[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1494 - March 31, 2006

Sun Apr 2 10:11:40 EDT 2006

Amateur Radio Newsline 1494 -  March 31, 2006

The following is a Q-S-T. Hams in Hungary have been granted access to 6 
meters, an international team of operators are planning to put together a 
November 2006 DXpedition to Libya on the air and lots happening in the 
FCC's enforcement arena. 

Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1494 coming 
your way right now.

**

RESTRUCTURING:  HUNGARIAN HAMS GET 6 METERS AND EXPANDED 40 METERS

Hams in Hungary have ben granted access to the Magic Band.  This with word 
that as of March 29th H-A prefix amateurs can start using the 50 to 52 MHz 
band with 10 watts of effective radiated power on a secondary, non-
interference basis with other users.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill 
Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:

-- 

When this summers VHF DX season hits, don't be to surprised if you hear 
some H-A prefix hams trying to make contact across the Atlantic pond.  H-A 
is the prefix for Hungary and according to Chris Hildebrand, HA5X, writing 
on QRZ.com, Hungarian hams coming to 6 meters will be permitted to operate 
all modes occupying less than 12 kHz bandwidth with no restrictions on the 
design or polarity of antennas.  Also, as the 6 meter band is now contained 
in the Hungarian National Frequency Allocation Plan, no separate license is 
required and all stations holding a CEPT-equivalent license are 
automatically granted access.   

The only caveats are that no mobile operation on 6 meters will be  allowed 
at this time.  Also, those hamsb planning to operate the band should be 
aware that two television transmitters in Hungary remain operational in the 
6 meter spectrum.  At least for the time being.

In related news, the same government order that gives Hungarian hams 6 
meters also also opens the 7.100 to 7.200 MHz segment 40 meters for them to 
use.  Early access to this segment is also granted for those holding CEPT 
equivalent licensees, with 150 watts or 250 watt power levels permitted 
depending on the license class.  As the 40 meter band is under 30 MHz, 
Hungarian licensing authorities say that a CW proficiency exam is still 
necessary.

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

--

Hungary is also expecting new amateur radio regulations within a few months 
that will revise the Morse code requirement.  It may also impact on 
callsign allocation and the national licenses and exam classes.  (QRZ.com)

**

WORLDBEAT - LIBYA:  BIG DX OPERATION IN NOVEMBER

An international team of operators are planning to put together a November 
2006 DXpedition to to put Libya on the air.  This will include an entry in 
the CQ World Wide CW DX Contest.  

According to the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter, the group will use the callsign 
5A7A. Their plan is to be active from November 14th to the 28th from a 
location on the Mediterranean coast just outside the capital city of 
Tripoli.  Aactivity will be on all bands with CW and SSB.  Also, for the 
first time ever plans are to include the digital modes on RTTY, SSTV and 
PSK.  Another first will be FM. 

Late word is that QSL request are to go to DL9USA either direct or via the 
bureau.  There is one caveat.  The Bureau QSL cards will be processed very 
last after the direct requests are processed. More information ison line at  
http://5a7a.gmxhome.de  (OPDX)

**

RADIO LAW:  VANITY CALL FEE MAY BE GOING DOWN

The cost of a vanity call could be going down in 2006.  The FCC wants to 
reduce the Fiscal Year 2006 regulatory fee to obtain an Amateur Radio 
vanity call sign to $20.10 for the 10-year license term.  That's down $1.80 
from the current vanity fee is $21.90. 

According to an ARRL Bulletin received by Newsline, the FCC proposed the 
new fee in a Notice of Proposed Rule Making titled "Assessment and 
Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2006."  That's MD Docket 06-
68, released March 27.  And if ordered as proposed, the new vanity fee 
would become effective in August or September. 

The FCC is obligated to collect nearly $289 million in regulatory fees 
during FY 2006 to fund its operations.  The FCC has projected collecting 
$171,188 in vanity call sign fee receipts from 8500 applications in Fiscal 
Year 2006.  (ARRL, FCC)

**

RADIO LAW:  SPECIAL SIGNIFIGANCE TO VANITY CALLS THIS YEAR

Speaking about the vanity call sign system, the same bulletin notes that 
the fee for this service has assumed somewhat greater significance this 
year.  This, as the renewal window is about to open for the first Amateur 
Radio licenses assigned vanity call signs in 1996.   

