[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Report 1469 - October 7, 2005

ham-news at mailman.qth.net ham-news at mailman.qth.net
Mon Oct 10 06:28:34 EDT 2005



Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1469 - October 7, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.  A major Pennsylvania utility drops B-P-L, United 
Kingdom hams respond to a bomb threat and ham radio space tourist Greg 
Olson, KC2ONX, gets ready to operate on-orbit.  All this and more on 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1469 coming your way right now.
 
**

THE BPL WAR:  PPL ABANDONS BPL

An electric utility in eastern Pennsylvania says that it will end its 2 
year long B-P-L trial and is abandoning the project.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Josh Abramovich, KB3GWY, is in Philadelphia with the details:

--

PPL Corporation says it will pull the plug on its Broadband over Powerline 
Internet access trial for residential customers in suburban Allentown, 
Pennsylvania on October 31st.
 
The surprise announcement came October 3rd.
 
PPL had about 300 customers signed up for its BPL trial.
 
Eric Olena, ARRL Eastern Pennsylvania Section Manager, has had members of 
his section staff and other hams in the region closely monitoring PPL's 
market trial. He says the announcement was good news.
 
"We're very excited about it and very happy that it has come to that 
point," Olena says. "Although we were of fairly sound mind that that was 
going to come about.
 
"The decisions behind the idea to promote it seemed rather flawed at least 
from our way of thinking and we thought it would just be a matter of time, 
we were hoping it would be a lot less time, that it would come to light 
that this was not a technology that would work properly."
 
Olena says ARRL's top technical representative on BPL, Ed Hare, W1RFI, took 
the early field measurements of the BPL interference in Emmaus, 
Pennsylvania - just outside of Allentown - where PPL launched its trial. At 
that time, PPL dismissed the interference concerns raised by Hare and hams 
in the region.
 
Olena says information that got back to his staff shows PPL - at least 
internally - recognized those concerns were legitimate.  
 
"We had heard indirectly and we can't really attribute it to a particular 
source or how reliable it is that they were having some serious 
interference problems even with their own equipment with this type of 
technology running," Olena says.
 
A PPL official quoted in news stories about the company's decision to 
discontinue BPL service cited two reasons for abandoning the system. 
Neither one mentioned interference.
 
The official blamed competition from the cable and telephone companies for 
blocking the company from charging the rates it needed for the service to 
be profitable.
 
Customers were paying about $40 a month for PPL's service. Phone and cable 
companies in the region began running fiber-optic cables into PPL's BPL 
area and offering Internet access for about half of what PPL was charging.
 
Secondly, the official claimed that the pool of potential customers was 
just too small - he said, quoting here:  "The economies of scale wouldn't 
work." 
 
Olena says that's quite an admission because PPL is a big company with more 
than a million customers in eastern Pennsylvania. He says PPL's decision to 
pull out is significant and could send shockwaves across the electric-
utility industry and affect those testing BPL or thinking about getting 
into the game. 
 
"I can't help but think that once a company of the reputation of PPL makes 
a decision like that that others can't at least stop and think before they 
leap ahead and take that into serious consideration," Olena says.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Josh Abramowicz, KB3GWY, in 
Philadelphia.

--

Other power companies have not yet come to the same conclusion as PPL. At 
airtime more than a dozen electric utilities nationwide are experimenting 
with BPL technology.  (ARNewslineT)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  UK HAMS RESPOND TO A BOMB THREAT

It may have been a false alarm, but hams involved in the United Kingdom's 
were ready to put it on the line to help protect their nations homeland 
security.  RSGB newsreader Jeremy Boot, G4NJH. reports:

--

Members of the Fylde Raynet Group were called out at 12.30 on 23rd 
September after a suspected explosive device was found under a car in 
Blackpool. The Central Lancs, North Lancs and Rossendale Raynet groups were 
put on standby.

