[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1471 - October 21, 2005

Sat Oct 22 09:36:50 EDT 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline 1471 - October 21, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.  Hurricane Wilma threatens the U-S mainland as 
ham radio prepares for its onslaught.  Also, radio amateurs are still 
needed in Mississippi following hurricane Katrina and Italy's Red Cross 
inaugurates its use of ham radio emergency communications.  All this and 
more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1471 coming your way right 
now.

**

RESCUE RADIO:  A STORM NAMED WILMA

Ham radio is on alert as another weather related emergency coming its way.  
This as a tropical storm named Wilma decides to target the U-S mainland.  
We have more in this report:

--

Anyone who predicts weather will tell you that hurricanes are 
unpredictable.  And it's beginning to look as if hurricane Wilma is one of 
those storms.  

In a four hour period on Tuesday the 18th, Wilma went from a Tropical 
Depression to a record setting category 5 hurricane before slowing its warm 
water trek and dropping to a category 4 as it approached Mexico's Yucatan 
Peninsula.  It was then expected to cross the Gulf of Mexico heading East-
North-East and plow into Florida's West coast.  The only unanswered 
questions are exactly where Wilma wold hit and how strong a storm she will 
be when she makes landfall on U-S mainland soil.

Hams are in a state of preparedness all across Wilma's expected path, but 
nowhere is there more activity than at the National Hurricane Center in 
Miami.  The center is the home of station WX4NHC and an active participant 
in the Hurricane Watch Net on 14.325 MHz.  Hams involved in the net assist 
forecasters by radioing in ground-level weather reports and other data from 
across the affected region.  Other ham radio reports come into the center 
using Voice over I-P technology form IRLP band Echolink conference servers 
far removed the path of the storm.

Also o the ready are ARES groups the length of the state.  These volunteers 
will man will man any venue asking communications assistance.  This 
includes places like evacuation shelters, hospitals, rest homes and 
transportation centers to name only a few.  Hams will likely be dispatched 
to police and fire stations and county Emergency Operations Centers as a 
precaution should the phone lines fail.  

And if Wilma hits with even near the ferocity that it has already 
exhibited, communications failures are likely.  We'll let you know next 
week.

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

--

We will have more on Wilma in next weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report.  
(ARNewslineT, ARRL, HWN, otherpublished reports.)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  NEWS OUT OF TROPICAL STORM NAMES

And, for the first time in history, the list used for designating tropical 
storms in the Atlantic Ocean is running out of names.  This, with the 
naming of Tropical Storm Wilma - now hurricane Wilma -- on Monday October 
17th.

This year there was a list of 21 names that has now has reached its end.  
This means that the Greek alphabet will now have to be used if there is 
another tropical storm, which would be called "Alpha".

The 2005 season has already been one of the most active in history and has 
featured some of the fiercest and deadliest storms ever to hit the region.  
There are six more weeks until the hurricane season ends November 30, and 
it is likely that there will be at least one more named tropical storm.  
(NWS )

***

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS STILL NEEDED IN BILOXI MS.

Ham radio related emergency communications related to Hurricane Katrina may 
be winding in most places, but not in Mississippi:

--

Moorefield: "We still need operators in Mississippi so have the people 
check with their Ewmergency Coordinator or with the ARRL"

--

Ron Moorefiled, W8ILC, filed that request from the Hurricane Center in the 
city of Biloxi that was hard hit by Katrina.  He says that ham radio is 
still the focal point of communications into and out of the storm ravaged 
area:

--

Moorefield:  "We are extremely busy.  12 hour days, 7 days a week and Ill 
tell you that its really something down here.  The destruction is just out 
of this world"

--

If you want to volunteer to help out in the Biloxi area, the best way is to 
sign up at the special ARES website hosted by Joe Tomasone, AB2M..  It can 
be found in cyberspace at http://katrina.ab2m.net (ARNewslineT)

**

RESCUE RADIO: ITALY INAUGERATES RED CROSS HAM RADIO OPERATIONS

The Italian Red Cross has activated its new amateur radio station for the 
first time on 16th October.  Its call sign is IZ4GQA.  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, 
is in Nottinham, in the U-K, with more:

--

The pioneering new station is the brainchild of the radio communications 
department of the Italian Red Cross's Emilia Romagna region.  The 
department had been looking for a communication tool that would provide 
wider coverage than existing radio networks, incur no fees and be capable 
of working in crisis and emergency situations.

An amateur radio station appeared to be the perfect solution.  But at the 
time the Italian Red Cross had never before been authorized to operate such 
a station.  Not to be put off, members of the radio communications 
department obtained a copy of the official Italian amateur radio 
regulations and submitted a seven-page application for a license to the 
Italian ministry of communications. The application was successful and the 
Italian Red Cross was given the green light to operate an amateur radio 
station. 

