[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1451 - June 3, 2005
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Sun Jun 5 10:08:12 EDT 2005
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1451 - June 3, 2005
The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio on the International Space Station to
expand operations, Japan goes slow-code and some good news on the B-P-L
front highlight this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1451 coming
your way right now.
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: 3RD STATION TO BE INSTALLED ON THE ISS
The Europe Space Agency has given the go-ahead to put an Amateur Radio
station on board the Columbus module. This is the International Space
Station research lab presently under construction. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH,
reports from Nottingham in the U-K:
--
"The Columbus module will be located a considerable distance from the other
two ARISS stations. This will allow for parallel operations on the new
bands at the same time as existing operations.
The availability of the new frequencies will permit wideband modes and
video operation for the first time. This includes ATV facilities for
school contacts and, additionally, continuous transponder operation.
Antennas for UHF, L-band and S-band are being developed to permit ARISS
operations on these bands. The new ARISS antennas will be installed this
fall.
The European Space Agency has agreed to cover the entire cost of
installation of the station, but some funds do need to be raised to cover
the cost of development and manufacture of the antennas.
I'm G4NJH in Nottingham"
--
Details can be found in cyberspace at www.ariss-eu.org/columbus.htm
(GB2RS)
**
RESTRUCTURING: JAPAN GOES SLOW-CODE
Japan is going slow code rather than no-code. This, for access by its
radio amateurs to the High Frequency bands.
Japan's Ministry of Post and Telecommunications made the announcement of
the changes on May 24th. The agency said that as of October 1st of this
year, applicants for Japan's 1st and 2nd class licenses need only pass a 5
wpm Morse test with for two minutes of solid copy to attain full access to
the H-F bands. Previously these two license classes required 12 and 9
word per minute Morse speeds respectively.
Also announced was that the code test requirement for a third class license
will be eliminated. It has required that an applicant pass a 5 word per
minute Morse test.
The very popular code free fourth class license requirements remain
unchanged. (WIA News)
**
THE BPL FIGHT: A BIG HAM RADIO WIN IN TEXAS
Back here in the U-S-A, hams in the Lone Star State can take comfort in
knowing that they have beaten back an attempt by a politician to get B-P-L
turned on -- just about everywhere. Amateur Radio Newsline's Charlie
Kosman, WB2NQV, tells us how a group of radio amateurs took on the Texas
state political system -- and won:
--
BPL is dead in Texas. Well at least for now.
Last April first, Texas Senator Troy Fraser introduced a bill to allow and
encourage the implementation of Broadband over Powerlines in the State of
Texas. Senate Bill 1748 originally would have allowed power utilities to
install BPL anywhere in the state. The Bill drew criticism in its initial
draft, because it favored TXU, the major power supplier in the state, and
other industry providers by letting the companies pass hefty costs of
upgrades to their customers while pooling profits.".
In spite of a concerted effort from the Amateur radio community the bill
passed the Senate around May 13th using a number of political slight of hand
maneuvers. Such as Back on April 21st Senator Fraser added SB 1748 to a
previously posted hearing notice , offering known opponents the minimum
possible notice of the public hearing.
The committee, which he chairs, passed the bill out of committee that
morning. Those who disagreed with this bill, and made phone calls, sent
letters, or E-mail, or who made personal visits with the staff members or
the Senators themselves were substantially ignored. One amateur who filled
out a witness card in opposition to the bill, and personally appeared when
it was originally published on the committee agenda, was not even listed -
- unlike the witnesses representing the BPL lobby.
Subsequently the passed senate bill, 1748 was sent on to the house of
representatives where it was destined to become law.
However thanks to the efforts of newly elected north Texas section manager,
Tom Blackwell, N5GAR, Bill Lawless, W5WRL from the west Texas section and
south Texas State Government Liaison Jim Robinson, K5PNV, the BPL bill was
relegated to the last slot on the calendar. Additionally, if it did make
it to the floor, a series of amendments were ready to scuttle it. As of
last Saturday at midnight the time for new bills in the house expired and
so did this disastrous piece of legislation.
>From Wichita Falls, Texas this is Charlie Kosman, WB2NQV For Newsline.
