[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1512 - August 4, 2006

Sat Aug 5 09:24:09 EDT 2006

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1512 - August 4, 2006

The following is a Q-S-T.

Mumbai India embraces Amateur Radio emergency communications, Radio 
Amateurs of Canada renews an important rescue radio agreement and the 2006 
Young Ham of the Year Award to be televised live from Huntsville.  Find out 
where to watch it on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1512 coming your 
way right now

**

RESCUE RADIO:  MUMBAI INDIA TEAMS UP WITH HAM RADIO

A new agreement between a major city in India and its ham radio population 
will mean greater safety for all.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW, has the details:

--

Eager to prevent a repeat of the communication failure that occurred during 
last years rain storms, the Mumbai, India's civic council has found help 
from ham radio operators.  This, as the JNA Wireless Association teams up 
with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to set up an Amateur Radio 
emergency communication system, which switches on when land based 
telephones or mobile networks fail.

The JNA has put in place a 20 member team that's ready to move to locations 
where communication is needed for disaster management.  This  close-knit 
crew consists of radio amateurs trained in various aspects of emergency 
communications and equipped with state-of- the-art ham equipment including 
satellite gear.

JNA was founded in 1988.  It boasts of a dedicated, self-motivated and 
self-funded scramble team.  As a result, the JNA has responded to many 
natural disasters in India including the 1993 Latur earthquake.  In fact, 
JNA members were the first to reach the city of Killari which was the 
epicenter of that trembler, handling thousands of health and welfare 
messages in addition to post quake damage assessment.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.

--

The JNA Wireless Association is named in memory of one of India's 
pioneering hams in the area of emergency service communications who  passed 
away in 1987.   (Bombay News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  RAC AND PERC RENEW LETTER OF UNDERSTANDING

A renewed Letter of Understanding between the Field Services Organization 
of Radio Amateurs of Canada and the Provincial Emergency Radio 
Communications Service of the British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program 
has been ratified.  The agreement clarifies the relationship, roles, 
responsibilities and terminology between the two groups to continue joint 
coordinated efforts to provide an emergency communications capability for 
the Province of British Columbia.  (RAC)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS FACE NEW MEXICO FACES FLOODING

Back on this side of the Atlantic, first it was wildfires.  Now its rain 
and flooding that's hit New Mexico.  We have more in this report:

--

In the past week, several towns in central New Mexico have suffered 
significant flood damage from drenching rains.  Amateur Radio Emergency 
Service groups have been responding to provide back up communications and 
to act as weather spotters during the sever storms.

Sandoval County ARES has been activated multiple times the last two weeks 
for Skywarn duty as slow-moving, heavy thunderstorms have pounded the 
area.  Roads in Rio Rancho have been washed away making four-wheel drive 
almost a necessity in parts of the city. Arroyos not only have reclaimed 
the roads there, but also threaten to wash away some homes as the water 
erodes the banks of the arroyos.

In another rain related incident, Valencia County ARES was called out at 
the request of Manny Garcia, KE5AEF, the County Emergency Manager, as 
seventy-five of Belen's flooded homes were evacuated.  Steve Friis, WM5Z, 
the Dona Ana District Emergency Coordinator, reported that a surge of water 
in the Rio Grande River was pushing south from northern Do¤a Ana County 
late Tuesday night, August 1st near the Village of Hatch.  Do¤a Ana County 
Flood Director Paul Dugie said water flows of 9,000 cubic feet per second 
are being measured south of Hatch with all the water in the river is 
storm-related.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Evi Simons, reporting.

--

The weather forecast calls for a break from the rains in central New Mexico 
as the storm focus shifts to the eastern part of the state.  But, more rain 
is forecast for the Rio Grande Valley as this newscast goes to 
air.  (K5CEC, New Mexico ARES)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  UPGRADED EOC OPENS IN SAN DIEGO

San Diego, California has an improved Emergency Operations Center that 
includes a home for ham radio.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Tuck Miller, 
N-Z6T, has more:

--

Located in the in Kearny Mesa area of San Diego, the renovation of the 
Emergency Operations Center was expected to be completed by 
mid-August.  But the remodeling was far enough along to open the center 
Monday, July 24th to work the raging Horse blaze east of the town of 
Alpine. That was a fire where a thousand homes were threatened before it 
was contained.

Tom Amabile, KC6NGG, is the county's Operations Chief at the center.  He 
says that when wildfires raced through the region almost three years ago, 
the old center could get only one video image at a time and there were a 
couple of TV sets to monitor the news.  There were no satellite phones, 
cellular  phones or backup systems.

