[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1470 - October 14, 2005

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Amateur Radio Newsline 1470 - October 14, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.  A ham says that Amateur Radio and the Family 
Radio Service can work together to save lives while experts testify that 
more spectrum may not be the answer to the emergency communications crisis.  
Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1470 coming 
your way right now.
 
**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM PROPOSES NATIONAL SOS RADIO SERVICE

A National SOS Radio Network that eould combine the millions of users of 
the Family Radio Service and the expertise of ham radio operators has been 
proposed by Eric Knight, KB1EHE.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, 
KB4KCH, reports on a ham with a new idea to help save lives:

--

In looking at Hurricane Katrina's aftermath, Eric Knight, KB1EHE, says it's 
clear that communications systems breakdowns were a major contributing 
factor to the loss of life.  Knight says that--once electricity, telephone, 
and cellular phone services failed--people were unable to let rescuers know 
of their dire situations.  As a result, many died.

Knight is the Chief Executive Officer of UP Aerospace, Inc..  He believes 
that the simple solution to saving lives in an emergency like Katrina lies 
in radio gear currently in the hands of the public: Specifically hams and 
Family Radio Service or F-R-S users.

Knight points out that there are already millions of FRS radios already in 
use by the public for camping, boating, and hiking.  FRS radios do not 
require an operator's license and can be used by anyone of any age.  Some 
FRS radios are available for as little as $14 or less at large retailers.  

Knight also points to the 675,000 licensed ham radio operators across 
America.  Those are people he describes as renowned and prepared to provide 
emergency communications.  

And now Knight proposing creating what he calls the SOS Radio Network.  
According to Knight's plan, ham radio operators would relay the public's 
emergency needs to local and state authorities - such as police and fire 
departments - as well as to national rescue and relief agencies.  As a 
natural extension of the National SOS Radio Network, all elements of 
government could also incorporate FRS radios into their communications 
systems - for direct, immediate links to the public's emergency situations.

Knight says that, in times of public crisis, the basic recommendation would 
be  for citizens to set their FRS radios on Channel 1 and transmit their 
emergency needs.  Hams would be trained to have a receiver on 462.5625 MHz, 
the frequency corresponding to FRS Channel 1.  He notes that the output 
frequencies of FRS radios are easily received by the equipment hams use 
daily.  Knight calls that the magic link in this emergency communication 
strategy.

Knight says that the best part of a National SOS Radio Network is that it 
wouldn't require new any legislation or FCC approval.  He believes it could 
go into effect as soon as the ham radio community is made aware to listen 
for the public's emergency broadcasts on an FRS frequency.  And that, 
Knight says, could save lives.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline  I'm David Black, KB4KCH at the Southeast 
bureau in Birmingham, Alabama.


--


There is one possible problem with Knights idea.  Amateur Radio has the 
ARRL as a central focal point for leadership, guidance and political 
representation to the government.  The Family Radio Service has none of 
this.  It and other services like Class D CB operate at the whim of those 
who own radio gear.  And, with the exception of the mass media, there is 
really no way to reach any of these groups.  Just how Knight intends to let 
the users of F-R-S know about the SOS Radio Network without investing in a 
multi-million dollar ad campaign involving television, radio and the 
newspapers is unknown.  More about the project is on line at 
www.nationalsos.com  (M5AKA, ARNewslineT from press releases)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  EXPERTS SAY MORE SPECTRUM NOT NEEDED

Freeing up the analog broadcast spectrum is not the only answer for 
improving  public safety communication problems.  So says recent expert 
testimony presented on Capitol Hill as reported in  TV Technology magazine.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V, has been following 
developments in this area and is here with the details:

--

Among the most troubling conclusions delivered to the Senate Commerce 
Committee came from an official of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology. Dereck Orr, a program manager for the agency, noted that public 
safety communications equipment still is lacking when it comes to diverse 
agencies being able to communicate with one another. 

Orr was quoted by TV Technology magazine as saying the industry has been 
unable to reach a consensus for the past 15 years. 

He testified, however, there are continuing efforts by public safety 
communicators to work toward standards for land-mobile radio system 
interoperability in an effort titled Project 25. According to TV 
Technology's report, P25 as it's called, seeks to set standards for eight 
interfaces of a land-mobile-radio system. In other words, it's seamless 
communications from handheld-to-handheld, handheld-to-mobile, mobile-to-
tower, and so forth. 

But TV Technology says Orr told the panel manufacturers aren't working 
together to create such a system and have developed their own, proprietary 
interfaces, defeating the goal of interoperability. 