--
Charlie says it was what he termed as the outragous conduct of the state
officials in pushing the BPL measure that galvanized the states ham radio
community against it, and lead its the defeat. (WB2NQV, ARNewsline(tm))
**
THE BPL FIGHT: MOTOROLA INTRODUCES MINIMAL INTERFERENCE ACCESS BPL SYSTEM
Still with BPL news,. the ARRL Letter reports that Motorola is getting into
the Access BPL equipment supply business with a system designed to minimize
the potential for interference to radio communications. According to the
League, Motorola's newly announced Powerline L-V system avoids using
medium-voltage power lines. Instead, it introduces broadband signals only
on the low-voltage side of the local neighborhood power distribution
transformer. This is believed to greatly reduce the systems potential to
cause interference to near-by radio receiving gear. During product
development, Motorola invited ARRL's suggestions and welcomed its input.
More information about Motorola's Powerline L-V system on the company's
website at www.motorola.com (ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: GERRITSEN ARRAIGNED ON JAMMING CHARGGES
I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, with late breaking news regarding alleged radio
jammer Jack Gerritsen, the former KG6IRO. Gerritsen, who has a history of
broadcasting on police radio frequencies pleaded not guilty at his May 31st
arraignment to new charges of obstructing emergency service and military
communications.
As previously reported, the 68 year old Bell, California, resident is
charged with maliciously interfering with a government communications
system, along with a misdemeanor count of transmitting radio signals
without government sanction. Prosecutors allege Gerritsen often
transmitted pre-recorded anti-war and anti-President Bush messages on radio
frequencies he was not licensed to use. Also, that he engaged in real-time
harassment on official frequencies for hours at a time. This would make it
impossible for emergency and military personnel to use those channels to
communicate. This includes an incident last April where he allegedly
caused the cancellation of Army Reserve training exercise by transmitting
on a military frequency.
According to an affidavit filed with the court, Gerritsen previously spent
38 months in state prison. This, after being convicted of interfering with
a police radio frequency in a separate case. He was released July 28,
2003. Soon after the Federal Communications Commission began receiving
complaints about his alleged activity on the airwaves.
Gerritsen will be tried in July in the courtroom of U.S. District Judge R.
Gary Klausner. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, if convicted of
both charges, he faces up to 11 years in a federal prison. (Published
reports)
**
ENFORCEMENT: MORE MAY BE COMING IN THE GERRITSEN CASE
Accused Southern California radio jammer Jack Gerritsen could soon have
some company before the bar of justice. This, according to a posting on
the QRZ.com website by Burton Brink, N6USO. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW has more:
--
Burton Brink, N6USO is a Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff and an area
repeater owner operator. And in response to a a question regarding the
possibility of the former KG6IRO returning to the airwaves now that he is
out on bond, Brink says -- not to worry.
N6USO notes that Gerritsen put up his home a securety on his bail. Also,
that he had to borrow an additional $10,000 to satisfy one of his fines
levied against him by the FCC. Brink says that if Gerritsen is caught
using any form of radio gear he forfeits the $250,000 bail, loose his home
and gets taken back into custody.
And then Brink makes a rather startling revelation. One which is likely to
now have a number of Gerritsen's supporters in the world of Amateur Radio
wondering if this might be a good time for them to consult their own
lawyers.
According to N6USO other hams who have helped Gerritsen do his deeds are
being investigated. He says that they will most likely will lose their
licenses and be subject to some form of punitive action after these
investigations are concluded.
Brink does not say who is looking into the possibility of charging those
who may have aided Gerritsen but its known that several federal agency's
were involved in bringing the current case now being faced by the former
KG6IRO.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
--
What charges these radio amateurs might face is not known, but there are
suspicions that some in the ham community have in the past assisted
Gerritsen in acquiring ham gear. This, after his previous station was
confiscated by authorities some time ago. More is on-line at
www.qrz.com/ib-bin/ikonboard.cgi?s=8caf0310870fd242d50062bdea71c0d4;act=ST;f=7;t=91908
(QRZ.com)
**
ENFORCEMENT: BAND SUES NBC OVER BEING BANNED FROM ITS AIRWAVES - CLAINS
FIRST AMMENDMENT RIGHTS
In the latest twist in the battle over decency standards, heavy-metal band
Motley Crue filed suit against the NBC television network The action,
filed in Los Angeles federal court on Tuesday, May 24th alleges the network
violated the group's free-speech rights and weakened its sales by banning
it from network shows. This, after lead singer Vince Neil used an
expletive on the air in a December 31st appearance on the The Tonight Show.
