[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1439 - March 11th, 2005

Sun Mar 13 11:13:22 EST 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1439 -  March 11th, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T. .  Three men are charged with murdering a ham 
radio couple who disappeared last November and authorities release some 
of their evidence in the case.  Also, the Dayton Hamvention announces 
its 2005 award winners and a busy enforcement week for the FCC.  Find 
out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1439  coming 
your way right now.

**

RADIO MYSTERY:  THREE CHARGED WITH MURDERING KD7VWJ AND KD7VWK

Three men have been charged with murder in the disappearance of Thomas 
and Jackie Hawks, KD7VWJ, and  KD7VWK.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce 
Tennant, K6PZW, has been following the investigation since last November 
and has the latest details:

--

Thomas and Jackie Hawks, KD7VWJ, and  KD7VWK, were last seen on November 
15th 2004 at California's Newport Harbor.  That's where they are 
supposed to have met a suspect in their disappearance identified as 
Skylar Deleon.  They had gone to meet him to discuss the sale of their 
55-foot luxury boat, the Well Deserved.  Officials believe the couple 
was killed at sea.  Now, prosecutors have filed first degree murder 
charges against Deleon, Alonso Machain and Myron Gardner.

Police say that nine days after the test cruise Deleon traveled to the 
Hawkses' hometown of Prescott, Arizona.  There he attempted to access 
their bank account by using a document that supposedly gave him power of 
attorney.  Police would not say how Deleon obtained the document or if 
its real or forged.  

On November 26th, Deleon drove the Hawkses' Honda sports utility vehicle 
to a home in Ensenada, Mexico, and left it there.  While in Mexico, 
Deleon again attempted to use the same power of attorney to access the 
Hawkses' Arizona bank account.  Police took Deleon into custody on 
unrelated theft charges on December 16th, which is the same day police 
found the couple's car in Ensenada.

During a brief March 4th appearance in Orange County Superior Court in 
Newport Beach, Deleon, Machain and Gardner were ordered held without 
bail.  Their arraignment is scheduled for April 15th.  Neither police 
nor Deputy District  Attorney Matt Murphy would disclose Machain's or 
Gardner's roles in the alleged crime.  Prosecutors do say that Deleon is 
also a suspect in an unrelated murder in 2003 but details have not been 
disclosed.

According to police, Deleon took several test rides in the Hawkses' 
yacht in November, including what police say was the couple's final 
journey. The last anyone heard from Jackie Hawks was on November 15th, 
when she placed a cellular phone call to a friend and left the message 
saying that they were out at sea.  On November  17th, one of Deleon's 
relatives is purported to have purchased bleach and garbage bags.  
Authorities say that these are materials commonly used to clean up after 
crimes.  A receipt for these goods was found in the Hawkses' boat.  
Police say that additional arrests are  expected.

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

--

Police say that when they questioned Deleon on November 29th, he claimed 
that he had paid the Hawkses' $400,000 cash for the boat on November 
15th.  He said he watched them drive away from the harbor in their 
sports utility vehicle.  The big break  in the case came when police 
recovered the couple's vehicle and learned that Deleon had driven it to 
Ensenada, Mexico where it was found.   (L.A. Times and other news local 
Los Angeles area reports)

**

RADIO LAW:  UK MILITARY AND RSGB DISCUSS FUTURE OF 70 CM.

Across the Atlantic Pond, the first of a series of meetings between the 
Radio Society of Great Britain and the United Kingdom Ministry of 
Defense have taken place.  The purpose is to discuss the future of the 
70 centimeter band and access by ham repeaters to it.  

Under U-K telecommunications law Amateur Radio is designated as the 
primary user the band.  Even so, back in February of 2002 the Ministry 
of Defense imposed a freeze on licensing of 70 centimeter  Amateur 
Service relay devices.  This includes unattended packet radio data nodes 
as well as repeaters.  This meeting was billed as the first move towards 
lifting of the  restrictions. 

The Ministry of Defense placed on record that they wish to work with the 
R-S-G-B as the representatives of the U-K amateur service on a 
partnership basis, and there was no wish to deprive the amateur radio 
community of the facilities previously available to them.  For its part, 
the R-S-G-B is also talking to the Ministry of Defense through Ofcom -- 
the U-K Office of Communications.  Discussions here center around 
interference being experienced on the 2 meter band primarily in Northern 
Ireland. These discussions are reported to be ongoing.  (WIA News)

**

RADIO LAW:  BROADCAST INDECENCY STANDARDS LIKELY TO EXPAND

Back here in the United States, our Federal Communications Commission is 
overhauling the way that it processes complaints from the public dealing 
with indecency on the airwaves.  This action comes after the agency 
spent over a year struggling to deal with the flood of concerns it 
received in 2004 over the content of radio and television shows.

