[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1500 - May 12th, 2006
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Sun May 14 09:00:23 EDT 2006
Amateur Radio Newsline 1500 - May 12th, 2006
Ladies and gentlemen, with a word about this 1500th commemorative newscast,
here's our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:
--
This will be a relatively short announcement. I promise.
With this 1500th consecutive newscast, Amateur Radio Newsline has reached
another milestone. Close to 29 years of bringing you the news of Amateur
Radio, personal communications and emerging communications technologies. I
won't go into our history, but I do want to thank two very special groups
of people.
First are the volunteers who make up the all volunteer Amateur Radio News
team. The three dozen or so folks spread around the globe who research,
report and anchor these weekly newscasts. The folks who are the "sound" of
Amateur Radio Newsline. Some like Jim Davis, W2JKD, Alan Kaul, W6RCL and
Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, have been with us since our early days as Westlink
Radio. Others like Don Carlson,, KQ6FM, are making their debut with us
this week. But new or old makes no difference. What's important is that
each one cares about the hobby and wants to share his or her knowledge with
you. And to all who have ever been a part of the news reporting team, I
say thank-you for being her to devote your time and talent to keeping the
weekly Newsline reports coming everyone's way.
And to the second group. To our thousands or maybe 10's of thousands of
listeners out there, I say thanks to you as well. Thank you for caring
about Newsline through your ongoing support. Thank you for your letters of
support and of criticism. Thank you for being there each week, either as a
bulletin station replaying the newscast or as a listener. We hope and pray
we have served your needs until now, and we promise to strive even harder
in the coming weeks, months and years to bring to you the most up to date
and accurate weekly bulletin that we can.
When we were planning how to celebrate this special milestone, it occurred
to us that what we really should do is what we do best. Bring you a
newscast that is timely and relevant. And that's what we do this week as
we try to do every week.
So as they say on Broadway, lets go on with the show. Welcome to Amateur
Radio Newsline report, number 1500.
--
A telecommunications industry leader calls for more rescue radio bandspace,
a drill is scheduled to test a tsunami warning system and the BPL drama
heats up in South Africa. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline
report number 1500 coming your way right now.
**
RESCUE RADIO: WIRELESS EXEC WANTS EXTRA E-COMMS SPECTRUM
A wireless industry executives say that more spectrum should be reserved
for public safety and emergency workers in the United States. This, so as
to guarantee they can communicate with each other in disasters. We have
more in this report from Amateur Radio Newsline's Evi Simons in New York:
--
Morgan O'Brien, who co-founded Nextel Communications, is urging the
government to withhold 30 MHz from the upcoming spectrum sale for building
a wireless network for public safety officials. The 30 MHz represents
about half of the spectrum to be sold in the auction which must begin by
early 2008.
Congress ordered the sale and wants the proceeds to help trim the U.S.
budget deficit. O'Brien, through a new venture he formed with other former
Nextel executives named Cyren Call Communications Corp., is calling for the
airwaves to be put into a trust. One that would lease them to commercial
providers to build a network for both public safety officials and companies
to use.
O'Brien's proposal would be on top of another 24 MHz that Congress has
already set aside for public safety communications. He acknowledged the
plan faces significant hurdles to winning the necessary congressional
approval.
Right now, that approval does not seem likely. Representative Fred Upton,
who is the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on
Telecommunications and the Internet said he opposed the scheme because it
would undermine existing plans and undermine revenue.
The airwaves to be auctioned is in the 700 MHz band. It is considered
valuable because wireless carriers are eager to use it as they deploy new
video and high-speed Internet services.
O'Brien's group has filed its proposal with the FCC, asking the agency to
open a discussion about the plan. So far the agency has declined to
comment on the Cyren Call request.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Evi Simons in New York.
--
One of the major issues that arose out of the rubble left behind by the
9/11 attacks on and Hurricane Katrina was the difficulty emergency workers
had talking via two-way radios. In many cases ham radio was the only link
between these disasters and the outside world. (Comm-World)
**
RESCUE RADIO: TSUNAMI ALERT SYSTEM TO BE TESTED
Up to 28 countries will help test a new tsunami warning system in the
Pacific next month. This, in the first ever wold-wide exercise of its
kind. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:
--
A mock tsunami warning call in Hawaii will launch the drill on May 16th. It
will be sent to national emergency authorities in each cooperating country
across the region. In the second stage of the exercise, government
officials will spread the warning message to local emergency authorities.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is the
drills sponsor. The agency called for better preparedness following the
tsunami that killed or left missing more than 220,000 people in 11 Indian
Ocean countries in December 2004.