The lawsuit accuses the network of censoring the band to - quote -- appease
a Federal Communications Commission that has been increasingly quick to
levy steep fines for broadcasting indecent material on television and radio
- end quote.
Motley Crue, known for 1980s hits like "Shout at the Devil" and "Girls,
Girls, Girls," is requesting a ruling that NBC's ban is unconstitutional, a
court order forcing the network to lift it, and unspecified financial
damages.
In a public statement NBC says that to ensure compliance with its broadcast
standards, the network has the right to decide not to invite back guests
who violate those standards and use an expletive during a live
entertainment program. As a matter of case law, the U-S Supreme Court has
upheld the rights of broadcasters, newspapers and the other media to decide
who it wants to give priority to. That includes the right to ban anyone
they want to. (Published reports)
**
WITH THE FCC: NEW CONSUMER INFORMATION E-MAIL REGISTRY
The FCC's Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau is launching a new
Consumer Information Registry. This is an expanded and improved e-mail
service that will deliver to subscribers customized information about the
FCC's actions and related developments in telecommunications and other
communications services.
The Registry is an Internet database that can be customized to deliver
information on whatever topics the subscriber chooses. Whether it's
digital television, telephone issues, telecommunications issues specific to
people with disabilities, or anything else in the communications field,
information on all these topics will be available through the Registry.
There are even areas devoted specifically to Amateur Radio and related
topics.
The sign-up information is at www.fcc.gov/cgb/contacts Subscribers will be
asked to indicate the subjects on which they wish to receive information.
And less we forget to mention it, this service is free. (FCC)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAM INJURED IN AIRSHOW MISHAP
A Nebraska ham radio operator has been seriously injured in the crash of a
light plane. Steve Mountain, KG0XA, of Lincoln was at the controls of a
single engine custom-built racer when it fell to the ground during air
races at Clarence Page Municipal Airport west of Oklahoma City on Sunday,
May 29th.
According to news reports, the accident took place at about 12:25 P-M
Central Time. Onlookers say the plane appeared to loose power and hit the
edge of the runway. Mountain, a former president of the Lincoln Amateur
Radio Club, was airlifted to an Oklahoma City hospital in critical
condition. A ground crew member at the airport was killed when he fell out
of the back of a pickup truck that was racing to the scene of the crash.
Officials said the plane was registered to James Debus, also of Lincoln.
Debus' wife, Lee Debus, was the one who told authorities it was Mountain
flying at the time of the crash. (K0NEB)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: PAPERS FOR CSVHFS CONFERENCE DUE JUNE 10
Joe Lynch, N6CL, who is serving as the Technical Program Chairman for the
upcoming Central States VHF Society conference has announced a deadline of
June 10th. This for submitting presentation papers for the event.
According to Lynch's posting on the V-H-F Reflector, he needs to have
camera ready copy of each presentation e-mailed to him by the 10th of this
month. Joe says it can be in most word processing software formats or an
Adobe Portable Document file of up to 20 megabytes. Please send your file
to Joe at n6cl at sbcglobal.net (VHF Reflector)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: KIDS DAY - JUNE 18th
Mark down Saturday, June 18th as your next chance to participate in the
Kid's Day operating event. That's the twice a year ham radio holiday
intended to encourage young people - be they licensed or not -- to enjoy
Amateur Radio.
How do you take part? That's simple. From 18:00 to 24:00 hours U-T-C,
simply open your home station to some local kids. Invite them over. Call
CQ Kids Day and let them talk to whomever responds.
The idea of Kids Day is to inspire an interest among these youngsters in
ham radio through a hands-on on-the-air experience. And who knows, one or
two might even develop enough interest to pursue getting a license. Even
if none if those who visit your shack never become hams, they will at least
know what amateur Radio is and what it can do for the community.
Again, the next Kids Day operating event Takes place on Saturday, June 18th.
More information can be had by joining the Kids Day Reflector at
http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/kids (Via e-mail)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: TAKE YOUR HT TO WORK DAY
And don't forget to take your H-T to work with you on Tuesday, June 21st.
