[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1450 - May 27, 2005

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Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1450 -  May 27, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.   A spacesuit carrying ham radio gear going 
into orbit and a report on this years Dayton Hamvention top this weeks 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1450 coming your way right now.

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  RUSSIAN SPACE SUIT TO CARRY HAM TRIBUTE

A tribute to ham radio space efforts will be carried into Earth orbit 
in a Russian  space suite to be ejected from the International Space 
Station.   And you are being invited to be a part of this very special 
project.  Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, of the ARISS team explains:

--

Bauer: "In the fall of this year, the Russian team is going to be 
deploying a space suit that they do not need anymore and they have 
asked us - and we have gotten permission this past week from NASA - to 
put some Amateur Radio equipment onto it.  So there will be some 
Amateur Radio downlink capability and slow scan pictures will be 
downlinked."

--

ARISS is still working out the technical details as to what gear and 
capability will be put into the orbital mini space station, but one 
thing has already been decided.  That being to honor the educational 
aspect of ham radio in space:

--

Bauer: "Another unique and exciting opportunity is for schools to 
participate in the spacewalk.  And the way they would participate is by 
generating a depiction of the school, or artwork, or school students 
signatures and we will scan that in - or we will take a picture of 
whatever artwork they have or send us a .jpg image and we will put that 
on a DVD and that will be put inside the suit and flown in a spacewalk 
environment."



--

But says KA3HDO, getting the school artwork is time critical:

--

Bauer: "We have got to deliver this by June 15th, so they have a couple 
of weeks to pull it off and we have got a "snail mail address" as well 
as an e-mail address that they can send information directly to us and 
we can get it on board."

--

Bauer says that a jpg file attached to a note is really the best way 
for a school to send the artwork that they want flown in space.  There 
is a special e-mail address set up to handle submissions.  That e-mail 
is schoolspacewalk at comcast.net The jpg image should at least include 
the schools name and its location.  Again that special e-mail addresss 
for schools to send ther artwork is schoolspacewalk at comcast.net and 
schoolspacewalk is spelled as one word.  (ARISS)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  HAMVENTION 2005


Des Combes:   "In not going to do anything for about 3 or 4 months 
other than relax, maybe do a little fishing and just sit around and 
recuperate (background laughter)"

--

That's a very tired Gary Des Combes, N8EMO, talking to Amateur 
Radio Newsline just before the prize drawing that signaled an end to 
Hamvention 2005.  And says Ded Combes, it was a good one:

--

Des Combes: " I believe we hit the ball completely out of the park.  
Our attendance was up this year.  The weather was the best we have had 
in 17 years.  We didn't have any appreciable rain at all for the three 
days.  Lots of the exhibitors sold out of their products and could only 
take orders.  The ARRL National Convention aspect was wildly 
successful.  They were ecstatic with the result.  Everyone, from where 
I could tell were extremely satisfied and extremely pleased."


--

One of those quite happy was ARRL President Jim Haynie, W5JBP.  
Speaking at the Saturday night awards presentation gathering he thanked 
the Hamvention for hosting the League and had some special praise for 
N8EMO:

--

Jim Haynie:  "Thank you very much for having us here.  We appreciate 
all the courtesies you extended.  

A little bit about Gary here.  I think he is selling himself short.  
He's really done a wonderful job.  I remember when I came up here in 
2000 when I was the newly elected president of the League.  He told me 
what his plans were and what we wanted to do at Hamvention.  And he's 
made that happen.  He really has.

So on behalf of the American Radio Relay League and our 156,000 
members, we appreciate all the courtesies you have extended to us and 
we think we have hit a home run here with Gary.  Don't let him go.  
He's a good guy and were going to put him to work for us because we 
know a good organizer when we see one."

--

And speaking about this years Hamvention awards, 2005 signaled the 
return of the Awards Banquet which was discontinued a few years ago.  
While this year was an experiment and by invitation only, it was 
another sign that the idea of going back to an all volunteer corps 
instead of a paid outside producer is taking the Hamvention back to 
what it used to be.  