The redesigned center features a 300 inch wide video wall that can be split 
into 12 channels. This, to monitor developments during a disaster.  There 
is also  a video conference room, large electronic status boards, and six 
plasma screens tuned to local and national news stations.  This means that 
emergency services personnel can see what is happening in the field as well 
as monitor new developments.

For communications with first responders and other personnel there are now 
four different computer systems and five different voice radio 
networks.   And of importance to hams, Amateur radio operators who help to 
fill key communications roles can now work out of a room of their own in 
the center. Designed to be earthquake-resistant, the cost of the upgrades 
to the center cost close to a million dollars that was covered by a Federal 
Homeland Security grant.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Tuck Miller, NZ6T, in San Diego.

--

County Supervisor Bill Horn says that the improved center will be used by 
law enforcement, fire agencies, emergency assistance and utilities 
personnel during emergencies.  He says that it allows officials to fight 
disasters on more than one front.  (CGC, ARNewslineT)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  LIBYA TO ALLOW NOVEMBER OPERATION

Following years of silence, an international team of operators 
will  activate Libya from November 14th  to the 28th.  The goals of 
this  DXpedition are to support the development of ham radio in Libya while 
bringing a rare country onto the airwaves.  Activity will be on all bands 
running CW, SSB, FM, RTTY, SSTV and PSK.  The operators hope to provide 
more than  50,000 QSOs during the 14 day operation using the callsign will 
be 5A7A.  They also plan to take part in CQWW DX CW Contest as 
a  Multi/Multi entry.  (WIA News)

**

ENFORCEMENT: HAM HAS LICENSE TAGGED FOR HEARING

A ham convicted of a felony and reported to be currently living in a 
California hospital has had his Amateur Service license designated for a 
hearing before an Administrative Law Judge.  This, to see if Robert D. 
Landis, N6FRV, is qualified to remain a Commission licensee.

After receiving a complaint alleging that Landis had been convicted of 
child molestation and was living in a mental hospital, the Enforcement 
Bureau began its own investigation.  That inquiry confirmed that on October 
28, 1991, the Superior Court of California, County of Riverside, 
convicted  Landis of two counts of a lewd act with a child under the age of 
fourteen.  The Court sentenced Landis to a term of eleven years in state 
prison and fined him $10,000.

On January 11, 2001, the FCC says that Landis reported a change of address 
from Corona, California to one in the city of Atascadero, California.  The 
latter address is the locale of the Atascadero State Hospital.

The FCC says that Landis felony convictions raise serious questions as to 
whether he possesses the requisite character qualifications to be and to 
remain a Commission licensee and whether his license should be 
revoked.  The agency says that before revoking a license, it must serve the 
licensee with an order to show cause why revocation should not issue and 
must provide the licensee with an opportunity for hearing. Accordingly, it 
has  designated the matter for hearing before a Commission Administrative 
Law Judge.  The hearing will provide N6FRV with an opportunity to 
demonstrate why his license should not be revoked.   (FCC) **

ENFORCEMENT UPDATE:  ALLEGED MURDERER OF TWO HAMS FACES CHARGES OF TRYING 
TO ARRANGE TO KILL HIS OWN FATHER

A man accused in the death of ham radio operators Thomas and Jackie Hawks, 
KD7VWJ, and KD7VWK, is now facing charges that he tried to arrange two more 
murders.  On Monday, July 31st, Skylar Deleon pleaded not guilty in Orange 
County, California, Superior Court to new allegations that he attempted to 
solicit the killings of his own father and a cousin while behind prison 
bars.

Deleon, who changed his name from John Jacobson Jr., was arraigned on 
charges of soliciting a jail inmate to kill his father, John Jacobson Sr., 
on Jan. 24, 2004.  He was also arraigned on a charge of requesting that 
another inmate to kill his cousin, Mike Lewis, on July 26, 2005.

Deleon is awaiting trial on charges of murdering the Hawks who were last 
seen on Nov. 15, 2004. Prosecutors claim that Deleon approached the couple 
with an offer to buy their 55-foot yacht called the Well Deserved.  The 
state alleges that Deleon and accomplices then killed the couple when they 
took him and two other men out for a test run.  Prosecutors claim that the 
couple was handcuffed, tied to an anchor and dumped alive into the ocean 
after being forced to sign paperwork transferring the boat's title to 
Deleon.

Deleon is also awaiting trial on charges that he killed John Jarvi, of 
Anaheim in December 2003 for financial gain.  Lewis is charged with helping 
Deleon conceal Jarvi's alleged murder. (Published news reports)

**

RADIO SAFETY:  COACH ELECTROCUTED MOVING GOAL POST

A high school football coach in Girard, Kansas, was electrocuted and a 
teenager severely burned Friday, July 21st.  This, while trying to move a 
metal goal post near power lines on a High School practice football field.

