[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1461 - August 12, 2005

Sat Aug 13 13:27:44 EDT 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline 1461 - August 12, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T. The numbers are in and the trend is status quo in 
the growth of ham radio.  Also the B-P-L battle moves North and ham hams at 
a convention in Utah become emergency first responders.  All this and more 
on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1461 coming your way right now. 

**

LICENSE STATISTICS:  YOU MUST LOOK PAST THE NUMBERS

You need to look past the actual numbers to understand growth patterns in 
ham radio these days.  This, as the effect of the ten year license term 
truly begins to have an affect on the actual number of people holding 
United States Amateur Radio licenses.   Here's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, with 
the numbers as of the end of July and what they mean:

--

As of July 31, 2005 there were 27,975 holders of Novice class tickets, 
317,655 Technicians of the Tech and Tech Plus varieties, and 136,435 of 
General class licensees.  Up the ladder further we find 75,812 Advanced 
Class and 106,900 Extra's giving a grand total of 664,040.

How do these numbers stack up against those of May of 2000?  Well back then 
there were 49,329 holders of the Novice, 334,254 Technicians, 112,677 
Generals, 99,782 Advanced and 78,750.  That gives us a total of 674,792 or 
a total loss of 10,752 over the past 5 years. 

So what does that translate to by license class?  In the loss column we 
have 21,354 fewer Novices and 24,490 fewer Advanced class but the latter is 
more than offset by the rise in General and Extra.  General is up by 23,490 
and Extra by 28,140.  In other words the loses and gains in these four 
license grades appear to be mostly based on upgrading.

Of the current three license classes, its only the Technician that really 
shows attrition and that's only about 5% of all holding Tech class tickets.  
They seem to be the ones opting out of the hobby, even though some may have 
passed a 5 word per minute Morse test.  But the truth be known, its really 
impossible to know which Tech's leaving hold Morse certification and whom 
dos not.  This is because the FCC lumped al Tech's together when it last 
restructured ham radio and no longer keeps track of which are Morse 
proficient and which are not.

And to all of this you have to sadly factor in the Grim Reaper.  Its no 
secret that ham radio has become a hobby that primarily attracts those 
later on in life.  While the FCC no longer publishes date of birth, one can 
always consult an older version of one of the many CD based call 
directories which did.  And if you take a sample of the currently licensed 
hams and compare it to that database you quickly learn that for a number of 
years the numbers have skewed toward the elderly.  To those in their late  
60's, 70's and `80's. 

In other words, there are a large number of hams who have become Silent 
Keys in the past half decade, but because of the ten year license term only 
now are many of those licenses not being renewed.  Those who have crossed 
to the other side of the great Ethereal Abyss likely account for the 
remainder of those who have dropped from the license rolls. 

When you take all of these factors and many others into account, ham radio 
is not all that bad off.  In fact, its likely that the numbers of five 
years ago may have been a bit inflated due to it being in the first decade 
of 10 year license terms.  With those who were Silent Keys back then only 
now dropping from the FCC files, the numbers of today likely reflect the 
reality of five years ago.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

--

Our sincere thanks to George Mc Couch, K3UD, who has been doing ham radio 
statistical analysis of ham radio licensing and posting that information to 
the Q-R-Zed dot com website.  George says that the base totals are from 
implementation of the then new licensing changes in May 2000.  September 6, 
2004 is the date he started measuring the changes.  Prior to then the 
numbers were kept and analyzed by Fred Maia, W5YI.  (K3UD, others)  

**

RESTRUCTURING:  BLOGGING AND COMMTS CONTINUE ON FCC CODE FREE PROPOSAL

Turning to the issue of restructurig the United States Amateur Radio 
Service.  We guess you can call this one a personal best for the QRZ.com 
com ham radio website.  This as the big no-code commentary blog on QRZ's 
front page appears to have set a new all time record for posting to a 
single topic.  Albeit a very emtional one for many radio amateurs.    

It began back on July 20th soon after the FCC issued its Notice of Proposed 
Rule Making aimed at deleting the Morse Code requirement and has grown to 
record proportions.  Since then it has just grown and grown as those for an 
against the proposal have made their feelings ad their personal views known

How big has it grown, you ask?  As of noon Pacific on Wednesday, August 10th 
there were 3,746 postings to the topic and its still seems to be growing at 
a rate of close to a hundred a day. 

