[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1480 - December 23, 2005
ham-news at mailman.qth.net
ham-news at mailman.qth.net
Mon Dec 26 08:57:38 EST 2005
Amateur Radio Newsline 1480 - December 23, 2005
The following is a Q-S-T. 500 Kilohertz proposed as an international
memorial frequency, Canadian hams to loose part 220 to 222 MHz, new band
plans in the U-K and Australia and a massive B-P-L rollout announced for
Dallas, Texas in the U-S-A. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline
report number 1480 coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
RADIO NEEDS: 500 KHZ PROPOSED AS INTERNATIONAL MEMORIAL FREQUENCY
The Maritime Radio Historical Society is seeking to have the 500 kHz band
designated as an international memorial frequency. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:
--
The idea is that museums and historical initiatives would be issued with
coast station licenses to operate on the band. It comes as the result of
some experimentation showing that 500 Kilohertz would be ideal.
The Maritime Radio Historical Society has recently been carrying out
experimental transmissions to test the viability of the proposal. The
transmissions were made between the historic Morse code radio station KPH
based at Point Reyes in California and KLB Marine radio in Seattle,
Washington.
The test started with KPH transmitting a series of test messages. Not long
after, the operators at KPH heard KLB calling.
According to Richard Dillman, W6AWO, of the Maritime Radio Historical
Society, the KLB signal was weak but it was a thrill to hear it. What made
this contact so important was that KLB was using A2 modulated CW. This mode
had until that moment not been heard on 500kHz for decades. During the
following hour, both stations sent test messages.
The KPH test message asked listeners to phone in with signal reports. Nine
people responded. According to Dillman, the test proved a great success.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
--
No word as to if and when the The Maritime Radio Historical Society might
submit a formal request to create this allocation. (GB2RS)
**
REALLOCATIONS: CANADIAN HAMS TO LOOSE 220 - 222 MHZ
The Canadian Amateur Service will lose access to 220 to 222 MHz on January
25th of 2006. This, over the objections of that nations national ham radio
society and numerous Canadian radio amateurs.
According to Canadian Gazette Notice DGTP-004-05, the Department of
Industry received strong support for this change following extensive
industry debate. United States hams lost use of the 220 to 222 MHz portion
of the 1 point 3 meter band almost two decades ago. (RAC)
**
RESTRUCTURING: UK GETS NEW BANDPLANS IN 2006
Hams in Great Britain will ring in 2006 with some new bandplans that will
place strict regulation on the introduction of fully automatic digital
communications techniques. The new plans may also hamper growth of current
automated robot digital operations by defining where on any given band they
can and cannot be.
While it hardly ever uses the word digital, it does refer to such things as
automatically controlled data stations in defining available spectrum. For
example, on 40 meters automatic stations are confined from 7.040 to 7.043
MHz for a total of 3 Kilohertz of operating space. On 20 meters automated
data stations are given from 14.089 to 14.099 and 14.101 to 14.112 MHz
depending on the signals actual spectrum used by the signal. In all,
automated operation is very carefully defined by specific spectrum and
signal bandwidth for each high frequency band where it will be permitted.
On the VHF bands there were very few changes except for enlarging the
meteor scatter section of 2 meters and recognizing the use by other
European nations of 12.5 KHz repeater spacing in the 70 centimeter band.
Also, 70.150 Mhz has been officially adopted as meteor scatter falling
frequency on the Europe only 4 meter band.
Unlike the United States which is looking at regulating Amateur Radio
operations by overall bandwidth it appears that for now the U-K and most of
Europe is content to stay with defined band segment to separate various
modes. That said, in the introduction the plan notes that on 10 meters and
below, the maximum allowable bandwidth for any signal is 2.7 Kilohertz
excluding full carrier A-M which has special dispensation for its wider
audio.
The new U-K plan is based on one defined by Region 1 of the International
Amateur Radio Union. The entire bandplan is available on-line in P-D-F
format at the http://www.rsgb-
spectrumforum.org.uk/Papers/IARUR1_bandplan_radcom_jan06.pdf (Southgate AR
News, RSGB)
**
RESTRUCTURING: WIA PROPOSES NEW 40M BROADCAST SEGMENT
Meanwhile down-under, the Wireless Institute of Australia's Glen Dunstan,
VK4DU, is in the process of completing a new 40 meter bandplan. One that
aims is to encourage operation above 7 point 100 Mhz.