Applicants who wish to keep their post-1995 vanity call signs must pay the 
vanity call sign regulatory fee in effect at the time the renewal 
application reaches the FCC.  Any Amateur Radio renewal application may 
only be filed within 90 days of the license expiration date.

Amateur Radio licensees holding vanity call signs granted prior to 1996 do 
not have to pay a regulatory fee when renewing.  This is because Congress 
did not begin requiring the FCC to annually recover its regulatory costs 
until 1993. Additionally, such licensees are not specifically tagged as 
vanity call sign holders in the FCC's Universal Licensing System.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC AFFIRMS $21,000 FINE AGAINST K1MAN

The FCC has affirmed a $21,000 fine levied against International Amateur 
Radio Network founder Glenn Baxter, K1MAN, of Bellgrade Lakes, Maine.  
This, for interference with the ongoing communications of other Amateur 
radio stations, failure to exercise station control, transmission of 
communications in which the FCC says that Baxter had a pecuniary interest, 
and transmission of communications that the agency claims to hace 
constituted nin permissible broadcasting.  The FCC also cited K1MAN for 
willful and repeated failure to file required information pursuant to an 
Enforcement Bureau directive.

The FCC issued Baxter a $21,000 Notice of Apparent  Liability back on June 
7, 2005.  K1MAN submitted a reply on June 16th denying any liability for the 
forfeiture amount.  In his defense Baxter cited the Fifth and Sixth 
amendments to the United States Constitution.  Baxter requested that he be 
supplied all documentation regarding the alleged apparent liability and a 
trial like hearing before the full Commission.   

In his reply, Baxter noted that, although he previously had received three 
Notices of Apparent Liability, he has not been able to appeal those to the 
full Commission.  Therefore he claimed that he repeatedly had been denied 
access to the Washington D.C. Court of Appeals in the pursuit of due 
process of law as guaranteed by the United States Constitution.  But says 
the FCC, Baxter did not submit any substantive responses to the apparent 
violations set forth in the proposed fine.  

In affirming the forfeiture order, the FCC noted that it is not under any 
obligation to provide a hearing when a proposed fine is being challenged.  
It also noted that in this case Baxter has not shown that there is any 
reason for the FCC to follow anything but its ordinary procedures for 
monetary forfeitures or that a hearing will better serve the ends of 
justice.  

The FCC said that Baxter received notice regarding the legal and factual 
bases for the apparent violations and proposed forfeiture and had been 
afforded an opportunity to respond as to why such forfeiture penalty should 
not be imposed. The agency notes that although Baxter categorically claims 
no liability for the forfeiture, he has chosen not to present any specific 
exculpatory arguments or evidence in response to the violations set forth 
in the liability notice.  The FCC says that a licensee's decision to forego 
the opportunity to present arguments and evidence in response to a Notice 
of Apparent Liability does not create a right to a hearing and, accordingly 
the FCC concludes that an evidentiary hearing is not required in this case.
K1MAN was given 30 days from the March 29th release of the order to pay the 
$21,000 fine.  The FCC decision to deny him a hearing leaves few options 
other than to pay the fine.  (FCC)

**

RADIO LAW:  FCC DENIES REC NETWORKS PETITION IN BAXTER CASE

In the same order affirming the $21,000 fine against K1MAN, the FCC also 
dismissed a partial reconsideration petition from R-E-C Network's.  
REC has sought permission to file Amicus Pleading in the case.  This was 
because it was worried that findings in the liability notice issued to 
Baxter contained references to websites regarding ham radio stations.  It 
was concerned that the findings in the Baxter matter may impact other 
Amateur Service licensees.  

