[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1455 - July 1, 2005

Sat Jul 2 10:03:29 EDT 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline 1455 - July 1, 2005

CLOSED CIRCUIT ADVISORY

The following is a closed circuit advisory and is not necessarily for 
broadcast.  With the latest financial report here is our Support Fund 
Administrator, Andy Jarema, N6TCQ:

--

We haven't asked for quite some time, but we need contributions TODAY. If 
you value this service, please help.

We're here to serve you for as long as you want us. Your response over the 
next several weeks will provide that answer.

The address for the Amateur Radio Newsline is Post Office Box 660937, 
Arcadia California, 91066.

Looking forward to hearing from you REALLY soon, I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ

--

Thank you Andy.  Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1455 with a 
release date of Friday, July 1, 2005 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   

The following is a Q-S-T.  A private group beats the ARRL in filing a 
restructuring proposal with the FCC, legislation that permits police to act 
against interference becomes law in Florida, the San Diego B-P-L trial 
seems to be on-hold and RACES returns to the Big Apple. Find out the 
details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1455 coming your way right 
now.

**

RESTRUCTURING:  PRIVATE PETITION FILED TO RESTRUCTURE HAM RADIO

They call themselves the "Communication Think Tank" and say that they are 
group of concerned hams.  What they are worried about is the future of the 
hobby.  And now they have beaten the ARRL in filing a proposal to 
restructure the service for the 21st century and beyond.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, has read the proposal and takes a look at 
what it has to say:

--

If you want to operate in voice or digital modes on amateur frequencies, 
current
rules require you to transmit in a selected portion of the band you've 
chosen.
But that would no longer be the case under a proposal from The 
Communications Think Tank, a group of seven radio amateurs.  The Think Tank 
says it's time to let hams make the call about what operating modes they 
use on what frequencies.

--

WD8BIL:  "The advancements in the modes and numbers of modes that are now 
being offered for Amateurs to use pretty much dictates that the old band 
structure which as served us well in the past, it is time to change that to 
reflect more the operating practices and habits of today's amateur radio."

--

Bud Chiller, WD8BIL, of Sheffield Township, Ohio is one of  the members of 
the Communications Think Tank.  He says hams should be allowed to use any 
mode on any frequency their license class allows.  In other words, current 
rules allowing you to use certain modes only in specific parts of a band 
would be scrapped.  Chiller says a rules change like this would have a 
number of benefits for amateur radio.

--

WD8BIL: "Under heavy - for example - phone operation right now, 
particularly on some of the lower bands where overcrowding in the peak 
hours is just horrendous it gives us the opportunity to spread out into 
areas of the bands that are under utilized.  The second thing it does is 
that it give Amateur Radio a chance to self regulate when new modes come 
in."

--

With today's allocation-by-mode rules, Think Tank members say potential 
rivals consider some amateur spectrum deserted, when in reality, other 
modes are active but crowded into certain sections of the bands.   Chiller 
says making better use of amateur frequencies would thwart efforts by other 
services wanting to take over amateur spectrum:

--

WD8BIL: "If the band loading were such that the entire range of frequencies 
within a given band are being utilized, then there is no chance for 
commercial interests to point a finger and say - look - there is 100 KHz 
that they're not even using."

--

Preventing interference would still be up to amateurs.  But Think Tank 
members
say ending what they call forced segregation by mode would drain pressure
away from the problem of operators making squatter's claims on certain f 
frequencies.  That's because there would be more room and a greater range 
to move elsewhere on the band.  Promoters of the proposal say official 
observer type programs would also assist in making sure interference 
problems are minimized.  And, just as is the case now, documented and 
unresolved problems would be addressed by the FCC.

Chiller says the Think Tank's proposal promotes self-governing, something 
the FCC wants hams to do.  Considering that current band use rules 
originated 50 years ago, Chiller says what the Communications Think Tank 
proposes is an idea whose time has come.

>From the Southeastern Bureau in Birmingham, Alabama, I'm David Black, 
KB4KCH for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

The "Communication Think Tank," or "CTT Group" that put together the 
proposal is comprised of hams with a special skill in various areas of the 
Amateur Radio hobby.  As such they hold experience with many hobby radio 
modes as well as various commercial radio licenses beyond the amateur 
ranks.