Local residents were evacuated while army bomb disposal experts carried out 
a controlled explosion. Subsequently the device was found to be a hoax. The 
Raynet groups stood down at 16.30.

I'm G4NJH in Nottingham.

--

Even when the emergency is not what it appears, all the hours spent in 
practice really pay off when the call for help goes out.  (GB2RS)  

**

RESCUE RADIO:  POST KATRINA RELIEF OPS STILL NEDED IN MISSISSIPPI

W8ILC:  The destruction down here is just unbelieveable.  You have to see 
it first hand to believe whats happening"

--

That Ron Moorefield, W8ILC, who is one of the hams involved in ham radio 
communications support in southern Mississippi.  Ron tells Newsline that a 
month after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, ham radio is still the only 
way to communicate for many areas:

--

W8ILC:  Cellphone service is still not normal down here.  There are an 
awful lot of dropped calls.  A lot of cell sites have been destroyed.  

They are getting the infrastructure back in order as soon as possible but 
still there are a lot of problems.  So Amateur Radio is really needed."

--

Also needed are a lot of relief operators to come to the Bilixi and 
Gulfport areas because those there now there need some relief.  Ron says 
that you have the time, your help is really needed:

--

W8ILC:  "I've been checking in with the Emergency Operations Centers and 
various Red Cross Chapters in the Biloxi, Gulfport and even over into 
Mobile, Alabama.  Please contact your ARRL Emergency Coordinator or ARRL 
Director to get on a list to be deployed to help out for maybe a period of 
two weeks or so."

--

Those wishing to volunteer can also sign up on line at 
http://katrina.ab2m.net/  Currently over 100 hams are still serving in 
areas ravaged by hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  

Im Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.  Don.  (ARNewslineT)

**

RADIO RELATIONS:  AN APPOLOGY FROM MOTOROLA - KIND OF

A senior official of Motorola has apologized to the nations ham radio 
community for the negative remarks of one of his employees.  This in regard 
to Hgurricane Katrina Amateur Radio emergency communications efforts.

In a letter to Craig Collin, AD6OD, of Tracy, California, Motorola counsel 
Tom Andrews claimed that the remarks of Jim Screeden appearing in the Wall 
Street Journal were quoted out of context.  Also, that Screeden was 
focusing on Motorola's massive public safety recovery effort in the Gulf 
Coast region. 

As reported in our September 16th newscast, Screeden was quoted by the Wall 
Street Journal as stating - and we quote: "Something is better than 
nothing, that's right. But ham radios are pretty close to nothing."   

On hearing the report AD6OD wrote a letter of complaint to Motorola's 
Office of Ethics and Compliance.  In his response Attorney Andrews went on 
to say that the quoted comments do not represent Motorola's view on amateur 
radio and that the company apologizes for the way the words appeared in the 
Wall Street Journal story.  He also said - and we again quote: . Motorola 
has sent a letter of clarification and apology to the Board of Directors 
for the Amateur Radio Relay League."  -- end quote.  

Yes that's Amateur Radio Relay League - his words, not ours.  (AD6OD)

**

RADIO RULES:  AMATEUR RADIO VANITY PROCESSING FALLS VICTIM TO HURRICANES

The FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has suspended the processing 
of Amateur Radio vanity call sign applications.  According to the ARRL 
Letter, the FCC halted vanity processing on or about September 23 after 
realizing that filing and regulatory deadline extensions for hurricane-
affected licensees in certain states could adversely impact the vanity 
system. 

On September 1, the FCC extended until October 31 all filing and regulatory 
deadlines falling between August 29 and October 30 for licensees in 
Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana affected by Hurricane Katrina.  On 
September 24, it extended until November 21 all filing and regulatory 
deadlines falling between September 20 and November 20 for licensees in 
Louisiana and Texas affected by Hurricane Rita.  The filing extensions also 
apply to Amateur Radio's two-year grace period on license renewals.