The highlight of the gathering was the presentation of the three annual 
Hamvention awards.  Our own Alan Kaul, W6RCL, was named 2005 Radio 
Amateur of the Year for his work in producing and directing many of the 
recent videos about the hobby.  Kaul took the opportunity to thank 
others with whom he has worked:

--

Alan Kaul:  :  "Fortunately, the kind of activities that I am involved 
in on behalf of Amateur Radio cannot be done by a single individual.  
It requires sort of the old team concept.  So, you need also to applaud 
Mr. Dave Bell, W6AQ, and Mr. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, both of whom co-
produced the effort with us.  

The honor is deeply appreciated.  I thank you so much.  I don't think 
its deserved, but I'm going to keep it anyway.  (Laughter and applause)

--

Also getting a bit of a laugh was Technical Achievement Award recipient 
Jerry Sivick, W2FMI.  While best known for his inventions and writings, 
he also had a career in sports.  And that was one of the things he 
lamented on in his acceptance speech:

--

Jerry Sivick:  :  "In 1981 I entered into a retirement village.  And 
they check you out and ask you a lot of questions.  And one of the 
questions was what do you regret the most.  My answer is that I wish I 
had tried out for the Detroit Lions.  (Laughter and applause)

--

But the awards are only one aspect of Hamvention.  The main focus is 
always people and new gear.  There was a lot of both and more young 
people than in years before as well.   One of those was 16 year old 
Sara Sager, K3OOO, who along with 18 year old Trevor Conroy, W7TDC, was 
there with Icom America video producer John Webb, W7NWH.  The three 
spent a lot of time working on the next generation of Icom sponsored 
ham radio shows, but Sara did take notice of the crowd:

--

Sager:  "There was a lot of youth here this year which is really 
exciting to see.  And I think that overall it was a big success and we 
got a lot of people and even non hams and we got a lot of interest this 
year."

--

And what's on the horizon with the videos that she and Trevor star in?  
We got a sneak peak:

--

Sager:  "We're planning on having a total of four videos, so you can 
look forward to seeing them at www.icomamerica.com/amateur/videos"


--

And with the amount of time we saw Sara and Trevor at work in front of 
John's lens we would say that the 2005 Hamvention was well preserved 
for posterity.  More on Hamvention next week.  (ARNewsline(TM)

**

GERRITSEN RELEASED ON BOND, REMAINS UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Alleged Southern California radio jammer Jack Gerritsen is reportedly 
out on bail but under house arrest.  According to the Federal Bureau of 
Prisons website, Gerritsen was released from its Los Angeles Detention 
Center on May 17th.  This after he reportedly was able to satisfy the 
security requirements of a $250,000 cash or property bond.  

A spokesman in the US Attorney's office previously said that once 
released from detention, Gerritsen would be subject to home detention 
and barred from possessing any radio equipment.  He might also be 
fitted with a tracking device like that worn by millionaire business 
woman Martha Stewart since her release from jail. And like other 
alleged wring-doers under government watch Gerritsen's residence would 
remain subject to search at just about any time.
 
As previously reported, Gerritsen was arrested on May 5th on federal 
charges of jamming radio frequencies being used by the United States 
military, the United States Coast Guard, law enforcement and public 
safety agencies including those used by ham radio operators.  His 
arraignment is slated for May 31st.  If the case goes to trial and he 
is convicted on all counts, the former KG6IRO faces up to 11 years in a 
federal penitentiary.  This is in addition to the $52,000 in FCC 
Notices of Monetary Forfeiture previously issued to him. $10,000 of 
which has already been affirmed.  (ARNewsline (TM))

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  SAN DIEGO GAS AND ELECTRIC READIES ITS TEST SYSTEM

The BPL fight continues.  The CGC Communicator quotes a representative 
of California's San Diego Gas and Electric, who says that plans for 
testing Broadband over Power Line technology on a portion of the 
company's power grid are progressing smoothly.  

