[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1514 - August 18, 2006

Sat Aug 19 08:42:34 EDT 2006

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1514 - August 18, 2006

The following is a Q-S-T.  

The U-S military developing satellite protection that could turn off 
propagation on the H-F bands, questions arise on Israeli non ionizing 
radiation laws and log posting restrictions are added to the DXCC. All 
this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1514 coming your 
way right now.

**

TELECOMMUNICATIONS POLICY:  RNR COULD WIPE OUT HF COMMS

A proposed U-S system to protect satellites from solar storms or high-
altitude nuclear detonations could cause side-effects that lead to 
radio communication blackouts on the High Frequency bands.  Amateur 
Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF is in Auckland, New Zealand, where 
scientists are concerned that such a system could have unprecedented 
consequences for H-F spectrum users:

--

According to new research here in New Zealand and elsewhere, the 
"Radiation Belt Remediation" or R-B-R system as proposed by the United 
States military could significantly alter the upper atmosphere.  It 
could also seriously disrupt high frequency radio transmissions and 
degrade G-P-S navigation around the world.  

Science Daily broke the story in its on-line news service.  It says 
that the R-B-R system is designed to protect hundreds of low earth-
orbiting satellites from having their onboard electronics ruined by 
charged particles when the Van Allen Radiation Belts are super 
energized by high-altitude nuclear explosions or naturally occurring 
but powerful solar storms.

The technology is being pursued by the United States Air Force and the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.  It involves the generation 
of very low frequency radio waves that are expected to flush particles 
away from the radiation belts and dump them into the upper atmosphere 
over one day or possibly several days.  

At least in theory, it sounds as if it might protect the satellites, 
but at a significant cost to High Frequency spectrum users including 
radio amateurs.  A scientific team from New Zealand, the United Kingdom 
and Finland has been studying the effect of the proposed R-B-R 
satellite protection system.  It calculates that Earth's upper 
atmosphere could be dramatically affected by such a system.  

The team says that sustained and unusually intense High Frequency 
blackouts would be common around most of the world.  For hams, 
international broadcasters and other users of long range High Frequency 
communications it would be as if the United States government had 
thrown a switch and turned off those bands,.  

Dr. Mark Clilverd is with the British Antarctic Survey.  He says that 
aircraft  and ships that rely on High Frequency communications could 
also lose radio contact.  He also says that some remote communities 
that depend on H-F could be isolated for as long as six to seven days 
each time the system is put in use. 

And just as worrisome is the effect of R-B-R on the Global Positioning 
System or G-P-S.  The researchers say that signals between ground users 
and satellites would be disrupted as they pass through a highly 
disturbed R-B-R controlled ionosphere.

Those investigating the proposed system suggest that if the super 
charge of the radiation belts resulted from a rogue nation detonating a 
nuclear device in the upper atmosphere, using Radiation Belt 
Remediation technology would probably be acceptable to the 
international community.  However, using the system to mitigate the 
lesser risk to satellites from charged particles caused by naturally 
occurring solar storms should be considered more closely. The 
researchers say that the impact of the disruption to global 
communications needs to be weighed carefully against the potential 
gains.

Reporting from down-under in Auckland, New Zealand, I'm Jim Meachen, 
ZL2BHF, for the Amateur Radio Newsline,

--

The study was published in the August edition of the international 
journal Annales Geophysicae.  Those conducting the research suggest 
that national leaders and their telecommunications policy makers must 
carefully consider the rather severe implications of Radiation Belt 
Remediation before it is ever used.  (Space Daily, others)

**

WORLDBEAT - ISRAEL: RF EXPOSURE FOLLOW-UP

Some questions are arising regarding last weeks item regarding a new 
law in Israel that holds the potential of driving many high frequency 
stations off the air as of January 2007.  

The story originated with the Radio Society of Great Britain's GB2RS 
News Service.  It quoted an unnamed spokesman for Israel's ham radio 
community as saying that the harsh new rules were pushed through by 
government following public concern over the safety of mobile phone 
masts. The RSGB's source added that it seems that all this has come 
about from the public near-hysteria over the presence of cellular 
telephone installations in residential areas.

Shortly after our story went to air we received several communications 
from Israeli hams telling us that they had never heard of such a new 
law.  We were also provided a link to an on-line statement made last 
spring and published in the on-line edition of the Israeli ham radio 
magazine Hagal International.  