So what should you do if you wanbt to file a vanity application?  The FCC 
says to send it in.  The agency is encouraging radio amateurs to continue 
filing vanity applications as they normally would.  They will be handled in 
the order received once processing resumes.  (ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO COORDINATES TENNESSEE MOUNTAIN RESCUE

A life and death saga played out on top of Windrock Mountain near Knoxville 
Tennessee the weekend of October 1st.  This, after the brakes went out on 
Eddie Cascuda's All Terrain Vehicle causing it to flip down a hillside. 
According to a report from WVLT television news, Cascuda was severely 
injured in the mishap. 

One of the first on the accident scene was Scott Wyrick, KD4CWB.  Wyrick 
realized that Cascuda needed help quickly, but cellular phone service in 
the remote mountain area was almost non existant.  After giving his 
cellphone a try with no luck,  KD4CWB turned to his HT.  He used it to 
contact Kevin Rice, KG4LGL in Oak Ridge.  

Using the phone patch on the Sevierville repeater, Rice put Wyrick into 
direct contact with Paramedics.  They responded and transported Cascuda to 
a local hospital for treatment before he could fall into shock.  

WVLT television says that it spoke with Cascuda on Monday October 3rd.  He 
told the station that he wanted to thank all of the people that helped save 
his life, especially the ham radio operators who made possible his rescue.  
(KD4CWB, WVLT)

**

RADIO LAW:  KATRINA DELAYS FCC AUCTION

Hurricane Katrina has affected the FCC's upcoming auction of FM 
Construction Permits.  Auction 62 has been delayed until January to provide 
additional time for bidder preparation and planning in the aftermath of the 
hurricane.

The auction of 171 FM broadcast construction permits was initially slated 
to begin on November 1st.  Radio World on-line says that has been 
rescheduled to begin on Jan. 12, 2006. Upfront payments are now due Dec. 2.

The commission hopes to announce the status of applications approximately 
two weeks before the rescheduled upfront payment deadline. All other 
previously announced auction procedures and requirements remain the same.  
(FCC)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  PRESERVING HAM RADIOS ROLE FOR POSTERITY

With Huricanes Katrina and Rita now in the record books the work of ham 
radio is being lauded nationwide.  But there is one thing missing.  These 
are the pictures that show ham radio in action during the storms.  Alan 
Kaul, W6RCL, has that part of the story and idea for the future:

--

Did you see the hams on teleivision .. Second responders, aiding police and 
fire communication at Hurricanes Katrina and Rita?

You didn't?

What about the hams handling health and welfare messages for the Red Cross 
and Salvation Army after Katrina and Rita?

You didn't see that either?

Come to think of it, neither did I.  With what seems to be over 1000 
amateurs volunteering to help out following the hurricane of the century - 
Katrina - or its weaker tag-along Rita, WHYdidn't we ever see any of those 
volunteers on network or cable television?

I mean NBC Nightly News did a piece on September 23rd . interviewing Senator 
John McCain .. who wondered what happened to all the money congress 
appropriated to make a block of frequencies available for inter-agency 
communications during emergencies.  

HAM RADIO in that piece would have been a natural ... but instead the story 
was about the National Assoc of Broadcasters not wanting to give up their 
6mhz wide television channel assignments to make frequencies available.  

I think someone got snowed-----you and I know that one single megahertz - 
reserved nationwide - for emergency communications during disasters like 
Katrina is all that is really needed.  And if it was 169-to-170 mHz for 
example, you know that the radio makers would be including that in all the 
new models because if they didn't the competition would.

Back to the original question, though . Why no video of hams helping out?  

Because it appears that no body shot any.  Or if they did, they're making 
it the best kept secret of the hurricane season.  

The ARRL reportedly had cameras for two-or-three days in Alabama . but the 
last I heard, what was shot will make a great Public Service announcement 
several weeks or perhaps months down the road.  Unfortunately, P-S-A's - 
you might know - most often run in the middle of the night when a TV 
station can't sell commercials.  But no matter when it runs, a public 
service announcement does not have the impact of news video.  