An Italian Red Cross spokesman said: "Now we can communicate on all ham 
bands, being able to connect Red Cross stations not only in 
our region, not only in Italy, but all over the world."

I'm G4NJH, in Nottingham.

--

Further transmissions were scheduled to be made on 23rd and 30th of 
October.
Details of the frequencies, operating modes and schedule of the 
transmissions can be found on-line at http://radio.cribo.it   (GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO ASSISTS AFTER L.A. PHONE OUTAGE

Ham radio emergency communicators were activated after the phones went out 
in Long Beach California and parts of Los Angeles as well.  The details in 
this report:

--

When the phone system including the 911 emergency response lines that serve 
the Long Beach and areas of neighboring of Los Angeles went out on Tuesday, 
October 18th, hams were quick on the scene.  Among those reportedly 
responding was the Los Angeles County Disaster Communications Service using 
their 145.300 MHz Mt Disappointment repeater. 

According to reports, emergency communications was handled between the 
County Emergency Operations Center and the Long Beach City E-O-C, to and 
from various Sheriff's stations, fire stations and hospitals in the 
affected areas. Operations began at approximately 0800 and wrapped up at 
1600 Pacific coast time.  A guess would be about 20 or so operators took 
part many who obviously took time off from their jobs to respond.   

A spokesman for Verizon Communications told local radio and television 
stations that a bad hard drive in a computer, and failed back-up system for 
the telephone outage.  

We will have more on this story in a future Amateur Radio Newsline report.

On the scene in Long Beach California, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, for the 
Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

Another job well done by radio amateurs who are ready to serve.  
(ARNewslineT)

**

THE BPL WAR:  ARRL PETITIONS FCC

The ARRL says there is bad BPL and there is good B-P-L and it wants the FCC 
to allow only the good.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Paul Courson, WA3VJB, is 
in the nations capitol with more:

--

Audio report only.  Hear it in the mp3 version of Newsline downloadabe at 
www.arnewsline.org.

--

At airtime its not known whether or not the FCC will give consideration to 
the ARRL request.  (WA3VJB)

**

HAM RADIO ON ORBIT:  JOTA FROM THE ISS

SOT:  "CQ.  CQ.  CQ.  This is NA1SS.  CQ jamboree")

--

A call to Scouts participating in the 2005 Jamboree on the Air coming from 
Astronaut and ham Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, on board the International Space 
Station at it flew down the West coast of the United States.  And it did 
not take long for McArthur to find himself in QSO: 

--

SOT:  "Hello John in Scottsdale This is Bill not quite over Scottsdale.  I 
guess we won't quite pass over you guys today.  We're just going to travel 
down the West coast here on this orbit."

--

KC5ACR was just one of many stations participating in the Scouting's 2005  
Jamboree on the Air.  It took place the weekend of October 15th and 16th 
with Scouts and Guides on the ground in many nations taking part.  
(ARNewslineT)

**

ENFORCEMENT: YOUR FENCE IS INTERFEREING WITH HAM RADIO
The FCC has warned an unnamed Kearneysville, West Virginia, resident that 
he faces the prospect of enforcement action if he does not resolve 
interference to a local radio amateur.  Interference that the FCC believes 
to be caused by an electric fence charger operated on the persons property.

In its September 22nd letter, the FCC warns the operator of the fence 
charger that this is the second and last time that it will request 
voluntary compliance.  It notes that the units owner has not responded in 
the alloted time.  It adds it perefers to see a voluntary resolution to the 
problem, but if it becomes necessary to facilitate a resolution, the FCC 
might investigate possible rules violations and address appropriate 
remedies, including issuing the fences owner a fine.

The electric fence owners was given until, October 15th to let the FCC know 
what action he or she has taken or intends to take in order to curtail the 
source of these radio emissions.  That deadline has now passed.  The person 
was also instructed to call FCC rules enforcer Riley Hollingsworth by 
telephone if he or she wished to discuss the matter at hand.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THAT AIN'T LOVE

Meantime, the creator of a program to track wayward lovers is now facing 
the possibility of many years behind prison bars.  Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, has 
more:

--

Audio report only.  Hear it in the mp3 version of Newsline downloadabe at 
www.arnewsline.org.

--

Authorities say that as many as a thousand copies of Love Spy may have been 
sold world-wide.   (Published reports)

**

SAFETY ALERT:  HP RECALLS LAPTOP BATTERY PACKS

If you own a laptop computer manufactured by Hewlett-Packard, listen up.  
The company has announced that it is recalling around 1,350,000 battery 
packs for certain HP and Compaq brand laptop computers.  This, after 
receiving reports of overheating and melting.

According to news reports, Hewlett-Packard's recall affects HP Pavilion, HP 
Compaq, Compaq Presario and Compaq Evo laptop computers that use lithium 
ion re-chargeable battery packs.  The recalled batteries carry a barcode 
label, starting with GC, IA, L0 or L1 and were sold internationally with 
new laptops delivered between March 2004 and May 2005.