Bob Josuweit, WA3PZO, an assistant ARRL Section Manager for Eastern 
Pennsylvania, and CQ Magazine's Public Service editor, says one has to 
examine the magnitude of the communications disruption caused by Hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita before tackling potential solutions. 

"You had 100 broadcast stations were off the air, 20 million telephone 
calls did not go through on the first day after Katrina and 3 million phone 
customers were out of service," Josuweit says. "And then you start looking 
at the damages that were caused. 

"There was primary tower and transmitter site damage, there were power 
outages, generators were destroyed by water or debris. There were fuel 
issues whether it was transportation getting the fuel there or just a 
supply interruption. And, many of the Bell South telephone central offices 
were flooded making service unavailable." 

Josuweit says there's also the potential for problems in one of the 
interoperability solutions being proposed. 

"It's interesting that they want to move everything up to the 700 mhz band 
because it would be closer to 800 mhz," Josuweit says. "They want to bring 
the frequencies closer together and yet we as hams pride ourselves on the 
diversification, the number of different frequenices and bands we have 
available." 

So, you're gathering here that the success of amateur radio is being 
overlooked. Josuweit says, not at all. He says there's another story in the 
Federal Communications Commission's documents and statistics. 

"One other interesting thing occurred during the FCC chairman's testimony 
before Congress," Josuweit says. "They had to issue approximately 140 to 
150 different rulings whether temporary authorizations or other rulings for 
the other broadcast services or wireless or satellite services. And, yet, 
for ham radio there were absolutely none issued. We worked as planned." 

Josuweit says hams did what they were asked to do, and more, in their 
response to the hurricane disaster zones. 

"We're hearing some areas where repeaters were up or got back up and 
running and many people brought in communication trailers to put a 
temporary repeater on the air," Josuweit says. "Other areas, VHF was not 
available and HF became the primary means of communication." 
Josuweit says some local, state and federal authorities working in the 
disaster zones are recognizing the capability of amateur radio and the lack 
of interoperability of traditional public safety communications. 

"We've already seen some really positive responses from different agencies 
and different people who worked directly with the hams as to what a big 
resource and a value they were in the field," Josuweit says. "And, 
hopefully that information will get back to the people in a decision-making 
process." 
Now, Josuweit says, it's up to the amateur radio community - from those who 
went South to help out to those in policy-making roles, like the American 
Radio Relay League, to talk about the value of ham radio to local, state 
and federal disaster planners to make sure it's included as a critical part 
of the emergency response plan. 

"Go out and say here's what we can do, here's what we did and here's some 
of the problems the other agencies had that we don't have those types of 
problems that our flexibility is a primary resource," Josuweit says. 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in Philadelphia. 

--

Regardless of the lack of interoperable radio technology, Congress id under 
enormous pressure to free up the 24 MHz of analog broadcast spectrum 
designated to public safety no later than 2007.  Meantime, Amateur Radio 
remains the only truly interoperable emergency service available to 
emergency respoinders, worldwide.  (TV Technology ,  ARNewslineT)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SPACE TOURIST GREG OLSON KC2ONX RETURNS TO EARTH

American space adventurer Gregory Olsen, KC2ONX,  is back on Earth.   The 
millionaire scientist and a two-man, Russian-American crew from the 
International Space Station landed in Kazakhstan on Monday, October 10th 
around 9 a.m. Eastern time. 

Olsen, who spent seven days in space, was the third private citizen to 
visit the laboratory orbiting about 250 miles from Earth. While on board 
the I-S-S Olson performed scientific experiments and spoke via ham radio to 
several classes of school children.  This included the kids at Ft Hamilton 
High School in Brooklyn, New York, Princeton High School in Princeton, New 
Jersey, and his alma-mater Ridgefield Park High School in Ridgefield Park, 
New Jersey.  

The trip to the ISS reportedly cost Olson a cool 20 million dollars.  On 
his way back to mother Earth he was accompanied by returning Expedition 11 
crew members John Phillips, KE5DRY, and Sergei Krikalev, U5MIR.

And a correction to some information from last week regarding Olson's Q-S-O 
schedule.  He spoke with Princeton High School on October 5th, with Ft 
Hamilton High School on Octoiber 6th and on October 7th with Ridgefield Park 
High.  Our thanks to Rick Lindquist, N1RL at the ARRL News for picking up 
and pointing out that one.  (ARNewslineT, ARISS, N1RL, others)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  CEPT RECOMMENDS EARLY ACESS TO 7100 - 7200 KHz

Europe's CEPT Working Group FM has adopted a recommendation regarding early 
access o radio amateurs in the band from 7100 to 7200 Kilohertz.  Bill 
Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:

--

According to the ARRL Letter, the recommendation says that administrations 
within the CEPT may allow stations in the Amateur Service to use the band 
from 7100 to 7200 kHz.  This, on a secondary basis provided that the 
transmitter output power does not exceed 250 watts.

