[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1485 - January 27, 2006

Sun Jan 29 09:28:36 EST 2006

Amateur Radio Newsline 1485 -  January 27, 2006

The following is a Q-S-T.  The ARRL gets a new president, a defective TV 
converter triggers a search and rescue effort, a radio club gets a $150,000 
Homeland Security grant for Emergency Communications and an update on the 
upcoming launch of Suit Sat.  All these stories and more right now on 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1485 coming your way right now.

**

RADIO POLITICS:  ARRL BoD ELECTS JOEL HARRISON, W5ZN, PRESIDENT

The ARRL has looked south and has drawn its new president from the ham 
radio ranks of the great state of Arkansas.  This as its Board of Directors 
elects Joel Harrison, W5ZN, as ithe organization's 14th president.  Amateur 
Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, has more on the man and where he 
will likely lead the United States only national association of and for 
Amateur Radio.

--

Joel Harrison is no stranger to the workings of the ARRL board. He has had 
a seat the table for some 18 years, first as the Delta Division director, 
followed by election to the second vice president's seat in 1996. He 
ascended to the first vice president's chair in 2000. 

And, Harrison has done his share of committee work serving on the 
executive, administrative and finance, election, membership services, 
volunteer resources and long-range planning committees. He also was 
chairman of the League's Enforcement Task Force. 

He has also served twice as an ARRL delegate to the IARU Region II 
conference - in Niagra Falls, Canada, and Port of Spain, Trinidad. 

An ARRL life member, Harrison got his ticket in 1972 and was assigned the 
call sign WN5IGF. He later became 
WB5IGF and picked his vanity call - W5ZN - in 1996. 

Harrison began his long association with the ARRL in 1981 when he bcame a 
Section Emergency Coordinator in Arkansas. In 1983, he was elected Section 
Manager, and five years later Delta Division Director. 

Harrison seems to like many facets of the amateur radio service and has 
earned everything from the Worked All States and Worked All Continents 
awards to 9-band DXCC, DXCC Honor Roll and the DXCC challenge. 

Harrison also has spent his share of time on VHF/UHF and Microwave modes 
earning the 11 Band VUCC from 50 mhz to 25 Ghz. He holds the all-time world 
record for the ARRL June VHF Contest as a single operator and holds the 
all-time Delta Division record in the ARRL UHF contest as a single op. 

Harrison is laying out some ambitious goals, including looking at ways to 
bring amateur radio into the 21st century by appealing especially to people 
who have never known a world WITHOUT computers. 
Harrison also plans to follow the lead of his predecessor, Jim Haynie, 
W5JBP, by continuing to press for an entry-level license that provides 
limited HF phone and CW as well as data privileges. 

Those who know him say strap on your seat-belts and get ready for an 
exciting ride and Harrison plans to roll out a surprise or two in the 
months ahead. 

In his work life - yes, he does have time to fit employment into his heavy 
ham radio schedule - Harrison is an engineering director for Washington 
Group International Inc. and he lives in Judsonia, Arkansas. 
Among his significant work-life achievements, in 1983 he was recognized as 
the first person to ever qualify an automated ultrasound imaging system 
that was put to use in the nuclear power industry. 

His wife, Kim, is KB5YIQ. Son, Marc, is WB5IGF (that's right, his father's 
old call) and nearing graduation from the University of Arkansas. His 
daughter, Melissa, is KC5BYT, and also is nearing graduation from Arkansas 
Tech University. 

Also moving up is long-time ARRL leader Kay Craigie, N3KN. She was elected 
first vice president, succeeding Harrison. And Delta Division Director Rick 
Roderick, K5UR, was elected a second-vice president, taking Craigie's 
chair. Both were unopposed. 

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

--

Our congratulations to Joel Harrison, W5ZN, Kay Craigie, N3KN, and Rick 
Roderick, K5UR, on their election to these very important positions. We 
will take a look at the recent ARRL Board of Directors meeting in an 
upcoming Amateur Radio Newsline report.  And stay tuned to the end of this 
weeks newscast for a look back on the legacy of outgoing ARRL President Jim 
Haynie, W5JBP.  (ARNewslineT)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SUITSAT LAUNCHES FEB 3 AT 22:20 UTC