For years, a few of us have been talking about the creation of a HAM RADIO 
VIDEO CORPS.. Just average folks, like you and me, who live in every state 
so that when there is an emergency like Katrina in their front yard, they 
can get video of hams responding. 

Then, the next time we want to get Congress's attention, there's the video 
ready to show them NOT WHAT WE CAN DO IN A DRILL, BUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE AND 
CONTINUE TO DO IN ANY AND EVERY EMERGENCY THAT COMES ALONG.

The time for a  VIDEO CORPS is now .. Unfortunately, no nationwide ham 
organization seems interested enough in making it happen ... so it's up to 
you and me. 

I've got my camera . do you have yours?

I'm Alan Kaul, W6RCL for Amateur Radio Newsline

--

So what do you think of the idea of a Ham Radio Video News Corps?  Please 
let us know by e-mail to newsline at arnewsline.org and we will pass along 
your ideas to the powers that be.   (W6RCL, ARNewslineT)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  CALIFORNIA LICENSE RNEWAL SET ASIDE

A California ham has been told that his license will not be routinely 
renewed.  This, after the FCC tells Steve L. Wingate, K6TXH, of Corte 
Madera  that his renewal application has been set aside as a result of 
complaints filed against his station.  

The exact nature of these allegations involving Wingate's station are not 
spelled out in the FCC release. The agency does say that the Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau has notified Wingate of the set aside and has 
referred his application to the Enforcement Bureau for further scrutiny.  

As of September 14th the Enforcement Bureau was in the process of reviewing 
the complaints and had notified Wingate that it would contact him 
concerning any additional information it might need in order to make a 
decision in this matter.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  JAILED HAM'S LICENSED DESIGNATED FOR HEARING

The FCC says that a felony conviction appears to be grounds to revoke a ham 
radio license grant.  This, in a Show-Cause order to Edward David Cox, 
W5OER, of Pride, Louisiana.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, 
has more:

--

Edward David Cox's story goes back to August 27, 2003.  That's when he was 
arrested and subsequently charged with two counts of simple burglary.  On 
January 8, 2004, the District Court of Louisiana convicted W5OER on both 
counts and sentenced him to five years incarceration at hard labor.  The 
sentence was suspended and the court placed Cox on supervised probation for 
five years.  He was released from custody on January 14, 2004.  

But on September 21, 2004, Cox was arrested again and has been incarcerated 
since that date.  Following a plea agreement this past June 3rd, the United 
States District Court sentenced Cox to concurrent terms of forty-one months 
for felony violations of various firearms provisions of the United States 
Criminal Code.  The Court also ordered him to make restitution to a company 
called Redstick Firearms and Indoor Range in the amount of $3,000.  

In notifying Cox of its intention to challenge his license grant the FCC 
says that Section 312(a)(2) of the Communications Act provides that the 
agency may revoke any license.  This, if conditions come to its attention 
which would warrant it refusing to grant a license or permit on the 
original application.  Also, that the character of the applicant is among 
those factors that the Commission considers in its review of applications 
to determine whether a person has the requisite qualifications to operate 
the station for which authority is sought.

In its order designating Cox license to a hearing, the FCC says that the 
proceeding will determine the effect of his felony convictions on his 
qualifications to be and to remain a Commission licensee. 
 
The action was taken on September 26th with Cox given the usual 30 days to 
respond.  If Cox requests a hearing, the FCC says that it will be up to him 
to prove to the Commission why it should permit him to remain an Amateur 
Radio Service licensee.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.

--

To make certain that Cox receives the show cause order it not only sent it 
to his home address of record.  A copy was also sent by Certified Mail to 
his current residence at the Catahoula Correctional Institution in 
Harrisonburg, Louisiana.  (FCC)

**

EMERGING COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY: GOOGLE OFFERS TO PROVIDE FREE WIFI IN 
SAN FRANCISCO

Google Inc. has proposed to provide free wireless Internet services across 
the city of San Francisco.   the Web search company says that it's proposal 
comes in response to a request for information by the City of San Francisco 
to test local Internet services via Wi-Fi, the short-range wireless 
technology built into most new laptop computers.

