[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newline Report 1531 - December 15th, 2006

Sat Dec 16 10:19:24 EST 2006

Amateur Radio Newline Report 1531 - December 15th, 2006

The following is a Q-S-T.  A U-K chip maker may have conquered B-P-L 
interference, Denmark gives its hams more space at 70 MHz, 
restructuring is welcomed in the U-S-A and a big fine to a retailer for 
selling illegal C-B radio gear.  All this and more on Amateur Radio 
Newline report number 1531 coming your way right now.

**

THE BPL WAR:  NEW UK CHIP MAY SOLVE PART OF THE INTERFERENCE PROBLEM

A British chip manufacturer called SiConnect has announced its first B-
P-L system designed to operates across the entire High Frequency 
spectrum but not cause significant interference to other users.  Bruce 
Tennant, K6PZW, has the details.

--

The U-K journal Electronics Weekly says that the SiConnect chip will be 
available in limited quantity before years end.  Designated as the 
PLT050 it includes all the protocol processing required to establish a 
bi-directional link over power mains for Ethernet, USB1.1, or 8-bit 
parallel data.  And it does all of this while only putting out 4 micro 
power carriers into the 3 to 30 MHz frequency range .

The complete SiConnect B-P-L device is described as being just a little 
bigger than a conventional United Kingdom power mains plug with an RJ-
45 connector on one side and prongs to plug into a socket on the other.  
SiConnect says that initial applications will be to provide virtual 
point-to-point or mesh Ethernet connections around a dwelling or 
office.

While many B-P-L installations have been accused of radiating excessive 
RF noise SiConnect says that it has all but eliminated the problem by 
going to a micro power level and using a built-in repeater mode.  Yes, 
the chipset has a repeat function enabling it to interconnect with 
other near-by devices to relay data.

Because of this, SiConnect says that its chip does not emit sufficient 
RF to be an issue as is common for competitor's designs and those built 
to work with United States FCC approved levels which are higher.  

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

--

SiConnect says that radiated emissions have been measured in a real-
world situation in an actual house.  It also says that the low amount of 
interference is because the chip and device are made to conform to the 
more stringent United Kingdom R-F interference control specification.  
More on this new chip and its uses is on line at 
www.electronicsweekly.com/ARTICLES/2006/12/06/40303/Comms+over+power+cables+firm+launches+first+chip.HTM  (KC6WFS)

**

SOLAR MATTERS:  DECEMBER 13 CME HEADS TOWARD EARTH

Further evidence that the solar cycle has bottomed out and is on the 
way up is with us again as we go to air.  Space Weather News  for 
December  13th reported that sunspot 930 erupted again producing a 
strong X3-class solar flare. 

The solar blast triggered an ongoing radiation storm and probably 
hurled a coronal mass ejection or C-M-E toward Earth.  

Spaceweather.com says that auroras are possible when the C-M-E arrives 
on December 15th and continuing for several days.  Typically, this can 
mean poor High Frequency  radio conditions but also a good chance that 
6 meters and above could come alive with some unexpected D-X.   

If you hearing this on December 14th 15th or 16th, and have the gear, you 
might want to monitor the calling frequency of 50.125 MHz over the next 
several days.  With these solar conditions you never know what rare 
station you might hear. (Handi Ham News, spaceweather.vom)

**

RESTRUCTURING: DENMARK GIVES HAMS EXTRA 70 MHZ ALLOCATION	

Danish Radio Amateurs have gained access to yet another segment of the 
European-only 70 MHz band.  As of December 4th, hams in Denmark can 
operate from 70.1875 to 70,2125 MHz.  This enables them to use the 
'International' calling frequency at 70.200 MHz.  The complete Danish 
70 MHz bandplan can be found at the U-R-L in this weeks print edition 
of Newsline.

(DO NOT READ: www.70mhz.org/bandplan_oz.htm)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  AM WELCOMES THE EXPANDED 75 METER PHONE BAND

As we go to air on December 15th, restructuring should have taken place 
here in the USA.  To celebrate this milestone, a group of vintage radio 
hobbyists are celebrating expansion of the 75 meter phone band with a 
'bandwarming' party.  

Operations started at 05:00 U-T-C with stations on the air from 3.6 to 
3.8 MHz.  A number of  stations have been granted the use of Special 
Event 1 by 1 Call Signs to help commemorate the regulatory upgrade.

