[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1458 - July 22, 2005
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Sun Jul 24 07:53:38 EDT 2005
Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1458 - July 22, 2005
The following is a Q-S-T. The United States FCC proposes going code free.
CEPT proposes a pan-European Novice class license and U.K. hams respond to
the London terror attacks. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline
report number 1458 coming your way world-wide, right now.
**
RESTRUCTURING: FCC PROPOSES DROPPING THE MOSE CODE REQUIREMENT.
The United States Federal Communications Commission has issued a
combination Report and Order teamed with a Notice of Proposed Rule Making.
Both appear aimed at eliminating the need for Morse testing. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, is here with the rest of the story.
--
The FCC seems to think that no-code is good code. At least that's the
impression one gets after reading WT Docket 05-235. And reading it is not
easy because it is 29 pages in length. A lot of it footnotes written in
Washington bureauctratese.
But after reading it several times, the meaning and intent are clear. The
regulatory agency no longer believes that it is necessary to require
candidates for any level of United States Amateur Radio license to
demonstrate a knowledge of the Morse code. And the FCC cites both the
changes international radio regulations and a number of similar requests
from within the ham radio community as reason enough to suggest that this
change in United States Part 97 be made.
WT Docket 05-235 came as a surprise release on July 19th. What it did was
to combine 18 previously filed petitions for rule making from hams and
Amateur Radio special interest groups across the nation. Each one proposed
changes to the Amateur Service Rules that at least in part touched on the
Morse testing issue. We do not have time to describe each one, but the net
result was for the FCC to deny anything not directly related to the Morse
question. Instead the agency concluded that Morse proficiency is now
unnecessary and it could even discourage current license holders from
advancing their skill level. It also believes that elimination of the code
requirement could lead to more efficient use of the current Amateur Radio
spectrum.
As rationale for its decision to issue the proposal now, the agency cited
changes in Article 25 of the International Radio Regulations adopted at the
2003 World Radiocommunication Conference. That's when mandatory Morse
testing for access to Amateur Radio was dropped as a world-wide
requirement. Since the 2003 revision its been up to each nation to decide
whether or not continuing Morse as an entry requirement was in the interest
of any given administration. And as reported here on Newsline, many
nations have opted to abandon Morse testing.
So what now? Well we would suggest that you download a copy of the entire
document and read it for yourself. In fact, read it at least two or three
times to be certain that you understand everything it says rather than
relying on what someone tells you or what you might read on the world wide
web. All the latter is nothing but opinion. Only the actual text of WT
Docket 05-235 deals in 100% fact.
Where to find it? Both QRZed.com and the ARRL.org have supplied handy one
click links to it. Or go to
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-05-143A1.doc if you
want it in Microsoft Word compatable file format or substitute the .pdf
suffix if you prefer the document in Adobe Portable Document style.
After you are sure you understand what the FCC is asking, consider filing
comments. You will have 60 days from the publication WT 05-235 in the
Federal Register to do so. After that there will be a period for reply
comments before the Commission takes the matter under consideration.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in New Orleans.
--
What does this mean for each of you. We will take a close look at that,
next week. (FCC)
**
RESTRUCTURING: A PAN-EUROPEAN PORTABLE NOVICE LICENSE
A pan-European Novice class license under the Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administrations or CEPT umbrella has taken another step
forward. This, with the release of a proposed syllabus and other
information. With a look at where things stand, here's Jim Linton VK3PC .
--
Since Britain introduced its Foundation License in 2002, that demonstrated
how such an entry point license can be of benefit to amateur radio.
However there are regulatory or legislative difficulties in some countries
that prevent their introduction of a Novice license.
The CEPT is now considering at two measures. Firstly, seeking agreement on
a Novice license syllabus that can be used as a template for those
countries who can, and want to introduce such a license.
And it's also proposing that current Novice licenses issued by CEPT and
non-CEPT nations, that are deemed equivalent in standard, be recognized for
visitor or guest licenses by CEPT participating countries.
This could enable holders of a Novice license to take their hobby with them
on a holiday by simply using their home callsign slash the country in
which they're holidaying and even if that nation doesn't have its own
Novice license.
Community consultation on these matters closes in September, but there's no
indication of when a decision is likely.
I'm Jim Linton VK3PC
--
If a full agreement is ever reached it would mean that even entry level
hams could travel and bring their hobby with them. (WIA News Service)
**
THE WAR ON TERROR: RAYNET STANDS DOEN AFTER LONDON ALERT
Several U-K Raynet groups in south-east England were put on standby by
their emergency planning units. This, following the terrorist bomb blasts
in London on Thursday 7 July.