Google says that the Wi-Fi access could be funded through online 
advertising.  The service aims to test a range of new services and 
applications around the hilly city, which is home to more than 700,000 
residents.

Offering free wireless communications could thrust Google into competition 
with entrenched local suppliers of broadband Internet access.  This 
includes cable giant Comcast and landline D-S-L supplier S-B-C 
Communications.  

An effort by the city of Philadelphia to offer municipal Wi-Fi Internet 
access services has met with stiff opposition from telecommunications 
provider Verizon Communications.    Even so, New York City and Chicago are 
among other metropolitan areas considering similar free Internet access 
plans.  (Google, other reports)

**

RADIO LAW:  XM ASKS FOR SAT  BOOSTER STA

Meantime, a popular satellite radio broadcaster has asked the FCC for a 
terrestrial extension to the service that it provides.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, has the details:

--

XM Satellite Radio has requested special temporary authority from the FCC 
to operate up to 5,000 indoor signal boosters with an EIRP 100 milliwatts 
each.  X-M says that the  boosters would be used to provide adequate 
reception of its satellite radio service inside of stores and other 
establishments where satellite radio receivers are displayed or used, but 
where signals may be attenuated due to blockage from walls and ceilings.  
No word if they would be made available to consumers if the radios fail to 
receive the satellite signal in a private apartment or home.   

--

No word as to if or when the FCC might act on the X-M Satellite Radio 
request.  (RW On-Line, CGC)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SPACE TOURIST KC2ONX READT TO TALK TO SCHOOLS BY HAM 
RADIO

Space Tourist Greg Olson, KC2ONX, is on-orbit and ready to talk to kids in 
schools world-wide using ham radio.  Olson's first contact on Wednesday, 
October 5th with Princeton High School in New Jersey.  On Friday - Thursday 
U-T-C time -- the space adventurer is slated to chat with teens at Fort 
Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, New York.  That contact is scheduled to 
take place about the time this newscast goes to air.  A third school QSO is 
expected to have taken place on Saturday the 8th -- Friday U-T-C -- with 
Ridgefield Park High School, Ridgefield Park, New Jersey 

Its not known if Olson will have time to get on the air to make random 
contacts with hams here on mother Earth.  Many hope he will but, the school 
contacts are planned months in advance and Olen had previoisly said he 
wanted to use his ham radio airtime too talk with as many school kids as hr 
could.

If KC2ONX does show up for a few public QSO's, it will likely be on a voice 
downlink frequency of 145.80 MHz using narrownand F-M.  As his operating 
schedule will not be pre-published all you can do is to keep an ear on 
145.80 and hope to hear him.  To make a contact, hams in the United States 
and North America transmit to him on 144.49 Mhz.   

Olson reportedly paid the Russian Space Agency $20 million for his ride to 
the I-S-S.  He will return to Earth on Earth October 10th with departing 
Expedition 11 crew members Sergei Krikalev, and John Phillips, KE5DRY.  

More information is on line at www.issfanclub.com  (AMSAT, ARRL, ARISS, 
others)


**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  WALES TO SPACE THANKS TO ARISS

Andits often said that out of the mouths of babes, oft times come gems.  
And that's even true for a ham radio operator answering questions from 
space.  Take a listen:

--

Q:  My name is Kaley.  If you cry in space, what happens to the tears?  
Over.

A:  Well that may be the most interesting question of the day.  I think 
that the tears would just stay right there on your eyes or possibly on the 
edge of your cheeks.  They wouldn't go very far.  I think that maybe they 
would just stay in your eyes until they evapoeate.

