[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1475 - November 18, 2005
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ham-news at mailman.qth.net
Sat Nov 19 10:51:36 EST 2005
Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1475 - November 18, 2005
--
Let me start out by wishing each of you a very Happy Thanksgiving. As you
know, this holiday marks the beginning of a very festive season around the
world, culminating in the arrival of the new year.
Here in yjr United States, this is the beginning of a time of hope and
fulfillment. The hope for a bright future and the fullfillment of ones
dreams.
Its also a time of giving. A time to share the joy and spirit of the
season. And with this in mind I ask that you please remember Amateur Radio
Newsline as you prepare your gift list.
52 weeks a year Amateur Radio Newsline is here to bring you the news and
information that you need to be a modern, 21st century radio amateur. We
never take a holiday nor a week off. Our motto now is the same as it has
been for more than a quarter of a century. "The news never stops and
neither do we."
But to keep these weekly news bulletins coming your way costs money. About
$1000 a month give or take a hundred dollars or so. And this is where you
come in.
You and only you keep these bulletins coming your way through your ongoing
donations to the amateur Radio Newsline Support Fund. And with amateur
Radio Newsline being a Federal 501 C 3 and state of California not-for-
profit corporation, what you give is fully tax deductible.
Making a contribution is only a mouse click away if you have Pay Pal. Just
go to www.arnewsline.org and click on the button at the top of the page
marked "Make Donation." Or you can send in a donation to the Amateur Radio
Newsline Support Fund, Post Office Box 660937, Arcadia California, 91066.
Whichever way you choose, the all volunteer crew at the Amateur Radio
Newsline will be eternally grateful.
Once again that's the Amateur Radio Newsline Support Fund, Post Office Box
660937, Arcadia California, 91066. Or by Pay Pal at www.arnewsline.org
Again, a Happy Thanksgiving from our home to yours.
For the Support Fund, I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.
--
Than you andy. Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1475 with a
release date of Friday, November 18, 2005 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a QST. The BPL war of words heats up down-under and a new
threat to ham radio from Ultra Wideband technology in Europe. All this and
more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1475 coming your way right
now.
**
THE BPL FIGHT: INTERFERENCE - THE BATTLE DOWN UNDER CONTINUES
The stakes have been raised a bit in the Broadband Over Powerline battle
down-under. This, as Australia's electronics magazine Silicon Chip
describes B-P-L as a flawed technology flying in the face of that nations
Electromagnetic Compatibility regulations. With more on this latest
development in the B-P-L war, here's Jim Linton VK3PC:
--
The cover story "BPL is coming here ." by staff technical writer, Ross
Tester said BPL has been a pipe-dream for years. However, the wires to
carry the broadband signals are stretched in the air and make "magnificent
antennas radiating interference" right across the spectrum.
The article said, "Whether by fiendishly clever design or simply dumb good
luck (we'll leave you to make up your mind which) BPL has avoided heavy-
use areas of the spectrum where there could be huge public outcry."
Silicon Chip's Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Leo Simpson in an editorial
said, "Just imagine every street in every major city and town in Australia
blanketed with BPL signals ranging from just above the AM broadcast band
to just below the FM band.
"This will play merry hell with all radio (and TV) services in that range.
In fact, it would mean the end of any useful radio services in that range."
It is incredible that the trials have even started. It makes a huge
mockery of all of the EMC compliance regulations that all electronic
equipment must now meet.
Why have EMC compliance when the power authorities will be able to blast
interference out to everyone. It just beggars the imagination.
The Editor-in-Chief concluded: "BPL in its present form is a very bad idea.
It might at first appeal to the non-technical populace but when the true
ramifications take hold, there will be hell to pay."
I'm Jim Linton VK3PC, reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline..
--
It will be some time until the results of the Australian B-P-L testing is
known. (VK3PC, WIA News)
**
THE BPL FIGHT: SAN DIEGO BPL TESTING CONTINUES
Still on the Broadband Over Powerline front, the San Diego Gas and Electric
Company has been conducting tests of a BPL equipment vendor's system in an
industrial area of that California city. These are real world tests that
involved the actual purchase of hardware from the vendor, and subsequent
operation by the power utility.
According to the Southwestern Division ARRL Newsletter, San Diego Gas and
Electric has worked with the League in these tests. The locations, exact
frequencies used, and signal levels are not being released at this time but
technical details of any potential interference from Amateur Radio's
perspective has been communicated to the power company.