It said -- and we quote:  "The Ministry is involved with the Non-
Ionized Radiation Law, and the Ministry is working towards a 
classification for radio amateurs that will provide an across-the-board 
exemption for our stations. The Ministry will continue to be of 
assistance to the amateurs in all that is necessary."

We immediately dashed off notes to both the Israel Amateur Radio Club 
and to the RSGB asking clarification.  In the meantime, we did a bit of 
on-line research and found the actual 24 page law referred to in the 
original story.  It was signed into law last January by then Israeli 
Prime Minister Aerial Sharon. Like the RSGB said, it does cover all 
aspects of non-ionizing radiation and at the time it was released there 
were no exclusions for ham radio operations.  That seems to include 
under 20 watt V-H-F stations mentioned last week.  The only exclusions 
at all are for normal household appliances milliwatt transmitters 
limited to very specific frequency ranges. 

The crux of the new law is summed up in one paragraph issued by the 
Ministry of the Environment to help explain it.  It says that each 
individual base station must comply with the professional requirements 
of the Ministry and must not expose the public to radiation levels 
exceeding those determined by the ministry under conditions of maximum 
capacity.

Meantime, spokesman for the Israel Amateur Radio Club has told the ARRL 
that the organization is unaware of any licensing changes and has been 
unable to get the original RSGB story verified by Israeli licensing 
authorities.  

Some reference websites: 
http://www.iarc.org/audible.html  (Click on Hagal International and 
then on May - June)

http://sviva.gov.il/Enviroment/bin/en.jsp?enPage=e_BlankPage&enDisplay=
view&enDispWhat=Object&enDispWho=Articals^l4375&enZone=rad_law

http://sviva.gov.il/Enviroment/bin/en.jsp?enPage=e_BlankPage&enDisplay=
view&enDispWhat=Zone&enDispWho=radiation_subject&enZone=radiation_subje
ct

http://environment.gov.il/bin/en.jsp?enPage=e_BlankPage&enDisplay=view&
enDispWhat=Object&enDispWho=Articals^l3551&enZone=non_ionizing  
(ARNewslineT))

**

RADIO POLITICS:  ADDITION RESTRICTIONS TO THE DXCC ACCREDITATION 
CRITERIA 

ARRL Membership Services Manager Wayne Mills, N7NG, has some words for 
D-Xers.  Do not put all of your logs information on-line as it can lead 
to DXCC disqualification.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, 
K6PZW, reports:

--

According to the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter, in an August 11th release, the 
ARRL's Wayne Mills says that for a number of years, it has been 
accepted practice to post DXpedition QSO information on a website.  
Although this information is generally limited to callsign, band and 
mode, it has been useful in reducing the number of duplicate contacts 
in the DXpedition log. 

On the other hand, Mills says that publishing complete QSO information, 
or information from which full QSO information can be derived, 
threatens the integrity of the QSLing process.  As such, Mills says 
that it is unacceptable.

To help minimize potential difficulties, Mills says that a new 
restriction has been approved by the Programs and Services Committee, 
and added to the DXCC Accreditation Criteria.   Section III now 
additionally reads -- and we quote:.

"The presentation in any public forum of logs or other representations 
of station operation showing details of station activity or other 
information from which all essential QSO elements such as time, date, 
band, mode and callsign for individual contacts can be derived creates 
a question as to the integrity of the claimed QSOs with that station 
during the period encompassed by the log.  

Presentation of such information in any public forum by the station 
operator, operators or associated parties is not allowed and may be 
considered sufficient reason to deny ARRL award credit for contacts 
with any station for which such presentations have been made.  
Persistent violation of this provision may result in disqualification 
from the DXCC program."

Loosely translated.  If you put up to much of your logging information 
where the public can see it, you can loose an operations credit for 
DXCC.

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

--

The bottom line:  According to Mills, there has to be some information 
that the station claiming the QSO provides based solely on actually 
being there when the QSO was made.  (OPDX)

**

TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAW:  FAA WANTS IN ON REGULATING THE RF SPECTRUM

A war of words and competing laws may be developing over just who 
regulates the RF spectrum in the United States.  While most would say 
it is the FCC for non-federal use and the NTIA, for federal operations, 
it looks as if the Federal Aviation Administration also wants in on the 
spectrum regulatory action.

