[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline 1497 - April 21, 2006
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Sun Apr 23 09:44:20 EDT 2006
Amateur Radio Newsline 1497 - April 21, 2006
The following is a Q-S-T. The closing of a U-K research service may impact
on ham radio, frequency hopping power supplies could become a new source of
interference and the happy ending to a repeater interference problem in the
U-S-A. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1497
coming your way right now.
**
RADIO SCIENCE: UK CLOSURE WILL AFFECT RADIO RESEARCH
A major scientific project that benefits ham radio is about to be shut
down. This with the announcement of the pending closure of the United
Kingdom's Ionosondes research facilities at Chilton in the Northern
Hemisphere and Port Stanley in the Southern Hemisphere. Rob Mount Barker,
VK5MM, reports:
--
The UK's Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) is said to
be about to withdraw all funding from the UK ionosondes program.
Unless this decision is reversed, or alternative funding is found by the
end of June, this will mean the closure of the ionospheric monitoring
stations at Chilton in the UK and at Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands
The Port Stanley ionosonde has been taking data since 1945, making it one
of the longest time series of ionospheric data anywhere in the southern
hemisphere.
The Chilton ionosonde has just celebrated 75 years of regular soundings of
the ionosphere, the longest sequence of ionospheric data anywhere in the
world.
I'm Rob, VK5MM.
--
This suggested closure of the Chilton and Port Stanley Ionosondes will cut
off valuable research and long-term data. It will also leave crucial gaps
in coverage at the Northwestern edge of Europe and across the South
Atlantic. This would be a significant loss to the ionospheric, solar-
terrestrial, upper atmosphere and radio propagation sciences. (WIA News)
**
RESTRUCTURING: CHANGES COMING IN THE UK
U-K hams will soon have free licenses for life, but there is a catch. They
are only free if you get them over the Internet. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is
here to explain the changes that hams in the United Kingdom will soon face:
--
Telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced proposed changes to fees
for Wireless Telegraphy Licenses. The main change is that the licenses,
which will be valid for life, will be free if they are obtained over the
internet.
There will however be a charge of 20 if the licence is obtained by a
method other than the internet; for example, by writing to Ofcom. This
compares with the current arrangement whereby amateurs pay 15 each year to
renew their licence unless they are under 21 or over 75 years of age, in
which case they get their licence free.
There will be no age concessions under the new proposals. Anyone who
obtains a license by a method other than the internet will have to pay the
20 fee, regardless of their age.
--
Jeramy adds that Amateur radio variations including the authorisation of
repeaters and internet gateway connections will remain free of charge.
(GB2RS)
**
EMI WORRY: DITHERING" USED TO SPREAD POWER SUPPLY RFI
Back on the ground, its well known that switching type power supplies can
generate nasty R-F-I spurs particularly in the A-M broadcast band. Now,
some designers are turning toward dithering the power supply switching
frequency courtesy of a built-in random number generator to move the
interference around.
Dithering is really a buzzword standing for intentional frequency shifting.
With this approach, instead of having a lot of intrference on one
frequency, the R-F-I will be thinned out and spread across a swath of the
R-F spectrum. This means gear using dithered power supplies could,
conceivably, wind up bothering a frequency near you. (CGC)
**
THE BPL FIGHT: BPL NOT MAKING MUCH MARKET SHARE IN THE USA
Speaking about interference, recent FCC statistics on the status of high-
speed Internet services in the United States indicate a minuscule market
share for Broadband Over Power line access. So says the ARRL Letter in
quoting statistics from an FCC Wireline Competition Bureau report, titled
High-Speed Services for Internet Access Status.
The report, dated June 30th of 2005 puts the number of business and
residential "Power Line and Other" connections that deliver at speeds
greater than 200 kilobaud Per Second in at least one direction at a tiny
4,872. By comparison., the total number of high-speed lines for all
technologies is 42,866,469 with the majority of these being DSL, cable and
traditional wireline connections.
Although some data has been withheld as proprietary, the FCC report
indicates there are 18 "Power Line and Other" high-speed providers
nationwide. All facilities based broadband providers must report the
number of high speed connections in service to the FCC twice a year.
(ARRL)
**
VANITY CALLS: ARRL VEC ANNOUNCES VANITY CALL SIGN LICENSE RENEWAL PROGRAM
The ARRL Letter reports that the League's VEC Program now can process
license renewals for vanity call sign holders, but it will charge for a
modest fee. The service is available to ARRL members and nonmembers,
although League members will pay less.
The League believes that 2006 is an appropriate year for the ARRL VEC to
implement this service, since the licenses of the many radio amateurs who
obtained their vanity call signs as a result of the FCC program that went
into effect in 1996 and will expire this year. The first of those licenses
are due to expire in June. Routine, non-vanity renewals continue to be
processed at no cost for ARRL members.