Canadian hams are also taking part in these festivities.  Their 
operation was slated to begin Thursday evening December 14th.  This as 
vintage radio enthusiasts were to gather around several frequencies 
between 3.7 to 3.8 Mhz where they already enjoy phone privileges.

**

RESTRUCTURING:  ARRL SEEKS 75 METER STAY

Meantime, the ARRL has fled a last minute appeal to the FCC to stay 
part of the restructuring on the 75 meter band.  We have more in this 
report:

--

Heres the bottom line.  The ARRL wants to be certain that current 
digital and other relatively narrowband operations between 3.6 to 3.635 
MHz will not be negatively impacted by phone expansion.  

Fearing that interference to these existing operations might take 
place, the ARRL had originally asked the FCC to expand the phone band 
only down to 3.7 MHz.  It was the FCC on its own initiative that took 
it to 3.6 MHz.  

So on Monday, December 11th, the ARRL filed a petition to the regulatory 
agency asking that it put a temporary hold on radiotelephone and any 
other wideband mode expansion into the 3.6 to 3.635 MHz range and 
rectify the expansion to protect the narrowband operations. The 
requested changes also as the FCC to maintain access to the 
automatically controlled digital subband between 3.620 to 3.635 MHz as 
well.

As this newscast is being prepared the FCC has not acted on this last 
minute ARRL request.

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

--

More on this in next weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report.  (ARNewslineT 
from ARRL information.)

**

RADIO RECORDS:  M3POU MAKES FIRST UK FOUNDATION CLASS 10 GHX QSO

Andy Hollings, M3POU, has become the first United Kingdom Foundation 
licensee to complete a 10 GHz QSO.  The entry level U-K ham made 
contact  with John Norrington, 2E0NOZ, shortly after the 10GHz band was 
opened up to Foundation licensees on December 1st.  

The two British hams used a combination of the DB6NT commercial kit and 
a G3JVL transverter donated by G8AYY to achieve a contact over a short 
distance.  

Further information on this very special 10GHz contact is available 
from U-K Microwave Group secretary Ian Lamb.  E-Mail him at 
ianlamb at btconnect.com.

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  KATYSAT TO LAUNCH IN MAY

A ham radio satellite for the younger set should go into orbit next 
May. Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY, is here with more:

--

The spacecraft is called KatySat.  That's an acronym meaning Kids 
Aren't Too Young for Satellites.  To that end, KatySat is designed 
specifically to put space technology into the hands of Kindergarten 
through 12 grade students.  

KatySat will be a digital bird using AX.25 packet protocol operating at 
1200 baud on both its uplink and downlink.  It will carry a 70cm FM 
transmitter and 2 meter FM receiver, operating in half-duplex mode.

The satellite is a year-long project of the Stanford Aeronautics and 
Astronautics department which is part the Stanford Space Systems 
Development Laboratory in Northern California.  It will be carried into 
space on the  Russian launch vehicle in May of 2007.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY, reporting.  

--

Further information on KatySat can is on-line at www.katysat.org  
(KatySat)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  $21000 FINE FOR SELLING ILLEGAL CB GEAR

The FCC has affirmed a $21,000 Forfeiture Order to Wesley Noe, doing 
business as GI Joe's Radio Electronics and GI Joe's CB Radio.  This, 
for willfully and repeatedly violating the Commission's Rules by 
offering for sale non-certified Citizens Band transceivers and external 
RF power amplifiers.  

On April 19, 2006, the Detroit Office issued a Notice of Apparent 
Liability for Forfeiture to Noe after finding these items for sale on 
the company's website.  In his reply, the Richmond, Kentucky, supplier 
did not dispute the findings, but requested a cancellation or reduction 
based on an inability to pay.  In support of the request, the company 
submitted its federal income tax returns as required by the regulatory 
agency.

After reviewing this claim and supporting documentation, the FCC found 
that a cancellation or reduction of the forfeiture based on an 
inability to pay is not warranted.  Noe was given the usual 30 days 
from the December 11th release of the order to pay or to file a further 
appeal.  (FCC)
**

ENFORCEMENT:  ALLEGED LICENSE HIJACKING LEADS TO LICENSE HEARING

The FCC has designated for hearing before the Amateur Service license 
application Joseph W. Hartmann, Jr..  This, to determine whether he 
holds the requisite requirements to become a Commission licensee after 
allegations surfaced regarding his alleged attempts to transfer the 
call of another ham to himself.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff 
Reinhardt, AA6JR, has more:

--

According to the FCC, Joseph W, Hartmann, Jr. filed numerous 
administrative update applications seeking to change the name and 
address associated with the  General Class license K3GUX from Joseph 
V. Hartman, Sr. of Delaware to Joseph W. Hartmann, Jr. in Ohio.  
This, starting on February 11th, 2005 and ending in January of this year 
when the regulatory agency set aside his last attempt to make such a 
change.