The tests are the first of trials of several different vendor's BPL
systems. The ARRL team says that so far it has found the radiated energy
to be comparable to that experienced from other systems using the same or
similar technology that presently exist in other parts of the country.
It should be emphasized that San Diego Gas and Electric has not selected
this particular system for deployment and will be testing several others.
The newsletter says that San Diego Gas and Electric appears to have a
desire to have a system that performs robustly, is not vulnerable to
interference from licensed users of the radio spectrum, and does not cause
harmful interference to those spectrum users. (SW Division Communicator)
**
RADIO LAW: NEW THREAT TO THE MICROWAVE HAM BANDS
As if BPL were not enough, a new threat to ham radio has emerged across the
Atlantic. This after the European Radiocommunications Office announces
plans to hold a public consultation into ultra wide band an technology that
potentially poses a threat to the amateur radio microwave bands.
Ultra wide band is a wireless version of the popular USB technology used to
connect devices such as keyboards and mice to personal computers. U-K
communications regulator Ofcom is keen for ultra wide band to use the 3.1-
10GHz spectrum, but this could interfere with the microwave bands used by
radio enthusiasts.
Amateur groups such as AMSAT-UK, the UK Microwave Group and the British
Amateur Television Club are fighting Ofcom's proposals. The European
Radiocommunications Office meanwhile is proposing to protect the 5 to 6
Gigahertz band and use interference mitigation techniques below 5
Gigahertz.
So far no such threat exists here in the United States. More on this
European proposal is at the rather complex U-R-L found at
www.ero.dk/0823C9B5-CA5A-4AF4-B1D0-ED9F0D34C5A4 (GB2RS)
**
RESCUE RADIO: FCC ORDERS EXPANSION OF EAS TO DIGITAL BROADCASTING
Here in the United States, the FCC is expanding its Emergency Alert System
rules. This, to cover digital-everything in the broadcast world, including
satellite radio and TV.
With the exception of Direct Broadcast Satellite service, all affected
entities must comply with the new requirements by December 31, 2006. DBS
services like Direct TV and Dish Network were given until May 31, 2007 to
fall on line.
The Commission is also seeking comments on how it can best help develop a
next-generation alert and warning system. One that the Commission says
should take full advantage of digital media's potential. (FCC, CGC)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HOMELAND SECURITY CHIEF SAYS TO BE "READY"
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff says that families who
stockpile supplies and develop response plans in case of emergencies are in
a way performing a civic duty. This says Chertoff would allow relief
supplies to be distributed needed supplies to the poor, elderly and others
who can't help themselves.
According to news reports, Chertoff said that the last several months of
hurricanes prove that people who can make preparations on their own should
do that. His comments were made in relation to the agency's Ready
Campaign, which now includes a newspaper and radio campaign. More is on-
line at www.ready.gov (Homeland Securety)
**
THE RADIO SCENE: DIELECTRIC PLANT DAMAGED BY INDIANA TORNADO
A company that builds towers was one of the victims of the recent tornado
that hit two mid-Western states a week and a half ago. According to Radio
World On-Line, no one was hurt at the Indiana manufacturing plant owned by
Dielectric Communications plant that normally employs 70 people.
Photos from the area show several collapsed or damaged structures, fallen
walls and ceilings. Other shots are of wind-swept debris including a
tipped-over truck and an automobile apparently thrown onto a pile of tower
sections.
The tornado is apparently the same one that caused numerous deaths in
southern Indiana and parts of Kentucky. (CGC, RW On-Line)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HAMS HELP AS MORE TORNADOES HIT KY AND IN
Amateur Radio volunteers are responding to yet another series of weather
emergencies. This, as another series of tornadoes hits several South- East
and Mid-Western states on November 14th and 15th..
According to a news release from the ARRL's Allen Pitts, W1AGP, Kentucky
had 4 confirmed touchdowns in Marshall and Hopkins Counties and the towns
of Earlington, Madisonville, Benton and Sharps. In Hopkins County alone
there were 26 injuries with more expected as Search and Rescue teams scour
the region to find survivors. Twenty two more people injured and one
confirmed death were reported in Marshal County.
A tornado was tracked from Dawson Springs KY through the city of Owensboro
into SE Indiana. Reports say that Amateur Radio was the only reliable
communications for several hours at critical times during the events due to
power outages and storm related damage to the areas phone systems.