Groups in Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and East Sussex were alerted during
the morning and stood down in the late afternoon. Mobile phone coverage was
badly affected and many groups operated listening watches on designated
frequencies and local repeaters. Other groups were kept informed of
developments via e-mails from Government Offices in their respective
geographic regions. (GB2RS)
**
THE BPL WAR: TASSIE BPL UPDATE
Hams down-under have made what can best be described as an end-run around a
BPL provider who refused to disclose the location of an upcoming try out.
Phil Wait, VK2DKN, is in Kenthurst, New South Whales, more:
--
On the 20th May this year the WIA wrote to Aurora Energy in Hobart
Tasmania, advising that local radio amateurs were willing to co-operate in
the evaluation of their planned BPL trial. In the spirit of co-operation,
the WIA asked Aurora to supply information regarding the trial location and
the type of equipment used. The WIA received a letter from Aurora dated 8th
June, thanking the WIA for the offer of cooperation but declining to give
the trial location on the grounds that the location information is
commercial-in-confidence.
Aurora Energy did confirm that the equipment used will be the newly
released Mitsubishi DS2 Wisconsin chipset. We have subsequently learnt that
the Hobart trial will occur in postcode areas 7007 and 7008, incorporating
the Hobart suburbs of Newtown, Mount Nelson, and others. Martin Luther
VK7GN has already performed background noise measurements in the area
using Owen Duffy's FSM software and Owen is currently analysing that data.
Martin will return to the trial location after BPL activation and repeat
the FSM measurements in order to compare the pre-trial background noise
with the interference level after the trial commences.
This is Phil Wait VK2DKN.
--
Aurora suggest that during the initial demonstration of BPL technology in
Hobart last year, some radio amateurs were less than co operative. This
is a claim hotly contested by those who attended the meeting and who say
that they were simply asking the `difficult questions' that Aurora Energy
found had to answer. (WIA News Service)
**
THE BPL WAR: CONTRACT ANNOUNCED IN SAN DIEGO TRIAL
An update on an anticipated BPL experiment in Southern California we
reported on earlier. A spokesman for San Diego Gas and Electric says that
the contract for the company's first Broadband over Powerline technology
trial has been signed. This, even though others point out that the company
apparently elected not to give the public 30 days advance notice as
required by FCC Rule 15.615.
San Diego Gas and Electric says that it is planning to conduct the initial
baseline RFI background tests on Wednesday, July 27th with official
participants being permitted to bring their own test equipment. The
company has also announed that it has formed a working group as a forum for
communicating with public safety agencies and other critical radio users in
the San Diego community. The company also says that as a courtesy, the
ARRL has also been invited to join, but as of this report the League has
not provided a representative. (CGC)
**
WITH THE LEAGUE: ARRL BOARD MEETS TO DISCUSS REGULATION BY BANDWIDTH
Regulation-by-bandwidth was the main topic at the recently concluded ARRL
Board of Directors meeting held near Hartford, Connecticut, July 15th and
16th. More from Tuck Miller, NZ6T, in this report.
--
Following considerable discussion and debate, the ARRL Board of Directors
has approved a modified set of recommendations. This, to regulate the use
of amateur spectrum by emission bandwidth rather than by emission mode.
Last April, the ARRL Executive Committee reached consensus on a set of
regulation-by-bandwidth proposals to serve as the basis of an FCC Petition
for Rule Making. Following additional fine tuning based on hundreds of
comments from the amateur community, the Board formally adopted a further
modified plan at its July meeting. One that includes a stipulation that
the League will promptly undertake a procedure to establish a band plan to
be utilized with the proposed subband allocation petition, and, until such
time as that band plan is in place, the existing band plan will be
retained.
Changes to the regulation-by-bandwidth issue dominated the meeting. After
a great deal of give and take among its members, the Board ultimately
okayed raising the maximum bandwidth proposed for frequencies below 29 MHz
from 3 to 3.5 kilohertz. A provision permitting the continued use of
double-sideband AM with bandwidth of up to 9 kHz was retained.
Significantly, the Board also agreed that maximum permitted bandwidth
should be defined in terms of necessary rather than occupied bandwidth. In
addition, the modified proposal removes the exception for independent
sideband emissions and drops certain mode restrictions on Novice and
Technician class operators.