According to the Commission's records Joseph V. Hartman, Sr. of 
Oceanview Delaware was born on September 9, 1919.  The license  
for K3GUX was initially granted to him back in 1964.  It was most 
recently renewed in 1997. 

The  FCC says that the record  before it suggests that Joseph W. 
Hartmann, Jr. in Ohio intentionally submitted fraudulent  
administrative updates to obtain the privileges associated with 
the K3GUX call.  Based on the information before it, the FCC  
believes that Joseph W. Hartmann, Jr.'s actions raise a substantial 
and  material question of fact as to whether he possesses the  
requisite character qualifications to be a Commission licensee.  

Because of this the FCC says that it is unable to make a determination 
on the  record currently before it  that grant of Joseph W. Hartmann,  
Jr.'s application for a new Amateur Service license would serve  the 
public interest, convenience, and necessity.  As such, it is 
designating the application for a hearing before an Administrative Law 
Judge, as required by Section 309(e) of the Communications  
Act.  At that proceeding Joseph W. Hartmann Jr. will be permitted to 
present evidence as to why the grant should be made and the Commission 
will be afforded an opportunity to argue against it.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, in Los 
Angeles.

--

No date has yet been set for the hearing to take place.  Meantime, the 
K3GUX call sign has been returned to its long term holder, Joseph V. 
Hartmann Sr. in Delaware.   (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FAKE ICOM 2 METER HT'S ON THE AUCTION BLOCK  

If you are planning to buy a new radio from an auction site dealer, 
breware.  The radio may not be what it looks like.  Especially if the 
seller is posting far to low a price on an Icom IC V8 2 meter H-T.  Jim 
Linton, VK3PC, has the rest of the story:

--

The latest to be hit by look-a-like rip-offs is Japanese radio 
communications manufacturer, ICOM, that reports counterfeits of its VHF 
IC-V8 transceivers and accessories that has appeared on the market.
This popular 5.5 watt hand-held can be configured for either amateur or 
land-mobile applications.

The Japanese manufacturer in a statement said "some of them look almost 
identical to genuine ICOM products . these products are also being sold 
through internet shopping sites at very low price."

ICOM has obtained some and put them through its testing procedure to 
declare that in its view, they performed poorly, and of course 
certainly not up to company's high production standards. 

"These transceivers, battery packs and chargers may even cause safety 
problems," ICOM said, warning that it is not responsible, nor liable, 
for any damage or loss resulting from the use of counterfeit products.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Linton VK3PC.

--

An Icom spokesperson tells Amateur Radio Newsline that the company has 
discontinued the original IC-V8 and reintroduced it as the IC V8 Sport.  
He says that the pricing of the Sport version has discouraged the 
importation of the knock off radio gear. (VK3PC, WIA News)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  2006 HURRICANE STATS

Some interesting statistics on the 2006 hurricane season.  Early on, 
the National Hurricane Center predicted 13 to 16 named storms during 
the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, which ran from June 1st  to November 
30th.  Top researchers at Colorado State University had forecast 17.  
Both were wrong.  

This year there were only nine named storms, and not a single hurricane 
has hit the U.S. mainland. The reason?  Experts say a warm-water trend 
in the Pacific known as El Nino developed more rapidly than expected 
this summer, suppressing the formation of storms in the Atlantic. Also, 
upper-level air currents pushed most of this year's five hurricanes out 
to sea.  
(NOAA)

**

HAM RADIO SERVICES:  USREPEATERS.COM

USREPEATERS.COM is a new website built by James Glass, AB9IF, to assist 
hams travelers throughout the United States to find  active repeater 
systems.  All of the various United States bandplans are included and 
repeater information is updated daily.  The site is in cyberspace at 
www.usrepeaters.com  (Via e-mail)
**

HAM RADIO ON THE NET: IRLP TALKBACK OPERATION

If you have ever wondered what you sound like on air, wonder no more.  
That is if you use I-R-L-P, you can wonder no more.  

