[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1473 - November 4, 2005

Sun Nov 6 09:35:09 EST 2005

Amateur Radio Newsline 1473 - November 4, 2005

The following is a Q-S-T.  The leader of the ARRL says well done to those 
hams who volunteered in the wake of three killer storms.  Also, the S SETI 
Express satellite falls silent shortly after launch and hams in the U-K 
literally vote against a lifetime license.  All this and more on Amateur 
Radio Newsline report number 1473 coming your way right now.

**

RESCUE RADIO:  ARRL LEADER PRAISES HURRICANE HAMS

The President  of the American Radio Relay League has heaped praise on the 
hams who volunteered in the wake of three killer hurricanes that recently 
hit US shores.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, joins us 
with the rest of the story:

--

Jim Haynie, W5JBP, says those who gave up days and weeks of time, shared 
their skills and talents, and lent their equipment to serve their neighbors 
in dire need in the South deserve recognition for their outstanding 
contribution.

Haynie says the hams who went in as part of the front-line corps of 
volunteers to help those who lost virtually everything, gave unselfishly to 
help in the recovery effort. And, many still continue to do so.

But Haynie says he understands some at the very highest levels were a bit 
uncomfortable about what hams were able to accomplish.

"Showing the FCC that the amateur radio community can provide 
communications - which we did very, very well during Hurricane Katrina and 
all the other hurricanes now that we've had since then - is sort of an 
embarassing thing, quite frankly, to the federal government," Haynie 
contends.

Haynie says the political fallout from the federal response to Katrina and 
subsequent glitches that occurred in delivering aid to victims of other 
storms, is an open wound right now. He says hams proved they don't need the 
kind of infrastructure the government and major companies invested so much 
in - infrastructure that didn't work at the time it was needed. 

"We, as amateur radio operators, can provide basic communications," Haynie 
says. " We do not need the billions of dollars. What we need is a little 
bit of recognition of the fact that we can do this.

"And, it's important that FEMA and the federal government realize that ham 
radio is such an integral part of our fabric of the nation for 
communications. Not only just for hurricanes, but earthquakes out in 
California, mudslides, you name the disaster."  

Haynie says hams have been an underutilized, misunderstood and under 
appreciated resource.

"Hams are always there, we're always available," Haynie says. "And, it's 
very difficult for the federal government to understand that something like 
this with volunteers is something that will work.

"And I understand what their problem is in this respect because they spend 
hundreds of millions of dollars and all of a sudden hams come through and 
do their job and they do it very well."

Haynie says while amateur radio had numerous opportunities to tell its 
story in the media because of its disaster response, many media outlets 
couldn't quite get it. Many portrayed amateur radio as a hobby or service 
populated by old timers and basement, wanna-be scientists using antiquated 
vacuum tube equipment.

"If you see what we as amateur radio operators have in the way of 
communications equipment, it's cutting-edge technology and we use that and 
we use it very well," Haynie says.

In fairness, Haynie says, some media stories did get it right and showcased 
the value of amateur radio as more reliable than the powerful, billion-
dollar communcation networks that failed.

He's hoping - with time and a little more education - others, especially 
those at the highest levels of decision-making in government, will get it, 
too.

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

--

Many outside the hobby may wonder why hams carry transceivers on their 
belts and have automobiles bristling with antennas.  Its when disaster 
strikes that they find out.  (ARNewslineT)

**

HELPING HAMS:  NEW CELEBRATY TV SPOT FOR ARRL TOY DRIVE

An update on last weeks story regarding the ARRL's 2005 holiday Toy Dive to 
benefit youngsters caught in the aftermath of this years hurricane season.  
Now comes word that Country entertainer Patti Loveless, KD4WUJ, has 
videotaped a 30 second video Public Service Announcement to help raise 
public awareness for the campaign. In it Patti urges hams and non hams 
alike to donate a new toy to the drive.

The ARRL has a special website where you can download three versions of the 
30 second spot.  If you know of a television station or cable system that 
will air them, you are urged to send themto www.hello-radio.org.  That's 
where they will find both low bandwidth screening copies and a high quality 
full resolution 480 megabyte video file for broadcasters and cablecasters 
to air.  

