[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1445 - April 22, 2005

Sun Apr 24 08:50:13 EDT 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline™ Report 1445 -  April 22, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.  The ARRL says yes to bandwidth, eBay says no 
to a radio and an indictment in the case of two missing hams believed 
murdered at sea.  Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1445  coming your way right now.

**

RADIO REGULATIONS:  ARRL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE READIES BANDWIDTH 
RECOMMENDATIONS

The American Radio Relay League's Executive Committee has reached its 
decision on suggestions to re-regulate ham radio along the lines of 
bandwidth rather than mode of operation.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Burt 
Hicks, WB6MQV has more:

--

The ARRL's Executive Committee says that it is acting on the premise 
that the amateur bands must flexibly and comfortably accommodate present 
and future operating modes and technologies now and over the years to 
come.  And according to the  ARRL Letter, the committee has reached a 
consensus on recommendations to the ARRL Board of Directors for a 
regulation-by-bandwidth proposal. 

In brief, the Executive Committee recommendations abandon efforts to 
have the FCC segregate digital and analog emissions by government rule.  
As the committee sees it, the FCC rules should simply set out band 
segments in which amateurs may employ bandwidths of up to 3 kHz.  Any 
further subdivision would then be left up to band planning from within 
the ham radio community.

Resolving two of the  issues that have been hanging fire, the 
committee's proposals would permit semi-automatic control throughout the 
amateur High Frequency bands.  Semi-automatic means that there is 
someone available to take full station control.  While  this carries 
some risk of interference, the Executive Committee believes the amateur 
community can manage its affairs more effectively through a combination 
of technology and respectful operating practices.  

As to fully automatic control?  It would continue to be permitted at 
bandwidths of up to 3 kHz, but only in designated narrow segments of 
some High Frequency bands.  In other words, fully automated stations 
would not be permitted to flood entire bands with their signals.  

The Executive Committee made no change to its earlier recommendation 
that the rules continue to permit double-sideband, full-carrier AM and 
independent sideband as specific exceptions to the 3 kHz bandwidth 
limit.  Under the proposals, these modes would be restricted to a 
maximum of 9 kHz and 6 kHz respectively on all bands now allowing 
radiotelephone transmissions.

The recommendations the Executive Committee were adopted April 9 in 
Denver, Colorado.  They will eventually form the basis of a draft ARRL 
petition to the FCC seeking to govern the usage of amateur spectrum by 
emission bandwidth rather than by mode as is now the case. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, in Los Angeles.  

--

For the moment these proposals remain only Executive Committee 
recommendations.  The ARRL says that it will not file any requests on 
this issue with the FCC until the Board of Directors gives its go-ahead. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the EC recommendations are 
available on the ARRL Web site at 
www.arrl.org/announce/regulatory/bandwidth/bw-faq.html.  You can direct 
comments on these proposals via e-mail to bandwidth at arrl.org  (ARRL)

**

FIGHTING INTERFERENCE:  EBAY PROTECTS THE SPECTRUM

The popular on-line auction system eBay seems like an unexpected  
protector of the radio spectrum, but it is.  At least it is down-under 
where it recently refused to continue the listing of a Philips FM 900 
transceiver because the radio was advertised for UHF  CB and police 
monitor use.  As John Williams, VK2BUI, reports, E-Bay has some strict 
policies on the selling of some electronic equipment:

--

The policy includes restrictions on selling such things as 10 meter  
Amateur gear aimed at CB use, the selling of Police Radar detectors,  
Phone jammers, High powered Cordless Phones, and LIPDs that don't  meet 
ACA regulations. CB radio gear that is modified for higher power  or has 
extended out-of-band channels are also banned from sale.

This policy is good for amateur radio and CB users alike as it  
discourages the use of illegal transmitting devices that could otherwise 
interfere with law abiding users.

I'm John, VK2BUI

--

Oh yes.  VK2BUI adds that whatever you do, never mention that anything 
you are selling would be great for 11 meters DX work.  (WIA News)

**

RADIO RULES:  A COORDINATOR IS RIGHT

The FCC has sided with a New York volunteer ham radio frequency 
coordinator after a system owner questioned whether the coordinator 
could change the rules mid stream.  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports:

--

The issue involves a repeater owned by Jaye Sturtevant, K-2-Zed-T of 
Ransomville, New York and holding coordination from the Western New 
York-Southern Ontario Repeater Council.  In a letter to Sturtevant 
issued on March 10th, the FCC responds to his status request on his 
letter to the Coommission regarding coordination issues.

