[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1444 - April 15, 2005

Sat Apr 16 22:11:43 EDT 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1444 -  April 15, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.  Ham radio, the Internet and a commercial 
satellite work together on an Indian Ocean earthquake relief effort and 
another arrest in the case of a missing Arizona ham radio couple.  Find 
out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1444  coming 
your way right now.

**
RESCUE RADIO:  SATELLITE CONNECTION ESTABLISHED TO NIAS ISLAND 

Satellite and Internet technology have joined with ham radio to bring 
aid to a quake ravaged Indian Ocean island.  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is 
in the newsroom and has the latest:

--

Earl Campbell, N8TV operating as YB6ZEC, has joined the YB6ZAH command 
post on  earthquake stricken Nias island.  From there he successfully 
launched the first ever e-mail from Nias to AB2QV in New York State.  

Campbell used V-Sat satellite-based Internet set connected to the 
notebook P-C.  This has made it possible to provide Internet 
communication to support the ham radio emergency activities on the 
island and across the region

This is believed to be the first satellite Internet connection ever made 
from Nias.  The recent  8.7 magnitude under water quake has severely 
damaged the infrastructure of the island.

Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, for Newsline.

--

Campbell is from New Mexico State and an International Red Cross's I-T 
specialist. Pictures he and Herman Rangkuti, YC6IQ, have taken are 
available at www.qsl.net/ab2qv/nias.htm.  (AB2QV)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO PART OF VK AMBER ALERT SYSTEM

Australia's first Child Abduction or Amber Alert system is now in place 
across Queensland province and ham radio is expected to soon be a part 
of it.  As currently structured, if a child is kidnapped anywhere in 
Queensland the Child Abduction Alert can be activated.  This means that 
if a child goes missing the details can be broadcast almost instantly by 
local radio instead of waiting for the next scheduled news bulletin.

The system will initially only involve broadcast radio stations but will 
be expanded to include other outlets such as taxi companies, bus 
operators and the like.  Observers down-under believe that Amateur Radio 
linked repeaters utilizing IRLP would seem the way to quickly extend the 
alerts even further while alerting hams operating mobile to be watchful 
and on guard.  To this end, Australian hams are turning to the IRLP code 
writers to help create a fully automated system.  (WIA News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  REPORT EXONERATES RADIOS IN 911 DEATHS

The New York Daily News says that commercial repeaters blamed for 
failing to provide adequate communication among police and firefighters 
in the twin towers on 911 did not malfunction.  But the evacuation was 
still slowed by faulty use of the equipment, according to a federal 
report.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, has more:

--

The findings came after a 2 1/2-year probe by the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology.  The institute began its investigation 
following an outcry from victims' families, many of whom blamed 
repeaters in the north towers harming communication between police and 
firefighters, causing the deaths of their loved ones.  

But the Institute now say that the repeater was not even used.  Their 
Investigators believe that commanders in the lobby mistakenly thought 
the repeater was broken after they couldn't hear signals clearly.   The 
investigators say the problem may have been caused by a broken earpiece 
or the volume being turned down too low on emergency service personnel's  
radios.

The report will be used to make recommendations for revised building and 
fire codes and evacuation procedures.  New York City Mayor Michael 
Bloomberg said he had not studied the findings but suggested the city's 
emergency radio system had improved dramatically since 911.

But Sally Regenhard, co-chairman of the Skyscraper Safety Campaign, 
criticized the probe.  She says that it is very clear that the radio 
system failed those attempting to use it in the emergency.  She notes 
that there are already numerous experts who take issue with the findings 
of this draft report. And Shyam Sunder, a lead investigator admits 
without directly blaming the radios that a lack of timely information 
sharing and inadequate communications capabilities likely contributed to 
the loss of emergency responder lives.

Federal investigators will issue a final report in June after six weeks 
of public comment.  We will have a follow-up once its made public.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, in New York

--

While many radio systems and the cellular telephones in New York City 
were knocked out as a result of the 911 Al Quida terrorist attacks, the 
local Amateur Radio community was prepared.  Because of years of 
volunteer training, hams on scene almost immediately.  They risked their 
lives to provide a communications network for police, fire and rescue 
services that had no other way to communicate.  (Adapted from the Daily 
News and other published news reports)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  CYPRESS GETS EXPANDED 40 METER BAND

Hams in Cypress have been given more spectrum on 40 meters.  This, with 
word that Cypriot amateurs may now use 7 point 100 to 7 point 200 MHz in 
addition to 7 point 000 to 7 to 100 MHz they already had. 