But in dismissing the REC petition the FCC said that such a filing is more 
appropriately addressed by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau.  This 
says the FCC is the bureau within the agency is responsible for 
implementing rules and policies with regard to the Amateur Radio Service.  
It suggested that if REC wanted to have a policy decision made that it file 
its request with the W-T-B.   (FCC)
**

ENFORCEMENT:  HAVE WE GOT A DEAL FOR YOU

If the TV show "Lets Make A Deal" was running the FCC Enforcement Bureau, 
its host might be offering a California radio amateur a deal of sorts.  But 
its not necessarily the kind of deal that the ham would be very happy with.  
Amateur raduio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more:

--

In reality it is the FCC running the FCC 's enforcement and it has offered 
Steve L.  Wingate, KG6TXH,  of Corta  Madera, California a very simple 
trade.  He can voluntarily give up his ham ticket for two years or face the 
kind of enforcement action that could lead to a hefty fine and the possible 
permanent loss of his license.  

According a an FCC release, Wingates problems with the agency date back to 
April 2004.  That's when it issued him a Warning Notice alleging deliberate 
interference on 75 meters.  The FCC says hat this included jamming, making 
threats to other operators and to law enforcement officers.   It also said 
that his transmissions included broadcasts in which the FCC claims that he 
appeared incoherent.  

Wingate wrote back with an apology and promised not to let it happen again.  
But it apparently did.  And in November 2004 the FCC sent Wingate another 
warning letter.  Wingate responded in December 2004 saying he did not 
recall making the transmission and again promising comply with the rules.

But in another letter issued in late February of this year the FCC notes 
that its Enforcement Bureau has continued to receive complaints about 
Wingate's operation since January 2005.  The agency says that those 
complaints determined to be legitimate show a pattern of similar alleged 
violations to those for which Wingate has already been warned twice.  

So the choice.  The FCC is giving KG6TXH a simple option of going off the 
air for two years.  If he refuses the offer he may face the prospect of 
enforcement action that could eventually put him off the air permanently.  
The agency says the decision is up to him.

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

--

No word yet from the FCC on what Wingate's response has been.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: PIRATE BROADCASTER HARASSING MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Pilots departing from Miami International Airport are getting an earful of 
something Hip-Hop music.  This, from a pirate radio station that seems to 
delight in interfere with their communications with the control tower.

The broadcaster causing the interference calls itself Da Streetz.  
Authorities traced the stations signals to an antenna at a nearby warehouse 
but did not find the disc jockey at that location.  They did confiscate 
equipment including three computers and a CD player but despite that 
seizure authorities say the broadcasts have continued. Authorities said the 
owner of the warehouse had no idea the building was being used by an 
illegal radio station.

Kathleen Bergen, a Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman says that 
the interference is intermittent but significant.  She told the press that 
pilots who are interfered with have been instructed to switch to a 
different frequency to speak with air traffic controllers.

The FAA said it has conducted about 30 similar investigations of pirate 
broadcasts interfering with airport transmissions in the past decade.  The 
Florida Department of Law Enforcement is helping with the investigation 
under a state law that went into effect a year ago. That state law makes it 
a felony to interfere with other radio signals from licensed public or 
commercial stations, or to broadcast without a license.  Needless to say 
that any help in finding the interfereing station would likely be 
appreciated by those investigating the case.  (FAA, Published reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  YOU CANT SELL THAT TRANSMITTER

The FCC has hit Gibson Tech Ed, Inc. of Orem, Utah, with an order to pay a 
$14,000 forfeiture order.  This for allegedly marketing of two models of 
unauthorized FM broadcast transmitters. 

Back on September 1st, 2005, the Enforcement Bureau's Spectrum Enforcement 
Division issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount 
of $14,000 to Gibson Tech Ed. Gibson has not filed a response to the N-A-L.  
Based on the information before it, the FCC has now affirmed the 
forfeiture. 

Gibson was given the customary 30 days from the March 17th FCC decision to 
pay the fine or to file a further appeal.  (FCC)

**

HAM RADIO TESTING:  NCVEC WITHDRAWS TECH POOL QUESTION T3B11

This note to all ham radio Volunteer Examineers.  The Question Pool 
Committee of the National Conference of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators 
says that it is withdrawing question T3B11 in the 2006 Technician pool.  
According to the Question Pool Chairman Jim Wiley, that question turns out 
to be ambiguous.  This is because two of the listed answers could be 
considered as correct depending on which part of the FCC rules is used as a 
reference.  (QPC)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  NYC SCOUT-O-RAMA AND HAM RADIO

Boy Scouts in New York City are coming to the ham bands for a very special 
event.  Aateur Rado Newsline's Evi Simons, reports

--

On April 8th members of  the New York City District Amateur Radio Emergency 
Service will be providing Amateur Radio support to Boy Scouts from the 
Theodore Roosevelt Council in Nassau County, New York.  This, during their 
2006 Camp-o-ree at historic Floyd Bennett Air Field.  