A Crawford County Sheriff's Department spokesman said that the two were 
moving the steel pipe goal post when it grazed a 7,200-volt 
line.  Pronounced dead at the scene was coach Craig Crespino.  The 
unidentified 16 year old boy was taken to St. John's Regional Medical 
Center in Joplin, Missouri.

This accident again points out the need to look up and be very vigilant 
when working near power lines.  Whether its putting up a new antenna or 
just moving a tall metallic object, it only takes one slip-up to put you in 
the hospital or in your grave.  If you have any reservations about your 
ability, spend the money and call in a professional to do the job.  It's a 
decision that could save your life. (Broadcast Reflector)

**

TELECOMMUNICATIONS SHOOTING:  CELL SITE WORKER SHOT AT NIGHT BY POLICE DIES 
ON THE JOB

A telecommunications engineer working after midnight at a cellular tower 
site in a "rough" part of Charlotte, North Carolina was shot and killed by 
a police officer.  This, after authorities responded to a suspicious person 
call in the wee hours of Friday, July 21st.

According to the police report a man from a business near the cell phone 
site called police about a suspicious vehicle backed up at the tower's 
base.  A officer arrived and was told by the caller that he saw a man 
walking to the fenced-in building at the tower's base.

Officers Anthony Payne and Steven Branan then came to the site and started 
searching for the man, as the first officer started to look over the white 
pickup loaded with equipment.  The police noticed that the lights were on 
inside the shed and the door was open. They said Payne entered the building 
and saw telecommunications site technician Anthony Wayne Furr inside.

Police said Payne, a uniformed officer, identified himself and told Furr 
not to move.  But police say he reached behind his back and pulled a 
gun.  Police go on to state that Furr refused to obey the officer's 
repeated commands ands raised his gun in the direction of the officer and 
started to walk toward Payne.  The officer fired his gun three times.  Furr 
did not shoot.

It must be noted that Furr's truck was labeled AFL Network Services, and 
that company employees are required to wear white golf shirts and khaki 
pants as a uniform.

No one knows exactly what went wrong except the officer who was inside the 
shed with Furr. Police are investigating what happened but homicide Capt. 
Sean Mulhall says that it appeared the officer acted properly.  (CGC, 
Charlotte Observer, others)

**

TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAW:  XM AND SIRIUS STOP MAKING RECEIVERS WITH OUT OF 
SPEC MODULATORS

Sirius Satellite Radio says that it has instructed some of its 
manufacturers to stop making radios with built in modulators that do not 
comply with federal emissions and frequency rules.  The move follows a 
similar action by rival XM Satellite Radio Holdings based on complaints to 
the FCC from listeners who claim satellite radio modulators are interfering 
with terrestrial reception on their FM broadcast receivers.

The situation was first brought to everyone's attention last Spring by the 
C-G-C Communicator industry newsletter written by Bob Gonsett, W6VR.  In 
all cases the problem is related to models with FM mini transmitters often 
called modulators that allow consumers to play the satellite services on a 
traditional radio by tuning to an open spot on the FM broadcast band.

Sirius believes its radios currently in production comply with applicable 
FCC rules.  A few days earlier XM had asked two manufacturing partners to 
suspend production of receivers that exceed emissions limits after the FCC 
dismissed its proposed changes to them.  XM announced on April 27th that it 
had been informed by the FCC about the emissions issue.

Bob Gonsett tells Amateur Radio Newsline that a lot of the credit in 
getting the action has to go the National Association of 
Broadcasters.  W6VR says that without the support of the NAB this whole 
issue might not have gone very far.  (W6VR)

**

TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAW:  LOJACK SEEKS RULES CHANGE TO BROADEN USE OF 
173.075 MHZ

LoJack, the fine people who can easily locate a stolen car equipped with 
one of its transponders is seeking a rules change to broaden the use of 
173.074 MHz where its system operates.  The FCC has adopted a Notice of 
Proposed Rule Making and wants comments on proposed relaxation for the use 
of that frequency.  LoJack would like to increase mobile output power, 
transmit digital emissions in addition to analog, and transmit more often 
than the current duty cycle rules allow.  The full story is at 
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-107A1.pdf )  (CGC)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  N8BJQ TAKES OVER CQ WPX AWARD PROGRAM

CQ Magazine has announced the appointment of Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, as its new 
manager of the CQ WPX Award program. Biola replaces Norm Koch, WN5N, who 
held the WPX reins for the past 25 years.