The exercise will be the first in a series of aimed at helping countries
evaluate their abilities to respond to a tsunami and at coordinating relief
activities with other nations.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles.
--
At airtime its not known if the ham radio national societies in any of the
nations mentioned have been invited to participate. (ARNewslineT from
published reports)
**
RESTRUCTURING: UK FOUNDATION CLASS TO GET 10 METERS
You may soon be hearing a lot more U-K hams on 10 meters when the band is
open a cross the Atlantic Pond. This with word that United Kingdom
telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced that it plans to allow
amateur radio Foundation license holders to use to the 10 meter band as of
this coming October 1st. Amateur Radio Newslines Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has
the story behind the story:
--
10 meters was originally left out of the original U-K Foundation Class
rules due to anxiety about the bands proximity to 27 MHz. Since
investigating the validity of these concerns would have delayed the launch
of the Foundation license it was decided at the time to remove the band
completely from those being made available to the Foundation entry level
license.
But there is still one interesting twist to the U-K's licensing system.
Even though 10 meters will soon be open for use by the Foundation Class,
one surprising omission from the rules change is that Foundation holders
are still not yet being given access to the Amateur Satellite Service.
Foundation licensees are allowed to transmit on the Satellite frequencies
but they can't actually use the satellites as in the sky repeaters for
communications purposes. The UK is the only country that prevents it's
entry level licensees using ham radio satellites.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennany, K6PZW, reporting.
--
AMSAT-UK has been campaigning for the inclusion of the Amateur Satellite
Service in the Uniyted Kingdom's Foundation Class rules for past 4 years.
(Southgate News)
**
RESTRUCTURING: VK FOUNDATION LICENSE HITS 500
Meantime, it's a time to celebrate down-under. This with word that the
Australian Communications and Media Authority is about to issue its 500th
Foundation License. WIA Newsman Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has the details:
--
It's been just on six months since this new Foundation Class ticket was
introduced in Australia. The attractiveness of this new entry level
license has halted years of steady decline in this nations Amateur Radio
licensee numbers. There is also anecdotal evidence that amateur radio
equipment retailers have recorded increased turnover due to this renewed
interest in the hobby and amateur radio license study texts and other
educational resources are experiencing strong demand.
While the first 500 are enjoying their new hobby a number of them already
upgrading to the Australian Standard License. Also, the Wireless Institute
of Australia's prediction of 1000 Foundation Licenses being issued in the
first 12 months seems now to be clearly achievable.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News in
Brisbane, Australia.
--
The Foundation Class license seems to be a winner in interesting people of
all ages to enter the hobby, and other nations are considering adopting a
version that suit their particular needs. (WIA News)
**
RADIO RULES: FCC CLARIFIES PART 97 TO MATCH THE WORLD
The FCC has not yet acted to do away with Morse testing and maybe it never
will. But it has made several changes to the FCC Part 97 Amateur Radio
rules to implement changes agreed to at the international level during the
2003 World Radio Communication Conference.
The FCC says that these amendments will ensure that the Commission's
Amateur Radio Service rules conform to Article 25 of the international
Radio Regulations adopted at the 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference,
and will further the Commission's ongoing efforts to streamline its Amateur
Service Rules. The overall effect of this action is to update the Part 97
Amateur Radio Service rules in the Code of Federal Regulations to conform
to now-effective international agreements."
The FCC Order deals with authorized transmissions, prohibited
transmissions, third party communications, and international
communications. It does not do away with the Morse code testing
requirement. The Federal Register published the changes on May 3rd. (FCC)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: EMMCOMM WEST DEALS UP PUBLIC SERVICE IN NEVADA
Knowing how to be a good communicator in times of emergencies and being
politically aware are the best way to sum up the Emcomm West 2006
convention. Don Carlson, KQ6FM, was there and has the details:
--
On May 6 and 7th, Reno, Nevada was the site for EMCOMMWEST 2006, an annual
ARRL Specialty convention based on emergency communications. Radio
amateurs from all over the US converged on The Biggest Little City in The
West to learn how to be better communicators, and to present ideas on how
to further the interests of ham radio. The purpose of the event was best
described by Nevada Section manager Dick Flanagan, K7VC:
--
Flanagan: "What we are doing here at Emcommwest, is exactly what we are
expected to do by the FCC rules and regulations. We are learning. We are
prqacticing for emergency communications. We are doing that today, and
tommorrow, better than we could do anything else."