If an Notice of Proposed Rule Making from the FAA becomes law, VHF TV 
broadcasters, FM radio broadcasters, satellite operators and even two-
way radio and C-band uplink operators may have to add the FAA to the 
list of regulated services.  Under the proposed modification to 14 CFR 
77.9(e)(1) of the Code of Federal Regulations , the FAA would have the 
power to require that notice be given for the construction of a new, or 
modification of an existing facility such as a building, antenna, or 
any other man-made structure, which supports a radiating elements for 
the purpose of radio frequency transmission operating in specific 
frequency ranges.  That list starts at 54 MHz and is far to long to 
include here.  But the good news is that Amateur Radio appears to have 
been excluded from the services impacted.  

It should be noted that there is no requirement that structures 
involved be tall enough to interfere with air navigation.  Rather, that 
the structures being built or modified support an antenna for use in 
the affected frequency ranges. The list even includes frequencies that 
can only be used by other federal government agencies.  (CGC, RW, 
others)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS ASSIST AT SEA RESCUE

Ham radio has again assisted in a rescue at sea.  Graham Kemp, VK4BB, 
of the WIA News has the details:

--

Paul VK2HV while in conversation with Stu, VK4VFX, on 40 meters at 
approximately 11.15 Friday 4th August acknowledged a breaker.  Ed VK6TE  
Maritime Mobile informed them that he had received a Mayday on channel 
16 UHF Marine Radio from the vicinity of New Caledonia where it 
appeared a yacht was in trouble.

Paul contacted Search and Rescue in Canberra, who alerted the Newcastle 
police and Port Stephens  Search and Rescue.  As a result of this 
action the yacht with 3 people on board were rescued.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB

--

Another case where ham radio operators were in the right place 
listening at the right time.  (WIA News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  MICHIGAN HAM DONATES TOWER TO LOCAL POLICE

The Milan News-Leader in Saline, Michigan reports that Don Churchill, 
WD8DTL, has donated his 64 foot high radio tower to the city's Police 
Department.  Police Chief Jeff Lewis said the new tower means better 
communications between dispatch and his officers on the street, and 
will double the radio area covered. The tower will also will bring 
better coverage for the Milan Area Fire Department.  

For Churchill, the donation signals the end of what was an intense 
hobby for him in the 1970s.  With the help of the Milan Department of 
Public Works and the Federal Corrections Institution prison crew, the 
tower was disassembled and cut off its concrete base in Churchill's 
yard.  It was then transported to its new location. The re-installation 
was done with the help of Milan Area firefighter Dan Carpus, who works 
for the Michigan 800 MHz Communications system.

The tower donation came as a result of a chance conversation between 
Churchill's daughter, Martha, and Mike Armitage, who is Milan Police 
Department reserve dispatcher. Chief Lewis offered a thank you to 
WD8DTL on behalf of the Milan Police Department and the city.  (Milan 
News-Leader, eHam, others)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  CEA URGES FCCC TO EXPAND NOAA RADIO

The Consumer Electronics Association says the FCC should expand 
distribution of non-weather emergency messages using NOAA National 
Weather Radio.  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports:

--

In its recommendations reviewing the impact of hurricane Katrina, the 
Consumer Electronics Association or C-E-A restated its belief that it 
is important for the Commission to consider the full array of emergency 
alerts.  

The trade association noted that that NOAA Weather Radio has developed 
into an effective collection and distribution system.  It says that 
it's estimates are that N-O-A-A originates more than 96 percent of all 
emergency alerts and indicates that it is one of the nations most 
useful disaster preparedness tools.

The electronics group has also urged the Commission to avoid mandatory 
standards on reception equipment.  It cited its Public Alert Technology 
Alliance as one example of industry effort to bring product 
manufacturers and government representatives together.  CEA says that 
with collaboration from NOAA, that alliance has adopted voluntary 
requirements for consumer receivers that display the Public Alert logo 
and trigger alerts by decoding the digital data string transmitted over 
NWR broadcasts. The Public Alert-certified devices also provide 
automatic translation for alerts into English, Spanish and Canadian 
French and alert technology for the hearing impaired.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the 
Newsline studios in Los Angeles.