Its official.  Barring any last minute unforseen glitch, SuitSat will be 
deployed from the International Space Station during a Russian spacewalk 
scheduled to take place on Friday, February 3 at approximately 22:20 UTC.  
Once activated, those who hear SuitSat transmissions will be asked to enter 
their realtime data on the SuitSat website.  Its in cyberspace at 
www.suitsat.org  This will let folks around the world track the SuitSat 
satellite.  More information on SuitSat can be found at www.amsat.org, 
www.issfanclub.com and several other cyberspace spots on the World Wide 
Web.  (AMSAT-NA)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  BAD TV BOX TRIGGERS SEARCH AND RESCUE EFFORT

A faulty set top television converter box that triggered an emergency 
report has  resulted in a massive search and rescue effort.  It happened in 
the United Kingdom and RSGB News Reader Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has the latest:

--

A Coastguard helicopter was scrambled at the cost of tens of thousands of 
pounds on 14th January after a rogue radio signal from a faulty digital TV 
set-top box in Portsmouth sparked a sea rescue mission.

The defective set-top box transmitted a signal on a frequency reserved for 
emergency distress beacons at sea. This "mayday" call was then picked up by 
a satellite and passed on to the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre at 
RAF Kinloss, Scotland, which in turn contacted the Coastguard in 
Portsmouth.  The helicopter that was scrambled scoured the seas around 
Portsmouth for stricken people for two hours before experts discovered that 
the signal was coming from dry land. 

The source of the signal was eventually traced to a set-top box in a house 
in Portsmouth.  The faulty box is now being investigated by 
telecommunications regulator Ofcom.

I'm G4NJH in Nottingham

--

Ships, yachts and aircraft carry emergency locator beacons which are 
activated when they come into contact with water, sending a signal on a 
special frequency that identifies the vessel and its approximate location.  
Aviation experts estimate the cost of the search-and-rescue operation at 
10,000 British pounds an hour.  (GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  IOWA RADIO CLUB GETS $150OOO GRANT FROM HOMELAND SECURITY

Some big money going to a United States radio club dedicated to public 
service. Ernie Martin, WA0AUU, tells Amateur Radio Newsline that the Tri-
State Amateur Radio Club of  Cresco, Iowa, has received word from the 
office of Homeland Security that it has been awarded a grant of $150,000.  
This, to expand its role assisting the local community.

Martin was the one who wrote the original grant proposal to FEMA.  When 
that agency was moved under the Department of Homeland Security he had to 
start all over again.   He says that it literally took four years of his 
life, hundreds of phone calls and thousands of hours on the net to make it 
happen.  

Martin says that the money will be to buy a state of the art mobile 
communicatins and light tower made by Tower Soultions in Owatonna, 
Minnesota.  The club hopes to take delivery by the end of June.  (WA0AUU)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  KG6VLV/MM - PLEASE CALL HOME

I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, with breaking news.  Dateline, Los Angeles 
California where a call has gone out for assistance in locating maritime 
mobile operator Joel Spence, KG6VLV.  No, Spence is not lost or in any 
difficulty.  Rather, his family needs to contact him regarding an emergency 
at home.  

Spence is believed to be sailing the waters off Baja on the 41 foot Ketch 
the Asylum.  What radio gear he is carrying is unknown.  But if you hear 
KG6VLV on the air, please tell him to get in touch with his family, as soon 
as possible.  

This request for assistance originated from Doug Dowds, W6HB, who is Vice 
President of the United Radio Amateur Club and trustee of club station 
K6AA.

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

**

RESCUE RADIO FOLLOW-UP:  MISSING HAM FOUND

Some sad news to report.  The search for missing ham operator Jerry Ellis, 
KA0DJP, ended on Friday, January 20th when he was found in the Mississippi 
River near the Crystal City Boat Dock.  Ellis friend Donna Roland, KB0RQJ, 
tells Amateur Radio Newsline that everyone is very puzzled by what 
happened.  Roland says that services were held on Wednesday, January 25th in 
Butler Hill, Missouri.  Ellis was age 66.   (KB0RQJ)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  HOMEOWNER FINED OVER UNLICENSED FM STATION

Turning to enforcement issues, we have a rhetorical question.  What would 
the FCC do if it discovered an automated or remote controlled unlicensed 
radio station, where the broadcaster cannot be found, and the homeowner 
where the transmitter is located refuses to cooperate?  In the case of a 
San Diego, California, operation on 106.9 MHz, the regulatory agency has 
tentatively fined the homeowner $10,000. This case is probably precedent 
setting and is hot off the press.  Amateur radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, 
WA6ITF, has the details:

--

In a Notice of Apparent liability to Monetary Forfeiture dated December 19, 
2005, the FCC charges that Joni K. Craig, apparently  willfully and 
repeatedly violated Section 301 of the  Communications Act.  This, by 
operating  an unlicensed radio transmitter on 106.9 MHz in San Diego,  
California, even though Craig says that she was merely renting her garage 
to the people who own the gear.