Steve Biola is far from new to CQ Magazine or its readers.  From 1982 to 
2003 he served as CQ WPX Contest Director, is a member of the CQ Contest 
Committee and of the CQ Contesting Hall of Fame.

His DXing credentials are even more impressive.  He holds the CW, SSB and 
Mixed Worked All Zones awards, is on the DXCC Honor Roll for Mixed and CW 
modes, holds 5-Band DXCC, RTTY DXCC and 160-Meter DXCC.

The WPX Awards are issued for confirmed contacts with stations having 
different callsign prefixes. WPX Award applications and updates previously 
filed with WN5N have been transferred to N8BJQ and will be processed as 
quickly as possible. See the upcoming September issue of CQ for address 
information for award submissions.  (CQ)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  VK2FMYL SINGS ACROSS EUROPE

And words of congratulations to Australia's VK2FMYL on being one of the 
Australian Youth Choir International Tour singers who recently sang their 
way across Europe.  Michelle, who was licensed under Australia's new 
Foundation Class licensing system, became a promotional choir member in 
2000.  She is now part of the Sydney Chamber Choir. With the choir she has 
performed at numerous sporting events, and at gala events attended by the 
Prime Minister.  (WIA News)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SSTV RETURNS TO EARTH ORBIT

It was one of the first modes hams took into space and now its there once 
again.  Of coarse we are talking about slow-scan television or S-S-T-V and 
using it you may be receiving images from the International Space station 
over the next few weeks.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, 
WA6ITF,  has more:

--

The first time SSTV flew to Earth orbit was in 1985 when Astronaut Tony 
England, W0ORE, flew the Space Amateur Radio Experiment during the STS-51F 
Spacelab-2 mission.  And its been 26 years since this sound was heard from 
space:

--

SSTV audio from STS-51F Mission

--

Putting slow-can amateur television back into space with more modern gear 
was the idea of Miles Mann, WF1F.  Mann operates Marex, the Manned Amateur 
Radio Experiment, North American Division which is sponsoring the SSTV 
experiment.  And on Friday, July 28th the crew on board the International 
Space station activated the Slow Scan project for the first time.

According to Mann, ISS Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov, brought 
the system to life. He then manually sent a few test Images from ISS to 
Earth.  Those pictures were received in Russia and South America.  The SSTV 
system was then switched off and the Packet system reactivated.

As time permits the ISS crew may reactivate the SSTV system for more 
testing. Eventually when that phase is completed the Space Cam 1 software 
may be left running in automatic "Slide Show" mode.  While in Slide show 
mode, the system  will automatically send to Earth up to 400 images per day 
from ISS.

The tentative down link for SSTV will be on 144.490 using FM.  The uplink 
will not be published until testing has been completed.

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

--

At the present time there is no time schedule as to when Slide Show mode 
will be activated and its testing may be very limited.  Nor is it known 
when the project will be officially opened to the ham radio public, 
world-wide.  (ARISS Remailer)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NASA MAY HALT ISS ON-ORBIT RESEARCH

A NASA spokesman confirms that the space agency is considering shutting 
down all the research programs it conducts aboard the International Space 
Station for at least a year.  This, to fill a projected budget shortfall of 
up to $100 million.

Kirk Shireman is Deputy Space Station Program Manager.  When asked if it 
was true as reported on NASAWatch.com that the agency was considering 
shutting down its research for a year or more for budget reasons or pursue 
other steps, he said that all those things are under consideration

Space station research has already slashed to just over $200 million last 
year to help the United States space agency pay for Hurricane Katrina 
losses and cost overruns in the space shuttle program. Less than $100 
million was requested for station research for the year beginning on 
October 1st.  What impact such a cutback might have on the operation of the 
I-S-S ham station is at this time unknown.  (Space)

**

HAM RADI IN SPACE:  CUBESAT 2 LAUNCH SET FOR SEPTEMBER  20

Despite the July 26th setback which saw the loss of 14 CubeSatsn when the 
launch failed, the Amateur CubeSat program is continuing.  Southgate News 
reports that another launch is scheduled for September 20th of four 
CubeSats known to be carrying Amateur Radio payloads. Like the last 
attempt, these mini satellites will be orbited using a Rusian built booster 
launching from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.  (AMSAT)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  AMSAT TO SUPPORT SDR PROJECT

AMSAT, the Amateur Satellite Corporation, says that it will immediately 
begin  support for The High Performance Software Defined Radio or H-P-S-D-R 
project.  H-D-S-P-R is an independent team dedicated to bringing high 
performance software defined radio devices within the reach of amateurs in 
terms of access to the hardware and software at manageable prices.