--

NOAA Weather Radio is well known in ham radio emergency communications 
circles.  Many messages that eventually make it to its broadcasts begin 
with Amateur Radio Skywarn and other ham radio severe weather watcher 
reports coming in from the field.  (CEA)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  POSTMARK: KATRINA TO AIR ON THE WEATHER CHANNEL

"Postmark:Katrina" produced by Les Rayburn, N1LF, is a Weather Channel 
one hour special that tells the story of efforts by the US Postal 
Service to restore critical mail service to the battered Gulf Coast in 
the wake of hurricane Katrina.  

Rayburn and his crew were fully embedded with federal law enforcement 
officers from the US Postal Inspection Service within hours of the 
storm's landfall.  They traveled on missions throughout the Gulf Coast 
for weeks following the storm. Rayburn, along with his wife Abby, and a 
sound man alternated between filming the recovery efforts and actually 
assisting in them by providing critical High Frequency  communications 
for the National Communications System SHARES program. Working an 
average of 18 hours a day, and often sleeping on post office floors, 
Rayburn was also able to undertake a variety of missions using his 
Yaesu FT-857D and Tarheel screwdriver antenna.

Postmark:Katrina airs Sunday, August 27th and Monday, August 28th at 8 
P.M. Eastern and Pacific on The Weather Channel. The documentary 
includes brief portions on amateur radio traffic handling, has a 
graphic explanation of how repeaters function, and even some Morse 
Code. Rayburn says that it should be of interest to amateur radio 
operators and an opportunity to point out the value of this backup 
communications resource.  For more information visit www.weather.com. 
(TWC, others)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  W2IK TO COMMEMORATE 911

W-2-I-K stroke W-T-C 911 will be in operation on September 11th.  This, 
to commemorate the 5th anniversary of those lost in the a-Queda backed 
terrorist attack that brought down the World Trade Center in New York 
City. 

After the attack, the W-2-I-K callsign was the first signal to emanate 
from "Ground Zero."   Now, W-2-I-K will again be on the air beginning 9 
a.m. Eastern time and operating until 11 PM.  The mode is SSB only in 
the upper portions of 15, 20 and 40 meters. 

A special color QSL certificate will be mailed to each station making a 
contact.  Send your QSL and a large self addressed stamped envelope to 
W2IK, PO BOX 6731 San Antonio TX 78209  (W2IK)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  THE FIREDRAGON STILL LIVES

The so-called Firedragon Jammer from Hainan Island, China, is still 
shaking and rattling on exclusive Amateur Radio frequency 14.260 MHz.  
And according to the South African Radio League it is also been heard 
on 18.160 MHz.

It is not clear what Radio China's objective is.  Sone suspect that 
China is jamming some other radio station on those frequencies.  A 
station which it deems illegal for its population to hear..

The IARU Monitoring Service in various nations has already lodged 
complaints to their authorities. The South African Radio League says 
that it is in the process of adding its voice as well.  (SARL, WIA)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  ANOTHER DELAY IN GERRITSEN SENTENCING

Its happened again.  For the 5th time since his conviction earlier this 
year, the sentencing of radio jammer Jack Gerritsen has been postponed 
once again.  The new date is Monday, September 18th at the Royball 
Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles.  

The reason for this latest continuance is that Gerritsen's court-
appointed 
attorney has been transferred to Riverside, California.  Why this move 
has affected the final sentencing of the short term licensed KG6IRO was 
not revealed.  (N6USO)

**

ENFORCEMENT OF A DIFFERENT SORT:  COPPER WIRE THEFT

If the lights in your neighborhood suddenly go out, it may not be a 
power failure.  Rather it could be thieves stealing the copper wire 
right off of power poles.  

According to news reports out of San Francisco, copper thieves are 
stealing wire wherever they can find it. The more traditional criminals 
are hitting on construction sites and electrical maintenance storage 
facilities, but there are also those taking copper wire theft to a new 
extreme.  At the Anne Darling Elementary School in San Jose, 
California, thieves made off with about $2500 in wire but caused over 
$25,000 in damage to the property.  And only about a month ago three 
elderly women were arrested in Arizona after being caught stripping 
wire from telephone poles.  