In other action, the ARRL Board adopted a resolution to establish a new VHF
UHF Advisory Committee to address contesting issues over a period of no
more than three years. The Board also adopted five strategies to address
improvements in the ARRL's advocacy program, the members-only features of
the Leagues Web site, and a review and analysis of other ARRL programs.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Tuck Miller, NZ6T, in San Diego.
--
More on the ARRL Board meeting and gam reaction to it in future newscasts.
(ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: ENCINO HAM ISSUED LICENSE SET ASIDE
The FCC has acted to set aside its license grant of April 21st to Wayne
Spindler, KG6ZBU, of Encino, California. The regulatory agency says that
the action was based upon complaints about unlicensed operation of by
Spindler's station prior to filing an application.
Notification was sent to Spindler on May 21st telling him that in view of
the action by the Wireless Bureau, that his application reverts to a
pending status, and that he holds no authority to operate on the air. He
was also told that the agency will contact him shortly concerning
additional information it may need in order to make a determination as to
what action to take in this matter. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PAYMENT PLAN JUSTICE
A Mississippi C-B operator has agreed to a consent that, among other
things, has him making a $500 voluntary contribution to the United States
Treasury. But he can do it in 12 easy monthly payments.
The $500 is part of a Consent Decree signed between the FCC and Columbus,
Mississippi C-B operator Kermit L. Dilworth, Jr. It's a matter that daytes
back some time to when the FCC began receiving complaints alleging that
Dilworth's C-B was causing widespread interference to neighbors' home
electronic equipment. The FCC decided to inspect the Dillworth's station
and determine whether its operation was in accordance with the Rules.
Bureau agents requested Dilworth's permission to inspect the Station. He
refused. This resulted in the issuance of a Notice of Apparent Liability.
At this point the two began negociations. In the end it came down to
Dillworth agreeing to go off the 11 meter C-B airwaves, getting rid of his
station and antenna, and making the $500 voluntary contribution. In
exchange the FCC will not press for collection of the NAL and will consider
the case as closed. (FCC)
**
RADIO LAW: SUPREME COURT DECLINES MEDIA OWNERSHIP CASE
The FCC not the courts will have to decide the future of media ownership
limits. This as the U-S Supreme court decides not to address the issue.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, has more:
--
In a setback for the nation's big news and broadcast companies, the Supreme
Court put the incendiary issue of expanded media ownership back in the lap
of the Federal Communications Commission, forcing officials to take another
crack at revamping their rules.
The action means FCC commissioners will have to rewrite policies that
govern how many TV and radio stations companies can own, which they moved
to dramatically loosen in 2003. They also must better justify the rationale
for wanting to ease restrictions on companies owning TV stations and
newspapers in the same market.
The high court's rebuff means a 1975 ban on owning both a newspaper and a
television or radio station in the same market will continue. A company may
own a maximum of two stations if there are eight other independent TV
stations in the area.
--
Rumors had the FCC about to issue a new Notice of Proposed Rule Making on
this within the past two weeks but that did not happen due to partisan
politics. Right now there are two Democrats and ttwo Republican
commissioners. The Republicans favor more deregulaton while the Democrats
oppose it. It will take the appointment of a 5th Commissioner to fill out
the top level at the FCC before any action happens. Look for a decision on
this one in about a year or maybe two -- at the earliest. (Published
reports)
**
RADIO LAW: VANITY CALL SIGN APPLICATION FEE TO RISE
The cost of a 10 year Vanity call in the United States is going up later
this year. The ARRL Letter says that the new dollar amount is $21.90 for
Fiscal Year 2005. And while the FCC has not yet specified the effective
date of the change, in past years, the effective date has been in August or
September. We will to let you know as soon as its announced. (ARRL)
**
MOBILE OPS: STUDY SHOWS CELLPHONE USE INCREASES ACCIDENT RISK
Using a cell phone while driving quadruples the risk of getting into a
crash with serious injuries. This, even if it's a hands free unit. Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:
--
The not very surprising finding comes in a recently released study by the
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. It found that crashes involving
injuries were four times more likely when drivers were using a cell phone.
The study published in the British Medical Journal suggests that using a
hands-free device instead of a handheld phone while behind the wheel will
not necessarily improve safety. The study found that handheld devices were
slightly riskier than hands-free ones, but the difference was not
statistically significant. It also found no difference in the risk posed
to male and female drivers or to drivers older and younger than age 30.