The FCC responds by reiterating its e-mail to him dated January 25th of 
this year.  In it the regulatory agency noted that Sturtevant's repeater 
operates  on what the coordinator terns as shared non-protected 
frequencies. The coordinator defines shared non protected frequencies as 
those intended to provide spectrum for short duration experiments, 
emergency communications, search and rescue operations, or for portable 
public service systems.  Just about anything other than day to day 
normal rag-chew operations.  And in its response the FCC said that it 
faled to see how this coordination policy conflicts with Sturtevant's 
stated desire to use the repeater for Red Cross emergency 
communications.

As to Sturtevant's claims of previous repeater operation.  This the FCC 
says appears to differ with information submitted by the repeater 
counciil.  The FCC notes that restrictions like those involved in shared 
non protected operation may not have been the case in past years, but it 
is the policy of the coordinator to impose them and that a coordinator 
has the right to make changes in coordination policy.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.

--

In its letter the FCC said that coordinations and coordination policy 
are not for life and no channel pair is granted in perpetuity.  It notes 
that the  decision to install and operate a repeater is a voluntary one 
made by members of the ham radio community.  It adds that for those 
reasons a coordinator is not required to grandfather" anyone.  (FCC)

**

RADIO MYSTERY:  FIVE INDICTED FOR MURDERING HAM RADIO COUPLE

Five people have now been formally charged with murder in the 
disappearance of a Prsecott, Arizona ham radio couple.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:

--

Skylar Deleon, his wife Jennifer, along with co-defendants Myron 
Gardner, John F. Kennedy and Alonso Machain, have been arraigned on two 
counts each of murder in the deaths of Tom and Jackie Hawks, KD7VWJ, and  
KD7VWK.  The hearing took place on Friday, April 15th in Santa Ana, 
California at which time lawyers for all five asserted their right to a 
speedy trial.

As previously reported, the Hawkes were reported missing last November 
after showing their cabin cruiser to prospective buyers off Newport 
Beach. Skylar Deleon, who had served prison time for burglary, and his 
wife, a hairdresser, told investigators they bought the boar named the 
Well Deserved for more than $400,000 in cash.  They said that they 
watched the pair drive away in their Honda C-R-V. The car was recovered 
a month later in Mexico witrh reports linking its being driven across 
the border by Skylar Deleon.  

Authorities believe the five defendants formed an identity theft 
conspiracy to kill the Hawks, steal their 55-foot cabin cruiser and loot 
their bank accounts.  Investigators believe the Hawkes were still alive 
when they were thrown overboard while taking Skylar Deleon and two other 
defendants on a test cruise.  

The defense could still seek to delay the proceedings but Orange County 
Deputy District Attorney Matt Murphy said the prosecution would be ready 
in either situation.  In California, felony criminal defendants have the 
right to a preliminary hearing within 10 days of arraignment and a trial 
within 60 days, but they nearly always waive that right to prepare their 
defense.  Most criminal cases often take a year or more to move through 
the system.  In this one the judge has scheduled a preliminary hearing 
in the case for April 27th.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Long Beach.  

--

Friends and family of the Hawks filled several rows of the courtroom.  
The Hawkes son Ryan says that the family would like to recover the 
couple's bodies so their ashes could be scattered at sea.  He said that 
an effort was underway to find the bodies, believed to be in deep water 
in the Pacific.  Recovering the couples remains could also help obtain a 
conviction in the case.  More can be found on-line at 
www.tomandjackiehawks.com (Published reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  SOCAL HAMS DEMAND US ATTORNEY ACT IN GERRETSEN CASE IN 
LETTER WRITING CAMPAIGN

Another letter writing campaign aimed at getting federal authorities to 
act against former ham Jack Gerritsen has been started by hams in 
Southern California.  The mail targets Los Angeles United States 
Attorney Debra Yang whom the local Amateur Radio community feels is 
ignoring the problems created by Gerritsen's continued unlicensed 
operation.  This, even though tons of evidence has been presented to her 
by the FCC.

The stated objective of the campaign is to flood Yang's office with a 
minimum of 25,000 letters demanding that she act now to remove Gerritsen 
from the radio using any and all legal tools at her disposal.  Planners 
say that if their ultimatum is ignored their next step will be a similar 
campaign to California's congressional delegation.  In that case to 
demand a full fledged investigation of the Los Angeles  U-S Attorney's 
Office and an explanation of why Ms. Yang has failed to act in the 
Gerritsen case.  (ARNewsline from listener input)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  A TECHNICIAN CANNOT OPERATE THERE

A Brooklyn, New York, ham has had his request to renew his license 
designated for a hearing.  Amateur Radio Newslines Henry Feinberg has 
the details:

--

Yuriy Ryabinin holds two call signs.  In the Ukraine he is UR5DEM, but 
here in the USA he is KC2LLM. And on September 22, 2003, the FCC 
notified him that he could not operate in high frequiency contests  
outside the limited priveleges of his Technician class ticket.  