ARRL District Emergency Coordinator, Nick Nailey, KG4URI, reported that
Amateur Radio Emergency Service and RACES teams were deployed throughout
Hopkins County and operated under a state of emergency. He estimates that
at the height of the event 20 to 30 Amateur Radio stations were involved in
providing critical emergency communications throughout the area.
In addition to being called on to provide immediate ground observations to
the National Weather Service, hams also had the Kentucky state Emergency
Operations Center on the air to get information in and out of the affected
areas. WX4NWS, located at the Louisville National Weather Service, was
active contacting the counties in southern Indiana and Kentucky as they
tried to keep up with the rapidly developing storms. The hams report that
at times, new tornado warnings came faster than people could reset their
severe weather alert receivers. (ARRL)
**
RESTRUCTURING: ARRL: FILES BANDWIDTH PROPOSAL
This also just in. The ARRL has filed its long anticipated regulation by
bandwidth proposal with the FCC. What the ARRL wants to do is to do away
with the current regulation by subbands and replace those rules with a new
set that would let any mode operate anywhere as long as it does not exceed
the maximum bandwidth for a given band. More is on-line at www.arrrl.org.
Reaction from the ham community, next week. (ARRL)
**
ENFORCEMENT: GMRS PROBLEMS FACE THREE HAMS
Three radio amateurs are facing enforcement action from the FCC over the
operation of their GMRS repeaters. The agency's Daryl Duckworth, NN0W,
explains:
--
Audio report only. Hear it in the downloadable MP3 report at
www.arnewsline.org
--
The three were given the usual time to respond to the FCC regarding the
accusations. (FCC, RAIN)
**
ENFORCEMENT: RACING PIRATES DOWN-UNDER
2 meters in Australia was the target of an unlicensed commercial operation
about two weeks ago, but V-K hams don't think it was an organized attempt
on the band. Instead, they think it was just a race crew trying to pinch a
few pennies. WIA newsman Glenn Dunstan VK4DU is here with the rest of the
story:
--
In Sydney it appears that 2 meters was used as an illegal communications
link between a Grand Prix racing car and pit crew. Sydney amateurs
reported monitoring car-pit communications on 147.7 MHz, emanating from the
Eastern Creek racing circuit. No callsigns were used, and it was reported
that the pit crew and driver had British accents.
The Eastern Creek circuit hosted the inaugural Australian round of the A1
Grand Prix. One can only surmise that the team in question was using 2
meter transceivers because of cost considerations. In other words, they
were doing it on the cheap..
Of course, this is not the first time that our 2 meter band has been used
by commercial pirates from overseas. 144 MHz was used extensively by hang
glider pilots competing in an Australian competition a few years ago.
--
VK4DU says that it might be a good idea for hams anywhere to take their 2
meter hand held the next time they attend a motor race or other sporting
event. You may be surprised what you find. (WIA News)
**
RADIO LAW: HOUSE TO LOOK INTO NEW DIGITAL COPYRIGHT LAWS
Members of the House Intellectual Property Subcommittee plan a hearing on
three draft bills regarding digital content protection in the very near
future. One of the drafts being circulated is specific to HD Radio, and
would give the FCC authority to adopt rules to control unauthorized copying
and redistribution of digital audio content. It also relates the language
to the FCC's final IBOC authorization.
The recording industry is concerned about new devices being developed for
satellite radio and HD Radio, that would give the consumer the ability to
find songs, store them and play them back potentially avoiding a purchase.
Opponents, such as the Workshop for Public Knowledge, say the copyright
protection measures go too far.
The other proposals being considered give the FCC the authority to approve
broadcast flag rules to prevent digital television broadcasts from being
uploaded on the Internet. It would also prevent companies from making,
importing or selling devices that convert a copy-protected digital
television program into analog. The House Intellectual Property
Subcommittee is a subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee. (Publised
reports)
**
WITH THE ARRL: NEW PUBLIC SERVICE PAGE ON LEAGUE WEBSITE
A new "Public Service Stories" page now is open on the ARRL website. The
League calls it a place where ham radio volunteers can tell the world about
their public service contributions during recent events.
According to the ARRL Letter, both text and photos can be entered and will
appear on the Public Service Stories page for all to see. The Letter also
says that the ARRL currently is soliciting stories from those providing
service in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.
The page is not limited to ARRL members but there is one caveat.