The researchers used cell phone records in Perth, Western Australia, to
compare phone use within 10 minutes before an actual accident with cell use
by the same driver during the previous week. The institute had tried to
conduct the study in the United States but could not get access to records.
Currently, talking on handheld cell phones while driving is banned in New
York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia and drivers in Connecticut
will have to use hands-free devices beginning October 1st. On the other
side, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma
and Oregon have laws that prevent local governments from restricting cell
phone use in motor vehicles, reserving those for state legislatures to
consider or act on.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasterenak, WA6ITF, at the
Newsline studios in Los Angeles.
--
Thankfully, ham radio is not mentioned in the findings. That said, its not
uncommon for lawmakers wanting to control the mobile use of cellphones or
any other two way radio device to quote survey results like these as part
of their reasoning. As such, it can impact on ham radio operations at some
future date. (Science OnLine)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: UTAH HAMFEST JULY 29-30
Turning to the ham radio social calander, mark July 29th and 30th as the
dates for the combined 2005 Utah Hamfest and Rocky Mountain Division
Convention. This years venue is Ruby's Inn located adjacent to Bryce
Canyon National Park. And in addition to the park itself the event will
feature a flea market, transmitter hunts, prizes plus a myriad of seminars,
forums and featured speakers. For more information on this one visit
www.utahhamfeast.org on the world wide web. (E-Mail)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: HEIL TO SPEAK AT FRESNO HAMFEST AUGUST 13
Bob Heil, K9EID, will be the keynote speaker at the Fresno Amateur Radio
Club's Hamfest luncheon on Saturday, August 13th. The venue is the
California State University at Fresno in the Satellite Student Union
building. Gates open at 8 a.m. In addition to the luncheon featuring
K9EID, the hamfest will feature other forums conducted by experts in the
field of communication, as well as exhibits and vendor booths. For further
information please visit the Fresno Amateur Radio Club's website at
www.w6to.com. (E-Mail)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: US DOMINANCE IN TECHNOLOGY SLIPPING
Turning to the science fiule, the National Bureau of Economic Research in
Washington says that the United States dominance in science and engineering
may be slipping. This, as America's share of graduates in these fields
falls relative to Europe and developing nations such as China and India
continues to drop. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reports:
--
The study was authored by bureau researcher Richard Freeman. He notes that
in the year 2000 that only about 17 percent of United States university
bachelor degrees in were in science and engineering related fields. This,
compared with a world average of 27 percent and 52 percent in China. And
the picture among those obtaining doctorates was more striking. In 2001,
universities in Europe graduated 40 percent more science and engineering
doctorates than the United States. Freeman expects that figure to reach
nearly 100 percent by about 2010.
So what is the answer to keeping the U.S. as the worlds technology leader?
The study notes the deteriorating opportunities and comparative wages for
young science and engineering graduates has discouraged U.S. students from
entering these field. It also notes the outsourcing of previously American
held jobs in information technology, high-tech manufacturing and research
and development to low-income developing countries. And the study
concludes that urgent action is needed to ensure that slippage in science
and engineering education and research does not continue.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
--
While the study makes no mention of Amateur Radio, it is well known that
percentage wise the hobby generates more engineers and technologists than
any other special interest technology group today. (NBER Release)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION ON LINE
On-line registration is now available for the upcoming AMSAT Space
Symposium. The event will be held October 7th to the 9th at the the Holiday
Inn Holidome in downtown Lafayette, Louisiana. Signing up for the annual
banquet, the Friday Night Shrimp Boil and the Sunday Swamp Tour can all be
done at the time you register for the Symposium. Its all in cyberspace at
www.amsat-na.com/SymposiumReg.php (AMSAT )
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: COMMEMORATING THE FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME
On the air, Ohio's Canton Amateur Radio Club will operate Special Event
Station W-8-A-L from August 4th to the 8th. This, to celebrate the annual
Pro-Football Hall of Fame Festival. Operations will be on 7.265; 14.265;
21.365 and 28.36 MHz. Q-S-L with a 9 by 12 inch S-A-S-E to Donald E.
Perry, WQ8J, 968 Culverne Ave., NW, Massillon, Ohio and the zipcode is
44647. More information is on line at www.w8al.org. (E-Mail)
**
DX
In DX, JA0SC says that he will operate from Rotuma Island from July 27th to
August 2nd, and then from Fiji from August 3d to the 5th. Activity will be
mostly digital modes on 20, 15 and 10 meters hopefully using the call
3D2HY. QSL to his home callsign.
