[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1491 - March 10, 2000

Sat Mar 11 10:30:10 EST 2006

Amateur Radio Newsline 1491 - March 10, 2006

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  DAYTON HAMVENTION NAMES 2006 AWARD WINNERS

When Hamvention 2006 opens in Hara Arena on May 19, three amateur radio
(ham) operators will be honored guests for their contributions to the
Amateur Radio Service. Gordon West, WB6NOA, a man responsible for helping
to recruit many new hams; Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, who helped bring
improved enforcement to the ham bands; and Richard Illman, AH6EZ/W9, whose
efforts helped develop a solution to BPL interference, have been named as
recipients of this year's Hamventionr awards.

Pat Johnson, KC8ZZO, Hamventionr Awards Chairman said the committee had a
tough task selecting the winners from among a number of worthy nominees.
"We were impressed with the quality of the nominations. We believe the
winners all represent excellence in service to the ham radio community."

Hamventionr Chairman Jim Nies, WX8F, praised the winners, saying: "On
behalf of the Dayton Amateur Radio Association (DARA) and Hamventionr 2006
it is my distinct pleasure to congratulate this year's Award Winners.
Please join me in recognizing each of these gentlemen for their outstanding 

contributions to Amateur Radio and their many years of devotion to the
amateur radio service."

Gordon West, WB6NOA, was named Amateur of the Year for his efforts in
recruiting and training many new amateurs, in addition to his lifelong
involvement in ham radio. Starting in the late 1950's "Gordo" as he is
known by many hams, began an active involvement with ham radio that
included working for some of the big names in the field helping to develop
several innovative pieces of equipment.

It was in the 1980's that West and his wife Suzy , N6GLF , began teaching
ham radio classes at college and marine venues and began writing the ham
training books which were sold by Radio Shack and equipment dealers around
the country .

West is a fellow with the Radio Club of America , recipient of ARRL
Instructor of the Year award, and active on ham bands from 75 meters
through 10 GHz, spending at least a couple hours every day on the air ,
helping new hams make friends on the many nets he runs .

West volunteers with the American Red Cross communications team in Orange
County , California , and regularly offers free kids classes and classes
for cities to support their CERT members . "It's my give-back to a hobby
that gives me the satisfaction of offering free classes for kids and
emergency responders , and I thank all the ham operators who support our
training program , and the ARRL for their continued support with the
emergency communication web-based classes," West said.

Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, received the Special Achievement Award for his
efforts in helping eliminate some of the problems that had been increasing
on the ham bands. As his nominator stated, he helped "reverse an almost a
decade and a half long period of Commission inattention and government
apathy directed at our service. Hams across the US credit Hollingsworth
with helping to reduce -- and in many cases to eliminate malicious
interference and other problem behavior, both on and off the air."

Hollingsworth is a Special Counsel for the FCC Enforcement Bureau's
Spectrum Enforcement Division. He was given the responsibility for
coordination of Amateur Radio Service enforcement after that program was
transferred to the Enforcement Bureau in October 1998. His responsibilities 

also include interference resolution in the Land Mobile and Public Safety
Services.

Hollingsworth was Co-Chairman of the FCC's PCS Broadband and Narrowband
Licensing Task Force, for which he received as "Reinventing Government"
Award in 1994; and managed the FCC's 800 MHz Task Force in which new 800
MHz spectrum was assigned in 13 cities. He also organized the FCC's
enforcement program in which underutilized land mobile radio channels were
recovered for reassignment in major cities.

Hollingsworth holds a Master's degree from the University of South
Carolina, and a Law degree from Wake Forest University. An Amateur Radio
licensee since 1960, he is a member of the Quarter Century Wireless
Association and FISTS Club.

Richard Illman, AH6EZ of St. Charles, Illinois, was selected for the 2006
Technical Excellence Award. His willingness to use his technical knowledge
to be outspoken about an unpopular topic, Broadband over Powerline, was
cited by the committee. He influenced his employer, Motorola, to deliver
his patent pending solution that has been proven at ARRL Headquarters and
other deployments to not cause any interference to or from amateur radio.
The ARRL has subsequently used the Motorola solution as an example to the
FCC on how BPL can be designed without interference with amateur radio.

Illman, who has a BSEE and a 31 year career with Motorola Systems
Engineering, caused a set of hardware notch filters to be included in the
Motorola equipment, an industry first, to protect amateur radio beyond the
traditional technique of just turning off specific carriers.