Working on the production, of the television spot with Loveless was Richard 
Lubash, N1VXW,  Again, that URL is www.hello-radio.org. The same video 
files are also the web addresses listed in this weeks printed Amateur Radio 
Newsline report.  (ARRL)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SSETI EXPRESS FAILS AFTER LAUNCH

A setback for ham radio operations from space.  This, following the 
seemingly successful launch of the SSETI Express satellite at 06:52 UTC on 
Thursday, October 27th.  One hundred and three minutes later the first 
signals were heard form the ground station and two-way communication was 
established.  All went well for a while and there were several successful 
communication sessions with SSETI Express.  Then something went terribly 
wrong

An official release from ESA stated that at 22:20 CEST SSETI Express went 
into a safe mode due to an under voltage condition caused by battery 
charging problems.  The release continued by saying that the operations 
team was working to resume nominal operations of the satellite and is 
receiving tremendous help in the process from the amateur radio community.  

SSETI Team Leader Neil Melville had both bad and good news.  Melville said 
that analysis of the data received, coupled with ground-based computer 
simulations strongly support the theory of component failure in the excess 
power dissipation system.  The good news is that the tests also confirm the 
possibility of a further failure mode of the specific component.  One that 
might allow the batteries to charge and the spacecraft to operate once 
again.

ESA and the SSETI Association say that they value the assistance that 
amateur operators are providing.  They ask hams around the world to 
continue to check for signals on  437.250MHz at the appropriate pass times. 
These signals may be short bursts of 9k6 data every 18 secs or bursts of 
pulse telemetry every 30 seconds.  Anyone hearing anything that matches the 
SSETI signal is requested to please e-mail details to 
missioncontrol at sseti.org  (M5AKA)

**

RESTRUCTURING: UK POLL SHOWS HAMS OPPOSE LICENSING FOR LIFE

British hams have told U-K Radio Regulator Ofcom that they do not want 
lifetime licenses.  This in a poll commissioned by the regulatory agency.  
Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is in Nottingham in the U-K, with more:

--

The majority of radio amateurs want to keep the existing amateur radio 
licensing regime or change to a longer license renewal period rather than 
switch to a license for life, according to an Ofcom commissioned MORI poll 
into the future of amateur radio in the UK.

The survey of 1,572 amateurs also revealed that two-thirds of  amateur 
radio licensees believe that the current licensing arrangement is "about 
right".

Ofcom is keen to issue amateur radio licenses for life. But 52% of 
respondents to the MORI survey said they prefer either the existing 
arrangement or an extended renewal period. 

Among members of the RSGB, the life-time license is even less popular, with 
around two-thirds favoring the current arrangement or a longer renewal 
period. Only a third preferred a life-time license.  Interestingly, support 
for the lifetime license was less among frequent radio users than among 
those who use their radios irregularly.

Of those who wanted a longer renewal period, 60% preferred a five year 
renewal period, 23% a three year renewal period and only 10% a ten years or 
more renewal period. The survey also showed that only a tiny minority (1%) 
wanted to abolish the licensing arrangement altogether, radio amateurs 
generally believing that the licensing system was vital in maintaining 
standards of on-air operation. Less than 1% wanted to replace the current 
Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced licenses with something else.

Radio amateurs were generally also not keen on Ofcom's plans for web-based 
electronic licenses, with only two in five giving their support to this 
idea in spite of Ofcom offering to provide a license postal service for 
those who don't have access to the Internet.

I'm G4NJH, in Nottinhgam.

--

The results of the poll do not appear to be in any way binding on Ofcom 
which previously stated that it wants to issue ham radio licenses for life.  
(GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO: THE NEW YORK STATE POLICE "PUMPKIN PATROL"

They have been dubbed "the Pumpkin Patrol," and they were out in full force 
in the days surrounding Halloween.  We have more in this report:

--

Ham radio operators were monitoring bridges along the New York State 
Thruway on Halloween night, as they have for about 20 years. They were 
looking for vandals who toss pumpkins, rocks or other objects from 
overpasses onto vehicles below.

Speaking to the Democrat and Chronicle newspaper, Keith Freeberg, N2BEL, of 
the Rochester Amateur Radio Association says that the involvement of hams 
is very important.  That radio amateurs act as additional eyes and ears of 
the New York State Police.  Freeberg says that if any suspicious activity 
is noted, the hams call the police and they respond immediately.