Submissions from ARRL members who are logged onto the League's Web site
will be published immediately. Others' submissions will be reviewed before
appearing at the site. Its all on-line at
www.arrl.org/fandeas/field/publicservicestories (ARRL)
**
ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS: BAD IMAGE CHIP MEANS FREE REPAIR
If you are having a problem with an early vintage digital camera, listen
up. Help may be on the way. Several consumer electronics companies are
offering free repairs for more than 80 older models for defects that lead
to either distorted or blank images on the viewfinder or display.
According to published news reports, the cause of the problem has been
traced to a defective chip was made by Sony Corporation between 2002 and
2004. Camera models affected are from Canon, Fuji, Konica. Nikon, Olympus,
Ricoh, and Sony.
The companies say the repair offer is only valid if the problem For free,
but only if it is conclusively linked to the imaging chip. Go to the
various camera manufacturers websites for more. (PZ-Photo)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY
Mark Thompson, WB9QZB reminds us that the 7th annual SKYWARN Recognition
Day special event will take place December 3rd. SKYWARN Recognition Day is
an event co-sponsored by the National Weather Service and the ARRL and is
the NWS's way of saying thank you to Amateur Radio operators for their
commitment to helping keep their communities safe.
During the 24-hour special event, amateur radio operators visit their local
NWS office and work as a team to contact other hams across the world. To
learn more, check out the web site at hamradio.noaa.gov (WB9QZB)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: CHRISTMAS CITIES EVENT
Turning to the ham radio social scene, Christmas City Amateur Radio Club
will hold its annual Christmas Greetings Social Event from thecities of
Nazareth and Bethlehem Pennsylvania. Operation will be from 1400 UTC on
the 10th of December to 0200 UTC on the 11th. QSL with a large self
addressed stamped envelope to WX3MAS, Greystone Building, Gracedale
Complex, Nazareth, Pennsylvania. The zipcode is 18064. (Worldradio)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: ATV AND EATS IN ARIZONA
And the Arizona Amateurs on Television will be hosting their annual "Pig
Feast" gathering on Sunday December 11, 2005. The venue is in Glendale,
Arizona starting at 1:00 p.m. local time. BBQ ham, chicken, and ribs will
be served. Also on the menu will be live A-T-V demonstrations. For more
information on this event please contact Ron Phillips, AE6QU, by e-mail to
sunsettelcom at juno.com (E-mail)
**
RADIO PUBLICATIONS: SHARING THE PUBLICATION LOAD IN AZ
Five Arizona radio clubs have joined together to produce a joint monthly
bulletin. The Arizona Amateur Radio Club, Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club,
Tucson Repeater Association, Thunderbird Amateur Radio Club, and the Center
for Amateur Radio Learning each contribute small parts of the bulletin that
are directed at their specific memberships. The
information is compiled and news of interest to all is added by a single
editor. This idea may appeal to other groups of clubs seeking to reduce the
bulletin editor workload. (SW Division Communicator)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEXT WINDOWS TO SUPPORT RSS
The next version of Microsoft's Windows operating system will have built-in
support for Internet data feeds including RSS. RSS, which is an
abreviation for Really Simple Syndication is a way to deliver news and
information to a subscribers desktop or laptop screen.
RSS hasn't broken into widespread use. At least not yet. Even so, the
world's largest software maker believes it to be an increasingly popular
way to get news and other information channeled from its source directly to
those who want or need to know, right now. (Future Technology Report)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: GRANT MADE TO STUDY NANO-TECHNOLOGY
Making things smaller has become a big science unto itself. Now word that
the National Science Foundation is taking the point position in funding
nano technology. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF has more:
--
Three researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles and one
from Cal State Northridge will share a $1.3 million grant to study ways to
improve the nano-scale technology used in cell phones and other
electronics.
The team of researchers is hoping to identify the factors behind atom
displacement that occurs in copper wires, leaving voids between wires and
causing electrical flow to become displaced when the wires are too thin.
The team would also like to discover how to prevent the displacement
phenomenon.
The money from the National Science Foundation is intended to support
interdisciplinary research into the microscopic technology, which is also
used in portable music players, laptop computers, video games as well as
numerous wired and wireless communications devices.
--
Other grants to further nano research are expected in the future. (Press
release)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SSETI EXPRESS NOW XO-53
Even with all of its problems, the S SETI Express ham-sat has been
designated Oscar 53 and given the acronym XO-53 by AMSAT-North America.
Along with the designation came the hopes of AMSAT that the seemingly dead
satellite might return to life.
S SETI Express was launched back on October 27th. It appeared to be
operating flawlessly for the first five and a half orbits. Then, without
warning it went silent. Analyses of the last telemetry received indicated
that S SETI Express suffered a power failure that cannot be fixed from the
ground.
