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Thu Mar 8 06:28:51 EST 2007

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In signing the West Virginia bill into law, Governor Wise, whose late father held the call sign W-A-8-A-Y-P, also proclaimed March 7 as Amateur Radio Operators Appreciation Day across the state.  (ARRL)

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AMERICA AT WAR:  NEW TERRORISM ALERT SYSTEM

The United States has a new color-coded terrorism warning system.  It was revealed on Tuesday, March 12th by Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge.

The five-level system is a response to public complaints that broad terror alerts issued by the government since the Sept. 11 attacks raised alarm without providing useful guidance. The lowest-status warning is green, followed by blue, yellow, orange and red as the perceived dangers intensify.

As the terrorism warning system was unveiled, Ridge said that the nation is on yellow alert.  This means that the United States is facing a significant risk of danger but not the highest stage.

The alert system is in force immediately for federal agencies, and Ridge is urging state and local governments to adopt it, too.  It will be subject to a 45-day comment period, after which it probably will be revised.  It's not known what part if any Amateur Radio will play in the new enhanced terrorism alert scheme.  (Published news reports)

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ENFORCEMENT:  TAKE THAT UNCOORDINATED REPEATER OFF THE AIR

The FCC has told the operator of an uncoordinated North Carolina repeater to stop interfering with a coordinated machine, even if it means immediately taking his system off the air.  This is the edict handed down to the operators of the NY4X repeater by FCC Special Counsel for Amateur Radio Enforcement Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH.

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Hollingsworth: " We also notified Richard Howell, NY4X, of Greer South Carolina and John Parker, AG4AZ, of Brevard Norrth Carolina that upon reciept of the letter, the NY4X repeater that they operate had to either shut down, obtain coordination or submit a detailed plan to the Commission to prevent interference to the KU4OL [repeater]."

"Now this interference has been going on for quite some time.  We notified Parker and Howell back in November that something had to be done.  Nothing was accomplished in regard to coordination and nothing was done in regard to the interference." 

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Hollingsworth letter says that Howell and Parker had more than ample time to fulfill their obligation under Section 97.205 of the Commission's rules.  And late word is that the repeater has been shut down.  (FCC, RAIN)

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ENFORCEMENT:  TAKE THAT BROKEN REPEATER OFF THE AIR

The NY4X repeater is not the only machine currently under FCC scrutiny. Another one is in Northern California.  This one is having technical problems and is causing interference to machines on adjacent channel pairs.  Again, the FCC's Riley Hollingsworth, K4ZDH:

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Hollingsworth:  "We notified Wendall Peterson of Walnut Creek California, operator of the K6POU repeater that more than enough time has elapsed for him to correct the technical and control problems with the repeater.  His earlier response to our inquiry showed that the bandwidth was indeed so wide that it caused problems to two other repeaters.  We have gotten complaints about that. And the repeater system is just not operating in accordance with good Amateur practice." 

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Hollingsworth says that his office expects the problems with the repeater to be corrected or that the machine will be taken off the air.  He also gave Peterson 20 days from the date of his letter to respond.  (FCC, RAIN)

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ENFORCEMENT:  THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REPEATER OWNERS

The FCC enforcement involving the NY4X and K-6POU repeaters are just the latest in a series of actions aimed at cleaning up the problems that have been plaguing the F-M community.  Whether it's an uncoordinated repeater causing havoc to a coordinated machine, or a long established system in need of maintenance, the FCC's Hollingsworth says responsibility comes with repeater ownership:

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Hollingsworth:  "We want to emphasize that repeaters are voluntary.  Nobody has to put one up.  But if you do put one up you have a responsibility to maintain it, to get coordination if that's necessary, and to operate in accordance with good Amateur practices, especially if other repeaters are being detrimentally affected." 

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In reality, the only things the FCC is asking of those who own and operate repeaters is to be good neighbors and to adhere to the proper technical standards.  In this way, the repeaters themselves can better serve their service area and the ham radio community in it.  (FCC, RAIN)

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RESCUE RADIO:  KNOWING WHERE YOU ARE IN THE MID WEST

If you drive the highways and by-ways of Kentucky, you need never worry again about where you are.  And if you get in a bind, rescuers will be able to find you.  That is, if you are a ham radio operator equipped with a mobile APRS station.  Jack Parker, W8ISH, of Amateur News Weekly, says that in his part of the world it is a mode that is truly coming of age:

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Good news from the Kentuckey Automatic Position Reporting Society"  their network of APRS digipeters is growing like well bred Kentucky Race Horses.