His passion for ham radio began in high school as a Novice class licensee
in 1969 and has continued over 37 years on all bands and all modes,
including working satellites from moving Amtrak trains and demonstrating
ISS contacts to Boy Scouts. An avid DXer he works over 200 countries each
year, in part because of a friendly competition amongst his local ham club
members of the Fox River Radio League in Aurora, Illinois. He has been
their President for the last two years and was recognized with their Ham of 

the Year award three years in a row.

Hamvention, the world's largest amateur radio gathering, brings more than
25,000 people to the greater Dayton area each year. The three-day event
includes exhibits, a flea market, forums and education sessions.

For more information about Dayton Hamvention 2006 (scheduled for May 19-
21), visit the website at www.hamvention.org or e-mail
media at hamvention.org.

**

The following is a Q-S-T.  MARS says it will build a global Winlink 2000
network, the Coast Guard says it needs your help in locating a station
making phony distress calls and NASA predicts the next solar cycle.  Find
out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1491coming your way 

right now.

**

RESCUE RADIO:  MARS SELECTS WINKINK AS ITS DIGITAL MODE

A global Military Affiliate Radio System Winlink 2000 network is expected
to be in service by this summer.  This, after Army MARS selects the mode
following  a thorough study of security and connectivity issues.  Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports:

--

According to Bill Sexton, N1IN, writing on QRZ dot com, it was MARS Eastern 

Area Coordinator Grant Hays who announced  the decision. Hays, who holds
the calls AAA9E and WB6OTS said Winlink 2000 will provide rapid and
reliable interconnection between government entities served by the Military 

Affiliate Radio System and the broad range of local and regional agencies
accessed by Amateur Radio.

In past emergencies ARES and RACES have informally linked with MARS through 

members whose stations participate in multiple systems.  With Winlink 2000, 

Hays said that the different networks will continue to operate separately
and independently, but the new software will automatically move messages
between them as needed.  It will also switch traffic to the Internet, where 

available and appropriate, to bridge any radio gaps or to deliver addressed 

e-mail.

Hays noted that Winlink and its transmission client Airmail received
extensive use during last year's hurricane season by other volunteer ham
radio organizations. These included the Amateur Radio Emergency Service and 

the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.

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

studio in Los Angeles.

--

Army MARS is an organization of some 2,500 Amateur Radio operators
specially trained and licensed for military communications. The Air Force,
Navy and Marine Corps field similar volunteer teams. Their shared mission
is providing emergency communications to the Department of Defense and
other government agencies primerally using skilled communicators from the
nations ram radio community.  (N1IN, QRZ.com)

**

HAM RADIO PROPAGATION:  NASA LOOKS AT FUTURE SUNSPOTS

The next sunspot cycle will be a year late and as much as 50% stronger than 

the last one.  This, according to a forecast released Monday, March 6th by
scientists from NASA and the National Science Foundation.

The latest forecast was made using a sophisticated software developed by
Dr. Mausumi Dikpati and her colleagues at the National Center for
Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado.   The program is based on
mapping of subsurface plasma flows discovered by NASA's Solar and
Heliospheric Observatory.

Using it, Dr. Dikpati found that the solar cycle was powered by massive
rivers of electromagnetic plasma flowing near the sun's surface from its
equator to the pole and back again.  She said that the flow is like a
massive conveyor belt, carrying large quantities of plasma as well as
isolated magnetic fields from the Suns equator to the pole and back over a
22-year period.  That's about twice the 11-year period of sunspot cycles.
The magnetic eddies that break through the surface release enormous amounts 

of energy, sending sheets of ionized particles and ultraviolet radiation
toward Earth.

The most recent cycle, which peaked in 2001, was relatively weak.  Solar
scientists predict that the next sunspot cycle, called cycle 24, will begin 

in late 2007 or early 2008 and will produce sunspots across an area
slightly larger than 2.5% of the sun's surface.  The cycle is likely to
reach its peak about 2012 and have a far larger impact on radio
communications. Such predictions are vital because the solar storms
associated with the sunspots not only endanger humans in space, but can
slow satellites in orbit and disrupt communications on Earth.  This is
especially true on the high frequency bands from 160 through 10 meters but
sunspots can also influence and at times improve communications on 6
meters, 2 meters and bands above as well.  (NASA Release)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  COAST GUARD HUNTING FOR PIRATE SOS STATION

The U.S. Coast Guard is asking the publics help in finding the person who
radioed in several phony distress calls.  Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, has more:

--

Coast Guard officials said they received three phony radio calls starting
on Thursday, March 2nd.  Each one claimed that boats were sinking.  After
the calls, Coast Guard and Navy crews spent hours searching for the damaged 

vessels using planes, helicopters and boats.