--
The ARRL representative this year was Dave Patton, NN1N who brought hams up
to date on the latest news and projects of interest to the hobby. One of
the breakout sessions was hosted by Ray Crepeau, K1HG who traveled all the
way from Florida to share his experiences, having been deployed in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to the Gulf Coast. The focus was to better
prepare amateurs in the event of a disaster on such a large scale and
impact. Newer technologies were also discussed on how to incorporate IRLP
and Winlink 2000 into the mainstream of today's emergency communication
efforts.
Another highlight was an appearance by Nevada State Senator Bob Beers,
WB7EHN, who spoke of how amateurs can make a difference on a variety of
topics such as PRB 1 and BPL, by voicing opinions to their state, local and
national representatives. He said the best way to help, was to get
involved:
--
Beers: "Part of being an sdult is being in politics. And if you choose to
not participate, don't be surprised to find yourself on the flat end of a
steemroller because there are other people out there who have interests
that do not have the security of the United States of America or your
modest antenna at home in mind. And if you don't get involved, your rights
often end up trampled."
--
The Senator went on to explain the importance of being involved in the
political process, on actions and bills which can effect the future of
amateur radio and the way the hobby is conducted. He said that one voice
really can make a difference:
--
Beers: "It's a mechnanical process now to take a flat text data file of
names and addresses and run it through a specialized piece of software.
And out the other end pops that same list of addresses and names but with
attached the legislative district that you live in. That means the ARRL
can now send you a letter or an e-mail -- if it has your e-mal address --
that says '.your representative is this man and this woman.we strongly
suggest that you call them today and tell them that (say) Assembly bill 197
-- that theyu are currently considering -- and which seeks to move PRB-1
into CCR's for example -- is something very important to you -- and very
important to the emergency preparedness of the United States of America.' "
--
The weekend concluded with an ARRL forum, moderated by Pacific Division
Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG which included lively discussion on topics such
as The Big Project, The Hello Campaign, the importance of media relations
and outreach, BPL, Spectrum Protection and the extension of PRB-1 language
into CC&R's of homeowner's associations.
The event was held at the Atlantis Hotel Resort in Reno, where the event
will return next year on May 4, 5 & 6 of 2007. For future information,
note the event's website of www.emcommwest.com
This is Don Carlson, KQ6FM Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline.
--
Emomm West began only a few years ago but is quickly growing into the
premiere emergency communications gathering for radio amateurs west of the
Continental Divide who are involved in public service communications.
(ARNewslineT, KQ6FM)
**
THE BPL FIGHT: INTERFERENCE IN SOUTH AFRICA
While BPL has not officially been rolled out in South Africa, the South
African Radio League says that it is well aware of two pilots which have
been announced, of which one is believed to be operational.
While the the BPL provider denies that the project is running, the SARL
carried out some preliminary tests and found a high level of interference
in the 3 to 13 MHz High Frequency spectrum in the surrounding geographic
areas. Another pilot may soon start in the city of Durban near an area
called Mitchell Park. (SARL)
**
RESCUE RADIO: BIG BUCKS FOR NEW LAPD RADIOS
It will cost $51 million to purchase new radios for Los Angeles Police
Department officers. The LAPD's chief information officer Tim Riley says
that new equipment is needed because Motorola stopped manufacturing the
currently in use Astro radio series in 2002. Also, that Motorola will not
make repairs or provide parts after June of 2007.
It would cost $43 million to purchase 10,000 new hand held digital radios
and another $8 million for 350 mobile radios installed in police cruisers.
The typical lifespan of a police radio is 10 years. (LAPD)
**
RADIO LAW: TERRESTRIAL VS. SATCASTERS
The National Association of Broadcasters says that support is growing in
the U.S. House of representatives. This, for legislation that would fight
off what broadcasters see as illegal encroachment by satellite programming
suppliers.
The legislation by Representatives Chip Pickering and Gene Green would
preserve local broadcast emergency and other services and to require the
FCC to conduct rulemaking for that purpose. NAB says the effort already
has 84 cosponsors. (RW)
**
THE HAM RADIO SOCIAL SCENE: MARCOMI EXHIBIT IN THE UK
Guglielmo Marconi's grandson and his daughter Princess Elettra were among
the dignitaries who attended the opening of a major new Marconi exhibition
at the United Kingdom's Museum of History of Science in Oxford on 24th
April.
The exhibition is called the Wireless World: Marconi and the making of
radio. It covers the history of radio from Marconi's early demonstrations
in the 1880's to the beginning of regular public broadcasts in the 1920s.