There is a great talk-back and sound check function that is available 
on most IRLP  nodes.  If your no is so equipped, al you need do is type 
in a DTMF 9990 and then say a sentence and release the  PTT button.  
The the IRLP node should, after a short delay, play your sentence  back 
over the air.

To stop this operation just type the normal DTMF 73 and this will 
cancel the  talk-back record and replay mode.  (VK7HAH via VK7WIA News)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE NET:  IRLP CONTEST - WIA A DJ-5V FOR GETTING ON 

Speaking of IRLP, using it could win some ham a brand new Alinco DJ-5V 
dual band hand, held radio.  This, in a New Years Eve on-the-air party  
sponsored by Burnaby Radio in British Columbia Canada.  Heres how it 
works.

Anyone who checks into the IRLP International Open Forum Net during 
December can get a contact number from the net control station and 
enters your callsign in the contest bucket.  Then New Years Eve a 
drawing will be held at 0300 UTC during the annual New Year Around The 
World QSO party on Reflector 9200.

Only a few simple rules for this contest. That is only one check-in per 
station will be allowed per net session. Also, you must be present on 
Reflector 9200 to win as the person whose name is drawn will be 
notified on the radio.  If the first person chosen does not respond, 
another entry will be drawn until a station on the net answers their 
call.

And here is the best part.  No matter where in the world you live you 
will get a radio that works in your region.  If the winner lives 
outside Canada, Alinco U-S-A will make the arrangements for delivery of 
a version of the radio for the destination country.

The drawing will be conducted from the facilities of Ronald McKay, 
VA7MWR, Clinton, British Columbia, Canada.  All questions go VA7MWR on 
I-R-L-P Node 1547.  (WS7A)

**

HAM RADIO BUSINESS:  THAT CORP IN ALLIANCE WITH MOUSER

THAT Corporation has announced a new partnership with Mouser 
Electronics.  One that both companies say will permit better service to 
customers desiring smaller order sizes. 

The alliance will augment THAT Corporation's current distribution chain 
and increase access to its line of analog integrated circuits.  This is  
especially important for those customers who appreciate Mouser's 
practice of breaking packs without imposing minimum quantities.

THAT Corporation is a Massachusetts based provider of high-performance 
audio technology in the form of integrated circuits to manufacturers of 
professional and industrial products.  Mouser, located in Mansfield, 
Texas  is well known in ham radio circles.  Mouser is a privately-held 
company dedicated to supplying its customers with the latest new 
products and technologies.  (THAT release)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  SPAR WINTER FIELD DAY 2007

SPAR, the Society for the Preservation of Amateur Radio has announced 
that it will sponsor what it calls Winter Field Day 2007.  SPAR as the 
organization is better known says that this first attempt at a Winter 
Field Day will be held from 12:00 noon on Saturday January 13th to 12:00 
noon on Sunday January 14th your local time.  

Like the ARRL's June Field Day, the object of this event is to set up 
emergency-style communications and make as many contacts as possible 
during the 24 hour period. The rules encourage as many contacts on as 
many bands and modes as possible, because during a real emergency, the 
most important factor is the ability to communicate.

The event is open to all licensed radio amateurs.  The official rules 
for Winter Field Day 2007 and information about the Society for the 
Preservation of Amateur Radio can be found at the SPAR web site.  Its 
in cyberspace at www.spar-hams.org.  (W5ALT)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  TED SUAREZ, K8SBC - S.K.

Word that past Dayton Hamvention General Chairman Ted Suarez, K8BSC, 
has also passed on.  Suraz died on early on December 9th at the Miami 
Valley Hospital in Dayton after an extended stay of more than a month.

According to Ron Moorefield, W8ILC, Suarez held the Hamvention Chairman 
seat for more years than anyone before or since.  He served for 
consecutive years beginning in 1973 and ending in 1976.  During that 
time the Hamvention began its climb in attendance that peaked in the 
1990.

Ted Suarez is survived by his two grown daughters.  No funeral is 
planned as K8BSC had previously arranged to have his remains donated to 
the medical department at Wright State University to be used in 
research.  (W8ILC)

**

WORLDBEAT:  UK TEACHER HONORED FOR ARISS CONTACT

>From Great Britain, word that a teacher whose pupils were the first 
school children in the United Kingdom  to speak to astronauts using 
amateur radio has won the I-T-V Pride of Britain Award.  