--

Kaley was one of a dozen or so students from the Tregaron Secondary School 
in Wales who were able to chat astronaut John Phillips, KE5DRY, on boaard 
the International Space Station last week, just before the arrival of the 
Expedition 12 crew.   It  was also the first time that students in that 
nation have had an Amateur Radio connection with the I-S-S crew and the 
kids had a lot of questions to ask.  Some, maybe a bit unexpected:

--

Q:  "My name is Alice.  Have you ever had any embarrassing moments in 
space?"

A:  "Well, only when I make a mistake or loose something.  The work we do 
is watched all the time by folks on the ground.  When we make a mistake, 
they know it and that becomes very embarrassing.  So, I have found the best 
solution is to take the initiative and as soon as I realize that I did 
something wrong I tell them about it rather than have them find out about 
it without me telling them."  

--

The chance for these students in Wales and others around the world to talk 
with the Astronaut crews on board the International Space Station is made 
possible by a joint initiative ARISS and NASA.  As this was a first ever 
event for Wales, the Radio Society of Great Britain's G-B-4-F-U-N 
communications vehicle also attended the event.  This to  provide a full 
backup station with generator in case the main equipment failed. Thankfully 
it was not needed and a good time was had by all.  (ARISS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  OCTOBER 27th NEW LAUNCH DATE FOR SSETI EXPRESS

Thursday, October 27th at 6:62 U-T-C is the new launch date for the long 
awaited SSETI Express satellite that will carry a ham radio payload.  SSETI 
Express will ride into orbit on board a Russian built launch vehicle from 
the Plesetsk Cosmodrome.  

Once on orbit, SSETI Express will downlink telemetry in AX25 format on 
437.250MHz and 2401.835MHz. It should also be available for Radio Amateurs 
to use as a single channel FM transponder. 

Those with access to the Astra 1G satellite can see the launch live on the 
E-S-A channel.  If there is any last minute launch delay the back-up date 
is October 28th at the same time, U-T-C.  (SSETI)

**

WORLDBEAT - AUSTRALIA:  SPECIAL PREFIX FOR COMONWELTH GAMES

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has approved a Wirelress 
Institute of Australia request for the use of the AX prefix to celebrate 
the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.  The AX prefix may be used by all 
Australian Radio Amateurs for the period beginning March 1st and ending 
Match 31st of  2006.


**

DX

In D-X, word that  9V1CW, will be active portable 9M2 as PF5X.  This, from 
Sibu Island on Rgrough the 10th of October .  He will tenb move on to 
Langkawi Island from 29th October to 5th November.  In both caes he will  
operate holiday style.  Zthis means to listen for him during his local 
evening hours.  QSL via P-A-Zero-K-H-S.

And a rare one coming to 6 meters.  A-A-9-D reports that he will be in 
Carter County in southeast Montana for paleontological field work.  He says 
over the VHF Reflector that he will have a 50 Mhz mobile with him and will 
operate from Grid Square D N 75 as his schedule allows.  Listen for him 
mostly evenings, Mountain states time.

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  A JAMBOREE ON THE AIR

And finally this week, its JOTA time again.  JOTA stands for Jamboree on 
the Air.  This is a yearly event where scouts and scout guides around the 
world take to the out-of-doors and to the airwaves.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Mark Abramovich, N-T-3-V, is himself involved in the scouting 
program and has this first hand report on JOTA, 2005:

--
 
CQ JOTA! CQ JOTA!
 
That's the call you'll likely hear on the HF bands as hams and Scouts join 
forces for an event that continues exposes hundreds of thousands of young 
people to amateur radio.
 
JOTA is a worldwide event sponsored by the World Organization of the Scout 
Movement with the support of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl 
Scouts.
 
Ray Moyer WD8JKV works out of the Boy Scouts of America headquarters in 
Irving, Texas. He is the trustee of the BSA's own call sign - K2BSA - and 
he served as staff director for the recently concluded national BSA 
jamboree operations at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia this past summer. Moyer 
explains how JOTA works.
 