Meantime, comments on Docket 05-235 continue to pour into the FCC's 
electronic filing system though nowhere near the rate of the postings to 
QRZ.com.  As reported last week, the comments so far appear to be about 3 
to 1 in favor of abandoning the need for an applicant to pass a Morse test 
to obtain access to the Amateur Radio high frequency bands.    (QRZ.com, 
others)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  ITALY JOINS THE NO-CODE CHORUS

Meantime another nation has joined the code free ranks.  This with word 
that Italy will no longer require applicants for a ham radio license to sit 
for a Morse qualification exam.  According to listener Vinceinzo Ferrea, 
Italian telecommunications regulators announced the decision to abandon the 
code  qualification on August 9th.  (Vinceinzo Ferrea, others)

**

BPL INTERFERENCE - THE BATTLE CONTINUES

The BPL battle continues orldwide.  To the north, telecommunication 
regulator Industry Canada has opened the public commentary period aimed at 
setting rules to introduce powerline inrternet access in that nation. 
Called a public consultation in Canada, the procedure will guide the 
development of a new certification standard for medium voltage powerline 
carrier systems.

On the ham radio side, Radio Amateurs of Canada says that it will reply to 
this consultation paper both through the Radio Advisory Board of Canada of 
which it is a member, and directly to Industry Canada.  

Radio Amateurs of Canada Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Jim Dean, 
VE3IQ, is a member of the Radio Advisory Board Executive.  He has been 
named chairman of the Working Group formed under the Electromagnetic 
Committee to prepare the industry's response.   Joe Parkinson, VE3JG, will 
represent Radio Amateurs of Canada on the Working Group.   (RAC)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS BECOME "FIRST RESPONDERS" AS CONVENTIONEERS FORCED TO 
EVACUATE

Radio amateurs attending the July 30th  ARRL Rocky Mountain Division 
Convention were among the first to respond when release of a noxious 
substance felled more than 50 people.  Utah ARRL Section Manager Mel 
Parkes, AC7CP, and other hams swung into action to assist after 
conventioneers and other guests near an inside pool adjacent to the 
convention area at Ruby's Inn lodge near Bryce Canyon, Utah began 
complaining of nausea, headaches and difficulty breathing sometime around 
11 AM.

According to the ARRL Letter, convention attendees helped to evacuate 
victims and direct traffic as emergency crews arrived on the scene.  Parkes 
himself later suffered the effects of the substance and was among those 
treated at the scene before being taken to a hospital.  

ARRL Marketing Manager Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, who was representing 
the League at the convention said  several Amateur Radio Emergency Service 
members grabbed their "jump kits" and rendered assistance to those 
suffering from the fumes.

At first, neither the substance nor its source were known. It was later 
determined that someone had apparently smeared pepper spray on the wall of 
a 
room in the lodge, and the fumes got into the inn's ventilation system.

The incident "totally disrupted the convention," Motschenbacher said.  But 
as 
things began to calm down that afternoon, some presenters conducted their 
forums outdoors.  The evening banquet was also held outside and away from 
the 
affected area. 

Among those helping to coordinate activities was Utah Section Emergency 
Coordinator Jerry Wellman, W7SAR.  Ironically, the incident occurred as 
Wellman's forum titled "Emergencies: What If?" was under way.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMNT:  CLEAR UP YOUR INTERFERENCE TO HAM RADIO

Two hams who complained about interference to their operations from non 
amateur sources are getting some assistance from the FCC.  The agency's 
Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, explains:

--

Audio only.  Hear it in the MP3 audio newscast downloadable at 
www.arnewsline.org

--

Both of the non hams were told to advise the complainants of the steps 
being taken to correct the problems.  The FCC says that it believes that 
most cases of non intentional interference can be resolved within 30 days 
of the time they are first reported.  (Fcc, RAIN)

**

WITH THE FCC:  TWO MAJOR APPOINTMENTS MADE 

Two new appointments at the FCC.  This with word that Commission Chairman 
Kevin J. Martin has named Bruce Franca as Acting Chief of the Office of 
Engineering and Technology and Leslie Marx as the agency's Chief Economist.  