Information on the ARRL's new program is on its website at www.arrl.org.
(ARRL)
**
RADIO LAW: TV NETS TO FIGHT INDECENCY FINES
Four United States TV broadcast networks and their affiliates have filed
court challenges to a March 15 Federal Communications Commission ruling.
One that found several programs "indecent" because of their language.
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, along with their network affiliate associations and
the Hearst-Argyle Television group of stations have filed notices of appeal
in various federal courts. This includes jurisdictions in Washington,
D.C., and New York.
The move represents protest against the aggressive enforcement of federal
indecency regulations by the FCC. Rules that broadcasters have complained
are vague and inconsistently applied. Millions of dollars in fines have
been levied based on those set of laws. (Published reports)
**
ENFORCEMENT: PLEASE DECIDE WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE
Russell I. McCloskey, KB6VDT, of Oroville, California has been asked by the
FCC to decide what he wants to update or correct on his license records.
Also, to explain that to the regulatory agency in writing.
It seems that since December 27, 2005, McCloskey has filed 61 applications
for administrative update to his license records. The Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau has now referred these applications to the
Enforcement office for review. It tells McCloskey that until it receives a
satisfactory explanation of what he is attempting to accomplish, no
further applications to modify or change KD6VDT will be accepted by the
FCC. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: COOPERATION LEADS TO A HAPPY ENDING
Cooperation has written a positive end to a repeater to repeater
interference situation in Connecticut. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:
--
Back on December 6, 2005 the FCC notified the Greater Norwalk Amateur Radio
Club of Connecticut, operating as K1OF, that it had received a complaint of
interference to a coordinated repeater. This one operating under the call
W2ZPX.
The Greater Norwalk club not only addressed the complaint. It also
provided the FCC with detailed information from both from the former and
current trustee.
The data the club submitted indicates that it had replaced the trustee of
the repeater and moved the system back to Norwalk Hospital where it had
been coordinated 12 years ago. Also, that the club had changed the
repeaters call sign to W1NLK and applied for coordination under the new
call.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the City of
Angels.
--
The FCC seems very happy with these developments. It says that in view of
the information it has received, that it appears that no action is
necessary at this time. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: A WIFI FINE
The FCC has fined Hawking Technologies, Inc. $17,600. This, for willful
and repeated violation of Section 302(b) of the Communications Act of 1934,
by marketing external radio frequency power amplifiers in a manner that was
inconsistent with the terms of its equipment authorization and the
prohibition against the marketing of such devices.
In December 2004 the Enforcement Bureau received complaints alleging that
Hawking was illegally marketing the Hawking Model HSB1 external Wi Fi radio
frequency power amplifier for individual sale. The FCC notes that Hawking's
equipment authorization provides that the H-S-B One may be used only with
wireless access points.
As a result of its investigation the FCC issued Hawkings a Notice of
Apparent Liability in the amount of $22,000. Hawkings appealed based on
prior compliance with all FCC rules. On April 13th the FCC decided to lower
it by $5500 and has ordered Hawkings to pay the $17,5000 amount within 30
days. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: COURT FORCES FREE RADIO BRATTLEBORO FORCED TO GO QRT
The long-standing battle of unlicensed station Free Radio Brattleboro vs.
the FCC seems to be over. This, according to Vermont's Rutland Herald
which says that the government has won this battle in court. Amateur Radio
Newslines Scott Palacheck, KC0VUY reports:
--
The newspaper story says that that Federal Court Judge J. Garvan Murtha
granted summary judgment in favor of the FCC on March 31st. In it he ruled
that the now defunct community radio station can never resume broadcasting
without a federal license. Judge Murtha's 12-page ruling also prohibits
all persons in active concert or participation with the former 10-watt
radio station in Brattleboro Vermont from ever going back to the airwaves
without a license or waiver from the federal government.
The legal battle began when the FCC forced Free Radio Brattleboro off the
air in June 2003 after receiving complaints its broadcasts interfered with
a Massachusetts based public radio station. The station turned to the
community and received resolutions of support at a town meeting and from
the Brattleboro Select Board before resuming broadcasts. But even they
could not convince the government to permit Radio Free Brattleboro to
remain on the air.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Scott Palacheck, KC0VUY.
--
The station's attorney said an appeal is not likely. The case is unusual
because the unlicensed broadcasters had won the support of the town.