"The Scouts get together with an amateur radio operator and that amateur 
radio operator gets a chance to share his hobby with Scouts and Cub Scouts 
and also Girl Scouts and they get a chance to experience what the amateur 
does just as a hobby," Moyer says. "And, since it's unit hooked together 
across the world. It gives the Scouts from around the world a chance to 
talk to other Scouts around the world in a communication that they're 
normally not using."
 
Moyer says it's also a time for the Scouts to gather for some good, old-
fashioned camping.
 
"There's a lot of Scout councils, districts and multiple councils that will 
be getting together during JOTA weekend and having a big camporee, Scout 
show and sometimes just strictly an amateur radio JOTA event," Moyer says. 
"There'll be Scouts - 14-15 thousand at some events and they'll make the 
operation available along with other activities during the weekend.
 
"But JOTA will be a really popular event and it will operate 24 hours a 
day. There'll be Scouts from troops coming into those tents or the 
buildings where the radios are set up and have a chance to see if they can 
work someone." 
 
The American Radio Relay League's Larry Wolfgang, WR1B, a veteran editor of 
the radio license manuals and other publications, has been an active 
Scouter for years and has participated in JOTA activities as well. Wolfgang 
is with the Connecticut Rivers Council and is behind the JOTA event there.
 
"We're going to be having a camporee that has opportunities for the Scouts 
to talk on single-sideband, but we're also going to be giving them an 
opportunity to use digital modes, PSK 31, as well as operate some slow-scan 
television and exchange some photos from our camporee with other Scouts 
that we can contact on the air." Wolfgang says.
 
Wolfgang is the trustee of WA1BSA, the call sign for the Connecticut 
Amateur Radio Scouters Amateur Radio Club. He says now, more than ever, 
hams have an opportunity to spark the interest in the next generation of 
amateurs.
 
"It's a great opportunity to hook up with the Scouting program if you 
haven't been involved with it and show off all the fun things we can do 
with our hobby," he says.
 
And, you might be asking, how can you get involved?
 
"For somebody who's a ham who's not involved with the Scouting program 
probably the best thing for them to do would be to look up Boy Scouts of 
America in the telephone book and call their local council," Wolfgang says.   
 
The BSA's Moyer says its a lot of fun getting on the air and even listening 
to some of the exchanges. He says it also brings out a lot of former Scouts 
who are eager to share their memories.
 
"Hopefully we'll have a lot of amateurs that been Scouts in the past and 
that's normally what we get that will be able to share some fun, exciting 
times that they had back in the old days when they were Scouts and leaders 
and the Scouts will be able to fill them in on what's going on now," Moyer 
says. "So, hopefully it will be a good marriage of amateur and Scouts into 
a good weekend of communication and learning."
 
And finally, there's something new this year, the BSA is encouraging 
participation in a new thing activity for stateside Scouts. It's called 
Jamboree on the Internet, and, as you can gather from the name, it's 
similar to JOTA except all the traffic is on the internet via email or chat 
links.
 
You can learn more about both events by clicking on the script version of 
this week's newscast available at www.arnewsline.org and scrolling to that 
final item
 
(To learn more about JOTA: www.scouting/org/international/JOTA.html; for 
JOTI information go to www.joti.org)
 
And, if you plan to get on the air look for Venture Crew 59 from the Hawk 
Mountain Scout Reservation in eastern Pennsylvania. We'll be operating as 
KC3BSA.
 
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia.

--

Once again, the 2005 scout Jamboree on the Air takes to the air from 1200 
UTC on October 15 until 1200 UTC on October 17, 2005.  The scouts say that 
they will be talking to you on the air.  (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. 

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don 
Wilbanks, AE5DW, in picturesque, downtown Picyune, Mississippi,  saying 73 
and we thank you for listening." 

 Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.




More information about the Ham-News mailing list