The company reportedly is in receipt of 16 reports of batteries 
overheating, four cases out of which have occurred in United States.  H-P 
has advised consumers to stop using the products, and contact the company 
for a free replacement.

More is on-line at www.hp.com/support/BatteryReplacement   (TechTree, PC 
World, others)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  SCOTT REDD K0DQ TO HEAD NEW NATIONAL COUNTERTERRORISN 
CENTER

Turning to some names in the news.  The ARRL Letter reports that John Scott 
Redd, K0DQ, has been sworn in as the new National Counterterrorism Center 
Director, Vice President Dick Cheney presided over a ceremonial swearing-in 
September 12, at which Redd was accompanied by his wife, Donna, and several 
family members. President George W. Bush announced June 10 that he was 
tapping the 61 year old Redd to direct the new center. K0DQ officially 
assumed his new duties August 1.  (ARRL)

**

ON THE AIR:  THE HEIL PR-40 ON LETTERMAN

Television talk show host David Letterman has a new sidekick, but its not a 
he or a she.  On Monday, October 10th, the audio engineer on Letterman's 
nightly talk show substituted a Heil Sound PR 40 microphone for the 
traditional one Letterman has used since moving his show to CBS.  Another 
PR-40 was used to mic the Kick drum of the group the Black Rebel Motorcycle 
Band that performed on the show.  While primerally designed for broadcast 
and live sound applications, the Heil PR-40 is quickly becoming a favorite 
among radio amateurs who want better fidelity for their rag-chew style of 
communications at an affordable price.  (Heil Sound)

**

WITH ARNEWSLINE :  MORE THANK YOU'S

Now with some more thank-you to those who keep Newsline coming your way. 
Here's Andy Jarema, N6TCQ:

--

In the month of July we heard from Peter Norloff, KG4OJT of Oakton, VA; The 
Albermarle ARC, WA4TFZ and W4DO of Charlottesville, VA; The Hiram's Hams 
Amateur Radio Society, The Villages, FL; Warren Elly, W1GUD of Tampa; Galen 
Gasson, KB8EJR, of Versailles, OH; monthly contributor Joseph Bartzi, Jr., 
KC8DKF of Columbus, OH; Donald West, W9DEW of Greenwood, IN; Mark Studer, 
KC8PQV and the Top Band 1860 KHz net of Wentzville, MO.

Moving to California, Tony Halog, KR6EG of San Francisco; monthly 
contributor Scott Hensley of the Area Communications Team in San Jose; Gene 
Roske, AE6GR of Lakeview Terrace; an anonomous contribution from La 
Crescenta on behalf of some repeater users up that way.

Often-contributor John Rice, KE6YFV of San Pedro Often-contributor Bubba  
Paquette, W6ZPL of La Habra; The Orange County ARC in Tustin The South 
Orange Amateur Radio Association in Mission Viejo The San Diego Repeater 
Association WB6WLV,

We had a lot of help from you through PayPal, and we'll have those names on 
our next report.  I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

Week in and week out Newsline brings you the latest in Amateur Radio News.  
It doesn't come to us- we have to go get it.  Please go to our website for 
information on how to help us do that, including a 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.  (ARNewsline)

**

WITH ARNEWSLINE:  ARNEWSLINET NOW PODCASTING

Many of you asked that we do it, and now, thanks to a pair of hams with the 
know-how, we are.  Podcasting the weekly Amateur Radio Newsline audio 
bulletin that is.

The two are Bill Eastman, KE5ASU, is in Austin, Texas and Ed Ireson, 
KE5GBU, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Each one asked if we would be 
interested in having Amateur Radio Newsline available as a Podcast and we 
said go-for-it.  

Bills site was up first, coming on line on Sunday the 16th.  Ed's was 
scheduled to be in operation my mid-week.  We have also put these two 
Podcasting experts in contact with one another so that they can share ideas 
to help improve the service being provided.

As to how to access these Podcasts. Just go to our website at 
www.arnewsline.org and follow the new Podcasting links you will find on our 
home page.

To which we add our sincere thanks to KE5ASU and KE5GBU for making this new 
service possible.   (ARNewslineT)

**

WORLDBEAT - CANADA:  A 60 METER EXPERIMENT

The Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland station VO1MRC will be conducting a 
60 meter experiment on the 22nd and 23rd of October from 0000 to 2400 UTC.  
During this period, a CW beacon will be in operation on 5269.5 kHz to 
determine the diurnal variations in propagation. Signal reports from local 
and distant stations will be gratefully received. 