Also, FR5ZL will be active from Wallis and Futuna islands through August
13th. Activity will be on 40, 30, 20 and 15 metres CW and SSB, and possibly
some RTTY and P-S-K 31. QSL this one as directed on the air.
And look for F6BEE to be active as 6W1RW in the CQ WW DX CW
Contest on November 26th and 27th as a single operator, all band high power
operation. QSL to his home callbook address.
(Above from various DX sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: K2BSA/4 AT THE NATIONAL SCOUTING JAMBOREE
And finally this weeks, its time for the 2005 National Scout Jamboree and
for ham radio scouts to activate station K-2-B-S-A portable 4 from Fort
A.P. Hill in Caroline County, Virginia. A lot of pre-planning goes into an
event of this magnitude and putting together the ham radio aspect is no
exception as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V:
--
If you're a ham, it's almost like going on a DXpedition or taking part in a
Field Day operation that runs for more than a week - not just the weekend.
Conditions are pretty much the same - heat, sleeping in a tent when there's
time, and long days and nights.
Despite the conditions, each staff member - man, woman or youth - will tell
you it's all worth it to show off what we as hams do and how much fun we
have doing it.
Planning for the event has been going on for a couple years and a staff of
50 - all volunteers from all across the country - is in place and ready to
deliver a quality look at the world of ham radio.
Ed Dudley, WA4ISI, is chairman for the K2BSA jamboree operation. He has
been working closely with BSA professional staff member Ray Moyer, WD8JKV
the trustee of the K2BSA call sign in Irving, Texas, and other staff
members from past jamborees to get this event together.
Dudley says the jamboree set-up is well-organized.
"We have a demonstration area that's very similar to Field Day, if you can
think of Field Day multiplied maybe 100 times," Dudley explains. "When we
open at the beginning of the jamboree, we will stay open until the jamboree
closes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The only time we close is for about
an hour to have a meeting in the mornings and to clean up a little bit."
But the demonstration station is only one-third of the entire K2BSA
operation.
"Then there's the merit badge group," he says. "We offer the radio merit
badge and, the Scouts can participate in that and earn Radio merit badge."
"And, then we have a third group that does licensing and teaches classes.
We've had Scouts come in with no knowledge of ham radio, get interested in
it and while they're at the jamboree, earn their Technician Class license
and get it back in time to get on the air before they left the jamboree."
Dudley says it's going to be a busy time at the demonstration station where
thousands visit and get to see and hear what ham radio is all about.
"We'll be on the air on four HF bands, whichever four happen to be open
this whole time." Dudley says. "Not only that, we're going to be doing
satellite communications, we're going to be doing fast-scan, slow-scan,
APRS, any mode, any band, we have a space station contact scheduled. We
don't know exactly when it's going to be yet, but if you listen to K2BSA
we're going to announce it as soon as we find out when it will be exactly."
Of course, there's lots of interest among hams from around the country and
the world who look for the K2BSA/4 operation. Dudley says they play just as
important a role in helping the staff spark interest in ham radio among the
jamboree participants.
"That's one of the things that draws the Scouts," Dudley says. "You know
they get on the air and they talk to somebody in California from Virginia
or they talk to somebody overseas. Sometimes they even talk to somebody
down the street from where they live they didn't know they were ham radio
operators."
Dudley says the K2BSA challenge is to work all 50 states and many countries
on several modes during the 10-day operation. That's where the ham
community helps, Dudley says. He's asking hams to go on-line and look up
the K2BSA information and join in the fun.
"If you search for K2BSA, you'll find the website and on that it'll give
you a lot of information about the operation and the frequencies that we
will be operating," Dudley says. " The frequencies that we operate are
generally considered the Scouting frequencies internationally."
You can find the website at www.bpmlegal.com/k2bsa.html
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.
--
If you want a special QSL celebrating the 2005 K2BSA national jamboree
operation, send your SASE to the call book address and it will be processed
after the jamboree. And the July issue of CQ magazine has devoted 4 pages
to an in-depth article on the Jamboree and the K-2-B-S-A operations. To
find out more about the National Scouting Jamboree, take your web browser
to www.scouting.org/jamboree/index.html . The K2BSA information is at
hwww.bpmlegal.com/k2bsa.html (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 @arnewsline.org. More
information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official
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us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California
91066.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Auckland, New Zealand, saying 73 and we thank you for
listening." Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2005. All rights
reserved.
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