Freeberg said about 28 ham-radio operators from the Rochester area were 
participating this year.  He told the newspaper that he couldn't remember 
any Halloween incidents of pumpkin- or rock-tossing onto vehicles since the 
patrol started in the early 1980s

The "Pumpkin Patrol" grew out of a grassroots effort led by an unidentified  
Montgomery County woman.  Back in 1976 she came across a trucker near an 
overpass who was injured by a thrown rock.  Using her CB radio she 
organized a vigil that met at the bridge each Halloween.  

The state police picked up on the effort a few years later.  They modified 
the program and have overseen it ever since.  That's about the same time 
frame when the 550 member Rochester Amateur Radio Association became 
involved.  The club has been an integral part of the Pumpkin Patrol ever 
since.

The Pumpkin Patrol is actually a two day operation.  Hams go out on the 
night before Halloween as well as on Halloween night.  Freeberg said he and 
his colleagues let presumed pranksters know they're being watched.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Evi Simons in New York.

--

The Rochester group was not the only ham radio organization involved in 
this years New York State Pumpkin Patrol.  In all, 24 sheriff's offices, 46 
police agencies and about 20 radio groups including the famed Mt. Beacon 
Amateur Radio Club took part.  (Various Sources)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC ORDERS ANOTHER HAM OFF OF A REPEATER

Turning to enforcement issues, the FCC has told Larry L. Smith, KC7LJR, of 
Mideleton, Idaho to stay off of the Voice of Idaho Amateur Radio Club W7RAZ 
repeater or face punitive action.  The warning comes in a letter to Smith 
after he failed to adhere to the written demand by the repeaters trustee 
that he refrain from use of its repeater.  

According to the now public FCC letter to Smith, the request by the trustee 
was issued as a result of Smith's alleged failure to follow operational 
rules set forth by the licensee and control operators of the repeater 
system for its users.  The letter purports that Smith had previously been 
verbally requested to refrain from using the system, but that he apparently 
ignored both verbal and written requests.  

The FCC says that Smith was warned by the regulatory agency on September 9, 
2003, about alleged interference to the repeater.  KC7LJR has now been told 
that if he does not stay off of that system that the FCC will initiate 
enforcement action against his license.  This says the FCC may include 
revocation, monetary forfeiture or a modification proceeding to restrict 
the frequencies on which he may operate. Fines normally range from $7,500 
to $10,000.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  CB RADIO ORDERED TO PAY $2400 FINE

CB Radio has been ordered to pay a $2400 fine.  This, for failing to 
register an antenna structure in Tennessee.

In this case, the CB Radio in question is not the two-way service.  Rather 
it is a company that owns radio station WBEJ and has an antenna tower 
located in the city of  Elizabethton.

The FCC says that on September 25, 2001, an agent from the Atlanta, 
Georgia, Field Office inspected radio station WBEJ and found that CB had 
not registered WBEJ's 305 foot tower with the Commission. On October 4, 
2001, the Atlanta Office issued a Notice of Violation against CB for 
failure to register the WBEJ tower with the Commission.  

On October 29, 2002, the Atlanta Office inspected radio station WBEJ a 
second time and found that CB still had not registered WBEJ's tower with 
the Commission.  So on January 23, 2003, the Atlanta Office issued a Notice 
of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of three thousand 
dollars  for apparent willful and repeated violation of Section 17.4(a) of 
the Rules.  
In its response to the NAL, filed February 24, 2003, CB Radio admitted its 
tower was not registered until February 14, 2003.  The company claimed it 
had tried to do so for months and years, but its attempts had lead to 
failure and dismissal notices.  Because of this the station claimed its 
violation was not willful as the FCC had claimed.

The Commission countered that CB's "partial effort to register WBEJ's tower 
following the September 25, 2001, inspection does not warrant cancellation 
of the proposed forfeiture, but does warrant a reduction from its original 
$3,000 to $2,400 and that's the amount CB Radio has been ordered to pay.  
(FCC)

**.  

WITH THE FCC:  PASSWORD RESET AND CALL SIGN/FRN ASSOCIATION

The FCC has announced two new online services that were implemented at the 
end of September.  First is the Online FRN Password Reset.  This will 
allows you  to instantly reset their FCC Registration Number password on-
line via the CORES or Commission Registration System.  

The FCC also now has an online Call Sign / FRN Association system.  It  
provides FCC customers with self-service tools within the Universal 
Licensing System to help manage the relationship of call signs, antenna 
registration numbers and FRN's.  This latter tool is of more importance to 
commercial license holders than it is to radio hobbiests.  