The WIA says that it knows there is broadcast Q-R-M to contend with, but
it also believes it to be essential for V-K hams to start to spread out
operation into the segment above 7100. This is because of international
pressure on the H-F spectrum from other services who want more of it.
To this end, the WIA says that it wants to create an operational broadcast
segment from 7.130 to 7.150 Mhz. The reason for going so high up in the
band is because to avoid QRM from a Papua New Gunia broadcaster on 7.120
Mhz. The new upper limit has also been set to cater for the existing A-M
service from VK2WI on 7.146.
The WIA says its now looking for member input on this revised 40 meter
bandplan proposal. (WIA News)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ZS GETS A CHANCE TO CONTACT THE ISS
Amateur Radio operator and Astronaut Bill Mc Arthur, KC5ACR, has been
enjoying his free time on the International Space Station by talking with
hams on the ground. On Sunday, the 18th he was over South Africa where he
got the chance to chat with ZS6TW who recorded some of what was said from
space. One of the things they chatted about was the medical gear on board
the ISS:
--
KC5ACR: "Of coarse Keith, since we are so isolated up here we have a fair
amount of medical equipment and including a defibrillator. Unfortunately,
if we just leave the batteries installed as would normally be the case they
will overcharge and overheat. So, once a month we have to pull it out and
make sure that the batteries have a good charge so that its ready to use."
--
Mc Arthur also noted that he had been taken to task by an Internet blogger
over something much in keeping with the spirit of the holiday season:
--
KC5ACR: "We really enjoy doing this although one website was very
disturbed that we took so much time out of the day to prepare a Christmas
message,"
--
KC5ACR also promised the hams of South Africa that he will be back to talk
with more of them in the future:
--
KC5ACR: "Well, thank you very much for your patience. I will try to come
on a little more regularly as we pass this part of the world."
--
The recording of the QSO was supplied by ZS6TW and posted to the wold by
PD0RKC at his website in The Netherlands. You can hear more along with
excerpts from other ham radio in space operations by taking your web
browser to the http://pd0rkc.ontwikkel.nl (PD0RKC)
**
THE BPL WAR: MASSIVE INSTALLATION ANNOUNCED FOR DALLAS-FT WORTH TEXAS IN
2006
Broadband Over Powerline Internet access will be coming to the Dallas - Ft.
Worth Metroplex area of Texas in 2006. This as a subsidiary of energy
provider T-X-U Corporation announces a 10-year, $150 million deal today to
build a smart power grid that will make high speed service using power
distribution lines available to millions of its customers.
Construction on the smart grid system will begin early next year along
TXU's 14,000 miles of transmission and 100,000 miles of distribution lines.
Residential Internet service is expected to start up in the second half of
2006.
While Internet access will be a major part of the business scheme, TXU
Energy Delivery spokesman Chris Schein says that BPL is actually secondary
to the overall smart grid capabilities. He says that once completed, the
grid will let company check meter consumption remotely and pinpoint
problems before they become major blackouts.
Proponents of the plan say BPL could be especially significant for rural
areas, where traditional broadband access has lagged. Opponents fear that
it will cause massive interference to all radio communications on the nigh
frequency bands because the powerlines will act as gigantic radio antennas
to transmit the BPL signal as unwanted noise and interference to nearby
radio receivers. The only bright spot for ham radio was the decission by
TXU to drop Amperion based BPL and going with Current's gear and
technology. Current's BPL deployment in Cincinnati has so far caused very
few problems for the radio amateurs in that community. (Houston
Chronicle, WA5KRP, K1ZZ)
**
ENFORCEMENT: YOU CANNOT BROADCAST ON 40 METERS
The FCC is accusing a Florida ham of broadcasting in the ham bands. In a
letter dated November 22nd to Miguel A. Espinosa, KD2CL, of Miami, the
agency says that it has come to its attention that on numerous dates in
October 2005, between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., that Espinosa allegedly engaged
in broadcasting on the 40 Meter Amateur band and on numerous occasions
failed to identify properly.