The operation the FCC was referring to involved contests such as the 
2003 IARU UHF World Championship.  At that time the FCC  enclosed 
detailed information regarding Ryabinin alleged operation on 
unauthorized frequencies.  This included documentation Ryabinin had 
submitted in contests.  

The FCC says that it reviewed his reply.  Ryabinin claimed he was 
confused between the priveleges of his Ukrainian and U-S licenses.  In 
January of 2004  the agency notified him that it had accepted his 
explanation.

On March 4, 2004, Ryabinin passed the General Class examination and 
submitted an application for an upgrade.  In checking its files, the FCC 
found new allegations that Ryabinin had again operated outside the scope 
of his United States Technician class priveleges.  And on  January 14, 
2004 the FCC sent Ryabinin a letter that clarified Section 97.107 of the 
Commission's rules.  It also  reminded him that as a citizen of the 
United States, he was not eligible for reciprocal operating authority.  
And the FCC again reminded him that because he  holds an FCC-issued 
Technician Class Amateur operator license, that his operating privileges 
in the United States are only those of a Technician Class licensee.  

Ryabinin responded that he had operated outside of his Amateur Radio 
license privileges, but only due to a mistaken understanding of the 
rules and fatigue during competition.  He also gave assurances that his 
mistakes would not be repeated but added a strange note.  He told the 
FCC that if he was not approved for General license, then to please 
close his existing Technician license.

In response, Ryabinin was told by the FCC that his explanations of the 
rule violations were not acceptable. And on on October 14, 2004, the 
American Radio Relay league, disqualified Ryabinin's KF0R entry which 
showed KC2LLM as operator for the 2004 ARRL International DX CW Contest. 
That action was based upon logs submitted that showed KF0R as a "Single 
Operator Low Power" entry.  At the time of that operation, Ryabinin was 
a Technician Plus Class licensee but his logs showed numerous contacts 
made on 20 Meters and 160 Meters.  Many contacts on 20 Meters were 
reportedly with countries with which the United States has no third 
party agreement.

The FCC says that by claiming that he was operating under the direction 
of a control operator, that Ryabinin apparently violated the third party 
agreement rule.   If  he claims he did not operate under the direction 
of a control operator, then he apparently violated the terms of his 
Technician Plus privileges, which do not allow operation on 20 Meters or 
160 Meters.  In either case, the FCC says that Ryabinin does not have a 
sufficient understanding of Commission rules, or is disregarding 
Commission rules.  As a result, the agency is unable to make a decision 
on his application for a General Class license and has designated his 
application for a hearing before an Administrative Law Judge to 
determine if Ryabinin will remain a Commission licensee .  That hearing 
will be held in Washington, DC and Ryabinin will be required to appear 
at it.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ.

--

The FCC has also advised Ryabinin that if he continues operation outside 
of the priveleges of his Technician license that he could be fined up to  
$7,500.for each violation.  (FCC)

**

COMMUNICATIONS LAW:  PRESIDENT BUSH SUPPORTS DECENCY STANDARDS FOR CABLE 
AND SATELLITE BROADCASTING 

President Bush says that he supports the concept of decency standards 
for cable TV and satellite broadcasts.  In remarks made Thursday, April 
14th before the American Society of Newspaper Editors convention in 
Washington, the president said that in a free society, the marketplace 
makes decisions but that he has no problems with standards being set to 
help parents make good decisions.  

The President also noted that parents share a responsibility over the 
kind of programming they allow in their homes.  He noted however that 
government should help not hinder parents in sending good messages to 
their children.  (Published repoers)

**

UPCOMING EVENTS:  DRM MEETING IN DC IN MAY

The U-S-A Digital Radio Mondiale group meets in Washington May 5.  At 
this conclave the members want to hear from U.S. stations with 
appropriate equipment that are interested in D-R-M transmissions.  They 
plan to match them with manufacturers who may be able to provide D-R-M 
equipment and technical expertise for tests.  Also on tap are details of 
recent D-R-M meetings in Brazil and Paris and a report on audience 
research that could link Digital Radio Mondiale and short-wave 
broadcasters based in the U.S.  (RW On-Line)

**

UPCOMING RADIO EVENTS:  SHORT-WAVE MEETING IN DC IN MAY

The National Association of Short-wave Broadcasters annual meeting takes 
place in Washington on the following day on May 6th.  The morning 
session will feature a series of updates from the International 
Broadcast Bureau, which governs short-wave government broadcasters in 
the U.S., the FCC, DRM and a review of the High Frequency Co-ordination 
Conference in Mexico City.