The representative says that at least 30 days notice of the actual 
testing will be provided to the public as required by Section 15.615 of 
the FCC Rules.  The information that must be provided includes not only 
the zip codes of the test zones, but the frequencies to be used, the 
manufacturer and type of equipment to be used and the proposed or 
actual date of the operations. 

The list of zip codes slated for testing is said to be nearing 
completion. San Diego Gas and Electric plans to release the entire zip 
list all at once when the necessary bits and pieces come together.  

So far there has been no hint as to which geographic areas will be 
tested but the company says it is willing to work with all potentially 
affected parties.  (CGC)

**

RADIO LAW:  FCC SEEKS $304 MILLION DOLLARS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has told a House Appropriations Subcommittee 
that the commission is seeking $304.1 million in spending authority of 
and a direct appropriation of $4.8 million.  This, for Fiscal Year 
2006. 

 Martin says that the agency needs $289.7 million, representing a 3% 
spending increase, to continue to operate at its current level.  Of the 
total request roughly $8.7 million is for salary increases and 
projected additions in office space rental, supplies, printing, postage 
and contractual services. 

Of interest to the Amateur Radio Service, $1.3 million will be used to 
improve licensing resources and better cross-bureau applications.  
Another $9.3 million will go toward to consolidating and updating the 
FCC's Technology Lab facilities in Columbia, Maryland as well as to 
expanded enforcement monitoring.   

The current spending level for the agency is about $282 million, with 
all but $1 million raised through regulatory fees.  (FCC)

** 

ENFORCEMENT:  IS THE NAME THE SAME

The FCC wants to know why someone has filed a license renewal for a 
person the FCC believes to be a deceased radio amateur.  At least 
that's the question it is asking of Robert A. Diets of Dante, West 
Virginia in regard to the KC4PWC call sign.

The FCC says that it has information in the form of a printed obituary, 
which indicates that one Robert A. Diets, who was the licensee of 
Amateur Radio station KC4PWC, passed away in 2000.  It is asking this 
Robert A. Diets why a renewal was filed for the KC4PWC on May 12th, 
2004.  

The FCC is asking if the obituary is correct or if it could be one of 
those cases of the same name but a different person. It also says that 
if the obituary is accurate and this Diets wishes to cancel the 
license, to respond noting the FCC correspondence and to return the 
license document itself if available.  (FCC)

**

ENFOORCEMENT:  CABLE TO BEGIN EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGN

The cable television industry is expected to launch a $250 million 
campaign to better inform parents about their options to control what 
their children see on the little screen.  This in a move to thwart the 
demands of some lawmakers in Congress who want to bring cable and 
satellite television services under the same content control that over-
the-air broadcasters currently face.

According to news reports a confidential source close to the cable 
industry declined to provide comments about the campaign.  He would 
only tell reporters that it will be sponsored by the National Cable and 
Telecommunications Association and designed to assist parents in making 
decisions on what and what not their children should be permitted to 
see.  

Over the years the cable industry has argued that the right of free 
speech under the U.S. Constitution bars the application of such limits 
to their operations since theirs is a pay service and each subscriber 
has therefore made a conscious decision to purchase the entertainment 
material they provide.  Those who want to outlaw sexually explicit and 
other material they deem offensive say that it should be barred 
completely, regardless of what other citizens may want in their homes.  
(Published Reports)

**

COMMUNICATIONS IN THE COURTS:  POP-UPS VS. THE FTC

Those flashy pop-up ads that annoy millions of Internet users each day 
are getting a legal test, thanks to a pair of 20-year-old college 
students who are challenging the government's effort to regulate the 
advertisements. 

The Federal Trade Commission is charging D-Squared d Solutions LLC of 
San Diego with  unlawfully exploiting the "Messenger" network 
technology built into most new versions of Microsoft's Windows 
operating system to display the unwanted advertisements. The Federal 
Trade Commission accuses the small California company of committing 
high-tech extortion by using a feature to generate pop-up ads as 
frequently as every 10 minutes. A key factor in the government's case 
is that the pop-ups try o sell software designed to block such ads.