AMSAT describes the High Performance Software Defined Radio project 
as  completely open source software under G-N-U Public License along with 
open hardware design.  It has an extremely capable group of core designers, 
many of whom are also key AMSAT design team members who are supported by a 
cast of hundreds. To learn more, take your web browser to 
http://hpsdr.org  (AMSAT)

**

WORLDBEAT - IRELAND:  IRTS WANTS 500 KHZ

The Irish Radio Transmitters Society has applied to Ireland's 
telecommunications regulator ComReg for a small allocation in the region of 
500kHz.  This for use by Amateur Radio experimenters.

The move follows a similar proposal made by the Radio Society of Great 
Britain to U-K regulator Ofcom in 2004.  Ofcom has not yet made a decision 
on the RSGB proposal but the society is hopeful of an allocation between 
501 and 504kHz.

The GB2RS News Service says that there is a possibility that Ofcom might 
designate the spot frequency of 500 kHz a maritime memorial frequency.  In 
recent years, there has been little traffic on the band 415 to 526.6kHz, 
after most countries stopped using it as a Morse emergency maritime 
frequency in the 1990s.  (IRTS, WIA)

**

WORLDBEAT - PORTUGAL:  4 METER LICENSES TO EXPIRE

Unless telecommunications regulators act swiftly, all Portuguese 4 meter 
licenses expire on August 31st.  At airtime it is not clear whether the 
Portuguese authorities will extend the grant or issue 4 meter licenses in 
the future.

CT1HZE, has offered to arrange keds, before the deadline, with any UK 
amateur who still need Portugal for a DXCC. He can be contacted at 
info at dubus.de.

The 4 meter band is an isolated allocation to a small number of European 
countries.  (RSGB)

**

DX

In D-X, word that YU1AB and T-91-S will be active portable YU6 from 
Montenegro through August 10th.  Their activity will b focused on SSB and 
CW.  QSL via YU1AB.

And be sure to listen out for G3OCA and DL6DQW operating portable from 
Mozambique from August 5th through the 14th as C94KF.  During their stay 
they plan to activate the Island of Inhacamba which is the last "never 
activated" Islands On The Air entity in the Mozambique group. Look for them 
on 40 through 10 meters using CW and SSB.  QSL via G-3-O-C-A.

Lastly, SV5FRI, will be active from Symi Island, Dodecanese,  from August 
6th to the 19th.  Listen for him an 80 through 10 meters CW and SSB. QSL 
direct to SV5FRI at his address on QRZ.com.

(All D above from various DX newsletters.

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: YHOTY 2006 VIDEO TO BE STREAMED LIVE FROM THE HUNTSVILLE 
HAMFEST

And finally this week, when Catherine Ferry, NC8F receives the 2006 Amateur 
Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year award in a few weeks, you will be able 
to see it happen in real time from the comfort of your hamshack 
computer.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, has more:

--

The live Internet television coverage is happening thanks to Tom Medlin, 
WA5KUB.  Tom, who has televised other ham radio events on the Internet has 
now announced plans to bring the world of Amateur Radio some live video and 
audio from this years Huntsville Hamfest.

This years Huntsville Hamfest takes place the weekend of August 19th and 
20th.  The Young Ham of the Year Award presentation is slated for 2 p.m. 
Central Daylight Time on Saturday the 19th.

WA5KUB says that he plans to be streaming on his way to and from 
Huntsville.  He will then be live from the Hamfest all day on Saturday and 
again on Sunday.  Tom tells Amateur Radio Newsline that at times the camera 
may be in a fixed location showing just the flea market but at other times 
Tom will on the move wearing his famed Helmet Cam.  With this device you 
will actually feel as though you are walking around the Hamfest and 
visiting the exhibitors.

The Huntsville Hamfest is among the biggest events for radio amateurs 
living in the Southeastern United States.  Its held every year at Alabama's 
Von Braun Center In downtown Huntsville and its been the home of the 
Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award since 1993.

Tom says that the actual streaming video of the Huntsville Hamfest will be 
found at his website. Visit it now for more information.  Its in cyberspace 
at http://wa5kub.com.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, in New York.

--

Again, Tom's live streaming webcast will be available Huntsvile Hamfeast 
weekend at http://wa5kub.com

And this just in.  Word that the League has chosen the 2007 Huntsville 
Hamfest as its site for next years ARRL National Convention.  Knowing the 
great hospitality afforded by the fine folks that put on the Huntsville 
Hamfest, 2006 and 2007 should be great years for this truly fun show. 
(ARNewslineT)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ 
Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the 
RSGB and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio 
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is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official website located 
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Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.