The FCC's Don Messer will discuss the development of a U.S. position for 
the WRC-2007 regarding increased spectrum for High Frequency 
broadcasters.  Dr. Graham Mytton, former audience research officer at 
the BBC World Service will also speak at this gathering.

Both meetings will be held at Radio Free Asia in Washington. (RW On-
Line)

**

HAM RADIO HAPPENINGS: THE DCC IN SEPTEMBER

A reminder that technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 
24th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference.  The event 
takes place September 23rd to the 25th in Santa Ana, California.  
Presentation at the conference is not required for publication. Papers 
must be submitted by August 9th and should be sent to Maty Weinberg, 
ARRL 225 Main Street Newington, Connecticut 06111 or via e-mail to   
maty at arrl.org  (ARRL, TAPR)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  MARC HAMFEST IN PA IN JULY

The Mid-Atlantic Amateur Radio Club will hold its annual Valley Forge 
Hamfest and Computer Fair on Sunday, July 10th.  The venue is the 
Kimberton Pennsylvania Fire Company Fairgrounds with unlicensed spouses 
and children of licensed amateur radio operators admitted free. Talk-in 
will be available on the WB3JOE linked repeater system.  More 
information is on-line at www.marc-radio.org.  (E-mail)

**

T-HUNT SCENE:  NATIONAL FOXHUNTING WEEKEND MAY 7 - 8

Want to sharpen your direction-finding skills for tracking hidden 
transmitters or radio-tagged creatures? The Eighth Annual National 
Foxhunting Weekend is coming soon. Here with the details is Joe Moell, 
K0OV. 

--

Some call it hide-and-seek with radios. Others think of it as a chess 
game in the field -- a really BIG field. I'm talking about hidden 
transmitter hunting. Many hams call it foxhunting, even though it has 
nothing to do with the centuries-old sport that's just been banned in 
Britain. 

Hams all over the USA and all over the world enjoy this exciting aspect 
of ham radio, putting out transmitters that are intended to be found by 
mobiles equipped with radio direction finding gear, or by hunters on 
foot. The on-foot hunts are often preliminaries to national and 
international hunts like the USA ARDF Championships that I told you 
about last week. 

With warm weather coming to North America, why not get your local club 
to give transmitter hunting -- in cars or on foot -- a try. A great time 
for that would be May 7th and 8th, the annual National Foxhunting 
Weekend, sponsored by CQ Magazine. Read all about it -- including 
stories of last year's hunts -- in the April issue of that magazine. 
Then plan an event in your town. If that weekend isn't convenient, pick 
another, but be sure to give it a try. 

To learn more about the National Foxhunting Weekend and Radio Direction 
Finding contesting, get on the Web. While you're at it, check the status 
of the bat tracking project that's now under way in New York state. It's 
all at www.homingin.com --  homingin is one word. I'll be waiting for 
the report of the National Foxhunting Weekend event in your town.

 From southern California, where we hunt transmitters in cars and on 
foot all year long, this is Joe Moell K0OV for Amateur Radio Newsline. 

--

Again thats May 7th and 8th for the annual National Foxhunting Weekend, 
sponsored by CQ Magazine.  And remember, T-Hunting is lots of fun.  
(K0OV)

**

OLD TECHNOLOGY:  SIRENS MAKING A COMEBACK

Cold War era sirens may be revived as terrorism warnings.  Cities 
including Chicago, Oklahoma City and Dallas have upgraded their outdoor 
warning systems with a type of electronic siren that can carry voice 
announcements.  This is an idea that officials say took on added 
importance in the post 9 -11 world.

Thousands of sirens were built across the country during the Cold War to 
warn citizens in case of nuclear attack, but the federal government 
stopped the program and the sirens fell silent in many of the nation's 
largest cities.  Other cities put them to use to warn of tornadoes but 
now the Federal Emergency Management Agency is studying whether they can 
warn people of biological, chemical or nuclear attack.  (Science OnLine)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  EXPEDITION 11 ARRIVES AT THE ISS

On the ham radio space exploration front, Expedition 11 Commander Sergei 
Krikalev, U5MIR, and Flight Engineer John Phillips, KE5DRY are now 
safely on-board the International Space Station and ready to take over 
operations on the orbiting outpost.  Krikalev and Phillips arrived on 
Sunday, April 17th.  They will be replacing Expedition 10 crew members 
Leroy Chiao, KE5BRW, and Salizhan Sharipov, who have been in space since 
last October.  They will be heading home on Sunday, April 24th.

