, was a degreed 
Electronic Engineer and a member of Q-C-W-A, Chapter 9.  (WB8IFM)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  STREAMING ARISS ON THE WWW

A recent contact between Astronaut Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, on the 
International Space Station and youngsters at the Fairview School in 
Mount Prospect, Illinois, was heard world-wide.  The contact audio was 
streamed to the World Wide Web and even with little pre-publicity there 
were over 50 people tuning in.  The contact was also simulcast via the 
IRLP system on an experimental basis using a radio link to the N9EP 
repeater.  (AJ9N)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SKN ON OSCAR PARTICIPATION UP THIS YEAR

And activity in the 2005 OSCAR Straight Key Night is reported to have 
been up significantly from last year.  This is especially true in 
western North America where K7RR reported that the FO-29 satellite 
passband sounded more like 40 meters.  (AMSAT)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  XM TO LAUNCH TWO NEW BIRDS

XM Satellite Radio has received permission from the FCC to launch two 
new satellites. These birds replace two Boeing satellites that have 
solar array power problems, and which have shortened their lifespans. 

XM wants to launch and operate XM-3 to replace one of its original 
satellites, XM-Roll. It asks to move the XM-Roll satellite to 
temporarily co-locate with its other original satellite, XM-Rock, with 
each operating at half of its original capacity. 

XM plans to launch a fourth satellite by 2007 and operate XM-Rock and 
XM-Roll as in-orbit spares once it launches the fourth spacecraft.  (XM 
release)

**

WORLDBEAT - INDIA:  TEACHING THE HOBBY

India's Bangalore Amateur Radio Club has introduced the Amateur Radio 
hobby to kids in class.  This with a recent demonstration to the 
students, staff and the principal of the Vidyaniketan Public School.  
The youngsters had asked quite a few questions about the hobby after a 
talk was given on ham radio and Tsunami relief by VU3NOI, VU3SXE and 
VU3JBS.  Some are expected to join the hobby.   (WIA News)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  CELEBRATING THE WEDDING OF G0MRL AND M3LBQ

A belated word of congratulations across the Atlantic pond to well-known 
GB2RS newsreader Laurie Bradshaw, G0MRL.  This, on his marriage to his 
new wife  Marilyn, M3LBQ, which took place at the end of last October.

The newly weds recently held a party to celebrate their nuptials at 
which no fewer than 16 radio amateurs attended.  Even more interesting 
was the entertainment.  It was provided by a jazz band led by 
saxophonist and clarinettist Howard Murray, G3NBY.  (GB2RS)

**

RADIOSPORTS:  WRTC 2006 ANNOUNCED

Brazil will be the host nation for the 2006 World Radiosport Team 
Championship games.  Sponsoring groups are the Araucaria DX Group and 
the Liga de Amadores de Radio Emissao.  More information is on-line at 
www.wrtc2006.com  (WRTC)

**

DX

In DX, W3ARS says that he plans to be  active from St. Lucia February 
21st. He says to look for him on 160 through 6 meters likely using the 
call sign J68AR from Grid square FK94. Also listen for him as 8P9AS for 
a couple times during his stay.  QSL to his callbook address.  (VHF 
REflector)

And word that three Portuguese operators will be active as S92RI from 
Sao Tome and Principe between February 20th and 26th.  Listen for them 
on 160 through 6 meters on SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK 31. QSL as directed on 
the air.  (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  FAR SCHOLARSHIPS FOR 2005 - 2006  

If you are a young  ham looking for a scholarship to help pay your 
college tuition, listen up.  The Foundation for Amateur Radio or FAR 
says that its offering 55 scholarships -- that's right -- we said 55 
scholarships.  This, to assist licensed Radio Amateurs for the 2005 
through 2006 academic year.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, 
WA6ITF, is here with the rest of the good news:

--

This years Foundation for Amateur Radio administered awards range from 
$500 to $2500.  The foundation funds three of the scholarships.  Another 
ten are funded with the income from grants.  The remaining 42 are 
administered by the Foundation without cost to the various donors.

All licensed Radio Amateurs may compete for these awards, but only if 
they plan to pursue a full-time course of studies beyond high school.  
This means that an applicant must be enrolled in, or have been accepted 
for enrollment at an accredited university, college or technical school.   
For some of the scholarships, preference is given to residents of 
specified geographical areas or to those who are pursuing certain study 
programs.

More information and an application form may be requested by letter or 
QSL card.  Mail your request to FAR Scholarships, Post Office Box 831, 
Riverdale, Maryland, 20738.  

And less we forget:  The cutoff date to apply is April 30th.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.

--

For those not aware, the Foundation for Amateur Radio is a non-profit 
organization with headquarters in Washington, D.C..  More information 
about the Foundation for Amateur Radio and its scholarship program is 
on-line at www.amateurradio-far.org  We support their efforts.  You 
should too.  (FAR, CGC, 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, The 
Foundation For Amateur Radio, 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.