More about both new services are also on-line.  You will find it at 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-05-2822A1.doc  (CGC) 

**

RESCUE RADIO:  LONG BEACH COUNCIL APPROVES PURCHASE OF TELEPHONE EAS

Long Beach, California, will soon join the growing number of cities 
installing computerized telephone emergency alerting systems.  The type 
that are capable of quickly notifying thousands of residents in the event 
of citywide or localized emergencies. 

The CGC Communicator reports that the $85,000 Reverse 9-1-1 system is being 
funded by a federal grant. The city's Technology Services Director expects 
installation and implementation to be completed by January of 2006.  (CGC)

**

SAFETY WATCH:  VANDALISM AT CALIFORNOIA'S WEST PLEASANTS PEAK

A radio site has been the victum of vandalism.  Sometime between late 
Friday October 18th and Monday morning the 28th, a vandal  cut the chain off 
of a radio site on California's Pleanants Peak.  Not only did they then 
steal the lock and chain but also removed a plug from the sites 1,000 
gallon propane tank.  This allowed more than 700 gallons of fuel to escape.  
Anyone with information that could lead to the apprehension of those 
responsible should e-mail freddaniel at ieee.org  (CGC)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  RCA ROUNDTABE AND EXHIBITION ON NOVEMBER 9TH

The Radio Club of America' annual banquet will be held Friday, November 18th 
with festivities beginning at 4 p.m. with the Roundtable and Exhibition.  
The evening is then followed by a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. with dinner 
following at 7 p.m.  
Once again the venue is the New York Athletic Club main hall in midtown 
Manhattan.  More information is on-line at www.radioclubofamerica.org  
(RCA)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  QCWA IN SEMINOLE FLORIDA

And the annual picnic held by the Pelican Gator Chapter of the QCWAwill be 
held Wednesday, November 9th/  The venue is Lake Seminole State Park in 
Seminole, Florida.  Planners say that a luncheon will be provided and 
tickets for it can be purchaed at the picnic itself.  More information is 
available by e-mail to K4AVH at aol.com  (QCWA)

**

ARNEWSLINET SUPPORT FUND REPORT WITH N6TCQ

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

--

In the month of July by way of PayPal we heard from Josh Malone, KG4NGV; 
Christopher Kent, KG2NP; Stan Mecum, K7TNA of Hillsboro, OR; Chris Hudgins, 
N5IUF on behalf of the Texas Repeater System, Dallas; David Foreman in 
Tucson; Brian Horst, owner of the K5IN repeater, Puget Sound; Allen Brier, 
N5XZ; Ray Liles, KD6JSN of Crestline, CA; Jerry Ryan, K8VQL in 
Indiannapolis; The Argonne ARC of New Lenox, IL; C. Mark Burlingame, 
KB9TVD; Tom Hobbs of Mission Viejo, CA; Fred Vobbe and the W8HDU repeater 
serving Lima and Allen Counties, OH; Scott Press, N6SAP on behalf of the 
147.435 Los Angeles repeater; Rich Sullivan, KC4LXM in Laurens, SC; Fred 
Everhart, N2RBV of Willsboro, NY; Carl Roszczybiuk, WB9AVW on behalf of the 
Wednesday night Midwest 10 meter 28.360 net and Jeffrey Davis of Muncie, IN

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.  (Newsline Support Fund)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  NEW NCDXA OFFICIERS FOR 2006

Some names in the news at the National Capitol DX Association.  This with 
word that Dick Mayott, W2YE, has been elected as the groups 2006 president. 
Srtving along with him are Terry Hines, N2ZH, as the clubs Vice President, 
George Vincent, K3GV as Secretary and Brian Bayus, N1KC, holding down the 
Treasurers chair.  The four were elected at the clubs October meeting.  
More about the group ids on-line at www.qsl.net/ncdxa   (NCDXA)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  REHR SUCCEEDS FRITTS AS NAB PREXY

David Rehr has been elected as the new president of the National 
Association of Broadcasters. Rehr is currently president and chief lobbyist 
for the National Beer Wholesaler's Association, a position he has been in 
since 2000.  He succeeds Eddie Fritts, who held the NAB job since 1982.  
(NAB)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  RADIOTELESCOPE BRINGS NEW THEORY ON ORIGIN OF STARS

Radio astronomers say the mysterious, massive black hole in the center of 
the Milky Way helped give birth to new stars  This challenges earlier 
theories that black holes are solely destructive forces. 