With this action, amateurs in Cypress join those in the UK, Ireland, 
Croatia, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, San Marino and Iceland who 
already have access to 7 point 100 to 7 point 200 MHz.  The expansion of 
the 40 meter band is included in the Cyprus Department of Electronic 
Communications National Frequency Plan which has been posted on the 
Internet at www.tinyurl.com/528wx.  Its in Adobe pdf file format.  
(GB2RS)

**

RADIO RULES:  NORWEIGAN CLUB STATIONS GET 5 MHZ

And those are Norwegian club stations being heard at 5 MHz.  This with 
word that Norway has granted club operations access to a number of 
'channels' on 5 MHz.  effective at midnight Norwegian time on the 1st of 
April.

At least two Norwegian stations were active from the outset.  They are 
LA2AB near Oslo and LA1K in Trondheim.  

The LA2AB operators had a good opening night.  They worked two other 
Norwegian stations, five stations from the USA and numerous operators 
across the U-K.  

Eighteen club stations in Finland also have special licenses to operate 
on 5 MHz frequencies.  (GB2RS)

**

RADIO MYSTERY FOLLOW-UP: ANOTHER ARREST IN THE CASE OF MISSING ARIZONA 
HAMS

Police arrested a fifth person Friday in the investigation of the 
murders of a retired Arizona ham radio couple who were reported missing 
after showing their yacht to prospective buyers in Orange County, 
California.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant is in Long Beach 
California with the latest:

--

Newport Beach police Lieutenant Steve Shulman says that 23 year old 
Jennifer Deleon was arrested on April 8th outside the county jail where 
she had been visiting husband Skylar.   Skylar Deleon, an electrician 
apprentice who reportedly has had served prison time for burglary was 
already being held as a suspect in the deaths of Thomas and Jackie 
Hawks, K-D-7-V-W-J and K-D-7-V-W-K.

Mrs. Deleon is now also being held for investigation of two counts of 
murder.  According to news reports, authorities believe that the couple 
met with the Hawks to discuss the purchase of the boat shortly before 
the retirees were killed.  There has been no trace of the Hawkes since 
November of 2004 when they left cellphone messages with friends saying 
they were taking the prospective buyers on a test cruise off Newport 
Beach. 

Skylar Deleon and his wife told investigators they bought the Hawks' 55-
foot cabin cruiser, the Well Deserved, for more than $400,000 in cash. 
Skylar Deleon claimed he last saw Thomas and Jackie Hawks as they drove 
away from the harbor in Newport Beach after the purchase.  The car was 
found several weeks later in Mexico following an all-out hunt by police 
in both countries and a border crossing watch involving ham radio 
volunteers.  

The prosecutor declined to provide details about Jennifer Deleon's 
alleged role in the plot nor have the Hawkes remains been found.  Her 
attorney, Michael Molfetta, said that she intends to plead not guilty.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.

--

Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy says that his investigators believe 
that Jennifer Deleon is one of at least five co-conspirators in the 
case.  In addition to the Deleons, police have three other people in 
custoday.  They are identified as Myron S. Gardner, Alonso Machain and 
John Fitzgerald Kennedy.  All are being held without bail.  (Published 
news reports, NBPD)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THATS NOT WHAT THE FCC ASKED

A follow-up to last weeks story about repeater owner Jeffrey Stouffer, 
K6JSI, of Vista, California who had been thanked by the FCC for his 
response regarding a malfunctioning repeater he looks after.  As 
reported, the FCC says that Stouffer's February 21st response appeared 
to be satisfactory, but Stouffer had neglected to sign it. 

Well there is a lot more to the story as we learned from K6JSI. A lot 
that the FCC letter to him did not relate.

It seems that Stouffer first learned about the problem when the FCC's 
Riley Hollingsworth called him on the telephone. This, to ask about a 
report he had received from an Official Observer.  The O-O had said that 
Stouffer's Frazier Mountain repeater was transmitting continuously and 
sending an ID that said "NO ID." 

While still on the phone with Hollingsworth, Stouffer verified the 
report.  He also explained what had happened and related his continuing 
efforts to attempt to get to Frazier to fix it.  Stouffer has still not 
been able to get to the site due to road conditions and it could be May 
before he can make the trek. Not an uncommon condition for anyone 
familiar with the road up to the top of this California hill. 