The committee adopted the recommendation on September 28th at a  meeting in 
Germany.  The number of countries that allow early access is growing with 
the Russian Federation and Singapore having joined the list two weeks ago.  
The Netherlands and Austria are expected to permit access by their radio 
amateurs in the not to distant future as well.

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

--

As mentioned in Bills report, Singapore's Infocomm Development Authority 
has given that nations radio amateurs the go-ahead to use the 7.1 to 7.2MHz 
band immediately, but on a secondary use basis to other services.  This 
supplements the existing allocation of 7.0 to 7.1MHz that radio amateurs in 
Singapore already had.

Additional information and a list of countries that have adopted early 
access to 7100 to7200 kHz are available on the IARU Region 1 Web site.  Its 
in cyberspace at http://home.planet.nl/~pa3ebt/IARU-R1/7_mhz_early.htm  
(GB2RS, others)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  NEW CANADIAN SPECIAL CALLSIGN RULES

To the North, word that Industry Canada has issued a new Call Sign and 
Special Event Prefixes Policy to reflect modifications to the International 
Radio Regulations.  This, pertaining to the formulation of call signs for 
the Amateur Service. 

The rues changes result from the decisions of the World Radiocommunication 
Conference in July, 2003 and are effective immediately.  Further 
information will be published in The Canadian Amateur and on the RAC web 
site at www.rac.ca  (RAC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC BEGINS ANOTHER FAX AD INVESTIGATION

Back here in the USA, the FCC has issued an official citation and Letter of 
Inquiry to SMC LLC of Dallas Texas.  This, related to alleged violations of 
the Communications Act and the agency's own rules that govern unsolicited 
telephone solicitations and advertisements.

In its letter to SMC the Commission says that has been notified that that 
the company is involved in transmitting to telephone facsimile machines 
unsolicited advertisements for property, goods, or services offered by 
another entity.  The FCC notes that section 227(b)(1)(C) of the 
Communications Act and section 64.1200(a)(3) of the Commission's rules 
generally prohibit the delivery of unsolicited advertisements to telephone 
fax machines.  

So the FCC has directed the company to respond to this Citation and Letter 
of Inquiry by providing the information and documents in answer to a long 
list of question and to do so within 30 days after the date of its letter 
to SMC  Information gathered will be used to determine what if any action 
the FCC will take in this case.  In the past, the FCC has socked companies 
sending out unsolicited ads by fax with hundreds of thousands and even 
millions of dollars in fines.  (FCC)

**

COMMUNICATIONS SAFETY:  THE FUTURE OF THE INTERNET

According to a survey titled "The Future of the Internet" American's 
growing dependence on the Internet is making it a flashing electronic 
target for terrorists.  Sixty-six percent of those surveyed predict that 
there will be at least one devastating attack on the Net's infrastructure 
or the country's power grid in the next ten years.  Those taking part 
included technology experts, scholars, industry officials, as well as 
interested members of the public.

Some of the experts agreed that as the Net gets more complicated, viruses, 
worms, and Trojan horses will become more complicated as well. Others 
argued that, while an attack might be costly, it would probably not create 
suffering or loss of life.  The survey was recently released by the Pew 
Internet and American Life Project.  (Press release)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: "IN THE COURSE OF DUTY" BY DON KEITH, N4KC

Long-time amateur radio enthusiast and best-selling author Don Keith, N4K-
C,  has published his thirteenth book titled In the Course of Duty.  This 
one is the true tale of an amazing World War II submarine called the USS 
Batfish. 

In his book, Keith tells the story of how the Batfish sank three enemy 
submarines in three days.  Keith also recounts how that submarine has come 
to rest today in a bean field in the middle of the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma.  
A location not far from the Cherokee Nation's capital.

In the Course of Duty by Don Keith is published by NAL/Caliber, an imprint 
of the  Penguin Group USA.  Look for it wherever good books are sold.  
(Press release)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  NEW HAM YL BOARD FROM M3TJO

And a new website has been set up for women radio amateurs.  Called Ladies 
On The Air, the site is the brain child of Jackie Bosworth, M3JTO.

Bosworth says that Ladies on the Air, provides female hams with a place to 
discuss their hobby.  It is open to any woman who is interested in amateur 
radio. Membership is free and the site includes a discussion area, a hints 
and tips section, advice on solving amateur radio problems and a place 
where members can post pictures.