The letter to Espinosa goes on to note that Section 97.113(b) of the
Commission's rules prohibits, with very limited exceptions, broadcasting
and one-way communications in the Amateur Service. It also warned him that
continued violations of Commission rules will result in enforcement action
against his license.
This is not the first time Espinosa has heard from the FCC. The regulatory
agency says that hr was issued a warning Notice on October 15, 2001
regarding broadcasting and failure to identify. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: NO HUNTING POSTED ON TWO METERS
A purported hunter has been warned to stay off of the 2 meter ham band. In
a November 17th letter to Donald M. Blake of Fife Lake Michigan, the FCC
charged that on February 10, 2005, that Blake were operating unlicensed
radio equipment on the frequency 144.050 MHz. This, while he was hunting
in the area of Wexford county.
FCC records showed that Blake is not a licensed amateur and has no
authority to operate on that frequency. He was warned that operation of
radio transmitting equipment without a license is a violation of Section
301 of the Communications Act and will subject the operator to a fine of up
to $10,000 or time in jail. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: MAN ARRESTED FOR SELLING BOT-LOADED COMPUTERS
There are now a few less automatic computers out there spewing out spam and
other Internet hazards thanks to some good work by government
investigators. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW, has the
details:
--
The F-B-I has arrested a Los Angeles man whom the government accuses of
creating and selling bot loaded computers. These are computers that
included software designed to launch electronic attacks and send out an
uncontrolled number of spam messages.
According to news reports, the seventeen count indictment alleges that the
unidentified suspect wrote and spread malicious computer code in order to
gain control of legions of infected computers. He then sold access to
hackers and spammers. The indictment charges conspiracy, money laundering,
transmission of code to a government computer and accessing a protected
computer to commit fraud. Among systems infected by the programs were P-
C's at a Navy weapons center and some Defense Department computers.
--
The suspect was taken into custody in November. The government says it's
the first prosecution of its kind in the nation. Conviction on all counts
could mean up to a 50 year prison term. (Published news stories)
**
ON THE WEB: MICROSOFT SAYS ITS ENDING IE FOR MAC
Microsoft has advised Mac users of its Internet Explorer to switch to rival
browsers such as Apple's Safari. This, as the software giant announces on
Monday, December 19th that it will end Internet Explorer support for Apple
Macs at the end of the month.
Microsoft said it had initially stopped work on the browser last June. It
says that no further security updates will be provided as of the New Year.
The browser itself will be removed from Microsoft's website and no longer
be available for download.
In addition to Apple's Safari, other up to date Mac compatible browsers
include Firefox from Mozilla and Opera. The only potential problem for Mac
users could be with websites designed to work exclusively with Internet
Explorer, but these are becoming rarer and rarer as Firefox makes
significant inroads in the number of people using it.
The current version of Internet Explorer for Macs is effectively three
years old, making it an outdated browser compared to its Windows
equivalent. (Microsoft release)
**
HELPING HAMS: 2005 ARRL TOY DRIVE A BIG SUCCESS
The 2005 ARRL Toy Drive for the younger victims of hurricanes Katrina and
Rita's along the United States Gulf coast is a major success. This as two
truckloads of toys donated by ham's all across America are shipped from the
Memphis, Tennessee collection point to needy kids in the storm ravaged
areas.
Attending the sendoff were representatives from the ARRL, the Salvation
Army, award winning country singer Patty Loveless, local radio club
members, and the project mascot named Bear. A special event radio station,
W1AW slash 4, was on the air and the trucks were outfitted with APRS gear
so hams could follow their progress en route.
Loveless, who is known on the ham bands as KD4WUJ, served as chairperson
for the Toy Drive. In an interview, Loveleess said that ham radio is all
about giving and sharing caring and helping. She also noted that as
Amateur Radio operators and ARRL members that we continue the true spirit
of that tradition by supporting this wonderful and much needed effort.