An investigation determined that the calls were made from the same person
and were pranks.  Coast Guard spokesman Don Brzuska told Local 6 Internet
News that after analyzing the sound files, it was determined that the tone
of voice closely matches the voice heard on two of the hoax calls.

Investigators have narrowed the search for the pirate operator to a radio
located somewhere between St. Augustine, Florida and New Smyrna, Georgia.
Making a false distress call is a felony, carrying a maximum penalty of 5
to 10 years in prison, up to $255,000 in fines, and reimbursement to the
Coast Guard for the costs incurred responding to the false call.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, in Los Angeles.

--

Anyone with information about the hoax caller is asked to contact the Coast 

Guard at area code 386-428-9085.  (USCG release, published reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  TEENS JAILED FOR PHONY SOS CALLS

Two Oregon teenagers who faked maritime distress calls last October must
serve jail time and pay restitution to the Coast Guard.  According to the
Jackson County Mail Tribune, one teen was convicted of four counts of
disorderly conduct and will serve 32 days in juvenile hall. He also was
placed on probation and ordered to pay $53,233 to the Coast Guard.  The
second teen was convicted of disorderly conduct and will serve eight days
in juvenile hall.  He received probation and will pay $10,650 in
restitution.

The newspaper reports that the pair made the distress calls from a hand-
held radio on shore. The first hoax call came in early October, when the
pair claimed to be on a disabled recreational boat.  Two Coast Guard
lifeboats and one helicopter spent nine hours searching the waters for a
disaster that didn't exist.   Two similar calls came later in the month.
During those searches the Coast Guard deployed two 47-foot lifeboats, a 25-
foot response boat and three land units.

Coast Guard officials say that anonymous tips led investigators to the
teens, whose actions cost taxpayers more than $50,000 in unneeded 
searches.
(Published reports)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  ARRL FORMS NATIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING COMMITTEE

Newly elected League president Joel Harrison, W5ZN, has appointed 13
individuals to serve on a National Emergency Response Planning Committee.
This group is tasked with developing a comprehensive recommendation for
ARRL responses to regional, national and international disasters.

According to the ARRL Letter, this ad-hoc committee reflects a nationwide
assembly of individuals with direct field experience in all aspects of
emergency communications in disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes,
wildfires, floods and terrorist activity.  The League's Board of Directors
voted to establish the panel during its annual meeting in January to help
ham radio prepare for future large-scale disasters.  The Board will
consider the committee's recommendations at its 2007 annual meeting next
January.  (ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  OHIO HAMS FIGHT TO SAVE E-COMMS RELAY SITE

It hasn't held water for years, but a 150-foot tall, 500,000-gallon water
tower in Mason, Ohio still serves an important purpose.  It's the home of
an emergency service ham radio repeater that may disappear if the tower is
torn down. Amateur Radio Newsline's Evi Simons reports:

--

News reports say that the fight to save the water tower is being lead by
the Mason Area Repeater Club.  Its spokesman is Bob Reiff.  He argues that
it is in the best interest for the city to keep in up.

According to Reiff, ham radio is completely independent of any
communications infrastructure.   It does not rely on cell towers or phone
lines.  Because of this, club members can disperse themselves to fire
stations, police stations, schools and shelters.  From these locations they 

can relay messages to fire departments, police departments or the Red
Cross."

The Mason water tower repeater site is an integral part of the service that 

the club performs.  The club says that no other Mason location is as
suitable for its antenna.

While there are three other water towers in the city, concerns over
security by the Cincinnati Water Works which maintains them would prevent
the group from moving it to any of those locations.  And if the old water
tower is torn down, the repeater and the service it  provides will be off
the air.