Bruce Franca has served as Deputy Chief of the Office of Engineering and 
Technology since 1987.   Franca joined the Commission in 1974 as an 
engineer in the Aviation and Marine Division of the former Safety and 
Special Radio Services Bureau.  He has also held positions in the Office of 
Plans and Policy and the Mass Media Bureau.  Before joining the Commission, 
Mr. Franca worked for the Naval Ship Research and Development Center in 
Annapolis, Maryland; the Naval Electronics Laboratory Center in San Diego, 
California; and the Naval Applied Science Laboratory in Brooklyn, New York.  
He is a graduate of Pratt Institute in New York, and has done graduate work 
in electrical engineering at the George Washington University.

Leslie Marx joins the Commission under an Intergovernmental Personnel Act 
assignment from Duke University, where she serves as an Associate Professor 
of Economics at the Fuqua School of Business.  Prior to joining Duke 
University, she was a professor at the Simon School of Business at the 
University of Rochester.  Ms. Marx graduated as valedictorian from Duke 
University and received her PhD in Economics from Northwestern University.

The two appointments were made public on August 5th  (FCC)

**

RADIO LAW:  SAN DIEGO COUNTY'S CELLULAR TOWER ORDINANCE SHOT DOWN

A federal judge has ruled that San Diego County can no longer enforce an 
ordinance that regulates where cell phone towers and other wireless 
equipment can be placed in unincorporated areas.  In the long run this may 
be good news for ham radio.  Tuck Miller, NZ6T, is here with the details:

--

Calling some of the requirements unreasonable and restrictive, U.S. 
District Judge Barry Moskowitz issued a permanent injunction against the 
San Diego county wireless telecommunications ordinance on Friday, July 6th.  
In rendering his decision the judge found that the county's regulations 
violate federal law because they have the potential to prevent wireless 
carriers from providing service in certain areas. 

The county ordinance requires that cellular equipment blend in with the 
surroundings and prevents cell phone equipment along county roads in areas 
deemed inappropriate, such as near a historical site or when blocking 
views. It also requires applicants to provide any additional information 
the county requests.  This is a provision the judge called troubling and 
too broad.

The injunction is a win for Sprint, which has argued since 2003 that the 
county's rules violate the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996.Sprint, 
along with Cingular Wireless, challenged the county's ordinance in state 
and federal courts.  The two wireless providers argued that the county's 
permit process violated state and federal laws governing public utilities. 
They contended that the county doesn't have broad discretion over the 
placement of wireless equipment. The county is weighing its options and an 
appeal is likely in this case.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Tuck Miller, NZ6T, in San Diego.

--

The win is not only good news for the cellular communications providers but 
for just about everyone who might want to put up a radio tower in San Diego 
at some future date.  Hams are especially interested because they know that 
whats pushed on commercial site operators could be imposed on them as well.  
(Published reports)

**

RADIO EXCITEMENT:  AMATEUR RADIO IN STORM CHASING

The Role of Amateur Radio in Storm Chasing is the title of  feature article 
in the latest Worldradio Magazine.  In it, author Seth Price, N3MRA, takes 
us into the intriguing world of those who equip their vehicles with radios 
and video cameras to hunt down and record some of the most breath-taking 
phenomena that Mother Nature can ever conger up.  And through Price's 
article you will et a glimpse of how its all done, and why.  It all begins 
on page 6 of the September issue of Worldradio.  More information on 
obtaining a copy is on-line at www.wr6wr.com (Worldradio)

**

HAPPENINGS:  NCVEC ELECTS NEW LEADERS

The National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators has elected its 
officers for the 2005 through 2006 operating year.  They are Chairman Tom 
Fuszard, KF9PU, of the Milwaukee Radio Amateurs' Club; Vice Chairman: Larry 
Pollock, NB5X, of the W5YI VEC; Secretary: Steve Sternitzke, NS5I, also of 
the W5YI VEC, and Treasurer Ray Adams, W4CPA, of the Western Carolina 
Amateur Radio Society VEC.   (NCVEC)

**

HE SOCIAL SENE:  DARA PICNIC AUGUST 14TH

Tuning to the ham radio social scene, the Dayton Amateur Radio Association 
will hold its annual club picnic on Sunday, August 14th just a few days 
after this newscast hits air.  Th venue is adjacent to Shelter 4 in Thomas 
Cloud Park in the Dayton, Ohio suburb of Huber Heights .  Talk-in will be 
on 146.94 MHz with N8XGA, as net control. (DARA)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  SCADS IN SOCAL ON AUGUST 20TH