The changes begin just as Congress considers raising the amount of fines 
that can be levied against stations and individuals who violate indecent 
broadcast rules.  Also being bandied in the legislative halls is 
bringing cable and satellite delivered radio and television programming 
under the same standard of decency rules that terrestrial broadcasters 
currently face.

In 2004, the FCC received over a million complaints about racy or off-
color fare.  By way of comparison, in 2000, the agency received just 111 
indecency complaints.  (Published reports)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  NEXTEL AGREES TO PLAN ENDING INTERFERENCE

Nextel Communications has agreed to a plan by federal regulators aimed 
at ending the interference from Nextel cell phones.  Interference that 
disrupts public safety communication systems in hundreds of communities.  

Under the agreement, Nextel will give up spectrum in the 800 MHz band in 
exchange for new bandspace in the 1.9 Gigahertz range  where other major 
wireless carriers operate.  In return Nextel will pay $1.3 billion for 
relocating current users and clearing its new airwaves.  It will also 
pay the government about $1.5 billion for the new spectrum.

The multi-billion-dollar agreement ends a long process aimed at 
eliminating cell phone interference that in some cases left police, fire 
and other emergency personnel unable to communicate.   To date there 
have been no reports that such interference caused injuries or deaths, 
although public safety officials have said personnel are endangered 
whenever they respond to a call and cannot communicate. (R-Comm)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  ANOTHER LICENSE SET ASIDE

The FCC has set aside the Extra Class Amateur Radio license grant of 
Douglas Richter, KB2SIE, of Bethpage, New York.  The Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau took the action based on complaints it 
received about the operation of Richter's station since the grant of the 
renewal application.

Richter's last renewal was dated November 7, 2000. In view of the action 
by the Wireless Bureau,  Richter's application for renewal reverts to a 
pending status.  The FCC says that it will be in contact with him 
concerning additional information it will need in order to make a 
decision on what further action it may take.  (FCC)

**
ENFORCEMENT:  FCC TO JACK GERRITSEN - "NO"

The FCC has also denied a Petition for Reconsideration and upheld a 
$10,000 fine against former ham Jack Gerritsen of Bell, California.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Tuck Miller, NZ6T, has the latest:

--

The FCC issued its Memorandum Opinion and Order denying Jack Gerritsens 
response on March 4th.  In it the FCC stated that despite repeated 
warnings that he holds no valid Commission authorization, investigations 
by field agents in the Bureau's Western Region reveal that Gerritsen 
persists in his unauthorized operations in the Amateur Service.

In his November 2004 filing, the former KG6IRO claimed that the federal 
government was attempting to deprive him of his constitutional right to 
free speech.  The FCC dismissed this claim out of hand.  It noted that 
the right to free speech does not mean a citizen can use a radio 
transmitter without a license.  It also notes that Congress gave 
licensing authority to the FCC when it passed the Communications Act 
back in 1934.  

This is one of three fines or proposed forfeitures Gerritsen is 
currently facing.  Together they add up to $52,000.  And the FCC says 
that based on his ongoing illegal activity, it is directing its Western 
Region office to continue to coordinate with the United States Attorney 
for the Central District of California in pursuing additional sanctions 
against Jack Gerritsen the ex KG6IRO.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Tuck Miller, NZ6T, in San  Diego.

--

Gerritsen was given the usual amount of time to pay.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  YOU NEED A HIGHER LICENSE ON 75 METERS

A Technician class ham from Lakeview Michigan has been asked why he 
operated 75 meters and used his time on the air to talk with unlicensed 
stations.  

The inquiry comes in a recent letter from FCC rules enforcer Riley 
Hollingsworth tells Michael J. Maxfield, KB8WMC.  In it Hoillingswoth 
says that FCC monitoring information indicates that on December 21st, 
2004  Maxfield held a conversation with unlicensed stations on 3.860 
MHz.  The letter goes on to say that FCC records show that Maxfield 
holds only a Technician license, and is not authorized to operate on 
that frequency.  Also, that communications with stations that he knew to 
be unlicensed will reflect adversely upon Maxfield's qualifications to 
hold an Amateur license.