Original equipment and documents from those pioneering days of radio are on
display, including apparatus from the inventors very first demonstrations.
Also shown are the Marconigram messages sent by the stricken liner Titanic
just before it sank and the microphone used by Nellie Melba to deliver the
first ever live public entertainment broadcast on 15th June 1920. The
exhibition will run until October 1st. (GB2RS)
**
THE HAM RADIO SOCIAL SCENE: IRA HAMFESTIVAL IN MICHIGAN IN JUNE
Meantime on this side of the Atlantic we have word that the Independent
Repeater Association is sponsoring this years IRA Hamfestival. This is
west-Michigan's largest Amateur Radio and computer interest gathering and
is slated for June 3rd at the Hudsonville Fairgrounds. More information is
on the web at www.w8hvg.org (Press release)
**
THE HAM RADIO SOCIAL SCENE: RARITAN VALLY HAMFEST IN NJ IN JUNE
A bit to the east, the Raritan Valley Radio Club Hamfest is slated for June
17th. Itsa venue is Piscataway High School in Piscataway, New Jersey.
Doors open to the public at 7 a.m. with talk in on the 146.625 Mhz repeater
or on 146.52 simplex. Lots more about this event is in cyberspace at
www.w2qw.org (Press release)
**
ON THE AIR: THE COLLINS COLLECTORS ASSN "FIRST WEDNESDAY AM NIGHT"
The Collins Collectors Association's First Wednesday A-M Night is a unique
net that meets the first Wednesday of every month on 3.880 MHz. What
makes it different is that this conclave starts on the East Coast at 07:00
PM and then begins again in each time zone heading West 7 p-m local time.
The event is anchored by high power AM stations and there are four
different net control stations. One for each time zone. Bob Sullivan, W-
0-Y-V-A, handles the Eastern time zone chores. Jim Shoemaker, W-0-N-K-L, is
the groups voice for Central time. The mountain states host is Jim Adams,
W-A-0-L-S-B, while the West Coast listens for Bill Feldmann, N-6-P-Y.
The East Coast and Central sections will now run for 90 minutes. The
remaining Mountain and Pacific nets are one hour in duration. Comments and
questions go by e-mail to wa9vrh at mtco.com (WA9VRH)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SUIT-SAT STILL BEING HEARD
Suit-Sat is still on-orbit. At least for now.
Tossed into orbit more than three months ago from the International Space
Station, SuitSat-1 continues to orbit Earth even though its batteries are
long since dead. Even so, VK2XDW says that Suit Sat is still sending out a
signal which can be picked up when it passes over his area. And
Spaceweather.com has reported that sky-watcher Kevin Fetter videotaped
uitSat-1 as it passed over his Canadian home.
Eventually, SuitSat-1 will sink into Earth's atmosphere and disintegrate in
a flash of fire. Another surplus Orlan suit remains aboard the ISS, and it
could become Suit-Sat 2. (AMSAT)
**
WORLDBEAT - SOUTH PACIFIC: SIGNAL FROM CHINA JAMMING 18 MHZ HAM BAND
A Radio China signal on 18.160 MHz has been very strong and consistent into
Australia and the South Pacific over the past few months. The United
Kingdom's government radio monitoring station has confirmed the location
of the transmitter as the southern Yunnan province in China, not far from
North Vietnam.
The U-K monitoring station recently received a note from the Chinese
authorities in Beijing regarding the transmission. In it, the Chinese
authorities promised to investigate the 18160 kHz broadcast signal and to
have it removed from the amateur band. But as we go to air, the signal is
still quite louns and clear across the region. (WIA News)
**
ON THE AIR: MID WEST GRID CHASERS IN THE JUNE VHF QSO PARTY
Looking for an interesting VHF or UHF contact? KX9X and NM9H report via
the VHF Reflector that they will operating the June VHF QSO Party from the
KOA Campground in Rock Point, Missouri. That's better known on the air as
grid square EN20.
The pair will be QRV on 6 meters through 432 MHz using SSB and CW with
moderate-sized beam antennas up about 20 feet. Operating time will be
limited to the Friday afternoon and evening before the contest to the end
of the contest.
This will be the initial run for their new club, called the Midwest Grid
Chasers Association. While EN20 is not super-rare, it does appear off the
beaten path for some reason. And while this is a quick hit and run for the
contest itself, the operators hope this is the beginning of more serious
grid DX-peditions, like the ones they did in the past. (VHF Reflector)
**
DX
In DX, word that ON7KEC will be working in the Congo until the end of
July. He plans to operate on the amateur radio bands in his spare time
using his home call portable as 9Q.