VO1MRC will be open briefly for 2 way contacts with stations authorized to 
transmit on 60 meters starting 0000 UTC each of these days   It will 
operate single frequency on 5260.5 kHz CW but will also have a receiver 
listening on 5346.5 USB. Please note that this will start on the evening of 
Friday 21 October in North America. 

The experiment was proposed by Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland, endorsed 
by Radio Amateurs of Canada and authorized by Industry Canada. For further 
information, please check the Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland web site 
by searching for VO1MRC on the Internet.  (Various)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  THE LEEDS TALKING MAGAZINE

>From the U-K comes word that the Leeds Talking Magazine for the Blind will 
be on air every Monday night in October under the special callsign GB0LTM.  
The station will be operated from the Leeds and District Amateur Radio 
Society for the benefit of visually impaired radio amateurs.  (GB2RS)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  SHORT WAVE MAGAZINE TO BECOME RADIO USER MAGAZINE

The long running British publication Short Wave Magazine will ceases 
publication as a separate title in January 2006 and will merge with Radio 
Active magazine from the same publisher.  The combined publication will be 
renamed Radio User magazine and will mark the end of an era for the long-
running Short Wave publication.

Elaine Richards is the editor of Radio Active.  In a recent press statement 
she  stressed that this will not affect the company's flagship amateur 
radio publication, Practical Wireless.  She said that there is no reason to 
merge Practical Wireless with anything else as it's in a class of its own.   
(GB2RS)

**

ON THE AIR:  10 METER QRP BEACON REACTIVATED

A new QRP Beacon is on the air from a location just north of New York City.  
Operating with the call sign AE5X slash B on 28 point 267 MHz, the system 
runs 5 watts into a G5RV antenna located in grid square FN 30 DB.  Its 
operator, John Harper, AE5X, says that he expects it to remain in operation 
through March or April of 2006.  Q-S-N reports go to John at his callbook 
address.  (VHF Reflector)

**

DX

In D-X, word that 9V1CW, will be active portable  9M2 as PF5X from Langkawi 
Island from 29th October to 5th November.  He will operate mainly during 
his local evening hours. QSL via PA0KHS.  (GB2RS)

The Thorpe Camp Museum Radio Station in the U-K will be operating the 
special event callsign GB4TCM for 28 days.  The call came to the airwaves 
on October 2nd as part of the Jamboree on the Air weekend held the 15th and 
16th of October.  It goes QRT on the 29th.  QSL as directed on the air.  
(GB2RS)

** 

THAT FINAL ITEM:  HAM RADIO AND THE COVERED BRIDGE

A group of radio amateurs dedicated to promoting the preservation of 
covered bridges is inviting hams to join in some Halloween fun on the air. 
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, scares up this story on the 
Amateur Radio Covered Bridge Society.

--

A group of radio amateurs dedicated to promoting the preservation of 
covered bridges is inviting hams to join in some Halloween fun on the air. 
Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz NT3V scares up this story on the 
Amateur Radio Covered Bridge Society.

Ed Breneiser, WA3WSJ, is the president and founder of the organization 
based in Berks County in eastern Pennsylvania. Breneiser says the group 
just marked its first anniversary and has members from around the country 
and, at least one DX member.

He says the idea was prompted by a special event operation he conducted 
working from rural covered bridges in the Pennsylvania Dutch country of 
Berks County.

"I like to go portable operating so I did a Berks County Covered Bridge 
Tour for a special event," Breneiser says. "And I had so much response 
saying that you should do this again and they were very interested I said, 
well, maybe I ought to form a covered bridge society."

Breneiser says members share an appreciation for these historic structures 
and want to raise public awareness about the need to preserve them.

"They're a vital part of our transportation system, they've been around for 
hundreds of years and a lot of them are in need of repair and we're trying 
to help out," Breneiser says.

And Breneiser says, we're not just talking about few bridges, here.

"There's literally probably thousands of covered bridges in the United 
States, every state in the United States, I believe, except for Utah, has 
covered bridges," he says.

So, the question begs to be asked: Why did those who built these structures 
so long ago decide to cover them?

"They found out that by not covering the bridge, it would rot since they 
were made out of wood," Breneiser says. "The material in this country that 
was abundant back in the 1800s was wood so they started covering the 
bridges to protect the bridge, mainly."

The Amateur Radio Covered Bridge Society's website is chock full of 
interesting information and links for those interested in the subject.

Hoping to generate some activity, Breneiser says the group is holding an 
operating event it calls "Spookfest" on Oct. 30 and 31st.

"Basically, it's an amateur radio contest open to all amateurs," Breneiser 
says. "We have three modes you can enter, CW, Single-Sideband and PSK 31. 
There'll be certicates given out and a plaque for overall high score."

Listen and look for those calling "CQ Bridge Society" to take part.

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

-- 

For more on the Amateur Radio Covered Bridge Society and this special 
event, visit their website at www.arcbs.org 

**

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 
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. 