No subject

Newsline.

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Alabama Power was given thirty days to advise W4NTI as to what steps it 
was taking to solve the interference.   (FCC release)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  WAYNE WILLIAMS,  K4MOB - S.K.

A radio amateur who dedicated almost a quarter of a century editing a 
ham radio magazine has crossed over to the other side of the Ethereal 
Abyss.  This with word that Wayne Williams K4MOB, editor of the 
SouthEastern Repeater Association magazine "The SERA Repeater Journal" 
has passed away.

According to Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, Williams died at home early Tuesday 
morning, February 12th of complications from cancer.  He was 65 years 
old.  

Pearce says that Williams passion in Amateur Radio was FM and repeaters.  
He became active in SERA's predecessor, the Carolinas-Virginia Repeater 
Association, in the early 70's.  This, at a time when two meter FM was 
just beginning to gain in popularity. 

In 1977 Williams became the editor for the group's magazine, the 
Repeater Journal.  The Journal was already a respectable size 44 page 
booklet, with regional advertising from local dealers and hamfests.  But 
over the next 23 years, K4MOB built it into a quarterly magazine 
featuring full-color covers and both national and regional advertising.

--
Gary Pearce KN4AQ:  "Through the Repeater Journal and through the 
coordination body Wayne helped to provide the infrastructure that we 
enjoy today on VHF and UHF FM.  Repeaters that we can operate with a 
minimum of interference and maximum of range and quality of enjoyment."
-- 

In parallel with his SERA activity, K4MOB also established Williams 
Radio.  He started the business by amassing a huge inventory of 
crystals.  In that pre-synthesizer era, two meter FM radios required a 
pair of crystals for each frequency used. Other crystal sources made 
hams wait days or weeks for delivery but  Williams Radio was one of the 
few instant sources of crystals for almost every frequency, and for 
almost every radio.  Later, the business added accessories and several 
lines of radios.  It was a family affair, with Williams wife, brother 
and sons pitching in at hamfests across the region.  K4MOB retired from 
Williams Radio in 1997.

Wayne Williams, K4MOB, is survived by his wife Gerry KB4SER, and two 
sons, Wayne Jr. and Chris.  A third son, Greg, passed away in 2000.  
Pierce says that Wayne Williams was a very special man in ham radio.  
All that knew him say that he will be missed.  (KN4AQ)

**

AWARDS:  THE VITA WIRELESS SAMARITAN AWARDS

The Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association along with  the 
Cellular Telecommunications industry Association's Wireless Foundation 
have honored the winners of the 2001 VITA Wireless Samaritan Awards and 
the 2001 Wireless Industry Achievement Awards.  Among the recipients are 
average citizens from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Texas and South 
Dakota, who had the presence of mind to turn to their cellular 
telephones in emergency situations. The VITA Wireless Samaritan Awards 
are given annually to individuals from all 50 states, the District of 
Columbia, and Puerto Rico.  (CTIA Release)

**

AWARDS:  HAMAWARDS.COM 

Hamawards.com is a new website that is currently under development.  
According to Anthony Farmer, KB3HGY, the mission of hamawards.com is to 
provide centralized on-line information regarding all awards that an 
Amateur Radio Operator can receive. The site is currently being 
developed.  More information is at www.hamawards.com.  (News release)

**

HAM RADIO AT THE WINTER OLYMPICS:  ANOTHER COMMEMORATIVE STATION

Yet another commemorative station is taking to the airwaves form near 
the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics.  Linda Reeder, N7HVF, reports from 
Salt Lake City Utah.