Hollingsworths letter tells Maxfield that his actions could result in 
enforcement action against him such as fine, license revocation, or 
both.  He also advised Maxfield to call him to discuss this matter.  
(FCC)

**

HAMVENTION:   2005 AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

A television news producer from California; a communications hero from 
India and a researcher from New Jersey have been selected as recipients 
of the 2005 Dayton Hamvention awards.  Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reports:

--

Selected as Radio Amateur of the Year is Alan Kaul, W6RCL of Los 
Angeles.  According to the Hamvention Awards Committee, Alan was chosen 
for this honor based on his long-term dedication to the ongoing 
education of radio amateurs to the many facets of their hobby and his 
work in the area of publicizing Amateur Radio to the non-licensed world 
through the mass media

As regular listeners know, Alan is a career electronic journalist.  He 
currently serves as a West Coast Producer for NBC Nightly News.  A 
licensed radio amateur most of his life, he began his service to Amateur 
Radio in the late 1970's as a writer and reporter for the old Westlink 
Amateur Radio News -- the forerunner of today's Amateur Radio Newsline:

--

Audio only.  Download the current MP3 audio newscast at 
www.arnewsline.org/quincy

--

One of the best remembered contributions to Newsline was his report on 
the death of His Majesty Al Hussein ibn Talal, JY1, King of Jordan.  
Working from an intimate knowledge of King Hussein and the monarch's 
many ham radio friends Kaul wove a word picture of the "man and his 
hobby" as seen through the eyes of those who knew him best.

In 1983, as the first manned ham radio operation from orbit by Dr. Owen 
Garriott, W5LFL, was being planned Alan Kaul was tapped by the late Roy 
Neal,  K6DUE, for a unique assignment.  He would be the "volunteer" 
Producer of a half hour video about the flight to be titled "Amateur 
Radio's Newest Frontier."

--

Audio only.  Download the current MP3 audio newscast at 
www.arnewsline.org/quincy

--

Shortly after the second version of this show was complete, Kaul 
accepted the assignment in Jordan and was gone for several years.  While 
there, Alan filed a number of reports on ham radio in that region aired 
by Westlink Radio and later as Amateur Radio Newsline. These reports 
introduced the hobby as it is in the Middle East to radio amateurs 
world-wide.  During that time, Kaul was on the air from across the 
region as JY9RL, operating mainly low power CW and bringing a number of 
rare locations on-the-air as time permitted.  

After his return to Los Angeles, Alan became active in several worlds of 
Amateur Radio.  Theses include QRP operation, CW operation and 
contesting to name only three.  The latter led to his becoming a 
founding member of the Hollywood Hills QRP Contest Club in 2003.

In 2002, Alan's talent as a documentary writer/producer was tapped once 
again, this time by producer Dave Bell, W6AQ.  He asked Alan to devise a 
concept for participation by legendary CBS Newsman Walter Cronkite, 
KB2GSD, to anchor a short presentation dealing with the reliability of 
ham radio during crisis situations.  The project was eventually titled 
"Amateur Radio Today."  It was released by the American Radio Relay 
League in January of 2003. This video has since been used by the ARRL in 
its dealings with Congress and other legislators and received the 
Chicago Film Festival's Certificate of Merit for a non-broadcast 
documentary later that year.    

--

Audio only.  Download the current MP3 audio newscast at 
www.arnewsline.org/quincy

--

Kaul's latest video project, known by the working title "The ARRL Goes 
to Washington" is slated for release this spring.  It documents the work 
being done on the political front by the ARRL to preserve the precious 
spectrum upon which radio amateurs operate and to protect it from 
interference by such entities as Broadband Over Powerline Internet 
access.   He is also very active in publicizing other ham radio 
activities and produced a 3 minute report on Kids Day that aired 
nationally on NBC News.

Special Achievement Award recipient D. Bharathi Prasad, VU2RBI, was on 
the air from the VU4RBI/VU4NRO DXpedition in Port Blair in the Andaman 
and Nicobar Islands when disaster struck on December 29th.  A massive 
earthquake occurred at 00:58 UTC off the west coast of northern Sumatra.  
It measured 8.9 on the Richter scale and triggered a tsunami that took 
over 300,000 lives across the region.  An IndiaNews report termed the 
destruction in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands ''unprecedented, with the 
gigantic tidal waves sinking two civilian ships and destroying dry 
docks."

After checking that everyone was safe and that the antennas were still 
on the roof,  she then shifted the operation to handle emergency traffic 
and health-and-welfare inquiries between the island and the Indian 
mainland. Simultaneously, she sent team members to the office of the 
Chief Secretary, Government of Andaman & Nicobar Islands expressing the 
operators' willingness to support establishing an emergency 
communication network to assist the administration.  For several days 
Prasad and the other DXpedition members were the lone voices on the 
radio bringing aid and comfort to the people of the isolated islands.  
Ironically, it was Prasad who organized the DX operation and worked to 
gain the special permission from India's Ministry of Communications and 
Information Technology to operate from the island chain.  (Information 
supplied by CQ Magazine, ARNewsline™, others)

Technical Excellence Award winner Dr. Jerry Sevick, W2FMI, is well known 
in ham radio technical circles world-wide for his many books, articles 
and other writings.  It was his interest in Amateur Radio that launched 
Dr. Sevick into experiments with short vertical antennas and broadband 
matching networks. He is noted for a classic series on short vertical 
antennas that appeared in QST. His April 1978 QST article on short 
ground-radial systems now serves as the world's standard for earth 
conductivity measurements.