The finding comes from scientists making cellestual observations using 
NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory.  These researchers found that disks of 
gas near the black hole actually helped spawn a new generation of stars. 

Black holes are believed to be the invisible remains of collapsed stars 
with gravitational pull so powerful not even light can escape the vortex. 
Their new observations will be published in a future issue of the Monthly 
Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.  More on the Chandra X-ray 
radiotelescope is on-line at http://chandra.harvard.edu  (NASA)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  NEW YL ECHOLINK SERVER COMING ON LINE

Attention Y-L's and XYL's.  Something new is coming soon to an Echolink 
port near you.  It's a new Conference Server called UK Women on the Air or 
U-K-W-O-T-A for short.   Its sponsors describe it as a dedicated Conference 
for female hams from the UK and worldwide. More details are available by e-
mail to g6hzi at hotmail.co.uk   (G6HZI)

**

WORLDBEAT - BRAZIL:  1200 PIRATES OFF THE AIR 

And talk about enforcement action on a grand scale.  Popular Communications 
reports that Brazil's telecommunications regulatory agency has shut down 
some 1200 pirate radio broadcasters so far this year, and there are still 
two months to go.  Regulator Anatel estimates that there are still 4500 or 
more unlicensed stations operating in that nation.  In 2004 Anatel closed 
down a record 1,807 pirates all across Brazil. (Pop Comm)

**

SPECIAL EVENTS:  HAM RADIO AND THE LIONS CLUB

Lions Clubs International, the world's largest volunteer service 
organization, is launching a series of events aimed at building links with 
amateur radio enthusiasts.  One of the initiatives is a special event 
station to be operated by Great Britain's Bedworth Lions Club from January 
1st to the 28th of 2006. The station will operate on 2 meter FM and 80 to10 
meter SSB with the callsign GB4BLC.

Also in January Lions Clubs International will be running the popular Lions 
on the Air contest. For more details about both events, visit the Bedworth 
Lions website at www.lions105m.org/uk/bedworth

Like radio amateurs, members of Lions Clubs International also get involved 
in relief efforts following major disasters. More than 73,000 so-called 
Lions were involved in the aftermath of the Asian tsunami.  (RSGB)

**

DX

In D-X, OPDX reports that RD3AF, will be active as EA8EW from the Canary 
Islands during the CQ WW DX CW Contest.  The dates for this one are 
November 26th and 27th and RD3AF will operate as a Single-Op All-Band High-
Power entry. QSL via the Bureau.  (OPDX)

And the Korea DX Club will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Korea 
Amateur Radio League by going on a DXpedition to the Temotu Province in the
Solomon Islands.  Listen for them between November 5th and the 11th.  Six 
operators will have two stations active on all bands from 160 through 6 
meters on CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK31.  The callsign H-40-H-L will be used for 
their
activity on Nendo Island in the Temotu Province. They will use H44HL on 
Solomon Island before and after their operation on the Temotu Province.  
QSL via their QSL Manager HL1XP, either direct or via the bureau.  (OPDX)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE ICOM RADIO NEWS - VOLUME 3

Just in time for the holiday season Icom America has announced the on-line 
availability of Volume Three of the Icom Radio News.  

Icom Radio News is an ongoing video series produced for Icom by film-maker 
John Webb, W7WNH, assisted this year at the Dayton Hamvention by Molly 
Schreiber, KE7DEP.  The shows are hosted by the teenage duo of Trevor 
Conroy, W7TDC and Sara Sager, K3OOO.  Volume 3 talks about the reasons hams 
enjoy the hobby.  While we can't show you the pictures, here's a little bit 
of the audio that goes with what you will see:

--

Dxer audio bite here

--

Also included is an exclusive interview with 2005 Dayton Special Award 
winner D. Barati Prasad, VU2RBI.  
--

Prasad audio bite here

**

There are four parts to Icom Radio News Volume 3.  You can watch each one 
individually or as a complete 15 minute package.  You will need Microsoft 
Media Player installed on your computer and a high speed connection is 
recommended.  If you have both, then take your web browser to 
www.icomamerica.com/amateur/video.  Then simply click on Icom Radio News 
Volume 3 and enjoy another trip through the hobby with Trevor, Sara and the 
Icom Video News team.  

Again that U-R-L is www.icomamerica.com/amateur/video.  The folks at Icom 
hope you will enjoy.  (W7WNH)

**

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. 