And SWL's hold their get-together at the annual Southern California Area 
DX'ers or SCADS Picnic.  It will take place on August 20th from 7am to 
around 5pm at  Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach, California.  
Attendees are advised to bring their portable short-wave receivers, 
antennas and accessories along with food and cold drinks.   (SCADS)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  HUNTSVILLR AL. AUGUST 20-21

And thew weekend of August 20th marks the annual Huntsville Hamfest at the 
Von Braun Center in downtown Huntsville, Alabama.  That's where Amateur 
Radio Newsline, Vertex Standard and CQ Magazine will be presenting Rebecca 
Dorff, W-G-4-Y, with the 2005 Young Ham of the Year Award.  And because of 
travel elated to this event, next weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report will 
b released one day early on Thursday, the 18th.  And for those of you who 
plan to be in Huntsville, we will see you there.  (ARNewslineT)

**

ON THE MEND:  GET WELL BURT HICKS, WB6MQV

And a get well quick wish goes out to Amateur Radio Newsline reporter and 
anchorman Burt Hicks, WB6MQV.  This, following surgery on Monday, August 
8th.  We have spoken with Burt several timers since the operation.  He 
reports that he's doing well and should be back home by the time that most 
of you hear this newscast.  Anyone wishing to send Burt a card or note can 
d so by e-mail to our newsline at arnewsline.org or by snail-mail to Burt's 
callbook address.  (ARNewslineT)

**

INTRUDER WATCH:   A SAFARI ON 40 METERS

They are hunting on 40 meters, but its not DX that these pirate operators 
are after.  Its wild animals.  This, as Ted Alleyne, 5Z4NU, reports that a 
safari group is operating on 7.056 MHz in Tanzania and it has been very 
active.  The operators are on daily and hold nets well into the evening, 
using English, Afrikaans and other languages.  Also, they appear to be 
immune to authority as complaints to the telecom regulators have proved 
completely unsuccessful so far. 

Of the other principal intruders into our bands it appears that a group of 
Somali operators are still on the air from Nairobi.  They are on 7.057, 
14.066 and 14.240 MHz regularly.  A move of the new Somali interim 
government from Nairobi to Jowhar north of Mogadishu seems not to have 
changed the intruder situation in any way.  (WIA News)

**

STRANGE TCHNOLOGY:  DID MENTALIST SHUT DOWN RADO STATION

Meantime in the Big Apple the question is whether or not self professed 
mentalist Kreskin actually shut down a New York City radio station.  He 
believes that he did, but WOR on 70 KHz says otherwise.  Here's the story.  

According to news reports, Kreskin was a guest on WOR's "The Joey Reynolds 
Show."  He was attempting an experiment where he was going to make 
listeners feel like they were freezing cold, using his power of suggestion.  
Kreskin instructed listeners to turn off their air conditioning, and to 
reflect on the coldest experience of their life.  After conditioning his 
subjects, he told them that after he spelled his name twice, K-R-E-S-K-I-N, 
and says the phrase, "chill out," they were all going to experience an 
uncanny arctic chill throughout their body.

After spelling his name twice and shouting, "chill out," Kreskin says that 
instant pandemonium broke out in the control room of the radio station.  
WOR Radio went off the air for at least 30 seconds and the mentalist's  
public relations team says everyone at the station was asking if it was 
conceivable that The Amazing Kreskin shut down the network with his mental 
abilities?  Did Kreskin zap WOR Radio Network?

Not so says a station spokesman.  Radio World magazine checked the story 
out with WOR engineering executive Tom Ray tells.  Ray told Radio World 
that it was not Kreskins mind but an engineers finger that took the station 
off.   Ray says that the board op accidentally hit a button on the 
Uninteruptable Power Supply system that interrupted it.  That's what dumped 
the studio and it had nothing to do with Kreskin, Tom Ray says.  (Published 
reports)

**

HAM RADIO NEAR SPACE:  SOAR ASKS UK RULES CHANGE

A newly formed British amateur radio group called SOAR is aiming to get the 
regulations surrounding airborne experiments changed.  SOAR, which is an 
acronym standing for Space Observation with Amateur Radio wants to use 
meteorological balloons to carry amateur radio experiments to altitudes in 
excess of 90,000 feet but current licensing restrictions do not allow the 
use of amateur radio equipment in airborne vehicles. 