It all started back on July 26, 2004.  That's when  agents from the 
Commission's San  Diego Office used  mobile direction finding to locate 
broadcast transmissions on 106.9 MHz emanating from a converted garage 
behind Craig's home.  The agents made several additional trips out to the 
residence as they heard the signal on the air.  During one such trip on 
October 4, 2004, the agents attempted to inspect the radio station in the  
garage.  Craig refused to allow the inspection and claimed to have no 
knowledge of a radio station.  She said that other people were working on a 
project in her garage.

On November 10, 2004, San Diego agents again monitored the station on 106.9  
MHz and requested an inspection.  This time Craig agreed and gave the 
agents access to the garage ands its contents.  Agents found a radio 
transmitter, a computer and an Internet modem, all in operation.  The 
agents requested that Craig  shut down the unlicensed radio station, but 
she  refused  She said that  she could shut down the station but would not 
because it belonged to someone else.  She told the agents that she  would 
have the people who owned the equipment shut down the  transmitter instead.  
When she was asked who the owner of the radio  equipment was, she refused 
to answer.  

After finding that the station was still active on July  26, 2005, San 
Diego agents, on August 2, 2005, hand-delivered  another Notice of 
Unlicensed Operation to Craig, which again  gave Craig an opportunity to 
reply.  No reply from Craig was ever received.  

In its decision to fine Craig the FCC says that she provided services and 
facilities incidental to the transmission of communications by radio.  
This, by making available the garage and real property on which the 
operation took place, and  providing the electric current used to power the 
radio station.  So in the FCC's eyes she apparently participated in the 
operation of the unlicensed station and was aware that the station was 
operating on her property, evidently, with her permission.  Also that Craig 
admitted that she could turn the station off, evidencing her control over 
the station, she refused to do so. 

The bottom line, Craig's willingness to provide space for what the FCC sees 
as a pirate broadcast radio station is going to cost her $10,000.  She was 
given the usual time to pay or file an appeal.

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

--

The full text of this action is on-line at  
www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-262941A1.html  (CGC, FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC INVESTIGATING PIRATED STERN RELAY STATIONS

And the FCC is looking into allegations that Howard Stern's new show on 
Sirius Satellite Radio is being illegally retransmitted by pirate 
broadcasters on the FM band.  This, according to the  New York Daily News 
which reports unlicensed broadcasts on 95.1 FM in New York and 101.5 FM in 
New Jersey. 

According to the news article, not only are these transmissions illegal, 
they also include profanities which are banned under the law governing 
content of  terrestrial stations.  That but the ban does not extend to 
satellite radio and the FCC admits that it has no power over what Stern 
says on the satellite service.

A spokesman for the Federal Communications Commission said the FCC takes 
pirate broadcasting very seriously and is investigating the matter.  
(Published reports)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE:  VOLUNTEER COMMUNICATORS NEEDED FOR LA MARATHON ON MARCH 19

Volunteer radio operators are needed at the 2006 Los Angeles Marathon 
slated for Sunday March 19th.  The hams will be tasked with providing 
emergency communications throughout the course. Operators are positioned at 
every mile location, at first aid stations, in the lead and trail vehicles, 
at the start and finish lines, and in the Command Center.  Some hams will 
also be assigned as shadow communicators for the race officials.  If you 
plan to be in the Los Angeles area that weekend, have portable gear and 
time to work on the event, on-line  registration is now open at 
www.lamarathon.com  (Press release)

**

SOCIAL SCENE:  CHARLESTON HAMFEST IN SC IN FEBRUARY

On the social scene, the 33rd Annual Charleston Hamfest and Computer Show 
is slated for Saturday,  February 4th at Exchange Park Fairground in Ladson, 
South Carolina.  Doors open to the public at 8:30 a.m. and close at 4 p.m.  
More information is on-line at www.qsl.net/wa4usn/hamfest.htm or by e-mail 
to Jenny Meyers, WA4NGV, at  brycemeyers at aol.com  (E-mail)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  SEVHFS CONFERENCE IN APRIL

Papers and presentations are solicited on both the technical and 
operational aspects of VHF, UHF and Microwave weak signal amateur radio.  
This, for presentation at the 10th annual Southeastern VHF Society 
Conference to be held in Greenville, South Carolina on April 28th and 29th.  