Stouffer says that Hollingsworth later sent him an e-mail asking him to 
send him back an e-mail and re-state what he had told him on the phone. 
This, so he could have a written copy the explanation.  Stouffer sent 
Hollingsworth an e-mail explaining in writing what he had told him on 
the phone. He subsequently received a letter from the FCC's ham rules 
enforcer stating that his response appeared to be satisfactory, but it 
was not signed. 

As Stouffer says, obviously a person cannot sign an e-mail, which was 
what Hollingsworth had asked him to send him in the first place. 
Included in his letter was a printed copy of Stouffer's e-mail which at 
that point in time Stouffer was asked to sign and return it which he 
did.

Stouffer says that had Hollingsworth originally asked him to send a 
written, signed copy to him in the mail, he would have. But says 
Stouffer, that is not what Hollingsworth asked for.  And says K6JSI, he 
did everything exactly as the FCC's Hollingsworth asked.  

(Note:  Our thanks to Jeffrey Stouffer, K6JSI, for providing the 
detailed informatuion on the way the FCC goes about the "paperwork" in 
clearing up one of these issues.)  

**

WITH THE FCC:  PERSONNEL CHANGES AND UPGRADES

Some changes at the FCC.  RW On-Line reports that two employees in the 
FCC's International Bureau have been promoted to Assistant Division 
Chief status and some new names have joined the bureau.  

David Strickland was a legal advisor to James Ball, chief of the 
bureau's Policy Division.  Steven Spaeth was legal advisor to Thomas 
Tycz, chief of the bureau's Satellite Division.  Both have no become 
Assistant Chiefs.  

Meanwhile, John Stanley has joined the staff of Commissioner Kathleen 
Abernathy as acting legal advisor, with responsibility for wireline 
competition issues. He also will assist with some media issues.  Stanley 
most recently served in the Wireline Competition Bureau and the Office 
of General Counsel.

Senior legal advisor Matthew Brill will assume primary responsibility 
for media issues, and acting legal advisor John Branscome will continue 
to be responsible for wireless, international and technology issues.  
(RW OnLine)

**

COMMUNICATIONS ON THE NET: ABC TO RELAUNCH DIGITAL SERVICE

ABC News says it will re-launch its 24-hour a day video on demand 
digital T-V news operation ABC News Now" in July.  ABC will offer up to 
50 hours of video on demand per month with the redesigned service 

"ABC News Now" was launched at the political conventions last summer and 
continued through January. It was available in a little more than six 
million of the nation's nearly 110 million television homes. But in 
July, the network will be starting from scratch with its ten owned 
stations contributing local programming to the service. 
   The network says it will also continue to make "A-B-C News Now" 
available through the Internet and wireless devices.  So far, one of its 
most popular pieces of video on demand was Ashlee Simpson's halftime 
performance at the Orange Bowl.  (Press release)

**

RADIO HONORS:  WALTER CRONKITE, KB2GSD, TO BE HONORED BY NY POPS

Stars of theater and television will join with the New York Pops 
orchestra to honor veteran newsman Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD along with 
music industry leader Clive Davis, and philanthropist Mrs. Samuel J. 
Lefrak.

The event marks the New York Pops 22nd birthday while also paying 
tribute to the late, great Broadway composer Cy Coleman. Joining maestro 
Skitch Henderson and the orchestra will be American Idol winner Fantasia 
Barrino, along with Broadway greats Marin Mazzie, Jason Danieley, Sutton 
Foster, Heather Headley, Michele Lee, Maureen McGovern, Kitty Carlisle 
Hart, and Bucky Pizzarelli, his son John, and John's wife Jessica 
Molaskey.  

Hosted by Liz Smith, the gala concert, titled Two by Two, will take 
place at Carnegie Hall on Monday, May 9 at 7pm.  More information is on-
line at www.carnagiehall.com  (Press release)

**

SOCIAL SCENE:  GMDX CONVENTION APRIL 23

Turning to the ham radio social scene, word that the 8th annual G-M D-X 
Convention and dinner takes place on Saturday the 23rd April.  The venue 
is the  King Robert Hotel, in Whins of Milton, Stirling in the U-K.  The 
event features presentations on Modern DX-peditioning, HF Radios for 
Successful DXing and the FT5XO Kerguelen Island DXpedition.  Further 
details are available from Rob Ferguson, GM3YTS, by e-mail to 
gm3yts at btinternet.com.  (GB2RS)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  SHELBY HAMFEST TO CONTINUE AT CLEVELAND COUNTY 
FAIRGROUNDS

And some really good news for those attending the famed Shelby Hamfest.  
Its marriage with the Cleveland County Fairgrounds is intact and it will 
continue at the fairgrounds at least for this year.  Evi Simons has 
more:

--

Having Hamfest at the Fairgrounds this year became questionable after 
the Cleveland County Fair Association implemented a new leasing fee 
structure.  From last years $14,000 to $20,000 this year.
And soon rumors soon began running rampant that the Shelby hamfest would 
be canceled because the cost of renting the venue had skyrocketed.