So, SOAR is currently negotiating with Ofcom and the Civil Aviation 
Authority to have the rules relaxed to allow experiments of this nature in 
balloons and other non-commercial craft.  This would allow the group to 
provide payload space for experiments by other amateur radio organizations 
and schools.

The UK is currently the only country in the world where experiments like 
this are prohibited. But, as a SOAR spokesman pointed out, such projects 
could help build bridges between the amateur radio community and schools, 
colleges and universities.  (SOAR)

** 

OPERATING EVENTS:  CELEBRATING THE SKY (CONTEST CUB)

On the air, listen for three special callsigns that are are active through 
the  31st of  December to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the SKY Contest 
Club.  The calls are  are YT-310-SKY for CW, YZ-610-SKY for SSB and 4O-310-
SKY on  RTTY.  Q-S-L to the SKY Contest Club at its Callboob address.  (E-
Mail)

**

OPERATING EVENTS:  THE SA VHF CHALLENGE

The South African VHF Challenge is now on.  The Challenge is a year long 
competition for contacts made on all VHF/UHF bands during 2005.  One point 
is accumulated for each grid worked on each band and contacts must be 
confirmed. All modes may be used but only one contact per band will count.

Only contacts with land stations in Africa south of the equator and with 
stations in waters surrounding Africa will be valid for the award.  
Certificates will be awarded to the top three scorers in each Zed-S call 
area and in each African country from which entries are received.  The top 
scorer will be awarded a trophy that has been donated by the Pretoria 
Amateur Radio Club in celebration of their 75th Anniversary.   (SARL)

**

DX

In DX,, word that the Cayenne Amateur Radio Club will be active on August 
13th to the 15th from the city of Sinnamary in West French Guyana. The club 
will be operating two HF stations, one in CW and the other in SSB.  The 
callsign to be used is FY5KAC.

Also, DK9NKC, plans to operate from Rhodes until the 20th of August.  He 
will be  using his call portable SV5 or as J45R.  QSL both operations as 
directed on the air.

And several members of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association are heading to 
Costa Rica for this years CQ World Wide D-X Contest.  This as a prelude to 
several other D-X and contesting trips that cold take place in the coming 
months.  Locations being looked at include St Lucia, Anguilla, Barbados and 
Antigua.  The October 29th to the 30th trip will see he group on the air 
from Costa Rica from for the C-Q sponsored event.  More info on the contest 
is on the web at www.cqww.com   (DARA)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  SCIENTISTS WORRY ABOUT CELPHONES IN THE AIR

Researchers have warned plans by the United States to lift restrictions on 
mobile phone use in planes could cause major disruption to radio astronomy.  
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports:

--

Radio Astronomers, including some from the National Academy of Sciences are 
worried that transmissions from airborne mobile phones could cover up weak 
radio signals from outer space.  This they say would jeopardize vital 
radiotelescope observations into deep space phenomina.

The problem is that cell phones generate radiation not only at their main 
operating frequency but also at multiples of this frequency. The frequency 
of one of these harmonics falls into the small band of the electromagnetic 
spectrum reserved for use by radio astronomers. 

Because the signals detected by radio telescopes are incredibly weak, 
having traveled many light years across the universe, they could easily be 
swamped by radio interference from mobile phones.  Even a single phone 
conversation on a plane at 35000 feet could disrupt radio telescope 
observations for thousands of miles. 

As reported in the commercial press, the Federal Aviation Administration 
and the FCC are considering scrapping a ban on using cell phones on planes 
following pressure from business travelers and their associations.  And 
that pressure keeps mounting, day by day.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm, Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the 
Newsline studio in Los Angeles.

--

According to one astronomer, lifting restrictions would be tantamount to 
building a 40,000ft high mobile phone tower.  The researchers hope the FCC 
will remember the impotance of their work and will say no the this one 
particular public demand.  (RSGB)

**

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. 

Before we go, a short word of remembrance for a friend and colleague who 
left us two years ago this week.  It was on Friday, August 15, 2003 that 
Roy Neal, K6DUE, passed away from complications arising from heart valve 
replacement surgery.  

Roy was a driving force within the Amateur Radio community and directly 
responsible for taking manned ham radio stations into space through his 
work in starting the SAREX and ARISS programs.  For us here at the Amateur 
Radio Newsline he was our first-ever Vice President, our mentor and friend.  
And needless to say, he is very much missed by everyone in his extended ham 
radio family.