The ARRL Toy Drive partnered the League with the Salvation Army whose
distribution network throughout the coastal Gulf region is still intact.
The Salvation Army also has the ability to screen recipients to assure that
the toys are delivered where they are truly needed the most. Toys that
arrived in Memphis after December 19th will be given to St Jude Hospital.
This is many injured children from the Gulf area were taken there following
the hurricanes. (ARRL, W21AGP)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: WA6LIE WEST COAST I-GATE DOWN
Scott Avery, WA6LIE, reports over the VHF Reflector that his West coast I
Gate station is down but he hope to have it back soon. According to Scott,
there was a problem with the power supply that sent high voltage to the
motherboard and basically fried the computer. How long repairs will take
is unknown. (WA6LIE)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: ECHOLINK'S K1RFD TO SPEAK ON MISSINGLYNK WORLD WIDE
REPEATER NETWORK
If you use Echolink, listen up. Theres a big event coming your way nest
year and you will likely hear it on a repeater in your own back yard.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Tuck Miller, NZ6T, has the details:
--
The Missing Lynk world-wide web based intertie system has announced an on-
line interview with Echolink creator Jonathan Taylor, K1RFD. The live
session is slated for January 10th at 7:30 Eastern Standard Time.
The Missing Lynk System is where ham radio and Internet are united as one
using Taylor's Echolink. The system is made up of multiple ham stations
including repeaters that are all inter-connected to make a single global
repeater. It does not matter if you are in Sumatra or downtown Cleveland.
If there is a repeater or bulletin station with a high speed Internet
connection, the Missing Lynk can bring the world of Amateur Radio to your
back yard.
For more information about this revolution in Amateur Radio, how to join
and more about its future plans send an e-mail to admin at missinlynk.us. Or
you can visit the organizations visit the website at www.missinglynk.us.
And, oh yes. The lynk in missinglynk is spelled l-y-n-k.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Tuck Miller, NZ6T, in San Diego.
--
Again, that's January 10th at 7:30 Eastern Standard Time for Jonathan
Taylor, K1RFD, on the Missing Lynk world-wide intertied network talking
about Echolink on a repeater or bulletin station, near you. (NZ6T)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: KB5AVY NAMED 2005 LYNCH AWARD WINNER
Dr. Roberto Dabdoub, M.D., KB5AVY, has been named the recipient of the 2005
W. Sandy Lynch Memorial Award.
As reported in a recent feature article in CQ Magazine, for the better part
of two decades Dr. Dabdoub struggled to keep four reporters on the air in
the New Orleans area. His toiling paid off for everyone in his community
when one of his repeaters became the only communications link in the area
to remain working following Hurricane Katrina.
For quite some time his system was the only link between the Baton Rouge
emergency center, and other relief and emergency centers involved in
critical rescue work. The repeater did not lose power because it is sited
at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation which has its own auxiliary power plant.
The W. Sandy Lynch Memorial Award, given annually by the Tokyo
International Amateur Radio Association. It is named in honor of the late
W7BX who also held the call sign 7J1ABV. (TIARA)
**
THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: ARRL NW DIV DIR GREG MILNES, W7OZ, - S.K.
And we are sad to report that ARRL's Northwest Division Director Greg
Milnes, W7OZ, has died. According to a note circulated by Vice Director
Jim Fenstermaker K9JF, Milnes suffered a heart attack at the Portland
airport on Thursday evening, December 16th and passed away on December 17th.
He was age 66.
A memorial service is planned on Friday, December 30th at 4:00 PM at the
First Methodist Church in Hillsboro, Oregon. Messages of condolence to the
family can be sent to Loretta Milnes, 740 South East 24th Avenue,
Hillsboro, Oregon, 97123. In lieu of flowers donatins in Greg Milnes name
can be made to the ARRL Foundation's Education Fund. (K9JF, WA6KLA)
**
ON THE AIR: STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT ON OSCAR
AMSAT-North America will again sponsor Straight Key Night on OSCAR on New
Years day.
The operating event will run from 0000 to 2400 UTC, on January 1st. There
are no rules, no scoring, and no need to send in a log. Just operate CW
through any OSCAR satellite using a straight hand key, working as many
other stations as you can. Contacts via E-M-E will count too.