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Linda Reeder, N7HVF:  "It will start on Friday February 22nd at 5 PM to 
the 24th.  Our station call will be K7O on 80 through 10 meters.  If you 
want a QSL send an self addressed stamped envelope to Mark Richardson, 
W7HPW, 11361 South 5825 West Payson Utah 84651-3622"
--

Again the call sign to listen for is K7O and QSL's with a SASE go to 
Mark Richardson, W7HPW, 11361 South 5825 West Payson Utah 84651-3622  
(ARNewsline (tm), N7HVF)

**

CONVENTIONS:  HAMVENTION 2002 BANQUET MASTER OF CEREMONIES NAMED
The Master of Ceremonies for the 2002 Dayton Hamvention Banquet will be 
Carl Nichols, N8WFQ.  Nichols is the Chief Meteorologist for WDTN 
channel 2 News in Dayton. This is a forth return performance for Nichols 
who served as Hamvention banquet Master of Ceremonies since 1998.  
(DARA)

**

CONVENTIONS:  WIA IN MELBOURNE IN MAY

The 2002 Federal Convention and Annual General Meeting of the Wireless 
Institute of Australia is now slated for the city of Melbourne on the 
17th, 18th and 19th of May.  Among the many subjects to be discussed at 
the meeting will be a possible restructuring of the WIA and the 
possibility of a Foundation class license similar to that recently 
introduced in the U-K.  (WIA)

**  

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAMS ASKED TO HELP NANOSAT PROJECT

Ham radio is being asked to provide technical support for an upcoming 
satellite project.  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, says it is a bird called 
Nanosat:

--

John Heath, G7HIA, the Secretary of the National Space Centre Amateur 
Radio Society, reports that Bristol University is asking the world-wide 
amateur radio community to assist with data capture from their 
forthcoming Nano Satellite Project. 

Hand-launched from the Space Shuttle during a space walk, the 6.5-
kilogram satellite will send data that can be decoded with software 
available free from their web site. The software is not yet written 
because the university wants to give amateurs the chance to have input 
into how they would like the data stream: 1200 baud AX25 packet, 9K6 
packet, Bell 202, or Soundcard etc. More information and an on-line 
survey form is available on the web at www.handsat.co.uk

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH

--

If you missed that website address you can find it in the print edition 
of this weeks amateur Radio Newsline report.  (GB2RS)

**

INTERNATIONAL - ENGLAND:  QUEEN ELIZABETH'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

Thanks to the efforts of the Radio Society of Great Britain, UK Amateur 
Radio operators will be taking part in a very special celebration.  On 
Wednesday the 6th of February, England's Queen Elizabeth marked the 50th 
anniversary of her accession to the royal throne.  The Queen's Golden 
Jubilee will be celebrated next June, and the RSGB has negotiated the 
use of a special prefix for the celebration.  Starting June 1st and 
continuing through the 30th, UK hams will be permitted use of the 'GQ' 
prefix to help commemorate the event.  (GB2RS)

**

DX

In DX, E20NGF says over the Internet that there is now a new Worked All 
Thailand Provinces award.  There are currently 76 in Thailand and this 
particular awards requires that you contact and confirm each one.  And 
while E20NGF calls it a great challenge to all award chasers, he also 
notes that its not all that difficult to log 20 provinces these days 
with more than 1000 Thai hams already on H-F.  Check the various DX and 
awards websites for full information.  (RSGB)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE NEW ZEALAND AREC AWARD

And finally this week, New Zealand's team of  Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications volunteers has received an important award.  Its a 
special honor in recognition of their providing support of Search and 
Rescue efforts down-under.  Amateur Radio Newslines Jim Meachen ZL2BHF 
in Auckland has more:

--

The inaugural presentation of the New Zealand National Search and Rescue 
Award for the year 2001 was made to AREC at a ceremony held in 
Wellington earlier this month. 

The Award recognizing AREC's outstanding performance and contribution to 
search and rescue in New Zealand was made by Marion Hobbs MP on behalf 
of the Government Minister of Transport.

--

Brian Purdie ZL2ADL the National Director of Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications accepted the Award on behalf of the AREC team and thanked 
the New Zealand National Search and Rescue Committee for the award.
      
--
Sound Here
--

The National Director of  New Zealand's Amateur Radio Emergency 
Communications Brian Purdie ZL2ADL. Further detail of the award ceremony 
with photographs can be found on the NZART web site at www.nzart.org.nz.