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

--

Mason officials have not decided what to do with the tower, though they've
been discussing it for about a year.  Its future really depends on the
practicality and cost of dismantling it versus the benefit of leaving it
up.  Reiff says that the best solution for local emergency radio
communications to continue is for Mason is to keep the old water tower in
place.  More on this story is on-line at
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060301/NEWS01/6030104
04/1056/rss02 (Adapted from Cincinnati Enquirer)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  ARRL HAM AID "GEAR READY TO GO" AWAITS NEXT DISASTER

When the next major disaster strikes, the ARRL says that it will be able to 

deploy ham gear that's ready to go.  This, thanks to manufacturers'
donations of new gear, a federal grant and generous contributions made by
League members.

The ARRL Letter reports that these Ham Aid sponsored  go kits now being
assembled at League Headquarters. The equipment and computers will be
securely stowed in waterproof Pelican 1650 containers.

These kits will enable the League to loan out needed equipment on a
moment's notice. They are also the third leg of a program that's already
reimbursed certain out-of-pocket expenses for ham radio hurricane zone
volunteers and helped restore Amateur Radio backbone infrastructure along
the US Gulf Coast.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  TEXAS BROADCASTER IN LIMBO OVER BORDER PATROL REPORTS

Some enforcement news of a different sort.  Greg Hardisson's Broadcast
Update reports that San Antonio's leading Spanish-language radio station
could be forced off the air or face fines.  This, over a quirky controversy 

juxtaposing immigrants rights and green limes.  But these are not limes
that grow in trees.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has
more:

--

These limes or limones verdes are a euphemistic reference to Border Patrol
agents, who traditionally don olive-green uniforms and drive green-lined
SUVs.  A recurring segment started five years ago by KROM on 92.9 involves
people calling in to report sightings of these agents in the city. The
station's disc jockeys then alert listeners, particularly undocumented
immigrants, to steer clear of the named locations.  No actual mention of
federal agents is made.

But since August 1st of last year the station has been operating with an
expired license.  The FCC has held up its license renewal application
because of the years-long effort of a retired Houston lawyer who, upon
learning about the limones verdes report, launched a campaign to get the
station off the air.

--

The Border Patrol which maintains an eight-agent office in San Antonio
never complained.  Also, there was no public outcry to end the tongue-in-
cheek segment. In fact, the reports quickly gained popularity and were even 

copied by at least one other station.  (Broadcast Update, CGC, others)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  DON'T STEAL APPLE OS 10

Apple Computer has resorted to a poet cat-and-mouse game between itself and 

high tech hackers over who can use its operating system.  This building in
what some are calling poetic justice.

Anticipating that hackers would try to crack its new OS 10 operating system 

built to work on Intel chips and run pirated versions on non-Apple
computers, programers embedded a warning deep in the software in the form
of a poem.  The poem "Your karma check for today: There once was a user
that whined.  His existing OS was so blind.  He'd do better to pirate, an
O-S that ran great, but found his hardware declined. Please don't steal Mac 

OS!  Really, that's way uncool.  Apple Computer, Inc."   Apple also put in
a separate hidden message in its code that reads, "Don't Steal Mac OS
X.kext."

Apple confirmed the existence of these two text messages to would be
hackers on February 16th.  In a statement Apple also said that hopefully
this and many other legal warnings, will remind people that they should not 

steal Mac OS X."  (Find.com)

**

SCIENCE CORNER:  USE AN IPOD TO GENERATE COLOR BARS AND TONE

If you are an ATV'er with an I-Pod have we got a deal for you.  Actually,
Steve Anderson of On-Air Operations at the University of California at San
Diego is the one with the deal and its free,

You see, Steve has has posted step-by-step instructions for turning an I-
Pod into a color bar and tone generator.  While not a high quality
generator, the signal could be used for cursory checks on TV monitors and
the like.

Steve says that any I-Pod with video out will do the job.  The directions
are at http:\\colorbars.pbwiki.com   (CGC)

**

RADIO HAPPENINGS:  WINTER SWL FEST 2006 A SUCCESS

Well, it's over and in the books!   We are referring to the nineteenth
annual Winter SWL Fest was held in Kulpsville, Pennsylania between March
3rd and the 5th.