According to Brian Walker, KC4FIE, several new sites will be coming on line very soon.  New digi's are planned for Grand Rivers, Morgantown, Owensboro, Lawrenceburg, and Dry Ridge to name a few.

The Murry State University club has added a digipeter and two stations along the Kentuckey - Tennessee border have extended APRS coverage into that state. These efforts effective extend the Mid-West network of APRS digipeters established by the Tri-State Working Group in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.

If you need more information on the Automatic Position Reporting System just check the APRS Working Group website at www.tawg.org.

Reporting for Amateur News Weekly, this is Jack Parker, W8ISH.

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With interest in APRS growing and ham gear that includes the mode as a standard feature, look for a defacto nationwide network to be in place by the end of the decade.  (ANW)

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HAMVENTION 2002:  HAM TESTS WILL BE AT THE HARA

The Dayton Hamvention has asked that we pass along a correction to some information in its recently mailed pre-show brochure.  The pamphlet incorrectly lists Meadowdale High School as the venue for Amateur Radio license exams.  This is incorrect.  The Hamvention says that all license exams will be held at the HARA Arena Hamvention site.  (Hamvention(r))

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HAMVENTION 2002:  QCWA BANQUET

And attention QCWA members.  This years annual banquet in conjunction with the Dayton Hamvention will be hosted by the South West Ohio chapter and will be held on Friday, May 17th.  The venue is Alex's Continental Restaurant near Miamisburg.  Starting time is 7:30 P.M. and reservations are required.

This years speaker will be General Raymond Moorman.  He will be talking about the United States Air Force Museum and plans for the upcoming Centennial of Flight celebration in 2003.  For more information and to make reservations please contact Ed Sonnanstine by e-mail to EdSonny at aol.com  (QCWA)

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CONVENTIONS - UTAH:  UTAH HAMFEST

The 2002 Rocky Mountain Division ARRL Convention and 2002 Utah Hamfest will be held July 12th to the 14th at Ruby's Inn at Bryce, Utah.  The venue is near Bryce Canyon National Park.  For more information please visit www.utahhamfest.org on the world wide web. (Utah Hamfest)

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CONFERENCES:  ARRL/TAPR DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE

Technical papers are being solicited for presentation at the 21st Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference.  The event will be held this September in Denver, Colorado.  Presentations will also be publicized in the Conference Proceedings. Submission of papers is due by August 5th and in- person presentation at the conference is not required for publication. Conference registration and additional details are available on the web at www.tapr.org/dcc  (TAPR, ARRL)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:  HELPING HAND NET

We want to take a moment to welcome a new and very interesting net to the Amateur Radio Newsline family.  It is on the AD6XK repeater here in Los Angeles California on 145.440 MHz.

What makes this net very special is that its Control Operator Simon Rosconi, K6DXN, is visually impaired.  According to Dave Estrada, KD6HDX, Rosconi lost his vision at age 6.  Estrada says that even without sight, Rosconi works 40 hours a week, and still finds time to volunteer his time as control operator for the nets.

But Rosconi is not the only vision impaired ham involved.  Estrada tells Amateur Radio Newsline that Brian Coponiti, KG6BVO, who is also partially blind, has also volunteered.  Coponiti downloads and plays back Amateur Radio Newsline to the net.

Estrada adds that this particular repeater group also has two other operators that are visually impaired.  They are Gary La Duke, WB6WJW and Ivan Simer, K6TTA.  (KD6HDX)

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NAMES IN THE NEWS:  EDWARD T. CLEGG, W8LOY FAMILY CELEBRATION

A few weeks ago we told you about plans by the family of the late Edward T. Clegg, W8LOY, to celebrate the life of this ham radio pioneer.  The gathering is being planned by Ed's widow Martie, her daughter Linda and Linda's husband Rob Mc Guffie, K2HZN.  Recently, RAIN producer Hap Holly, KC9RP, had a chance to speak with Rob about the upcoming event:

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Hap conducted an extensive interview with Rob Mc Guffie.  It really tells the whole story of Ed Clegg and his famed Clegg Labs.  Part 1 is online right now at www.rainreport.com or by telephone at 847-827-7246.  (RAIN)

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RADIO REGULATIONS:  AVOIDING A PHONE NUMBER CRUNCH

The nation's supply of telephone phone numbers is depleting rapidly and the government is taking steps to make sure what is left lasts longer.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, has more:

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Over the past several years, area codes have multiplied to cope with the explosion in technology.  Regions have responded by splitting up area codes among geographic areas or laying another area code over an existing one.