The full URL is www dot ladiesontheair dot proboards37 dot com.  And 
ladiesontheair is spelled as one word. (GB2RS)

**

COMMUNICATIONS CRAZES:  MORSE RINGTONES FOR YOUR CELL

CW by telephone is the latest craze sweeping ham radio.  Well kind of.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks is here with the details:

--

Ever wish that your cellular phone sounded more like your ham radio 
stationm?  Well now it can thanks to ringtone programmer and Morse fanatic 
Andy B.

According to the GB2RS News Service Andy  has developed a free-to-use 
online computer programme to generate personalised Morse code ringtones for 
mobile phones.

Ringtones have become all the rage in recent years.  This, thanks to the 
multimedia capabilities of the latest generation of cell phones.  But there 
was no simple way of creating Morse ringtones. 

Now, Andy's website makes it easy. You simply enter a message, choose the 
ringtone's speed and pitch and press a button. A MIDI file will then be 
generated that you can copy to your mobile phone.

Want to try it?  Its as easy as clicking 
http://www.braintank.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/midi/morse2mid.php  

--

And who knows, maybe you will be the first in your radio club to make  
cellphone DXCC  (GB2RS)

**

Ladies and gentlemen, once again here is Amateur Radio Newsline's Support 
Fund Administrator, Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

In the month of June we heard from The Reading, PA Radio Club, Steven 
Gobat, KA3PDQ, Net Control for  the Harrisburg Radio Amateurs Club weekly 
net; monthly contributor Joseph Bartzi, Jr., KC8DKF of Columbus, OH, 
monthly contributor William Walters, WA2IBM, of San Jose and monthly 
contributor Scott Hensley of the Area Communications Team, also in San Jose

Via PayPal we heard from Michael Thomas, KA7VCA, David Foreman of Tucson

Be sure when you're going through PayPal that you include some information 
about yourself for these reports, like callsign and location.


Month in and month out Newsline takes an average of $1000 to put the latest 
news of Amateur Radio on the air- it doesn't come to us- we have to go get 
it.  With no advertising, we depend on you- our loyal listeners.  Our 
website- arnewsline.org has all the info you need to contribute, including 
a quick link to PayPal.  Or there's our address: Newsline Support Fund, PO 
Box 660937, Arcadia, CA  91066.  That address will be repeated at the end 
of the newscast.  Thanks for your help.  I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.  

--

Thank you Andy.  (ARNewslineT)

**

SCIENCE IN SPACE:  NASA SCALES BACK SIZE OF ISS

NASA is scaling back its plans for adding to the orbiting International 
Space Station.  This as a  result of its goal of retiring the space shuttle 
and sending Americans back to the moon.

NASA Assistant Associate Administrator Mark Uhran says that a centrifuge 
laboratory to study the effects of gravity on animals won't be added.  
Another laboratory and a compartment that would have held life-support 
equipment are also at higher risk of being left on the ground as is a 
Russian component that would have produced power for Russian science 
facilities. 

On the plus side, space station labs being built by Europe and Japan are 
not in jeopardy.  Nor are the solar panel arrays that will supply those 
labs with power.

NASA's plan to retire the shuttle by the fall of 2010 doomed the centrifuge 
lab, because only the shuttle has the size and strength to carry the 
station's massive pieces into orbit.  NASA wants to retire the shuttle to 
save money to help pay for the plan to send humans to the moon in 2018.  As 
far as we can tell the cutbacks should bot effect the ham radio in space 
operationd from the I-S-S. (Published news reports)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  A UK PLUG N PLAY RADIO TELESCOPE

The British Astronomical Association's radio astronomy group is working on 
an interesting project to develop a 'plug and play' radio telescope system.  
One that can be connected to any modern PC.

The system will have a modular design to allow new functionality to be 
added when it is developed.  Modules will initially be available for solar 
observations at 2.8GHz and for those Sudden Ionosphere Disturbances at VLF.  
Other modules being  planned include a software-controlled scanning 
receiver, a pair of 151 MHz and 38 MHz receivers and  Interferometry unit..

The group says that beginners as well as experts will be able to use the 
system to easily set up their own radio observatory. They also want to hear 
from anyone interested in developing further modules.

Ham radio experimenters are invited to take part.  For more information 
about this innovative project, visit www.britastro.org on the World-Wide-
Web.  (GB2RS)

**

WORLDBEAT - FRANCE:  THE JULES VERNE AWARD

With this being the 100th anniversary of popular French author and founding 
father of science fiction Jules Verne, Dominique Maillard, F6HIA, has 
launched the Jules Verne Award.  The prize is available to all radio 
amateurs who make contact or hear within an 80-day period with the ten 
countries crossed by thr characters Phileas Fogg and Passepartout in 
Verne's legendary novel "Around the World in Eighty Days".