Accompanying Krikalev and Phillips to the I-S-S is European Space Agency 
Cosmonaut  Roberto Vittori, IZ6ERU.  Vittorui who is from Italy  is 
there on a short duration stay and  will return to Earth with the 
Expedition 10 crew. During his visit, Vittori will conduct experiments 
under the terms of a standing agreement between the European Space 
Agency and the Russian Spacelaunch Authority.  (ANS)

**

WORLDBEAT - CANADA:  THE CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM

Turning to news from around the world, our first stop is Canada.  Thats 
where Bob Cooke, VE3BDB will operate May 7 to 14 using the special event 
call sign CF-3-VE DAY.  This very special authorization is to mark the 
opening of the new Canadian War Museum  on May 8th.  Thats a date that 
coincides with the 60th anniversary of VE-DAY, which ended World War Two 
in Europe.  Full information on this operation is on-line at 
www.qsl.net/cf3veday.  (Via e-mail)

**

WORLDBEAT - JAVA:  COMMEMORATING THE ASIAN-AFRICAN SUMMIT

And to celebrate the upcoming 2005 Asian-African Summit and to 
commemorate the Golden Jubilee of the 1955 Asian-African Conference, the 
Organization of Amateur Radio for Indonesia in Bandung, will be on the 
air with their special call YE50AA.   Bandung is a capital city of West 
Java Province on Java island.  Yankee Echo 50 Alfa Alfa will operate H-F 
bands using CW, SSB and digital modes through April 24th.   Any station 
who successfully makes contact will receive a special commemorative Q-S-
L.  (WIA News)

**

ON THE AIR:  CQ REVIVES THE CQ DX MARATHON

In contest news, word that CQ magazine has announced the revival of the 
long-dormant CQ DX Marathon.  The new CQ DX Marathon will essentially be 
a year-long DX contest, with stations competing to contact as many 
different countries and CQ Zones of the World as possible over a full-
year period.  They then start back at zero at the beginning of the next 
year. 

Complete details and rules for the new DX Marathon will be published in 
the May issue of CQ magazine.   They will be posted in cyberspace at 
www.cq-amateur-radio.com  after the issue is in subscribers' hands. 

The last time the original CQ DX Marathons run was way back in 1948. The 
first running of the new event will be in 2006.  (CQ)

**

DX

In D-X, SU1KM reports that the first ever Islands on the Air DXpedition 
from Egypt will take place from 23rd April until 1st May.  Four Egyptian 
operators will be active as S-U-8-Eye-O-T-A from Disuqi also known as 
Nelson Island in the Mediterranean Sea.  An Eye-O-T-A reference number 
will be issued once the operation has commenced.  Activity will be on 
160 to 6 metres.

And OX5IPA reports that OZ5AAH would like contact to a club in or close 
to Kolobrzeed in Poland.  This, for planning his next Dxpedition 
currently set for May.  He can be reached by e-mail to ben at iparc.dk.

And More news on next month's attempt to scale and operate from Rockall, 
the final never-activated Eye-O-T-A island group in Europe.  Word is 
that nine people, including two radio amateurs, will participate in the 
'Rockall Ho! 2005' expedition between about 14th and 21st June and will 
be raising funds for the Mental Health Media charity.  If you work them 
QSL as directed on the air.

(Above from various DX sources)
**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  DAYTON IS COMING

And finally, as we go to air we are less than a month away from the 2005 
Dayton Hamvention and this year its going to be a true triple whammy of 
a show.  This is because Hamvention will also be a celebration for the 
sponsoring club as well as a special event for our national society as 
well as for a special segment of the ham radio supply industry.  
Hamvention 2005 General Chairman Gary DeS Combes, N-8-E-M-O, recently 
chatted about this years special plans with Hap Holly, KC9RP, of RAIN:

--

Audio only:  Hear it in the mp3 version of this newscast at 
www.artnewsline.org

--

So will all of this mean more people coming to the worlds biggest ham 
radio gathering?  DeS Combes thinks it will:

--

Audio only:  Hear it in the mp3 version of this newscast at 
www.artnewsline.org

--

Gary DeS Combes has lots more to say about Hamvention 2005 and you can 
hear it yourself right now by taking your web browser to 
www.rainreport.com and clicking on this weeks interview.  And if you 
don't have web access just dial area code 847-827-RAIN. Thats 847-827-
7246.  Then just settle back and listen in.  

And in case you don't remember, Hamvention 2005 takes place May 20th to 
the 22nd at the HARA Arena in Dayton.  We will see you there.  (RAIN)

**

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.  