The purpose of the event is to promote the Amateur Radio Service and help 
the Scouts gain the on the air experience necessary for earning their Radio 
Merit Badge rating.  ARES members will provide High Frequency as well as V-
H-F, U-H-F and packet stations for demonstration and hands-on use by the 
Scouts.

The Scouts will be calling CQ on both 20 and 40 meters from approximately 
14:00 to 21:00 U-T-C.   They will be calling on 14 point 255 and 7 point 
255 Megahertz, both plus or minus 15 Kilohertz.  

The QSL Manager for the operation is Mike Lisenco, N2YBB whose address is 
good in the latest callbook.  Please include a self-addressed stamped 
envelope when requesting a card.  

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

--

Members of the Kings County Radio Club, who meet monthly at Floyd Bennett 
Field, will also be on hand to support the event.  Also, please kep in mind 
that each Scout participating I the outing will be attempting to get at 
least a three minute QSO as part of their merit badge requirements.  So 
please give them a hand by answering their calls.  (Via E-Mail)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  PAPERS SOLICITED FOR ARRL AND TAPR DCC

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 25th Annual ARRL and 
Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Digital Communications Conference slated to be 
held September 15th to the 17th in Tucson, Arizona.  Papers will also be 
published exactly as submitted in the Conference Proceedings but you do not  
need to attend the conference to have yours included.  

The deadline is July 31st authors will retain all rights to what they 
submit. Submissions go by mail to Maty Weinberg at ARRL Headquarters, 225 
Main Street, Newington, Connecticut,  06111.  Or you can make your 
submission via e-mail to maty at arrl.org  (ARRL via VHF Reflector)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  THE 1906 GREAT EARTHQUAKE AND FIRE EXPO IN SFO

California's San Francisco Amateur Radio Club will have a booth set up at 
the 1906 Great Earthquake & Fire Expo to be held April 15th to the 17th.   
According to club spokesman George Hughs, W0WEB, this April marks the  
centennial month of the magnitude 8 earthquake that shook the San Francisco 
Bay Area just after 5 a.m. on April 18, 1906:

--

Hughs:  "We are look forwards to greeting many people and are planning to 
have 20- 30 hams on site for hands on displays for our guests to check out 
as well as some on the air events and demo of Amateur radio."

--

Hughs says that the club will also promote amateur radio with ARRL handouts 
and information on how to obtain a license as well as demonstrating how 
important the service is during a disaster.  A special event station using 
the famed club call W6PW is also planned. 

The venue of the 1906 Great Earthquake & Fire Expo is Pier48 in San 
Francisco.   More information is available by going to the club's website 
at www.sfarc.org or the expo site at www.1906expo.com.  (SFARC, WA6UHA, 
W0WEB)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  WA6ITF TO BE BANQUET SPEAKER AT RENO'S EMCOMMWEST 2006

Amateur Radio Newsline's own Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, will be this years 
featured banquet speaker at EMCOMMWEST 2006 skated for May 6th and 7th in 
Reno, Nevada.  

This annual conference is centered around emergency communications.  This 
year  much of itwill center on response to large-scale disasters, such as 
Hurricane Katrina, and how amateur radio was there when all else failed.  
An ARRL sponsored forum will include a  panel discussion of areas of 
concern to amateur radio and planning for the future of emergency response 
operations.

EMCOMMWEST 2006  will be held at the Atlantis Hotel and Resort in Reno. For 
registration for the conference, banquet and special room rates at the 
hotel, log on to www.emcommwest.org or by e-mail to either Don Carlson at 
kq6fm at charter.net or Dee Arnold, KA7LOZ to deearnold at charter.net  
(EMCOMMWEST)

**  

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  PAUL FLAHERTY, N9FZX, CREATOR OF THE VHF REFLECTOR 
- SK

Thie changing of the guard in Amateur Radio continues.  This with the sad 
news that Paul Flaherty, N9FZX, the founder and creator of the Alta Vista 
Web seach engine and founder W6YX VHF Reflector passed suddenly away on 
Thursday March 16th of an apparent heart attack. 