Presentations can cover just about any topic related to weak signal 
operations on the bands at 50 MHz and above. The deadline for the 
submission of papers and presentations is March 3rd.  More information is 
on-line at www.sevhfs.org  (E-Mail)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: THE NEIGHBOR LADY RETIRES AFTER 65 YEARS ON THE AIR

Some names in the news.  First up is now-retired Wynn Speece, who left her 
show on WNAX 570 A.M. in Yankton, North Dakota.  This, after 65 years on-
air.  That statistic likely makes Wynn the longest-running local radio show 
on Earth.  During her tenure at WNAX Wynn was known as "The Neighbor Lady."    
(Broadcast Update)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  HAMS NAMED TO FCC KATRINA PANEL

And FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has appointed a pair of broadcast radio 
engineers, at least one of whom is a ham, to his committee investigating 
the effects of Hurricane Katrina on telecommunications and informatuon 
flow.  The two are Steve Davis of Clear Channel Radio and Marty Hadfield, 
WB7AFV, of Entercom.

Members of this body will recommend ways to improve disaster preparedness, 
network reliability and communications among first responders by June 15th 
of this year.  The panel's first meeting is set for January 30th.  At that 
time participants will hear statements from panel members about the impact 
of the hurricane on their company or their industry communications 
infrastructure as well as issues on which the panel should focus.  (RW, 
others)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  CBS AND WARNER BROTHERS FORM CW 

Call this one, do you think that they will ever figure it out?  This as the 
heads of CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment announced on 
Tuesday, Junauary 24th  that they are merging The WB Network and UPN to 
create a new network to be called The CW.  

Nope, we are not kidding.  CW as in the world wide abbreviation for Morse 
Code.  

The CW Network will launch in September.  It will be jointly owned by 
Warner Brothers and CBS with each company taking a 50 percent stake.  
Tribune, which had owned part of the W-B, will become an affiliate of the 
new operation.

In making the announcement, CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves told reporters, 
that the new network name represents the two partners CBS and Warner 
Brothers.  He also joked that the reason CW was chosen was because of the 
connotation if the two letters were reversed.  That said, we have to wonder 
how long it will be before the ham radio public states calling CW the Morse 
Code Television Network.  (Published news reports)

**

ON THE AIR:  3Y0X TO PHONE HOME ON IRRIDIUM

When the 3Y0X Peter 1 D-Xpedition calls home it will be on an Irridium 
satellite telephone.  So says a press release from Irridium that says the 
company is providing the sat-phone to the Peter 1 operation to stay in 
touch with their loved ones at home as well as being a safety buffer should 
an emergency arise. The Iridium phones will also allow the team to get up 
to the minute weather forecasts and provide daily uploads of log 
information and other information  from the remote island. Updates may 
include photos and possibly video clips, which the D-Xpedition group will 
post to their website.

Discovered by a Russian explorer in 1821, Peter I Island is more than 450 
km from the nearest land in West Antarctica.  It lies below the Antarctic 
Circle in the Bellinghausen Sea and is surrounded by dense pack ice almost 
year round. The D-Xpedition team will travel to the island from Punta 
Arenas, Chile, by icebreaker and will be transported ashore by helicopter.  

The 3Y0X team plans to activate Peter 1 island for two weeks in early 
February, weather permitting.  Possibly about the time you hear this 
newscast.  Check the teams website for the latest updates as to when they 
will be on the air.  Its at http://8.3.8.118/peterone/main.htm  A cool half 
million dollars is being spent to bring Peter 1 on the air.  (Irridium 
press release, various DX sources)

**

WORLDBEAT - SOUTH AFRICA: ZS5A1GP TO SELEBRATE A1 GRAND PRIX

South Africa's Highway Amateur Radio Club will operate a special event 
station commemorating the 2006 A1 Grand Prix race.   The event will be held 
on the Durban beachfront in the vicinity of the Suncoast Casino from 
January 27th to the 29th during which the club will The Highway be operating 
as ZS5A1GP on H-F,  several local VHF and VHF repeaters and on IRLP node 
8300.  QSL to the Highway Amateur Radio Club, PO Box 779, New Germany, 
3620, South Africa. (SARL)

**

DX

In DX word that HB9CRV, and HB9CQL, will operate as CT3FN and CT3  slash 
HB9CQL from Madeira Island from until 1st February.  No frequency or time 
information is available.  QSL as directed on the air.  