But computer modeling indicates the component that is suspected to have
caused the problem could eventually fail further. If it does, it could
permit the on-board batteries to charge and give the XO-53 back its radio
voice to mother Earth. (AMSAT)
**
WORLDBEAT- AUSTRALIA: 2 LETTER SUFFIXES ON HOLD
Australian telecommunications regulator ACMA has frozen the issue of new 2
letter amateur call signs. At least for the time being.
Under Australia's new amateur licensing arrangements, callsign groups
allocated to the Advanced license include all groups previously allocated
to the Unrestricted, Intermediate and Limited licenses. That is, a person
with a Z call may now apply for a callsign previously only available to a
full call.
But there is one caveat. Call signs with 2 letter suffixes are in very
short supply in some States, particularly VK2, 3 and 4. Because of the
anticipated high demand for 2 letter call signs, they will not be issued
again until an equitable arrangement for their allocation can be put in
place.
As we go to air, word is that the ACMA is developing new standards for the
issue of 2 letter call signs. These arrangements will be announced
shortly. (WIA)
**
DX
In D-X, IV3IYH, is in the Philippines until 24th November and will try to
operate portable DU from a few of the Islands On The Air groups. He
expects to be active mostly on the high bands using CW with some SSB and
possibly RTTY. QSL via IK2ILH.
And OM2TW, OM3PC, OM5AW and OM5RW portable 3 B 8 will be active from
Mauritius through November 28th. Listen for them using CW, SSB, RTTY, PSK
and SSTV with two separate stations on 160 through 10 meters. QSL via
their home callsigns. More information and their on-line logs will be
available at www.vhf.sk/3b8
(Above from various DX sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEMS: GUNS, BULLETS AND HAM RADIO - A LOVE STORY
And finally this week, the story of how two men with an interest in guns
affected the early days of Amateur Radio. One was an Aussie. The other
lived in New England. The WIA News Graham Kemp, VK4BB, is here with their
story:
--
>From the first Ham to Warship communications in Port Phillip Bay through
the experiments of Major George Augustus Taylor, the founding Chairman of
what was to become the Wireless Institute of Australia, and who not only
conducted VK's first Military Wireless Communication in 1911 but became the
first to "fire a gun" by wireless, in 1913.
It was reading G.A.Taylors "gun firing" feat that "triggered".. my memory
of a recent Discovery Channel Program on one Hiram Maxim.
Now Hiram "Percy" Maxim as we know founded the ARRL. But he also
"experimented" with guns. In fact he invented what we now know as "the
silencer", the "Maxim silencer" gun attachment.
You see HPM was the Son of a famous - or is that infamous - inventor, Hiram
Maxim credited with inventing the machine gun. There had been the manually
cranked gatling gun but Hiram's was the first self-acting machine gun.
Adopted by the British Army in 1889 it was also purchased by several other
European countries, setting off an arms and technology race.
A larger caliber version of the Maxim was built by firing a one pound
shell. This was known in the Boer War as the Pom-Pom from the sound and was
used on both sides.
So it was little wonder that by 1890 the inventors Son , Hiram Percy was to
become superintendent of the American Projectile Company.
Hiram Percy was also an inventor of note, designing an electric automobile
the Columbia, which was manufactured for several years.
His efforts to improve the gasoline-powered automobile led to research on
the exhaust muffler, which in turn brought the discovery of the principle
that made possible the famous "silencer." This invention brought him fame,
and even notoriety, as editors, writers, and the general public mistakenly
assumed that this first device could be attached to the pistols of
criminals where in actuality, it was usable only on a sealed-breech rifle.
It was in his later years Maxim became a champion of the rights of amateur
radio operators and was instrumental in opening short-wave and ultra-
shortwave radio to them and the ARRL was born.
So from the inventiveness and experimentation of an Aussie and an
American, both involved in some way with weaponry and radio, our countries
Ham Radio Societies were formed.
Hiram Percy Maxim the ARRL and George A. Taylor the WIA.
Im' Graham Kemp, VK4BB, for the Amateur Radio Newsline.
--
Thanks to George Augustus Tyalor in Australia and Hiram Percy Maxim here in
the USA, two great nations today have vital organizations protecting the
rights of their respective ham radio communities. (VK4BB)
**
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 Jim Davis,
W2JKD,saying Happy Thanksgiving, 73 and we thank you for listening."
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
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