A PhD graduate in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, Flaherty 
was President of the Stanford Amateur Radio Club for several years in the 
mid 1990's.  It was during his tenure that he created the cyberspace 
meeting hall called the VHF Reflector that over the years has become a 
prime channel of information between weak signal VHF and UHF experimenters, 
world wide.

In the dot com world Flaherty was best known as a co-creator of AltaVista.  
This is one of the earliest of the truly successful web search engines.  At 
the time of his death, he was Product/Strategy Vice President at Talk Plus. 
Paul Flaherty, N\9FZX was only age 42  (VHF Reflector).

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  KC5ACR WORKS 35th SCHOOL FROM SPACE

Twelve students at Canada's Sir James Lougheed Elementary School, talked 
with ISS Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, on March 21st.  The 
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station  program had arranged the 
direct QSO between VE6AFO at the school with school principal Deb 
Warmington at the microphone, and McArthur operating as NA1SS in space:

--

Deb Warrington:  "NA1SS this is VE6AFO, over."

McArthur:  "VE6AFO, this is NA1SS.  Good afternoon.  (Applause)

--

One student named Emma wanted to know if the astronauts could warn people 
from the space station about hurricanes and other bad weather so we could 
avoid the New Orleans disaster in the future? 

--

McArthur: "We can certainly see hurricanes and other bad weather from the 
space station although fortunately it is more important we rely on 
satellites whose primary job is to just look for bad weather."

--

On a question from one student who asked about recycling on the space 
station, McArthur explained that they recycle water to get oxygen, which 
they breath, and the paper they use for their computer printers--"we always 
print on both sides!"  But the one that likely will be long remembered came 
from a 6th grader named Sarah:

--

Sarah: "Im Sarah from grade 6.  My question is, how do you brush your teeth 
in space?  Over."

McArthur:  "Sarah, I brush my teeth just as you do with a tooth-brush that 
probably loks very much like yours and I don't tell anybody, but I just use 
regular crest toothpaste up here although we do have some Colgate if you 
like that taste better. "

--

According to Ken Oelke, VE6AFO, the team of radio amateurs coordinated 
their efforts through QCWA Wild Rose Chapter 151.  They set up the 
satellite station at the school which  included automatic antenna tracking 
on the primary station.  The  equipment was located in the school 
gymnasium, where an audience of 300 students, parents, grandparents, 
teachers and other dignitaries followed the contact. These included 
representatives from First Air and WestJet who made it possible for ARISS 
Mentor Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD and his wife Lori to attend from Ottawa, 
Ontario.  The NA1SS signal was loud and clear throughout the nearly 9-
minute contact, which drew cheers and applause from students and audience 
as it ended:

--

Deb Warmington:  "Lets give a big cheer for Commander McArthur and the 
space station.  (Applause)

--

The contact attracted the attention of news media, local newspapers, 
Calgary Board of Education and even a Member of the Canadian Parliament.  
The Sir James Lougheed Elementary School contact marked the 35th ARISS 
School QSO that Bill McArthur has handled.  That's a record for any member 
of an I-S-S crew.  (VA6AE, ARISS)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  MOTOROLA TO GOOGLE ITS PHONES

Motorola Inc. plans to launch mobile phones carrying a Google search icon.  
This, as the world's number-two cell-phone maker looks to ride the web 
search giant's popularity among Internet users to boost handset sales. 