(Rutland Herald)
**
RADIO TECHNOLOGY: THE HISTORY OF THE "VU" METER
Mike Dorrough, KO6NM, of Dorrough Electronics has created a web video that
explains the history of audio metering. It also covers the technical
details behind the VU, PPM and Dorrough Loudness meters. Yiou will find it
all at www.dorrough.com/dorrough/techdoc/multimedia/mmedia.html (CGC)
**
SPECIAL EVENT: SCOUTS ON THE AIR AS K2BSA/6
The Sierra Amateur Radio Club of Ridgecrest California will bring a field
demonstration station to the Kern Area Boy Scout Camporall on Saturday
April 22nd. The station will feature a solar powered low power High
Frequency station with multi-band antenna. This will allow Scouts to talk
with other amateurs on 40, 20 and maybe 17 meters. The location is near
Lake Isabella using the call sign K2BSA portable 6. QSL via WA6ARA
(WA6ARA)
**
SPECIAL EVENT: NYC RADIO AMATEURS HONOR SAMUEL F. B. MORSE
Brooklyn, New York's, Kings County Repeater Association will honor the
memory of Telegraph pioneer Samuel F. B. Morse on Sunday June 18th. That's
the 134th Anniversary of his interment after having passed away on April 2,
1872,
.
A brief memorial service and wreath lying will be held at Morse' grave in
Brooklyn's Green-Wood Cemetery at 10:30 AM. Afterwards, the KCRA will
operate a Special Event Station from the cemetery beginning at 11:30 AM
Eastern Time and continue until 3:00 PM.
The call to be used will be KC2RA on 80 through 10 meter C-W and SSB. The
club's 2 meter repeater will be the talk-in frequency for anyone visiting
the site. The repeater can be accessed on 146.430 with a + 1MHz split and
a PL of 136.5 HZ.
There will also be a special QSL card issued to those making contact with
K-C-2-R-A. Stations making contact who wish to receive this QSL card
should send a self addressed stamped envelope to the Kings County Repeater
Association, Samuel Morse Memorial Special Event , P.O. Box 280288,
Brooklyn, New York. The zipcode is 11228.
Anyone seeking further information about this event can email
n2bmu at arrl.net. On the web information is at www.kc2ra.com. (KCRA)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: HAM HONORED BY SBA AS KATRINA HERO
Some names in the news. First is Brice Phillips, KB5MPW, of WQRZ Radio in
Hancock County Mississippi has received the coveted Phoenix Award. This
for his Outstanding Contributions to Disaster Recovery by a Volunteer in
the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
As the storm approached the Mississippi Coast, Phillips loaded his van with
transmitters and extra antennas and relocated WQRZ radio to the county's
emergency operations center. As the storm surge waters reached the
building's second level, Phillips braved the elements and rigged his car
batteries to power the station's broadcasting of search and rescue
information. WQRZ was one of only four Gulf Coast radio stations that
stayed on the air in the early days after Katrina struck.
The Phoenix Award is an acknowledgment of their heroic efforts, and a token
of appreciation for their support of the physical and economic recovery
efforts in the Gulf Coast and Florida. Since 1998, the SBA has presented
the Phoenix Awards to business owners and individuals who displayed
courage, resourcefulness and tenacity in the aftermath of a disaster, while
contributing to the rebuilding of their communities. (RW)
**
NAMES IN THEN NEWS: ART BELL, W6OBB, REMARIES
And words of congratulations to talk radio host Art Bell, W6OBB, and his
new wife Airyn Ruiz Bell. During the first hour of his weekend Coast-to-
Coast AM broadcast of April 15th, Art shared the story of how he met, fell
in love with, and married his new bride. He also announced that he will
be moving to the Philippines on April 29th to be with Airyn, but will
continue doing weekend Coast programs from that location. The remote
broadcasts are expected to begin a few weeks after Bell relocates. Photos
of Art and Airyn's wedding can be viewed at
www.coasttocoastam.com/gen/page1405.html?theme=light (W8HDU, others)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: FCC COMMISSIONER MARTIN TO BE AT NAB
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has agreed to speak at this weeks National
Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas. Martin, who recently
noted a year in the chairman's seat, will appear Tuesday, April 25 at the
FCC Chairman's Breakfast which is a part of the Business, Law & Regulation
Conference. (RW)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: A NEW SPIN ON IT
UCLA is teaming up with three other California universities to develop a
research institute to develop a new technology called Spintronics.
Spintronics is the idea that energy spins around electrons, but is not used
to power anything. By harnessing that energy, researchers hope to make
computers, cell phones and other electronics smaller, faster and more
powerful.