According to the Cleveland County Star, initially, Hamfest operators 
wanted to rent the fairgrounds for the same price as last year so that 
organizers could notify vendors a year in advance of the changes.  That 
did not happen and the rental while the 2005 fee is less than $20,000 
the association was asking but it is more than Hamfest paid in 2004.  

Despite the negotiations to keep the Hamfest at the Cleveland County 
Fairgrounds, the new fee structure is still in place foe other events 
and won't affect future lease contracts.  A spokesman says that each 
will be negotiated on an individual basis.

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

--

The Shelby Hamfest is a 48-year-old Cleveland County event, sponsored by 
Shelby Amateur Radio Club. For the past 25 years, Hamfest operators have 
rented the fairgrounds for a two-week period leading up to Labor Day 
weekend. Hundreds of attendees arrive early and camp out.  More 
information is on-line at www.shelbyhamfest.org  (The Star, others)

**

HAMVENTIONr 2005:  AWARDS PRESENTATION ANNOUNCED

Planners of the 2005 Dayton Hamventiomr have announced that they will  
honor this years award recipients at a special invitational dinner to be 
held Saturday night, May 21st.  The gala event will be hosted by the 
Hamventionr Awards Committee.  Due to space limitations this event will 
not be open to the general public, but it will be videotaped for later 
presentation.  The ham community may be able to meet this years winners 
on Sunday, May 22nd, when they are formally announced at the Hamvention 
closing ceremonies just prior to the Grand Prize drawing.  (Dayton 
Hamventionr)

**

RADIO RECORDS:  A RECORD NOT

Dave Plotkin won't be in the Guinness Book of World Records, at least 
not yet. According to news reports, the 25-year-old Florida college disc 
jockey who thought he had set a world record for the longest continuous 
radio broadcast apparently fell 10 hours short. 

Plotkin's broadcast last January originated from WPRK FM at Rollins 
College and lasted 110 hours, three minutes.  After completing his on-
the-air marathon he received word from the Guinness Book that a Sri 
Lankan man had stayed on the air 120 hours in 2003, but its records had 
not been updated.  Guinness told him that it took a year and a half to 
complete the documentation and update its database.  (The Rolick)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  COMPUTERIZED TICKETS

The next time you get a parking ticket, don't be surprised if the 
officer is writing  it on a handheld computer.  This is the latest trend 
in technology that is fast becoming popular among police departments 
nationally. 

Officers reportedly like the mobile code enforcement devices because 
they increase accuracy and efficiency.  And they are very durable with 
the ability to work in rain and snow or if dropped to the road.  

The devices also make it easier for officers to write tickets without 
making errors.  Tickets with errors or that are illegible are a major 
reason why people beating the system.  

Handheld computers also allow officers to record information in an 
investigation, which is then sent to a centralized source so that an 
entire department can share the information in real time.  That means 
police on the street can be on the same page as those behind the scenes.   
(Broadcast Remailer)

**

ON THE NET:  NEW REPEATER TECH FORUM

If you are into repeaters and want to know more, listen up.  M1FJB over 
in the United Kingdom has created a forum for anyone who is involved 
with the technical side of amateur repeaters.  There already has been a 
wealth of useful information exchanged and he hopes that more people 
will be interested in joining.  Full details of how to join are on the 
website at http://repeaters.t28.net  (VHF Reflector)

**

WORLDBEAT - IOTA:  THE LAST RARE IOTA

The last unnumbered - never to have been activated - Island on thr Air 
or I-O-T-A group in Europe is likely to lose that status Mid-June.  
This, when 9 people including  two radio amateurs will land on Rockall 
Island which is 230 miles from  nearest  landfall in the North Atlantic.   
Dave Wood, MM0ALM, and Jim Cameron, MM0CWJ, will rely on a member of the 
S-A-S to get them on Rockall between about June 14 and 21.  The Hams 
hope to put up a small tent on a tiny ledge a few metres square and to 
operate primarily SSB as MS0IRC slash P.  The venture will raise funds 
for Media, a project of the Mental Health Media charity.  (GB2RS)

**

WORLDBEAT -UK:  RSGB INTERNATIONAL EXAM BECOMMING STANDARD

The RSGB International Amateur Radio examination has quickly set a bench 
mark for a test to be used around the world.  Last month saw the launch 
of the testing project with Trinidad & Tobago and Kenya being the first 
customers.  Since then, further inquiries to join the program have come 
from Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Mauritius and Ethiopia.  Interest is also 
being shown by the Irish Republic. 