Also, HA5X, will operate as HA50MHZ until December 31st to celebrate the
long-awaited legalisation of 6 meters for radio amateurs in Hungary. QSL to
his home callbook address.
And members of Sala Consilina Amateur Radio Group will operate special
event callsign IO8VAT throughout May. This, to celebrate the 75th
anniversary of the foundation of Vatican Radio. QSL this one as directed
on the air.
Above from various DX information sources.
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: JAMBO SCOUTFEST TO FEATURE AMATEUR RADIO
And, finally this week, thousands of Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Venture
Crew members will get a hands-on demonstration of several ham radio modes
during the Jambo Scoutfest scheduled at Kutztown University in Kutztown, PA
from Friday, May 19 through Sunday May 21. Amateur Radio Newsline's Josh
Abramovich, KB3GWY, has the story:
--
The Minsi Trails Council in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania and the Hawk
Mountain Council, right next door, in the Reading area, are joining forces
to put on one of the largest Scouting events of its kind in this region of
the country.
Jambo Scoutfest, also called Jambo at KU, is taking over the grounds of
Kutztown University in Kutztown PA just as thousands of college students
are leaving the campus for summer break.
Charlie Beck, KB3JMZ, is chairman of Venture Crew 59, which is offering an
amateur radio station as one of the many activities.
"This is a combined council jamboree," Beck says. "It's going to be
Scouting-oriented with Cub Scouts, Venture Crews, Boy Scouts.
"They're estimating somewhere in the area between five and six thousand
Scouts to be on site for the weekend. And they have all kinds of events
scheduled for the weekend, live bands plus the Scouting skills and
basically it's going to be almost like a mini-National Jamboree."
Beck says the crew will be setting up a few radios on a variety of modes as
part of a special event station operation.
"We'll be using our crew call sign which is KC3BSA and we'll be operating
on HF, single-sideband, and CW and PSK 31 and EchoLink," Beck says.
The KC3BSA operation also will feature a demonstration of a "Rover" station
using 6 meter, 2 meter and 440 single-sideband operating QRP.
Beck says the crew members and adults are looking forward to showcasing
amateur radio during the Jambo Scoutfest.
"It's going to give the crew an opportunity to show what we do, what our
specialty is; I should say one of our specialties, because we also do this
on high-adventure trips such as canoeing and backpacking and camping," Beck
says.
"And, maybe get some interest in the Scouts and even siblings and parents
of the Scouts that will be visiting the jambo site that weekend. And, to
get them involved in ham radio, and also on the Scout level and the Venture
Crew level offering Radio merit badge."
Beck says the special event station's coordinator, Ed Breneiser WA3WSJ, has
been working with the crew to get everything ready. He's even set up a
website - which you'll hear about at the end of this report - and has
drafted a nice certificate available to all stations who work the
operation.
"We'll have Scouts for you to talk to and if you send us a QSL card, we
have a very nice certificate we'll send back to you," Beck says.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Josh Abramowicz, KB3GWY, in
Philadelphia.
--
More information about the KC3BSA operation and where to get your special
certificate for working the station is available at
www.wa3wsj.com/VC59/VC59Home.html (ARNewslineT, KB3GWY)
**
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'sT only official website
located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at
Amateur Radio NewslineT, 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 closes May the 30th. Any nominations
postmarked or electronically date stamped after midnight on that day will
not be considered for this years presentation.
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
Also, the gates at the 2006 Dayton Hamvention swing open on Friday, May 19th
and we will be there to bring you the sights and sounds of this years
event. And if you plan to attend and have a digital video camera, please
consder bringing it with you. Shoot your own sights and sounds of
Hamvention and bring your tape to the Saturday, May 20th Ham Radio Town
Meeting. That's where Hollywood Producer Dave Bell, W6AQ, will be
introducing the new Ham Radio Video Corps.
At the same time, video editor Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, will be using the video
you shoot to produce a short video news release about this years Hamvention
gathering. In other words, you will get to see how one of these releases
is put using the pictures and sound that you provide. You will also find
out how important video is to chronicling the activities of the service.
It all starts at 1 P-M in Meeting Room number 3 at the Hara Arena. Bring
your cameras and tapes and we will see you at Hamvention 2006.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Davis,
W2JKD, saying 73 and we thank you for supporting us these past 28 years.
Thank you for being a part of the ever expanding world-wide Amateur Radio
Newsline family. And most of all, we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2006. All rights reserved.
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