No, its not because the world will be coming to an end on that day and you
will be needed to sound the final goodbye. Rather, it's a way to make
friends and influence people in the best traditions of ham radio.
The idea for Take Your Handheld to Work Day comes from the ARRL's new
Public Relations Director Allen Pitts, W1AGP. Allen says you only have to
leave the little radio in plain sight to start a conversation on your
favorite subject and maybe even win a prize:
--
Pitts: "We will have a number of people scattered around the country who
will be listening for Amateur Radio operators to be showing Amateur Radio
to their co-workers. And you never know: You just might get picked up by
one of our secret listeners and awarded one of the ARRL's Repeater
Directories, just for doing what hams do which is bragging about our
favorite hobby."
--
Allen says the best time to flash your R-F badge is probably lunch hour.
That's when you can put on your own dog and pony show, talking world-wide
using an Echolink or IRLP equipped repeater. If there's none in your area,
try the local autopatch and like E-T in the movie, let a few people just
phone home.
More information on Take Your Handheld to Work Day is on page 45 of the
June issue of QST Magazine. (ARRL)
**
HAMVENTION 2005: A FINAL LOOK-SEE
Continuing our coverage of the recent Dayton Hamvention, the question most
asked is how badly the high price of gasoline has impacted attendance. One
ham who was there in 2004 has an unscientific but likely accurate way of
gauging if things are up or down. And Clarence Maise, KK9M, of near-by
Xenia, Ohio, says things looked even better in 2005:
--
KK9M: "A lot of people ask me about the attendance, so I tell them that I
have a very scientific method to gage the level. I look at the hot dog
lines and the hot dog lines were as long this year as they have ever been.
So I think that attendance was pretty good.
It was a fine weekend. The weather was good and we met lots of people and
everyone has been really nice. Its been very friendly and that's been
great."
Reporter: "At least you said hot dog lines and not bathroom lines."
Maise: "(laughter). It was the hot dog lines. Yes!"
--
Possibly a bit more accurate are the observations of those who pay for
floor space to sell their wares. One of the biggest displays belongs to
MFJ Enterprizes. On closing day we caught up with the company's owner,
Martin Jue, K5FLU, who said it was definitely a good year:
--
K5FLU: "The Hamvention has been really good for us this year. We brought
lots of new products out and visited with lots of good old friends. And we
sold a lot of products too."
--
For the ham radio supply industry, sales are very important. That's the
main reasons that vendors travel hundreds if not thousands of miles to
attend the annual Dayton offering. And hams like Robert Moore, N4USB, of
Gulfport, North Carolina, seen happy the dealers are there:
--
N4USB: "Well I think its great. Just like last year I came and spent all
of my money."
--
But Robert did more than just buy new goodies. He actually came to
Hamvention to work and spent a lot of his time shuttling visitors and VIP's
around in a motorized golf cart. Robert was only one of many out of town
volunteers who made there way in this year. And as outgoing General
Chairman Gary Des Combes, N8EMO, says, it's the volunteers that make
Hamvention what it is:
--
N8EMO: "We have the show going back to all volunteer and we hope to be
better and stronger next year.
--
And if all goes as expected, this years Assistant General Chairman, Jim
Nies, WX8F, should be confirmed in the near future to replace Des Combes.
Having worked closely with N8EMO the last two years, it should make for a
smooth transition of leadership and an even smoother Hamvention 2006.
(ARNewsline(tm))
**
NEW HAM PRODUCTS: MICROSIZE REPEATER CONTROLLER FROM NHRC
Repeater operators. This one is for you. Look for a new and tiny sized
repeater controller coming soon from NHRC Repeater Controllers, LLC. This
controller is described as revolutionary in that three units reportedly fit
on approximately the surface area of a business card.
Tiny yes, but powerful. According to Kevin Custer, W3KKC, writing on
Repeater - Builder Dot Com, this controller, when officially released,
will be capable of at least 3 modes of operation. Those being a complete
Repeater Controller, an I'Der and a Beacon Controller. All user settings
will be programmable either over the air" or via the on board serial port
and Windows compatible software.