Federal regulators say that they brought the enforcement lawsuit in 
hopes it would quickly dampen one of the most irritating practices of 
Internet advertisers.  Instead, the company's founders have mounted a 
defense over whether such pop-ads are protected free speech.  D-Squared 
Solutions says that the government's allegations go too far and that 
its ads are no more harmful than roadway speedbumps or television 
commercials.  (Press release)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  CSVHF IN COLORADO IN JULY

Turning to the ham radio social circuit, word that the 39th annual 
Central States VHF Convention will be held in Colorado Springs from 
July 28th to the 30th.  The venue is the Sheraton Hotel and a complete 
family program is planned in conjunction with great technical 
presentations.  The latter will feature subjects like the first 48 Ghz 
EME contact presented made recently by W5LUA.  Complete registration 
information is available on the Central States VHF Society web site at 
www.csvhfs.org  (CSVHFS)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  THE ROCHESTER HAMFEST IN JUNE

And with this years Dayton Hamvention in the history books, next up is 
the Rochester Hamfest in upstate New York.  Its slated for June 3rd to 
the 5th at the Monroe County Fairgrounds just outside the city of 
Rochester.  

New this year will be a wi-fi hotspot.  Frontier Communications will 
provide this service so that attendees can work the Internet from their 
laptop computers while at the show.  Also, High School robotics teams 
from Lockport, Penfield and Rochester will be demonstrating their 
inventions in the exhibit area.  More on this event is on line at 
www.rochesterhamfest.org  (Rochester Hamfest)

**

RADIO AWARDS:  THE CQ IDX AWARD FOR VOIP CONTACTS

CQ Amateur Radio magazine has announced the introduction of the first 
ever award program for contacts made using Voice Over IP technology.  
Called the CQ IDX Award, the program recognizes confirmed contacts with 
25 to 100 different countries made using remote bases or repeaters 
linked with Voice over Internet Protocol networks, such as IRLP or 
Echolink.

According to CQ, the award is aimed at developing a DX'ing mindset  
among newer hams.  CQ DX Awards Manager Billy Williams, N4UF, notes 
that there is now a blurring of the line  between wired and wireless 
technology.  Also, that this has already reached amateur radio in 
several ways.  

Williams points out the use of the Internet to collect and distribute 
DX spotting reports, propagation data and location information as three 
of the most popular.  He also notes the rising interest in using the 
web to link existing VHF and UHF repeaters over great distances, and 
using the Internet to access an High Frequency remote base stations 
away from an operators current location.  It is these last two on which 
the CQ IDX Award will focus on.

CQ does say that at least one end of each contact must be made using 
radio to count for the I-D-X award.  Computer-to-computer contacts, 
while possible on such systems as Echolink, will not be considered as 
valid for this award program.  

CQ adds  that this is the third and final piece of its three-part 
"Waking Up DXing" program designed to encourage more DX activity among 
ham radio operators.  More information will soon be on-line at www.cq-
amateur-radio.com (CQ)

**

RADIO SAFETY:  REFURBING DELANO CA

Its safety first at the International Broadcasting Bureau's Delano, 
California transmitter site.  So says the Broadcasting Board of 
Governors to its Office of Contracts which has been handed a directive 
to refurbish the antenna towers at that site.

According to information passed our way by Neal Mc Kie, WA6KLA, the 
International Broadcasting Bureau wants to ensure compliance with all 
OSHA requirements.  Because of this, the company contracted to do the 
work will be required to install flexible cable safety systems on all 
35 steel rhombic and curtain antenna towers. The total price range to 
accomplish the work is estimated to be between $100,000 and $250,000.  
(WA6KLA)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  CALIFORNIA COMPANY USING TV SIGNALS FOR DE FACTO 
GPS SYSTEMS

Redwood City, California based Rosum Corporation has secured a number 
of patents for its system of using television signals to locate people 
inside buildings and other locations where global positioning system 
signals fail.  The high-tech company will debut its products next year, 
and backers say it could lead to new ways of pinpointing the locations 
of 911 callers or those using Internet-based telephone service.  (CGC)