In the course of designing networks to match coaxial cable to short 
ground mounted vertical antennas, the transmission line transformer was 
looked at as a possible vehicle.  This resulted in his book Transmission 
Line Transformers, published by the ARRL.  He also presented a series on 
baluns in Communications Quarterly and a series on unbalanced to 
unbalanced transformers published in CQ magazine.  Dr. Sevick is also a 
Technical Advisor for the ARRL and is a member of IEEE..  

We add our congratulations to all three winners.  For the Amateur Radio 
Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reporting

--

This years awards will be presented the weekend of May 20th to the 22nd 
at the Dayton Hamvention.  Amateur Radio Newsline will be there to bring 
you a live report.  (Dayton Hamventioonr)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  EXCELSIOR, YOU FATHEAD

Eugene Bergamann's long awaited book about legendary entertainer Jean 
Shepherd, K2ORS, will hit store bookshelves on March 28th.  

Its title is "Excelsior, You Fathead - The Art and Enigma of Jean 
Shepherd."  In it Bergamann provides the first ever in depth look at man 
who literally invented talk radio and gave the world a timeless holiday 
motion picture simply titled "A Christmas Story."

It took Bergmann several years to amass all the information contained in 
his 528 page book on Shep.  Nothing is left out.  Even Shep's 
involvement in ham radio gets more than just a passing mention as the 
author takes us into the life and times of one of the greatest American 
humorists that ever lived.

"Excelsior, You Fathead - The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd" is 
published by Applause Theatre and Cinema Books in New York City.  More 
information is on line at www.applausepub.com  To which we will add that 
once you start reading its a hard book to put down.   (ARNewsline)

**

RADIO LAW:  THE SCANNER ENTHUSIASTS REVENGE

Call this the scanner hobbyists revenge.  This with word that a House of 
Representatives ethics committee will investigate Representative Jim 
McDermott to determine whether the Washington Democrat  violated 
standards of conduct  when an illegally recorded telephone conversation 
was leaked to reporters during a committee investigation.  The 
investigative panel also will consider whether McDermott violated a 
government ethics code, and committee rules barring improper disclosures 
and protecting confidential information.

McDermott was ranking Democrat on the ethics committee at the time when 
the panel was investigating the conduct of then-Speaker Newt Gingrich.  
The incident began when a Florida couple taped Ohio Representative John 
Boehner off a scanner radio.  Boehner was using his cell phone to 
discuss the Gingrich case with other Republicans.  The tape ended up in 
McDermott's hands and subsequently was leaked to reporters.  This 
resulted in a number of moves to restrict public use of scanner radios 
by politicians fearful that their private conversations might also 
become public.  

Boehner sued McDermott in federal court.  U.S. District Judge Thomas 
Hogan concluded late last year that McDermott was responsible for the 
leak and ordered the Washington lawmaker to pay Boehner for willful and 
knowing misconduct that rises to the level of malice.  Boehner said the 
payment could total about $600,000, including his legal fees.  McDermott 
is challenging the ruling in a federal appeals court.

But the damage to scanner radio enthuiasts was done.  Since then 
politicians on both sides of the aisle have looked negatively on scanner 
radios and those who own them.  Now at least Colorado Republican and 
Committee Chairman Joel Hefley, along with ranking Democrat Alan 
Mollohan of West Virginia have formed a four-member investigative 
subcommittee to investigate the 1997 incident.  The subcommittee will 
report its findings to the full ethics panel, officially known as the 
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.    (Published news reports)

** 

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  CALIFORNIA SCHOOL SCRAPS PLAN TO RFID-TAG ITS 
STUDENTS

A pilot project at Brittan Elementary School in Sutter, California to 
radio tag all of its students has come to an end.  This, after the 
company providing the high-tech electronic identification badges 
withdrew from the program amid a chorus of protest from parents.  
Opposition centered on the use of Radio Frequency Identification tags to 
facilitate taking classroom attendance in much the same manner that 
industry keeps track of inventory and livestock. (CGC, L.A. Times)

**

WORLDBEAT - AUSTRALIA:  VISABLE LIGHT DOWN UNDER

A pair of Australian hams have broken that nations record for visible 
light voice communications as we hear from the WIA News:

--

(Sound On Tape of contact audio.  FADE TO:)

--

What you just heard was Mike Groth, VK7MJ talking with Chris Long and an 
optical communications record was about to be broken! 