You can read the entire petition as filed on-line at w8er.com/proposal1.htm 
after which you are invited to post your thoughts on it at the front page 
discussion at www.qrz.com  (ARNewslineT)

**

RADIO LAW:  NEW MEASURE PUTS ALL FLORIDA RADIO OPERATORS AT RISK OF JAIL

Florida has a new law that could mean jailtime for anyone who interferes 
with the reception of a licensed broadcast station.  Even hams, GMRS and 
other private radio operators are not exempt.  Amateur Radio Newsline's 
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF,  has more:

--

On July 1st a new Florida state law took effect that makes it a felony 
offense to transmit without a license or cause radio interference to a 
licensed broadcast station even if you have a license.  According to 
information provided by a reader of the C-G-C Communicator and a post by 
William Sinbine, N4EXO, to QRZ.com, state measure F-S 877.27 provides 
penalties ranging up to a $100,000 fine and five years in prison, for each 
offense.  And as written even if you hold an FCC issued radio operators 
license the holder of a broadcast license take precedence.  

Sinbine goes further.  He notes a recent newspaper article that quotes 
Ralph Barlow of the Tampa FCC office.  Barlow says that under this new law, 
local police and sheriff departments can act without even having to contact 
the FCC.  

The American Radio Relay League acted early on to try to thwart the Florida 
legislation.  Back on February 25th the League filed a Request for 
Declaratory Ruling seeking to have the FCC invoke federal preemption to 
strike down the Florida radio law.  The ARRL's request said that the 
measure delves into issues that are way outside the jurisdiction of state 
laws.  It asked for the regulatory agency to declare it null and void.

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

--

As we go to air, time the FCC is still sitting on the ARRL request without 
having taken any action.  This means that F-S 877.27 has become an active 
Florida state law putting hams, and others, at risk.  (QRZ.com, CGC, 
ARNewslineT)

**

RADIO EXPERIMENTATION:  WD2XSH ISSUED TO ARRL 600 METER GROUP

The Federal Communications Commission has issued the call letters WD2XS-H 
for the 600 Meter Part 5 Experimental operations to be conducted by an ARRL 
sponsored group of experimenters.  A assemblage of ham radio operators 
aptly named the 600 Meter Experimental Group.  

Once the actual license documents are granted and stations take to the air, 
all operations will adhere to the Part 5 rules and to the proposed research 
plan as specified in the license application.  Results of the project will 
be forwarded to the FCC and posted on the groups cyberspace home. 

While they wait, reports are that members are stringing feedlines and 
polishing Morse keys in anticipation of the issuance of the license.  More 
information on this project is in cyberspace at HTTP://500kc.com. (QRZ.com)

**

THE BPL WAR:  SAN DIEGO ON TEMPORARY HOLD

A follow up to last weeks story of an imminent BPL trial by San Diego Gas 
and Electric in California,  As reported last week, the utility had already 
chosen the location for the experiment and that information would be 
released shortly.  Well its now a week later and this has yet to happen.  

According to the latest CGC Communicator San Diego Gas and Electric 
apparently has yet to sign a contract with its first BPL equipment vendor 
and has chosen to withhold specific location information until all of its 
ducks are in a row.  This also means that our prediction that the tests 
might begin within the next 30 days may not be on target.  

Bob Gonsett, W6VR, who edits the CGC Communicator says that several amateur 
radio operators have called asking how they can become a part of ARRL's 
interference test once the San Diego pilot program is underway.  Bob asked 
that question of Tuck  Miller, NZ6T.  He says that the person to contact is 
ARRL Section Manager Pat Bunsold, WA6MHZ.  Bunsold can be reached by e-mail 
to WA6MHZ at arrl.org   (CGC)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  FIRST WORLD HAM RADIO E-COMMS MEETING HELD

Ham radio emergency planners have held their first ever discussion face to 
face.  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has the details:

--

The first Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications conference, GAREC 
2005, was held in Tampere, Finland, on 13th and 14th June, under the 
umbrella of the IARU.  45 delegates from 17 countries gave presentations on 
the Amateur Radio emergency service of their own countries and described 
some of the major emergencies in which they have been involved.