**

RADIO NEAR SPACE:  SANSWIRE ONE TESTS BEGIN

A prototype of an unmanned airship that would serve as a communications 
relay platform  underwent initial testing earlier this month. The 
prototype was unit floated above at an airport in San Bernardino, 
California on Monday, May 9th and remained tethered during the test

The lighter-than-air platform called Sanswire One was built by the 
GlobeTel Communications Corp. subsidiary Sanswire Networks. The 
prototype is 188 feet long and is about a third the size of the 
operational airships being planned.  If proven successful the platforms 
will serve at sub orbital repeaters for all sorts of wireless 
communications services.  The company hopes to begin flight testing 
this summer.  (GlobeTel)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  VOYAGER ONE NEARS INTERSTELLAR SPACE

NASA's Voyager One spacecraft has entered the final boundary of our 
solar system and is cruising its way to a vast area marking the 
beginning of interstellar space.  According to news reports, the 
spacecraft, launched 28 years ago, is now about eight-point-seven 
billion miles from the sun in a region called the heliosheath.  Voyager 
One still has a decade to go before reaching the heliopause, which 
marks the beginning of interstellar space and the end of our solar 
system.  (NASA)

**

WORLDBEAT- IVORY COAST:  A PIRATE AT LARGE

F5LPY says that's not him you are hearing these days operating slash T-
U-8 from the Ivory Coast.  Bernard says he was there from February 
through early May, but he is now back in France.  

Since April though, a pirate has been operating using F5LPY portable 
TU8.  The guy or gal is mainly on CW.  

Bernard says that he should not be sent QSL cards for the pirates 
operation as he cannot confirm QSOs made since May 2004.  He says that 
an official complaint has been made to Ivory Coast authorities.  
(F5LPY)

**

DX

In D-X, word from up north that Canadian station VE6BF is operating as 
VC6X to the 15th June.  This, to commemorate the Alberta Centennial 
Year.

9V1GO, is now in Indonesia and active as YB5AQB for the next two years. 
Look for him particularly on 80 and 160 meters on the weekends.

And LZ1CNN is now active from Iraq as YI9LZ, mainly on CW and  
some SSB.  He will probably be there for at least six months.  Q-S-L 
all these operations as directed on the air.

(Above from various DX Sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  A NEW LOOK FOR THE ARNEWSLINE HOMEPAGE

And finally this week, a big change is coming to Amateur Radio 
Newslines on-line home.  Jim Davis, W2JKD, has all the details:

--

Davis:  We have been working on it for some time, and, like a Broadway 
show or a Hollywood movie, its now in previews before its grand 
opening.  We are talking about our new website look that will soon 
replace the current site at www.arnewsline.org.

What's the difference you ask?  For one, a far less cluttered look.  We 
took the most important element of our operation and put it right at 
the to of the page.  Now its only one click to download either the 
newscast audio or text file.  And if you want to read it on-line, 
that's only a click away as well.  Another click lets you rout the text 
to your printer or e-mail it to a friend.  

What about other features like the Young Ham of the Year, the Roy Neal 
Mentoring Program, the staff bios and the rest.  That's all there as 
well.  You reach these features and others by clicking in the link box 
on the left side of the page.  

The new sites official opening night is still a few weeks away, but you 
can get a sneak peak by taking your web browser over to 
www2.arnewsline.org.  We urge you to take a few minutes to do that and 
then e-mail us your opinion along with any ideas you have to make it 
even better. 

Again, the temporary home of our new website look is 
www2.arnewsline.org.  Our thanks to the folks at Alan Labs who designed 
it, and to our own Dale Cary, WD0AKO, who has spent the last several 
weeks getting it ready for you to see.

--

Again, the temporary website address for our new cyberspace home is 
www2.arnewsline.org  (ARNewsline(TM))  

**

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, Australia's W-I-A News, WB8QQC and KA8OVD, 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.  

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim 
Damron, N8TMW, and I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you 
for listening."  Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2005.  All 
rights reserved.