Between 1100 and 1200 GMT on Saturday the 19th of February 2005, two way 
full duplex voice communication was established at 475 THz that's 630nm, 
yes, visible light, over a distance of 167.7 km between stations on the 
summits of Mount Wellington near Hobart and South Barrow, near 
Launceston. 

Both transmitters used current modulated 1W red Luxeon Lumileds into 
200mm diameter fresnel lens, and they were clearly visible with the 
naked eye at 104 miles. The signals were detected by silicon photodiodes 
at the focus of fresnel lens and a FET input amplifier. 

Signals going north were reported as 4/7 with some scintillation and 
slow fading by Joe VK7JG, Jason VK7ZJA and Chris Long on Mt Barrow. The 
signals received at Mt Wellington by Mike VK7MJ and Justin VK7TW were 
very noisy with readability to about 3/3 and two-way duplex voice 
contacts were completed. 

--

Its not known if the Australian hams have broken any international 
records with this QSO.  (WIA News)

**

WOELDBEAT - CONFERENCES:  PACKET RADIO IN THE UK IN MAY

The 4th United Kingdom Packet Radio Conference will take place on 
Saturday  the 7th of May.  The venue will be at the Poacher's Pocket, at 
Warndon in the city of  Worcester. Included will be packet 
demonstrations and presentations, along with  ample time for informal 
discussions and socializing. And as the boundaries between packet radio, 
the Internet, and packetised speech are becoming blurred, there may be 
discussions regarding V-o-I-P topics added to the agenda if there is 
sufficient 
interest.

There is no fee to attend this conference as it is open to anyone with 
an interest in packet radio. To reserve your place, add items to the 
agenda, or for any other queries, please contact Paula Dowie, G8PZT, e-
mail to g8pzt at blueyonder.co.uk  (gb2rs)

** 

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  KEEP THOSE KEPS COMING

AMSAT says that it is continuing negotiations with the United States 
Space Command.  This, concerning regarding the ability of hams to have 
continued access to Keplerian Elements and for AMSAT to be permitted to 
forward them via its e-mail service. 

According to Ray Hoad, who provides the service to AMSAT the Air Force 
Space Command is currently considering how to administer its new web 
site that carries the information as well as processing requests for 
data redistribution.  Ray says that no time line for a decision has been 
made.  He says that for the time being, the best course of action is for 
AMSAT to maintain an on-going dialog with Space Command.  This,  to help 
them understand the needs of the world-wide Amateur Radio community.

For those hams who are not aware, Keplerian Elements are those numbers 
that one plugs into a satellite tracking program to find out when a 
particular bird will be flying overhead.  (ANS)

**

DX

In DX, word that IV3SBE is working in Kenya and has just received his 
5Z4ES license. He plans to operate during the weekends on 80, 40, 20, 
15, 12 and 10 meters SSB.  (GB2RS)

And DJ7RJ is active from Kos Island in the Dodecanese chain through the 
20th March.  He plans to operate on all of the low bands, including 160 
meters.  Q-S-L both these operations as directed on-the-air.  (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  A 40 YEAR OLD ROCK

A famous propagation beacon down-under is back on the air with a rather 
antique but once again operational frequency determining component.  We 
have more from the W-I-A News:

--

Regular listeners will recall how we previously reported that the 
Melbourne 2m propagation beacon VK3RTG had gone QRT. Upon investigation 
it was found that its Australian made frequency-determining crystal had 
failed, after 40 years of reliable service. Well it is now back on air 
with the same crystal and there's quite a story behind it. 

You see, curiosity got the better of the beacon custodian Ron Cook 
VK3AFW, who opened the crystal holder to see what went wrong. He 
discovered a manufacturing fault. The problem was that small drop of 
silver-loaded paint that provides a stable electrical connection with 
one of the electrodes that sandwich the wafer of crystal, was missing, 
not applied during manufacture, and it went open circuit. 

After Ron VK3AFW pointed out the quality control failure, the 
manufacturer did not hesitate in offering to provide a free repair and 
the crystal is set to outlive us all. The service provided on a product 
made 40 years ago is outstanding.

--

For the next few weeks the beacon will be radiating into a directional 
antenna with a Noth East  heading. Check 144.430 for the signal and 
VK3AFW Ron asks for reports.  (WIA News)

**

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 Awaed 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.  