The UK's Raynet presentation was given jointly by Paul Gaskell, G4MWO, and 
David Smith, G8IDL, of the Network's Emergency Planning Team. The delegates 
of India and Sri Lanka gave gripping accounts of their experiences in the 
aftermath of the tsunami.

The view of the Conference was that progressively more international co-
operation will be needed as time goes by and GAREC 2005 agreed a formal 
recommendation that the next competent conferences of IARU Regions 1, 2 and 
3 should consider the establishment of a Center-of-Activity Frequency for 
emergency traffic in the 15, 17, 20, 40 and 80 meter bands.

G4NJH in Nottingham

--

The entire proceedings of the conference, including all the slides and 
other recommendations will posted at www.iaru.org/emergency/summary.html 
(GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO: RACES RETURNS TO THE BIG APPLE

RACES - the  Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service has been reestablished 
in the Big Apple.  Evie Simons is in New York with the details:

--

The annnouncement comes as a press release noting the completion of a 
Memorandum of Understanding.  This, between the New York City Office of 
Emergency Management and Mike Lisenco, N2YBB.  Lisenco is the agency's 
appointee for New York City RACES Radio Officer.

Back in the 1950's and `60's, New York City's Radio Amateur Civil Emergency 
Service was a very active organization with hundreds of members in the five 
boroughs that comprise the city.  It's members were fully credentialed and 
held special numbered tactical callsigns under the master call of W2NEM.  
Abd starting in the early 1950's weekly on-the-air training sessions held 
on 50.4 and 50.7 MHz A-M.  As a result, New York City's Radio Amateur Civil 
Emergency Service operators were considered to be among the best trained 
volunteer emergency communicators in the nation.  

With the shift of local communications to 2 meter F-M in the late 1960's, 
the groups operations in began to falter.  Typical of most bureaucracies, 
New York City was not prepared to act quickly as hams who were interested 
in emergency communications began migrating away from 6 meters to higher 
frequencies and F-M as their primary mode.  As a result, the city's Radio 
Amateur Civil Emergency Service began to languish in the shadow of ARES.  

Now, in 2005 the service has been re-born under new leadership. It also has 
a new mission.  That being to provide volunteer Amateur Radio assistance to 
the City of New York, if and when requested by the Office of Emergency 
Management.

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

--

For those not aware, Mike Lisenco is the American Radio Relay League's 
Hudson Division 2004 "Amateur of the Year."  He also serves as the Amateur 
Radio Emergency Service District Emergency Coordinator for all five 
boroughs of the city.  (ARNewslineT from press release)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  CB SHOP ISSUED $7000 NAL FOR SELLING UNCERTIFIED RADIOS

The Hightech CB Shop of Jacksonville, Florida, has been hit with a proposed 
$7000 fine.  This, by offering for sale a non-certified Citizens Band 
transceiver.

Back on December 13th of  2004, the Tampa FCC Office received a complaint 
about the marketing of illegal, non FCC certified devices by Hightech at 
its shop. This past February 4th, agents from the Tampa Office visited the 
Hightech CB Shop and observed several radio transceivers offered for sale 
on display shelves.  One of the agents examined a model called the Connex 
3300 HP.  The agent  observed that the device did not have any markings or 
labels that identified the radio as an FCC certified device.  

The agent then told a shop employee that he was interested in making a 
purchase and requested more information about the radio.  The shop employee 
identified the transceiver as a 10-Meter amateur band radio and offered to 
sell the device to the agent for $239.00.  The employee stated that the 
Connex models could be easily modified to operate on CB frequencies, that 
the store 
accepted credit card payments, and that the radio could be delivered by 
mail. 

As part of their investigation, an FCC agent visited the store again on 
February 7th.  The Tampa Office investigator again requested information 
about the Connex 3300 HP transceiver.  Shop employees again offered to sell 
the unit to the agent for $239.00.  

Based on its findings, the FCC has concluded that the Hightech CB Shop was 
apparently willfully and repeatedly in violation of Section 302(b) of the 
Communications Act and Section 2.803(a) of the FCC Rules.  This,  by 
offering for sale non-certified CB transceivers.  It affixed the penalty at 
$7000.  It also gave the store owners 30 days to pay or to file an appeal.  
(FCC)

**

ENFORCEMRENT:  YOU CAN'T SELL THAT STUFF HERE

The Grand Trades Company has been accused by the FCC of marketing cell 
phone jammers, wireless device jammers and long range cordless telephones.  
The company  has been issued an official citation by the Commission. 