The Winter Fest is the SWL version of Dayton.  A large number of attendees
are radio amateurs along with others fascinated with the hobby of radio
monitoring.  Same notable faces this year included Toshi Otake from Japan,
several  representatives of China Radio International and Bob Zanotti of
Soundsofswitzerland.org

The 2007 Fest dates have already been announced.  This will be the
twentieth fest, and plans are already starting to take shape to make it
even better than the last.  Wes suggest you keek an eye on www.swlfest.com
during the year for news of whats on its way in less than 12 months.
(KA2EMZ)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  MICROWAVES IN THE UK IN MAY

The United Kingdom Microwave Group is hosting a workshop in the city of
Sheffield on 27th May. The event will provide an introduction to the
amateur microwave bands and is aimed at newcomers to microwave, not those
already experienced in this part of the spectrum.  If you are interested in 

attending the introductory workshop you must register beforehand because
the audience will be limited to 20 people. , For further information,
please contact Peter Day ny e-mail to microwaves at blueyonder.co.uk  (GB2RS)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  ARRL's JOHN HENNESSEE, N1KB - S.K.

Long-time ARRL Headquarters staff member John Hennessee, N1KB,  of
Newington, Connecticut, has died.  A Headquarters employee since 1986,
Hennessee was a regulatory information specialist in ARRL Field and
Educational Services.  In that role, he answered a seemingly never-ending
stream of members' questions about FCC rules and regulations and other
legal issues pertaining to ham radio. He also was the primary editor for
The ARRL FCC Rule Book.

Hennessee came to Newington 20 years ago, fresh out of college, and quickly 

became an expert in FCC rules and local land-use regulations affecting
radio amateurs. To handle hundreds of questions each year regarding how to
interpret the FCC rules required Hennessee to keep abreast of ongoing
Amateur Radio legal and regulatory matters and proceedings.  That task
became increasingly difficult for him as his eyesight and general health
continued to fail. Nonetheless, he persevered in keeping on top of what was 

happening in areas ranging from the PRB-1 to land use covenants, conditions 

and restrictions affecting ham radio.  He was also the headquarters point
man on new Amateur Radio rules and privileges, license restructuring,
reciprocal licensing and licensing rules and procedures in other countries.

John Hennessee was only 42 when he died on March 2nd.  He is survived by
his mother, Carole Hennessee, two sisters and his beloved cat, Darlene.
Services  were held Thursday, March 9th at First Methodist Church, in
Cheraw, South Carolina.  (Adapted from www.arrl.com and used with
permission.)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  CELLPHONE BLOCKING PAINT

A new development in R-F sheilding could spell regulatory problems for the
FCC.  This, after a Rochester, New York, company called Natural Nano
announces that it has developed paint that can switch between blocking cell 

phone signals and allowing them through.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce
Tennant, K6PZW, takes a look at the new paint and the legal issues its use
may raise:

--

According to the Chicago Tribune, the new cellphone blocking paint works
this way.  Using nano-technology, particles of copper are inserted into
nanotubes. The painted surface is then connected to radio filtering gear
that permits certain frequencies  to pass while blocking others.

Michael Riedlinger, who is the president of Natural Nano gave one example
where the product could be beneficial.  He says that a concert hall could
use the paint to allow cell phones to work before an event and during
breaks, but block their use during the performance.

But the wireless phone industry opposes this or any other form of
preventing cell phone operation under almost any circumstance and is up in
arms over the new nano-technology based paint.  And the wireless folks
would likely have an allies in the FCC.  It's already on record as saying
any device that jams out cellular signals is illegal to use in the United
States and its possessions.

But Science Online says proponents of the blocking paint claim that it does 

not jam cellphones.  Rather it uses its natural properties of clay to block 

specific signals.  Therefore it would be exempt from any FCC rules
governing cellphone jamming devices.  They also say that nobody can force
the owner of private property to let commercial radio signals intrude.

The bottom line:  If the cellphone blocking paint catches on, this one
could be headed straight to the federal courts.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.

--

While this product could pose some serious regulatory issues for the FCC
some hams discussing it on the air hope the company will realize that there 

may be a market in Amateur Radio for painting away TVI.  (Various)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  HT KEEPS ROWING RACE AFLOAT

Some personal radio gear recently came to the aid of a United Kingdom ocean 

rowing team.  This,  after an accident at sea took away all other forms of
communications.  The RSGB's Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has the rest of the story:

--

TV presenter Ben Fogle and Olympic rower James Cracknell, who recently
rowed across the Atlantic together, have spoken of how a couple of VHF
transceivers became their only means of staying in contact with the outside 

world during their voyage.

The pair set off on their epic adventure from La Gomera in the Canary
Islands on 30th November 2005. They were part of a flotilla of 25 boats
competing to row Christopher Columbus's famous route across the Atlantic in 

the fastest time. Their destination was Antigua 2,900 miles away in the
West Indies.