Authorities say that most of those being caught stealing wire have been 
drug users looking for quick cash.  They also say that scrap metals 
dealers are refusing to cooperate with them saying that they cannot 
keep tabs on every seller who comes in with small amounts of scap 
copper.  The metal brings the seller less than $3.50 a pound.  
(Published reports)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  QCWA ANNOUNCES2006 - 2007 OFFICIALS

Some names in the news. First is former FCC Rules Division Chief John 
B. Johnston, W3BE.  He has been re-elected as President of the Quarter 
Century Wireless Association. 

 Joining him as QCWA leaders are former ARRL Director Leonard 
Nathanson, W8RC, as Vice President, Walter Supina, N3WS, as Secretary 
and Frank Harris WA4PAM, as Treasurer.

Elected as Directors are  Blanche Randles, W4GXZ, Ed Yoder W3YMB, Leroy 
Baldwin,  W0OFY, Kenneth Oelke, VE6AFO, Carolyn Harrison, WB0OUM, Val 
Erwin, W5PUT, Ralph Hirsh, W8RSH, and Amateur Radio Newsline producer 
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.   (QCWA)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  FCC EMPLOYEES HONORED

Three commission employees are recipients of the annual FCC "Excellence 
in Economic Analysis" awards.  The winners are Anthony Bush, Paul 
Zimmerman and Daniel Shiman. Bush and Zimmerman are recognized for 
joint work.  The awards recognize contributions to economic analysis at 
the commission, based on the impact on agency policy or its 
significance for the general base of knowledge in economics or public 
policy analysis.  (RW)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NEW SOFTWARE WILL MAKE SSTV FROM ISS A REALITY

A follow-up to our story regarding Slow Scan Amateur Television coming 
soon the International Space Station.  Late word is that new software 
has been developed to help radio amateurs view slow scan television 
images transmitted back to Earth from the I-S-S.  

Called SpaceCam1, the software will be used by future International 
Space Station crews for SSTV communications with radio amateurs. 
SpaceCam1 transmits and receives images on amateur radio frequencies, 
using standard SSTV formats. One of the key features of the software is 
that it allows two-way interactive operation. The software also fully 
automates the transmission of images at set intervals, operation of an 
SSTV beacon, generation of slide show transmissions and use of SSTV 
repeaters.

Transmissions will take place on a yet to be announced International 
Space Station amateur radio down link frequency.  To communicate with 
the International Space Station crew using the software, ground based 
hams will need at minimum a 2 meter receiver, an omni-directional 
outdoor antenna and a Personal Computer to run the new SSTV software. 
Satellite tracking software would also be helpful.

Initial trials of SpaceCam1 took place at the end of July. The system 
is expected to become fully operational in the coming weeks.  Further 
information about SpaceCam1 and how to receive SSTV transmissions can 
be found at www.marexmg.org  (MAREX)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  NASA SEARCHING FOR APOLLO 11 MOON TAPES

A search is on to locate the original footage of man's first steps on 
the Moon.  The tapes and motion picture film are believed to be stored 
somewhere in the archive at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center, 
Maryland.  But as many of those involved in the archiving have moved 
on, retired or passed away the  location has been lost.

The pictures taken by the Apollo 11 crew are very famous.  The footage 
has been by people around for over 37 years.  Yet it has also been 
compared to a photocopy of a photocopy, according to the London Daily 
Telegraph newspaper.  This is because the motion picture transfers used 
a technique called kinescope that used a film camera that had been 
pointed at a black-and-white monitor. 

The astronauts actually radioed higher-quality slow-scan footage back 
to Earth as data.  It  was seen by a small number of people at NASA's 
three tracking stations.  Now almost four decades later, nobody is 
quite sure just how much longer the original slow-scan television tapes 
will last.  The footage of the Apollo 11 crew's landing on the Moon is 
considered to be one of 20th Century's most important artifacts.  
(NASA)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  BBC PLANNING DIGITAL RADIO PLUG-IN

The British Broadcasting Company says that it is designing a plug-in 
adapter that turns I-Pods and MP3 players into digital radios.  

Currently plans are at an early stage and there are no firm details for 
the capabilities of the gadget or how much it will cost.  Nor is there 
a timetable for when the add-on radio might appear.  