In a recent press release Motorola said the three-year alliance will see it 
launch phones carrying Google, which it hopes will lure mobile users to 
access the Internet. Google has become synonymous with the Internet for 
many, with its website the first port of call for millions of web users. 
(Mororola)

**

TECHNICAL NOTES:  NEED FOR EXTENSIVE RF FILTERING ON COMPLEX SITES

Ed Tipler, WI6RE, of Tortoise Communications, in Ridgecrest, California is 
both a Professional Engineer as well as a radio amateur.  Writing in the 
CGC Communicator, Ed reminds us that the FCC's spurious emission standards 
for FM broadcast transmitters are totally inadequate to protect land-mobile 
receivers nearby.  Ordinarily, a special outboard "window" filter must be 
added to an FM transmitter to pass the desired frequency, and reject 
everything else.  The exception comes at sites that are designated 
"Broadcast Primary," where no great effort is made to protect sensitive 
receivers.

If your transmitter is installed on a shared site and you need to protect 
receivers nearby, it would not be surprising if you needed an additional 80 
dB or more of wideband filtering, even for a 1 kW transmitter.  Simply 
saying, "My transmitter 
meets FCC specs" is not good enough.  

Ed adds that the 80 dB specification that comes with many broadcast 
transmitters is entirely inadequate at complex sites.  At least another 80 
dB of suppression will be needed in most cases.  (CGC)

**

DX

In DX, Peter Hines, N6ZE, tells Newsline that he  plans to be operating VHF 
portable 2 from midtown Manhattan, New York, on the evening of Tuesday, 
April 4th Eastern time.  Pete says he will use 2 watts into a dipole on 2m 
SSB, CW and FM from a hotel in grid square FN30 during the Spring 2 Meter 
Sprint.  QSL to Pete's home Callbook address.  (N6ZE)

Much lower in frequency, ON7KEC, will be active portablr  9Q from the 
Democratic Republic of the Congo during a business trip in early April 
through late July.  Activity will be limited to his spare time. QSL direct 
to his home call.  (OPDX)

And K9EL, will be active stroke FS from Saintr Martin through April 11th.  
He will be using an IC-735 barefoot and verticalantennas for 80- to 10 
meters. QSL callbook address.  (OPDX)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  PIERRE AND THE SUN ON APRIL THE 1ST 

And finally last week we reported that scientists at NASA said that they 
had  learned that the sunspot cycle actually lasts about 40 years, and that 
we may have the best solar cycle since the late 1950s when Cycle 24 begins 
next year or the year after.  Well there is now another school of thought 
emerging and Amateur Radio Newsline roving reporter Pierre Pullinmyleg 
roves in from his ultra secret high frequency sideband radio site with this 
exclusive, first of April report:

--

Zee news from NASA zat the sunspot cycle is controlled by a giant conveyer 
belt on the sun has brought new understanding to the reasons why there are 
so few sunspots at this bottom point in the 11-year sunspot cycle. It is 
because all of the sunspots now are on zee  bottom of zee sun.  Zis is why 
they call it zee bottom of zee cycle. 

If zee Earth orbited above and below the sun instead of around it, then 
there would be many, many sunspots and wonderful radio propagation whenever 
we passed underneath the sun.  Instead, our planet orbits around zee center 
of the sun, giving us zah most sunspots at zee middle of za cycle. We 
commonly call this zee top of zah cycle, but in fact zee end of one cycle 
is zah beginning of the next and the peak conditions occur at the middle of 
the cycle. 

Scientists are now working on plans to develop and launch giant ionospheric 
mirrors on a fleet of satellites zat would be placed into polar orbits 
around zee sun. Zeeze mirrors would be tilted so zat they point toward the 
Earth and redirect sunspot radiation from zee bottom of the sun toward 
Earth's ionosphere. In this way, zay zah, the sunspot cycle could be 
smoothed out so that there is very little variation from bottom to middle 
to bottom. 

>From za bottom end of 10 meters, this eezz Pierre Pullinmyleg, reporting 
for zee Newsline.

--

Thank you, Pierre. We can count on Pierre at the beginning of every April 
to shed new light on complex matters in Amateur Radio such as sunspots and 
their effect on radio propagation.  Although in this case some might say 
that Pierre may have spent a little to much time out in the sun without a 
hat on April 1st.  (The Pierre Pullinmyleg Institute of Scientific 
Investigation and Publication)

**

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 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. 

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 at Web Designs by Kevin by our 
1993 recipient Kevin Boudreaux, N5XMH.  Its in cyberspace at www.yhoty.org.  
Again. that's www.yhoty.org