The RSGB is presenting a paper about the scheme for presentation at the 
IARU Region 1 Conference which is scheduled to take place in September.  
The idea is to get the examination accepted as a world-wide standard in 
countries that do not run their own examination for the Amateur Radio 
service.  (RSGB)

**

RADIOSPORTS:  SBMS 2GHZ AND UP CONTEST APRIL 30TH

The San Bernardino Microwave Society 2 GHz and Up Contest for 2005 takes 
place on April 30th and runs 24 hours through May 1st.  Its purpose is 
to encourage activity at these higher frequencies.  More information is 
on-line atwww.ham-radio.com/sbms/club_contest/2GHz_Up_test_2005.pdf  
(KH6WZ)

**

DX

In DX, word that ES1FB and ES1RA are travelling to Kyrgyzstan and plan 
to operate as ES1FB and ES1RA both slash E X.  They plan to operate from 
these locations until 28th April and 16th May respectively.

DF5WA and DF7GB are active from Martinique. They plan to operate on all 
bands, including 160 meters if the location is suitable, mainly on CW 
with some SSB, RTTY and PSK31.

And four members of the South Cheshire Amateur Radio Society will be 
active from the Isle of Jura from 16th to 23rd April. The callsign will 
be GM6TW stroke P and the group plans to operate on all bands 1.8 to 30 
MHz on SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK31. QSL is via G0UZP. More information on 
this one can be found on-line at www.qrz.com/gm6tw

(Above courtesy of various DX newsletters)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:

And finally this week, a story about hams who love to hunt.  They call 
themselves foxtailers, but they're not really after those bushy-tailed 
creatures.  Here's the straight scoop from ARRL's Direction Finding 
Coordinator Joe Moell K0OV:

--

They range in age from the teens to the 60's, and they're coming from 
all over the USA this summer to compete in the most physical of all ham 
radio sports.  I'm talking about on-foot hidden transmitter hunters, 
also called foxtailers, and radio-orienteers.  Their sport is called 
Amateur Radio Direction Finding, or ARDF.

It's all done on foot in a BIG outdoor space.  Thanks to a set of 
standard international rules, it's pretty much the same in the USA, 
Europe, and Asia, and we can have international competitions.  Your 
mission is to try to find up to five hidden ham radio transmitters, 
called foxes, without assistance while on the run, or trotting, or just 
walking.

You can mix in with the USA's best radio-orienteers at our fifth 
national ARDF championships, taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico 
beginning August 1.  There will be practice sessions, followed by formal 
competitions on the two-meter and 80-meter bands.  Learn from the best, 
then see how you do for yourself out on the courses.  You don't have to 
be a marathoner to be successful, but it helps to be in good shape, of 
course.  There are nine separate categories with medals for the best 
three in each, so you'll only be competing against people of your own 
age range and gender.

Albuquerque Amateur Radio Club has scheduled a great week of foxtailing 
fun, including a sightseeing day between the 2-meter and 80-meter 
competitions to get you rested and refreshed.  You're encouraged to stay 
at student housing on the University of New Mexico campus along with all 
the other competitors, to really get to know them.  Don't be surprised 
if some world-class radio-orienteering hams from Europe and Asia come 
over to practice and compete, as they did in 2001 when the first USA 
championships took place in Duke City.

Now here's some breaking news.  Thanks to additional sponsorship, just 
received, the Albuquerque club has lowered the entry fees.  You can 
bring your kids and grandkids and have them enjoy the thrill of the 
hunt, too.  A ham radio license is not required.  Get all the details 
and registration forms on the Web at this easy-to-remember URL:  
www.ardf.us  That's ardf.us, which is short for Amateur Radio Direction 
Finding, United States.

I hope to see you at the championships this August.  For Amateur Radio 
Newsline, this is Joe Moell K-Zero-Oscar-Victor.

--

Joe will be back next week, with more on this exciting side of Amateur 
Radio.

**

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.  