The participants of the race were forced to battle terrible weather
conditions, including two tropical storms and the tail-end of a hurricane,
and Ben and James's boat capsized in heavy seas on 10th January. Ben was
thrown from the boat and James was flipped upside down in the boat's cabin
in the incident.

Despite being badly shaken up, breaking their water desalinator and losing
their sea anchor, GPS system and satellite phones, the pair decided to
carry on, using a fixed VHF/DSC transceiver and an emergency handheld VHF
transceiver to keep in touch with the outside world.

Ben said, "The radios were fantastic. After we capsized, they became our
only form of communication. With the radios, we could still speak to the
crew of another of the boats who were able to let our families know we were 

safe and well. We used them to speak to other transatlantic traffic to
alert them to our whereabouts and stop them running our tiny rowing boat
over."

I'm G4NJH in Nottingham

--

The pair completed their Atlantic crossing in just 50 days, finishing first 

in their class and third overall. They also filmed the voyage for a BBC
documentary titled  "Through Hell and High Water" which aired across the U-
K two weeks ago.  (RSGB)

**

WORLDBEAT - NEW ZEALAND:  HAMS RESPOND TO PROPOSED ANTENNA ORDINANCE

A restrictive plan for ham radio antennas in one area of New Zealand is
meeting stiff opposition from the Amateur Radio Community.  This as the
NZART's Local Government Liaison Officer, Mike Newman, ZL1BNB, has prepared 

a response to the proposed plan by the Waika District plan.

Newman's letter notes that the district has asked whether a standard aerial 

design exists which might be referred to as an "acceptable solution.  Any
planning rules must give reasonable consideration to the needs of the
amateur radio service. The proposed rules do not show such consideration
has, so far, been given, and in short, will act as an severe impediment to
amateur radio operations and future recruitment.

NZART is the New Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters and is that country's
recognized Amateur Radio national society.  (NZART)

**

DX

In D-X, the GB2RS News Service reports that UA3FDX, and RA3AUM, will be
active from Azerbaijan as 4J0DX and 4J0AUM between 17th and 27th March.
Listen for them on 160 through 10 meters on SSB and CW.  QSL as directed on 

the air.

And W3LEO, is active as MM0LEO from Portpatrick, Scotland until 27th March. 

QSL via home call, either direct or via the bureau.

Lastly, OH3JF and OH3JR, will be active as HQ9F from Honduras until 17th
March.  They will have two stations equipped with amplifiers and antennas
for 160-10m, and will operate CW, SSB and RTTY targeting Europe and Japan
on the low bands. QSL via OH3MKH.

(From GB2RS and other DX news sources.)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  SOME THOUGHTS ON CONTESTS

And finally this week, some thoughts on contesting.  From Melbourne,
Australia, here's Jim Litton, VK3PC.

--

Sooner or later you will hear stations exchanging contest signal reports or 

calling CQ contest.

So what is a contest? It's an organized event, with a set of published
rules, scoring method and certificates on offer for the top scorers.

Contests can certainly help build on your operating skills and the art of
log-keeping. They can also be useful in testing out the capabilities of
your station. And if you're interested in working overseas DX some contests 

are excellent in that regard.

Several contests encourage stations to go portable. These include the all
band Field Day. There are other contests. Some shorter length ones are
called a scramble,  sprint or dash. Check 'em out.

I'm Jim Litton, VK3PC. For the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

Contests, called radio sports in some nations, are just one aspect of what
ham radio has to offer.  (WIA News)

**

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 WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio
Newsline(TM).  Our e-mail address is Newsline @arnewsline.org.  More
information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(TM) only official
website located at www.arnewsline.org.  You can also write to us or support 

us at Amateur Radio Newsline(TM), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California
91066.

A reminder that the nominating period for the 2006 Amateur Radio Newsline
Young Ham of the Year Award is now open. This award seeks to honor hams age 

18 or younger for their outstanding contributions through Amateur Radio.
The cuttoff date for entries this year is May 30th. Full information on the 

award along with on-line and downloadable nominating forms are at the
awards own wesite created and maintained by our 1993 recipient Kevin
Boudreaux, N5XMH.  Its in cyberspace at www.yhoty.org.  Again. that's
www.yhoty.org

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Machine, 