To qualify, valid contacts must be made on any mode or band with hams in 
England, France, Italy, Egypt, India, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Japan, 
and the USA.  Send your application for the award and a certified list of 
contacts to Dominique Maillard, 1726 Chemin du Plan, 30650, Rochefort du 
Gard, France.  (Via e-mail)

**

DX

In DX, 9V1CW, will be active portable 9M2 as PF5X rom Langkawi Island from 
29th of October to the 5th of November.  Q-S-L via PA0KHS.

Also, Team Antigua has announced plans for a 12th year of operating from 
that beautiful Island paradise.  The group will be active in the CQ World 
Wide SSB Contest on  October 29th and 30th as V26B.  Look for them on all 
bands and QSL each operator as directed on the air.

And, TO5R and TX5M are the calls issued to F6AML for his activities from 
Reunion Island until October 23rd  QSL direct to F6AML.

Also, operators W3GG, WD3I and 4Z4DX will be active as 4X0G during the CQ 
World Wide DX C-W Contest on November 26th and 27th as a Mutli-Single entry. 
QSL via W3GG.

And word that British amateurs 2E1DQZ, G5XW, M3SDE, G1OCN, and MW0JZE, will 
be operational from the Island of Alderney through the 19th of October.  
Listen for them  on all of the H-F bands on the normal modes.  Also on 6 
meters,  VHF APRS, VHF and UHF FM and -- hopefully --some FM satellite 
activity.  QSL the group as directed on the air.

(Above from various DX sources)


**

THAT FINAL ITEM: ON THE WEB: THE HAM RADIO VIDEO CORPS - REVISITED

People are already saying that they like the idea of a Ham Radio Video 
Corps.  One that would record the involvement of radio amateurs in 
emergency situations and make the pictures available to the working press.  
But the man with the idea says that its more than just shooting the 
pictures.  Here's Alan Kaul, W6RCL.

--

Last week I came by to tell you about the Amateur Radio Video Corps that 
many are convinced is needed.  This week I'm here to say, whoa, wait a 
minute.  Having a hundred or so cameramen and women running around shooting 
pictures of ham radio in action is terrific - but what are we going to do 
with any of those pictures?

How are we going to distribute them?

I mean, if we want to get them on television news when they are timely - 
that would mean if it was shot today it ought to be on the news tonight - 
how are we going to do that?  Television networks have employees paid to 
make that happen.  Ham radio doesn't.

And even if someone does shoot the tape - say 20-minutes of hams on both 
ends of police or fire department communications.. Wind blowing their hair, 
hurricane force winds psuhing debris right past them .. Or Hams in a humid 
dank shelter, sending health and welfare messages for Red Cross or 
Salvation Army. or hams cordinating supplies for an emergency relief 
center. how do we get it out?  And how can the media make sense of it?  
Sure, you and I can look at it and just about guess what it is.  But how is 
that going to make any sense to any news agency that receives it?  I mean, 
someone who knows nothing about ham radio might actually have to write a 
script IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE THE VIDEO IN A NEWS REPORT.  How is 
that going to happen?  By magic?

I work in television.  I'm a TV news producer.  I go to where an event is 
taking place.  I take good notes, I get the names and the correct 
spellings.  I make sure the camera crew I am working with shoots the wide 
shot, the medium shot and the closeup.  And when I get back to the 
newsroom, I have enough information to write the script.  And if I don't, I 
know who I can call to ask a question, like "who was the person in the red 
shirt?"

Who is going to provide that function in an amateur radio video corps?

Who is going to make copies of the tapes?  And who'll pay for it?

Who is going to distribute the tapes in a timely manner?

I know we need some vehicle for getting publicity, making videos, etc.  But 
we also need a process which will enable us to do it.  I work for a living 
as do many of you.  I can't just drop everything and make ham radio on TV 
happen.

What we need is more dialog. more ideas.  This is a big task.  It isn't 
easy.  And if we're going to do anything remotely like this - without 
spending a lot of money, and without paying anyone to do it for us, we need 
your ideas.  How can we - that is ALL OF US - make this happen? 

I'm Alan Kaul, W6RCL for AR Newsline.

--

Alan and Amateur Radio Newsline would really like to hear from you on the 
idea of a Ham Radio Video Corps.  How would you put it together?  Please 
let him and us know by e-mail to newsline at arnewsline.org  (ARNewslineT, 
W6RCL)

**

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 WIA 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 Jim Damron, 
N8TMV and I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC,  saying 73 and we thank you for 
listening."  Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2005.  All rights 
reserved.