But Grand Trades claims it is based in Taiwan and Egypt and is not aware of 
the selling restrictions in each country where it does business, including 
the United States. But the FCC says that it is Grand Trades responsibility 
to know what it can and cannot market in this country.  Chances are a hefty 
fine could follow in due course.  (CGC)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  BALTIMORE MD ON JULY 24

Turning to the ham radio social calendar, word that the Baltimore Radio 
Amateur Television Society will hold its ham radio and computer fest on 
July 24th.  The venue is the Howard County Fairgrounds. To see for yourself 
please take your web browser to www.bratsatv.org  (e-mail)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  THE MONTANA HIGH COUNTRY IN JULY

And if you plan to be in Montana this month, give thought to stopping by 
the Glacier Waterton International Hamfest.  This one will take place the 
weekend of July 15th to the 17th near Essex, Montana.  The exact location is 
the Meadow R-V Center which lies in the shadow of the famed Glacier Park. 

This one is billed as a true family camping and ham radio event in an area 
with a truly spectacular scenery.  For more information and some pictures 
that may well leave you a bit in envy, please visit www.gwhamfest.org on 
the World-Wide-Web.  (press release)

**

HAMVENTION 2006:  CHAIRMEN NAMED

And while its only been a bit more than month since the close of Hamvention 
2005 but planners are already gearing up for next years outing.  This with 
the announcement by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association Board of Directors 
that it has appointed Jim Nies, WX8F as General Chairman and Carl Rose, 
K8CPR, as Assistant General Chairman for Hamvention 2006.  

Nies is well qualified for the post having served as Assistant General 
Chairman under outgoing Chair Gary Des Combes, N8EMO, for the past two 
years.  (Hamventionr)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  IC INVENTOR JACK KIRBY - S.K.

The man credited with inventing the integrated circuit is dead.  Jack 
Kilby, the former W9GTY, died of cancer on  Monday, June 20th at age 81.

It was in 1958 that Kilby was so new to Texas Instruments he didn't qualify 
for a summer vacation.  So he spent some of his tire hand wiring multiple 
transistors together into a single operation device.  His experiment lead 
to the first practical Integrated Circuit and into what now become the 
miniaturization of circuits housed on pieces of silicon.

Kilby and Texas Instruments were the first to patent the I-C . Texas 
Instruments announced the inventors death on Tuesday, June 21st.  (TI press 
release)

**

FIELD DAY FOLO:  TEXAS FIELD DAY HAM EXAMS ON A TRAIN

Amateur radio examinations were conducted in a most unusual place during 
Field Day 2005.  The location was on board a historical 1920's era train at 
the Texas State Railroad Park in Rusk,  Texas.  Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, is here 
with the details:

--

The exams took place on the afternoon of June 25th.  This, according to 
Larry Pollock, NB5X, who is the President of the W5YI-VEC.  

Pollock attended the event and participated in the sessions.  He called the 
tests a very unique opportunity to show the public what the hobby of 
Amateur Radio is all about including the examination process.

The results were 4 new Technician licensees and 2 upgrades to General.  
This  made for some very excited kids when they learned that they had 
passed and had earned their licenses.  Many had already operated on the 
"Get On The Air" supervised Field Day station earlier that day and were 
ready to get on the air by themselves.

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

--

The Texas State Railroad State Park is well know for its historical train 
ride through the East Texas landscape. But for two days over 100 amateur 
operators from all over the state took advantage of a special opportunity 
to operate using special call signs of N5R and W5R from a radio equipped 
caboose that was constructed for communications purposes way back in 1952.  
(NB5X)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  STUDY SAYS INTERNET SURFING LEADS TO LESS TV VIEWING

Its well known that surfing the Internet is taking many hams away from the 
airwaves.  Now a new survey shows that the World-Wide-Web is affecting the 
television viewing habits of the world.  

According to the investigation, Hungarian non-Internet surfers watch 17.5 
hours of TV per week, while those who use the Internet watch only 11.8 
hours per week.  That's a difference of 5.7 hours.  In the United States, 
Internet users watch 11.6 hours of TV per week, while non-Internet users 
watch 16.8 hours. 