Educator Linda Davies was presented with the Teacher of the Year award 
live on television on  November 7th.  This, for her work in promoting 
science at Neston Primary School in Wiltshire.

One of her biggest achievements was organizing a ten-minute chat 
between pupils and the astronauts aboard the International Space 
Station. Among the radio amateurs who took part in the ISS contact were 
Charles Riley, G4JQX, Howard Long, G6LVB, and Carlos Eavis, G0AKI.  The 
ARISS organization arranged for the contact to be made.  (GB2RS)

**

WORLDBEAT:  RSGB TO MERGE HF AND VHF CONTEST COMMITTEES

The Radio Society of Great Britain has decided to merge its HF and VHF 
Contest committees.  This, with the aim of providing contesters with a 
better, centralized service.

The merger will take place over a 6-12 month transition time frame.  
During this period, Don Field, the RSGB's board member for sport radio, 
will act as interim chairman.  (GB2RS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  US MAY PROVIDE HAM RADIO SPACE TRAINING

The United States may soon be teaching more ham radio to astronauts 
before they go overseas for other training.  

At a recent Space Flight Training Division Technical Interchange 
Meeting the ARISS U.S. team may be tasked with performing more of the 
amateur radio training.  This, to reduce the amount of time that U.S. 
crews spend in Russia.  

The meeting was held  November 6th through the 10th at the at Johnson 
Space Center, in Houston, Texas.  The ARISS-Russian team from Energia, 
representatives from the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center, and ARISS 
United States members attended the session.  (ARISS)

**

HAM RADO IN SPACE:  AMSAT 2007 COLLOQUIUM SET FOR JULY 

The dates for the 2007 AMSAT-UK Colloquium have been announced as July 
20 through the 22 .  As per previous years the venue is to be the 
University of Surrey, in Guilford, England.  AMSAT - UK says that its 
holding the gathering a week earlier than normal to avoid clashing with 
the Central States VHF Event in the United States.  (AMSAT-UK)

**

SPECIAL EVENT:  CELEBRATING SOUTH POLE EXPLORATION

Look for special event station 8J1ANT to be active between now and 31st 
March.  His operation is in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the 
Japanese Scientific Research Expeditions in Antarctica.  The 8J1ANT 
special station will operate from the Japan Amateur Radio League 
building in Tokyo.  QSL this special event station as directed on the 
air.  (OPDX)

**

DX

In DX,  the 5A7A DXpedition went QRT on November 29th.  According to 
the December 3rd on-line log, the operation netted just over 112,000 
QSOs. A complete band/mode breakdowns of QSOs are available at 
www.df3cb.com/logsearch/5a7a

Lastly, keep an ear open for the Aland Islands.  This, as OH1JT, OH1RX, 
OH2JA and OH5DX will be active as OH0Z during the CQ 160M CW Contest 
from January 27th to the 28th.  They plan to operate as a Multi-Single 
entry. QSL via W0MM.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  CANADA CELEBRATING FESSENDEN

And finally this week, Canada is celebrating the accomplishments of one 
of the inventors of Radio.  And its letting its ham radio community do 
it on the air.  Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details:

--

Telecommunications regulator Industry Canada has authorized all 
Canadian radio amateurs to use special event prefixes for the next two 
months.  This, to mark the 100th anniversary of the first A-M voice 
broadcast by Reginald Fessenden that took place on December 24, 1906. 

The permit comes at the request of  Radio Amateurs of Canada,  which 
notes that on Christmas Eve, 1906, the Canadian-born Fessenden, 
transmitting from a station in Brant Rock, Massachusetts, sent a short 
program which included the song O Holy Night played on the violin and a 
reading from the Bible.  A second short program was broadcast on 
December 31, 1906.

To commemorate this accomplishment, Canadian hams can take to the 
airwaves using a series of prefixes beginning with the letter "C" with 
the rest of the prefix dependant on geographic location.  The period 
for Canadian hams to use those commemorative prefixes started on the 
December 1st concludes on the 31st of January, 2007.  

--

Once again, Canadian hams can use the special prefixes through January 
31st of 2007.  (RAC)

**

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, the Southgate News, and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all 
from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  Our e-mail address is 
newsline at arnewsline.org.  More information is available at Amateur 
Radio Newsline's 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. 