About 30 researchers from UCLA, UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley and Stanford
will explore this semiconductor technology as part of the Western Institute
of Nanoelectronics research project. (LA Times)
**
EMI COMPATABILITY: AIRBORNE CELLPHONES
According to a new study, talking on cellphones or using laptop computers
on an airplane could disrupt cockpit operations. This, especially now that
global positioning devices that are increasingly being used to help land
planes safely,
These days, airline passengers are instructed to turn off all their
portable electronic devices during a plane's landing and takeoff. Only
after a plane has reached a specified altitude airlines generally allow
passengers to use laptops or game devices. The FAA bans cellphone use
during any part of a flight.
In this study researchers monitored flights in the crowded U-S north-east
flight corridor using an FAA approved broadband receiver that was attached
to a portable spectrum analyzer in a piece of carry-on luggage. They found
that passengers disobey crew orders and that typically several calls are
made during takeoff or final approach. These are the two critical flight
stages when accidents could occur.
The researchers at Carnegie Mellon have recommended that the FAA and FCC
work together to investigate in-flight use of cellphones. Also, the
researchers recommended on-board radio emissions be monitored regularly by
flight data recorders.
The Federal Communications Commission has commissioned a private,
independent firm to study in-flight use of cellphones. The results of the
study are due by the end of the year. (Science OnLine)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: NEW MICRO-WEATHERSATS LAUNCHED
A rocket carrying six small weather satellites has blasted off on a five-
year mission to track hurricanes, monitor climate change and study space
weather. The satellites launched on April 14th are a joint venture by
Taiwan and the U-S-A. They were launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base
aboard a Minotaur rocket. The information gathered by these birds will be
used to enhance research and improve weather forecasting. Scientists hope
the data will help them better track storms and monitor long-term climate
change. (NASA)
**
WORLDBEAT - GERMANY: DRO6SOCCER IN GERMANY IN JUNE
DRO6SOCCER is the special callsign to be used to celebrate the FIFA Soccer
World Cup 2006 which is to be held in Germany from June 9th to July 9th.
The callsign will be used members of the DARC district group A07 in
Karlsruhe. A special QSL card will confirm contacts made. Further
information is at www.dl5dcl.de.vu (GB2RS)
**
WORLDBEAT - SOUTH AFRICA: SARL OPTIMISTIC ON GROWTH
The South Africa Radio League's leader says that he is optimistic about the
organizations growth. But SARL President Graham Hartlett, ZS6GJH, is
urging non-members to take up membership.
The SARL membership fee for ordinary members will increase by 5% and club
affiliation dues have also seen an increase. Pensioner membership All
other categories will remain the same as 2005.
The South African Radio League currently has 1280 members. Thats up by
about 100 over last year at this time. (SARL)
**
DX
In D-X, news that Finnish DXers OH2BH and OH2KI are flying to Andaman
Island in the Indian Ocean to put the VU4 prefix on the air for about a
week. Andaman Island is a rare entity for DXCC and huge pile ups are
expected. QSL as directed on the air.
Also, word that F6DPD, will be active from the Maldives as 8Q7FB though
April 24th. Operation is from Kuramathi Island using 100 watts into a
vertical antenna. Activity will be mainly on 40, 20 and 17 meters on SSB
and PSK. This will be a holiday style DXpedition. QSL via the bureau to
F6DPD
And DL2GAC will be active from Honiara, the capital of the Solomons, as
H44MS until April 27th. Operation is on 80 to 10 meters on S-S-B only.
QSL direct to his home callsign DL2GAC.
Above information from various DX publications)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: THE 206 NAB HA RADIO ECEPTION IN LAS VEGAS
If you plan on attending the 2006 National Association of Broadcasters
convention in Las Vegas, put aside a few hours on Wednesday evening, April
26th for the annual NAB Ham Radio Reception.
Once again the event will be hosted by Bob Heil. K9EID, and his wife Sarah
of Heil Sound Limited. The Heil's promise a fun time and are planning some
appearances by some of their special friends. But more important, it's a
chance to see a lot of faces that hams in the broadcast business only see
once every 12 months:
--
Bob Heil: "This is one of the highlights of the NAB show. Last year we
had over 800 licensed Amateur Radio operators in attendence. My wife Sarah
sees to it that everyone is fed well and that bobody goes away thirsty."
--
Bob and Sarah will also be giving away dozens of prizes given during the
two hour reception. This includes several of the new Heil Pro series
microphones signed by famed guitarist Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, of the Eagles.
Again, the NABHam Radio Reception is slated for Wednesdy, April 26th from 6
to 8 P.M. in Ballroom B of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. For more
Information please feel to contact Bob or Sarah Heil at 618-257-3000 or E-
mail Bob at heilsound.com (ARNewslineT, K9EID)
**
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 @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
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Auckland, New Zealand, saying 73 and we thank you for
listening." Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2006. All rights
reserved.
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