And keep an Ear open for T93M, T93Y, T94DX, T94JJ and T96Q all portable H-
B-Zero.  The team will be on the air from Liechtenstein through the 2nd of  
February.  QSL this one also as directed on the air.

(Various DX Sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE LEGACY OF ARRL PRESIDENT JIM HAYNIE, W5JBP

And finally this week, its being said that no ARRL President has been more 
visable and approachable than the man retiring from that job.  Of coarse we 
are talking about Dallas, Texas own Jim Haynie, W5JBP.  With a look back at 
the man and his career, once gain here is Mark Abramowicz, NT3V:

--

To say Jim Haynie was the right man at the right time for the ARRL is 
probably an understatement. During his six years as president of the 
League, Haynie was a driving force behind a number of significant League 
accomplishments and had a hand in a number of projects. 

Among the ones he is most proud is taking amateur radio into the schools 
through the ARRL's Education and Technology program. 

"We have 186 schools now and thousands of kids who've gone through this 
program, " Haynie says. "And, it's not necessarily, and I know there are 
some detractors that would say that, 'Well, they're not all going to be 
hams.' 

"Well, maybe not. But there may be some Joe Taylors out there and that's 
what I'm interested in. The kids that will take amateur radio to heart and 
go further with it and someday become great physicists or scientists or 
something like that and we've given them that start." 

One of Haynie's goals as president was outreach to hams - essentially, the 
personal touch. 

'If you couldn't come to Newington, I wanted to come to you," Haynie says. 
"And I did that. It's hundreds of trips, I can't remember how many trips 
there were. I know last year it was 79 days that I was on the road, trying 
to communicate and talk to and be available to amateur radio operators all 
across the United States. 

"And we did that, that's two-and-a-half months. That to me was very 
important to do that to be able to be one-on-one and that's the part I 
enjoyed the most." 

Among the biggest challenges Haynie faced during his tenure was the 
Broadband over Power Lines internet battle. And, while there are still 
pockets of resistance, Haynie says he believes the tide is starting to turn 
and the eyes of many are being opened about the inefficiency, interference 
and high cost of BPL. 

"Well, BPL, of course, is a real bothersome issue. But as time goes by, I'm 
seeing more and more of the fiber coming in the different technologies. 

"And that was one of our goals is to be able to show not only industry but 
the public that there's other methods out there that would be more viable 
to us." 

One of the other goals Haynie says he set for himself when elected 
president was taking a more hands-on approach to matters in Washington. 

"Dealing with the lawmakers such as the congressman, the senators, as well 
as the people at the commission," 

Haynie says. "I know that there's some detractors out there right now on 
some of the websites who said well, we've gotten slapped down on a bunch of 
different issues. 

"But in actuality, we know who all the different players are. And, we've 
done a good job on that. That's something that I feel like that I did a 
pretty good job in dealing with the congressman. 

"I testified before Congress and the House investigation committee on 9-1-1 
responders. We've subsequently done other type of testimony before Congress 
which we've never done before." 

Haynie says the most important leadership role he tried to play during his 
tenure was salesman/cheerleader - encouraging hams to get the public to 
know who they are, what they can do and how they can become a valuable 
community resource. 

"And one of the things I wanted to do is sell amateur radio to the public," 
Haynie says. " And I think we've done a better job of that as of late. 

"But the point being, the president of the League cannot do that by 
himself. There's no way. It has to be done on the local level, it has to be 
on the local club level, it has to be done on the regional level. 

"This is one of the things that I would really like to see happen. It has 
to be something done on a local basis: selling amateur radio." 

Haynie has high praise for those operators who volunteered to help in the 
wake of Hurricane Katrina and the other hurricanes which raked the South 
last year. He also remembers the sacrifice of the many amateurs who stepped 
up to serve in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on New 
York, Washington and a field in western Pennsylvania. 

Just because he has left the board and has the title president emeritus, 
Haynie says he's not planning to disappear altogether. 

"Observe and occasionally make comments or make some suggestions to our 
board of directors and to, of course, the new officers that come along," 
Haynie says. "They're very capable. I'm very confident at what they can do 
will be something that we'll all be proud of. 

"Now, on the other hand, as any ham that's out there, we all have our 
opinions, I have mine. And, I think what we need to do is stop and think 
about what's good for the overall amateur radio service. And that, of 
course, is my goal." 

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

--

He may no longer be ARRL president but we are willing to bet we will all be 
hearing more from Jim Haynie, W5JBP.   (ARNewslineT)

**

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 
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