As in past years, all participants are requested to nominate one of the
operators they worked for "Best Fist" recognition. Your nominee need not
have the best fist of those you heard, just of those you worked. Please
send all nominations to Ray Soifer via w2rs at arrl.net. A list of those
nominated will be published via the AMSAT News Service in early February,
and in The AMSAT Journal. (AMSAT)
**
WORLDBEAT - IRELAND: THE IRISH COUNTIES CONTEST
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society is holding its 80 meter Irish Counties
Contest on Monday 2nd January 2006. The event takes place on Irelands
annual bank holiday following New Years Day and, according to the
organizers it affords a a good opportunity to relax after the festivities.
The contest will run from 12.00 UTC to 15.00 UTC and all of the rarer EI
and GI counties will be activated. Full rules are on the IRTS website at
www.irts.ie (IRTS)
**
WORLDBEAT - UNITED NATIONS: 4U60OUN CELEBRATING THE UNITED NATIONS
Ham radio is also helping in the celebration of the 6oth anniversary of the
United Nations. This as station 4U60UN takes to the airwaves as a part of
this event from 4U1UN. 4U60UN will be on the air every weekend through the
end of the year. QSL this operation via HB9BOU. (ARVFS)
**
WORLDBREAT - SAUDI ARABIA: FAMED HZ1AB STATION CLOSES
The well-known HZ1AB club station in Saudi Arabia is no more. Club
secretary Thomas Carlsson, SM0CXU, has informed the Radio Society of Great
Britain that the station has had to be shut down as a result of new station
licence requirements in Saudi Arabia.
Originally the US Military Training Mission station and more recently the
Dhahran Amateur Radio Club, HZ1AB was a well-known DX callsign for almost
six decades. The HZ1AB callsign has already been reissued to a Saudi
national. (WIA)
**
DX
In D-X, word that SM5GMZ, will be active as HS0ZFI in Thailand until 31st
December. Operations will be on CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. Also, look for
Pete to be active as XU7ADI for at least two months starting January the
6th.
And GM4CXP, will be active from the Canary Islands as EA8/GM4CXP from 21st
December to 4th January. Look for him around the usual CW QRP calling
frequencies, particularly 14.060 and 21.060 MHz during daylight hours. QSL
both these operators as they direct on the air.
(Above from various DX sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE BIRDS
And finally this week, the story of a different kind of communications.
One that some might say is for the birds. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim
Davis, W2JKD, has the rest of the story:
--
Researcher Christopher Templeton and colleagues recorded the Chickadee
songs, analyzed them by situation, studied the calls on acoustic
instruments, and watched the birds react when the songs were played back.
Templeton has concluded that the Chickadee songs are passing on way more
information than anyone ever dreamed possible, and only by carefully
looking at these calls can we really appreciate how sophisticated these
animals are.
For example, the familiar "chick-a-dee" notes can indicate a stationary
predator. Variations in the tune can convey how dangerous it is, whether
it flies, crawls or walks.
Templeton, a doctoral student in biology at the University of Washington,
did the research while at the University of Montana. He noted that
previous studies of the Chickadee have indicated that it's call can also
contain information about the location of food and about the flock that it
is a part of.
--
Chickadees are small songbirds common across most of North America. This
research project was privately funded by several avian related
organizations. We thought that you'd like to know! (Science OnLine)
**
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.
Before we go, a reminder that we at Newsline are conducting an on-line poll
about how you feel about the League's recently filed "Regulation by
Bandwidth" proposal. To take part, all you need to do is to go to our
website at www.arnewsline.org and scroll down until you see the word
"Polls" on the left side of the page. There you will find options in favor
of the ARRL filing and those opposing it. Just click on the one you feel is
best for the future of the hobby. Your vote will be instantly added in and
the results to-date immediately displayed. Again the U-R-L of our website
is www.arnewsline.org and you will find the poll on the left side of the
page.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Meachen,
ZL2BHF, in Auckland, New Zealand saying Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah and
we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2005.
All rights reserved.
More information about the Ham-News
mailing list