Kevin says he has also heard that NHRC is considering building an adapter
board to allow the unit to be mounted into the GE MASTR-II radio set. He
adds to keep an eye on www.nhrc.net for more information in the very near
future. (Repeater Builder Remailer)
**
WORLDBEAT - UK: HAM RADIO VIDEOS AT G3ZHI WEBSITE
>From England comes word that the website operated by Ian Abel, G3ZHI, now
has a number of links to ham radio videos that can be downloaded. Some of
the files are quite large, so broadband is recommended. Its on the right
side of the page at www.ukirlp.co.uk/g3zhi (G3ZHI)
**
WORLDBEAT - ISRAEL: CELEBRATING THE MACCIBAH GAMES
The Israel Amateur Radio Club will be sponsoring a group of special event
operations honoring the 17th Maccibah Games. This is the largest Jewish
sporting event in the world, this year scheduled to be held in Tel-Aviv
between July 10th and the 21st. And in celebration, four Israeli special
event stations to be on the air beginning June 21st and continuing through
the closing ceremonies. Twelve stations will be active with the letters in
their suffix from which the word "Maccibah" can be spelled. The other two
stations will use a wild card call from a list far to long to include here.
More details are available on the web at www.iarc.org (IARC)
**
DX
In DX, , AI5P is expected to be in Tonga until June 7th and be active as
A35PX. Activity will be mostly on CW on 40 to 10 meters. QSL via AI5P.
And word that Jim Martin, MM0BQI, is leading a team from the United
Kingdom's Summer Isles Radio Club on an expedition to the uninhabited
Treshnish Isles. These are located off the west coast of Scotland and the
group plans to use the call sign MM0BQ stroke P from the island of Lunga.
This is the largest in the Treshnish group and counts as E U 108 for the R-
S-G-B Islands on the Air program and as NH 17 for the Islands of Scotland
Award. Activity will be on all bands 80 to 6 metres on SSB, CW and RTTY
with operation continuing through June the 6th.
Down the calander a bit K9GY will be active as C6AYM on the Islands of
Nassau and Paradise from December 23rd to January 1st.. Operation will be
mainly QRPCW on 40 through 10 meters with some attempts on 6 and 2 meters.
QSL direct to K9GY.
(Above DX news courtesy of GB2RS and OPDX)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: A CONCERT WITH MR AUDIO
And finally this week, word that the Sierra Chapter of the American Theatre
Organ Society will be presenting a special concert featuring ham radio's
own Mr. Audio, Bob Heil, K9EID. But Bob will not be talking about his
microphones or other audio products. Rather he will spend the afternoon
seated at console of a giant Wurlitzer theater organ, entertaining all of
those who trek to the Towe Auto Museum in Sacramento, California to hear
him play. We asked Bob what his audience will hear:
--
K9EID: ".Gershwin and Vincent Yomens. One of my favorites is
"Sophisticated Lady" by the Duke. I look forward to sharing all of these
great sounds with my amateur Radio friends and my theater organ fans in
Sacramento."
--
For those of you not aware, K9EID is not only an inventor and businessman.
He is also an accomplished musician who learned his craft as a prot‚g‚ of
legendary organist Stan Kann. The Wurlitzer organ Bob will be playing was
originally installed in the Lowe's State theatre, in St. Louis, Missouri
near where he grew up. It was removed and installed at Rugerri's restaurant
in the late 1950's where Kann performed nightly. K9EID played this very
instrument as Kann's stand-in throughout the 1960's. Bob tells Amateur
Radio Newsline that getting to play it again will be like being united with
an old friend:
--
K9EID: "I've always loved the rich, pretty sounds of the Wurlitzer and this
particular instrument was one of those that I used to help voice and tune
as a teenager. Its where I learned to "listen." Of coarse, later in life
has made my career (by) listening and tuning this particular instrument."
--
The concert will begin at 2 P.M. Pacific time. Again the venue is the Towe
Auto Museum located at 2200 Front Street in Sacramento, California. The
telephone number is 916-442-6802. More information is on-line at
www.toweautomuseum.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 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 closes on June 30th. That's only about 3 «
weeks from now. If you know a young ham you feel deserves to receive this
award, the why not nominate that person right now. 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 Evi Simons
saying 73 from New York City, and we thank you for listening. Amateur
Radio Newsline is Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
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