The lengthy, first-of-its kind study, called the World Internet Project, 
conducted by UCLA Center for Communication Policy surveyed residents of 14 
countries. In every case, Internet users watched less television that those 
who never surf the web.   (Science OnLine)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  QUANTUM ENCRYPTION

A new way to secure data has been developed.  One that could revolutionize 
security.  Jim Davis. W2JKD, has more:

--

Audio only report.  Hear it in the MP3 version at www.arnewsline.org

--

Quantum encryption is not here yet but when it does finally arrive it could 
make being a data criminal a profession of the past.  (New Scientist)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  FALLING IN WITH CEPT

Turning to news from around the world, technically qualified United Kingdom 
radio amateurs who hold that nations Foundation or Intermediate licenses 
cannot currently operate in other countries who are CEPT signatories  At 
this time only U-K Advanced holders are allowed to do that.  But it looks 
as if this may be about to change.  Work is currently underway to produce a 
CEPT Novice Radio Amateur License.  When adopted this will allow operation 
in all the nations that are signed up to the pan-European CEPT licensing 
agreement.  (M5AKA)

**

THE VIEW FROM SPACE:  LOOKING BACK WITH GOOGLE EARTH

Google Earth is a new 3D interface to the planet that is a new free beta 
service from the Google website.  Google Earth reproduces three-dimensional 
views of the planet.  With it and you can pick the coordinates and 
resolution you want to view and what you want to see. 

Right now, there are limitations to the operating systems supported by 
Google Earth.  To use it  you need at least a Pentium 3 class P-C running 
either the Microsoft Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system.  There 
are no Mac or Linux versions available.  At least not yet.  Windows users 
will find it at earth.google.com  (Google)

**

DX

In D-X, we begin with something very special.  Word that the old 
Alexanderson alternator transmitter on 17.2 kHz will be transmitting once 
again on July 2nd and 3rd.  The transmission from at Grimeton in Sweden on 
the 2nd July will be at 12.30 UTC when a new visitors' center will be 
inaugurated.  Sunday 3rd July is 'Alexanderson Day' and the station will be 
open to the general public between 10.00 and 16.00 local time. The 
transmissions on July 3rd will take place at 08.15, 09.15, 12.15 and 13.15 
UTC.  In addition, SK6SAQ will be operating from the site around 14.035 MHz 
on CW and both 3.755 and 14.215 MHz on SSB.  (RSGB)

In other D-X news, W9UI and WD6CTL are on the island of St Croix, in the 
U.S. Virgin Islands through the 8th July.  They will be on the lookout for 
6-meter Sporadic E contacts as well as QSO's on HF.  (M-DX)

And LA5IIA  is currently active from Afghanistan as T68G.  He will be 
working there as a telecom officer for UNICEF until March 2007 and operates 
mainly CW and some digimodes on various amateur bands.  QSL all of  these 
poperations as directed on the air.  (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  W6H - A HOSPITAL FIELD DAY STATION

And finally, last weeks Field Day operation saw many stations taking to the 
air using special callsigns.  One of these was W6H and it was being 
operated by Amateur Radio Newsline's own Joe Moell, K0OV.  Here is the way 
Joe explained the operation on-the-air:

--

K0OV:  "This is the Hospital Support Disaster Communications System in 
Orange County, California.  Our group supports all 34 hospitals here with 
back-up emergency communications.  We are located at one of our hospitals - 
Huntington Beach Hospital.  This is a hospital that we have supported for 
quite a number of years.  They really appreciate the support we have given 
and provide us a great Field Day site every year,:
--

W6H was just one of the many special sets of call letters heard during 
Field Day 2005.  We will feature more of them in upcoming Amateur Radio 
Newsline reports.  (ARNewslineT)

**

WITH NEWSLINE:  YHOTY NOMINATIONS HAVE CLOSED

Before we go, this note.  The nominating period for the 2005 Amateur Radio 
Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award is now closed.  The cutoff to postmark 
nominations was the 30th of June.  Everything is now in the hands of the 
judging committee which should have a winner chosen within the next 3 to 4 
weeks.  As soon as the decision is made it will be announced on this weekly 
news report.  (ARNewslineT)

**

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 at 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. 