But in 1996 the Federal Communications Commission banned such overlays dedicated to specific kinds of technology.  The Commission enacted the ban because it considered separate area codes for cellular telephones phones and pagers unfair to wireless companies and their customers.  This is because everyone would have to dial 10 digits instead of seven to reach wireless customers.

But states including California, Massachusetts and Ohio had been been asking for ways to prevent existing area codes from running out of phone numbers, the agency said.   The FCC says that it will now hear proposals from states on how they intend to conserve area codes on a case-by- case basis, including plans to use technology-specific area codes.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ, in West Orange New Jersey. 

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The FCC, which is responsible for overseeing the supply of phone numbers, says that without action the number pool will run out in less than ten years. (FCC)

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HAM RADIO BUSINESS:  A NEW HOME FOR VERTEX STANDARD/YAESU

Vertex Standard USA, better known in ham radio circles as Yaesu, is moving to a huge, beautiful new facility.  The new address is Vertex Standard U-S-A, 10900 Walker Street, Cypress, California, 90630.  The new main phone number is area code 714-827-7600.  All e-mail addresses will remain the same but telephone extensions will change.  Vertex Standard makes the move -- no joke - - on Monday, April 1st.  (Vertex-Standard)

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INTERNATIONAL-CANADA:  VE7BFK IS NEW RAC ARDF COORDINATOR

Radio Amateurs of Canada has named Gordon Young, VE7BFK as it's news R-A-C National Amateur Radio Direction Finding Coordinator.  Young replaces Perry Creighton, VA7PC who held that appointment for the past several years.  (RAC)

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CONTESTS:  SOUTH WEST OKLAHOMA SPRINTS

The first ever South West Oklahoma Spring Sprints sponsored by the Lawton VHF Contesting Club will take place in just a few weeks.  Sprints are short period contests held primarily on a specific band or using a specific mode.  The South West Oklahoma Spring Sprints are band exclusive.  The 2 meter sprint is on April 1st from 7 pm to 11 p.m. Central U-S time.  The 70 centimeter sprint is April 13th also from 7 to 11 Central.  Both are open to all Oklahoma hams living south of Interstate highway 40 and West of Interstate 35.  For more information e-mail  ne0p at arrl.net  (VHF Reflector) **

DX

In DX, K8PT and K3PLV are in the Channel Islands and operating as MJ slash K8PT and MJ slash K3PLV from Jersey through the 19th of March.  The emphasis is on CW and RTTY in the WARC bands during daylight and 30, 40 and 80 meters during the evenings.  Q-S-L as directed on the air.  (RSGB)

Also word that Laurence Howell, GM4DMA, who is now resident in Anchorage, Alaska, will be travelling to warmer climates.  This, as part of his work for the youth development charity Raleigh International.  Howell say that he plans to be active as V51 slash G4DMA from Namibia from the 16th of March for two weeks.  Look for him on 160 through 6 meters as his work schedule allows. (RSGB)

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THAT FINAL ITEM:  A WEDDING AT HAMVENTION 2002

And finally this week, get ready for a first.  The first ever wedding to be held at the Dayton Hamvention.

No, we are not kidding.  For the first time in Hamvention history, wedding vows will be exchanged at the show.   This as Cyndi Krieger and Mark Elliot, N8WZW, will be married Saturday, May 18th at the HARA Arena during Hamvention 2002.

Mark and Cyndi met about thirteen years ago through a mutual friend. On their first date Mark and Cyndi went out for dinner and a movie.  According to Hamvention sources, they have been an "item" ever since.

Mark introduced Cyndi to amateur radio by going to a hamfest.  Cyndi had no idea what a hamfest was, but it sounded interesting.  It was and she was hooked!  Cyndi is now studying for her license and may test for it before Hamvention weekend.

Why get married at Hamvention?  Mark and Cyndi couldn't think of a better place to share their love for each other and for amateur radio than by getting married at the world's largest amateur radio trade show.  The ceremony takes place at 3 PM in Forum Room 3 immediately following the Amateur Radio Newsline produced Ham Radio Town Meeting.  (Hamvention (r))

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NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, Amateur News Weekly, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine, the Dayton Hamvention, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB and Australia's Q-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'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.

Before we go, a reminder that the nominating period for the 2002 amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year is now open.  No significant changes from last year.  Nominees must be 18 or younger.  Full rules and an application is on our website at www.arnewsline.org.