A spokesman for the BBC says that the company has undertaken the 
project because it is important for to the BBC to make sure that people 
can listen to digital radio on their own terms.  (BBC)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: L.A.P.D.'s PATROL CAR OF THE FUTURE

Talk about a real life robo-cop.  The Los Angeles Police Department has 
designed and equipped a prototype of a high-tech patrol car for the 
year 2021, and a handful of new vehicles featuring some of the new 
technology will hit the streets later this year. Features include an 
automated license plate scanner, facial recognition software and a 
mobile fingerprint identifier.  And I case you have not figured it out, 
all the new technology in these ulta-modern police cars is linked to 
their central computers using good old fashioned radio.  (Newswatch)

**

WORLDBEAT - SENEGAL:  IARU HOLDS IARC TRAINING

The International Amateur Radio Union has concluded another of its 
Amateur Radio Administration Courses. This one was held from July 24th 
to 27th in Dakar,  Senegal, to representatives of National 
Administrations of Benin, Burkina, Guinea, the Ivory Coast, Mali, 
Mauritania, Senegal and Togo.   Since the early 1990s the IARU has been 
giving this training to representatives of administrations identified 
to benefit from such a help in developing or enhancing an Amateur 
Service, Amateur Satellite Service and of the related services.  
(GB2RS)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK:  RSGB AND AMSAT RESPOND TO OFCOM SHF PLAN

United Kingdom communications regulator Ofcom has published the 
responses it has received to its discussion paper regarding the future 
of the 71 GHz to 86 GHz bands.  As previously reported. the document, 
called a consultation in the U-K, could have serious implications for 
the primary amateur and amateur satellite allocation from 75.5 to 
76.0GHz.  Because of this, the RSGB, AMSAT U-K and the U-K Microwave 
Group have submitted a joint response aimed at protecting the amateur 
bands.  (GB2RS)

**

ON THE AIR:  A BIT ON BEACONS
Gary Bailey reports over the VHF Reflector that his WA4IOB beacons are 
back in service in grid EM73 just east of Atlanta, Georgia.  Gary says 
that there are three beacons currently in operation on the frequencies 
of 144.285Mhz, 222.055Mhz and 432.352Mhz. The output power on each band 
is 2 watts.  QSN reports go to Gary at his callbook address.  (WA4IOB 
via VHF Reflector)

**

DX

In D-X, DS4DRE will be active as portable 4 from Hong Island from now 
until the end of the year.  He plans to operate on 80 through 10 meters 
on SSB and CW.  QSL to his home callbook address.

And keep a lookout for special event callsign 4O7WWYC.  Its being used 
by the World Wide Young Contesters Group until 31st August to celebrate 
the group's 7th anniversary.  QSL as directed on the air.  

And word from the RSGB that GB0GRA and GB0HDX will be put on the air at 
the Harlaxton Sports and Social Club over the U-K bank holiday weekend 
of 26th and 27th of August.  Organized by M0JHW, G4MQM and 2E1AXL, the 
event includes a barbecue on the Saturday afternoon.

Look for memers of the Amateur Radio Union of Kyrgyzstan to be active 
as EX15ID from August 25th to September 5th.  This, to celebrate the 
15th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's independence. QSL via EX8AB.

Lastly, PA0RRS, will be active portable CT3 on Medeira from August 17th 
to the 31st.  No bands/modes of activity information was provided.  QSL 
via PA0RRS, either direct or by the bureau.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  RADIO IN SPACE AND AN OLDER UNIVERSE

The universe may be a lot older than first thought and radio is helping 
to prove or disprove this theory.  Amateur radio Newsline's Jim 
Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Auckland, New Zealand is back with the details:

--

An astronomical project aiming to create an easier way to measure 
cosmic distances has instead turned up surprising evidence that our 
large and ancient universe might be even bigger and older than 
previously thought.  

A research team at the Carnegie Institution of Washington using radio 
astronomy has found that the Triangulum Galaxy, also known as M33, is 
about 15 percent farther away from our own Milky Way than previously 
calculated.  The finding, which will be detailed in an upcoming issue 
of Astrophysical Journal, suggests that the Hubble constant, a number 
that measures the expansion rate and age of the universe, is actually 
15 percent smaller than other studies have found.  

Currently, most astronomers agree that the value of the Hubble constant 
is about 71 kilometers per second per megaparsec.  A megaparsec is 3.2 
million light-years. If this value were smaller by 15 percent, then the 
universe would be older and bigger by this amount as well.  

--

The study will be communing for some time. (Space)

**

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. 