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It may not be the size of the Dayton Hamvention or Huntsville Hamfest, but to Short Wave Listeners, Winterfest is truly the best. (ARNewsline(tm))

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RADIO GROUPS:  NEW MURS USERS GROUP FORMING IN CYBERSPACE

We have covered C-B and short wave listening.  How about MURS -- the newly created Multi-Use-Radio Service.  Well, according to an Internet posting, an organization called The MURS OPEN Group has begun work to form an Internet-based MURS User's Group.  This group will be a non profit corporation whose main goal will be to encourage the growth of Multi-Use Radio Service.  If you are interested in learning more, you can visit the group in cyberspace at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MURS-OPEN/  (MURS Open Group)

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CONVENTIONS:  WELCOME TO HAM RADIO AT NAB

If you are planning a trip to the upcoming National Association of Broadcasters convention, be advised that the hams of Las Vegas are expecting you.  Bill Croghan, WB0KSW, says that the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club repeaters are up, active and hard linked.

Bill Croghan is the Chief Engineer of Lotus Broadcasting in Las Vegas. He says that on two meters try 146.94, minus 600 kHz offset with a 100 Hz access tone.  This machine is now located on the Hilton hotel immediately above the Convention center, but on the opposite tower. From this site it should be useable from deep inside the Convention center and easily from anywhere on the Las Vegas strip.

If you would rather use a U-H-F machine try 448.500, minus MHz offset also with a 100 Hz access tone.  This system is hard linked to the 2 meter machine but located on the old Tropicana hotel site as in years past.  With the two systems linked any ham attending N-A-B with either a 2 meter or 70 centimeter radio can have fun and stay in touch.  The convention takes place April 8th through the 11th at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.  (BEAN)

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CONVENTIONS:  WELCOME TO THE NAB HAM RADIO RECEPTION

Also, this years N-A-B Ham Radio Reception will take place Wednesday Evening, April 10th at 6 PM following the close of the exhibit hall. Location is the Hilton Convention Center in Ballroom B.  The gathering is being co-sponsored by C-Q Magazine and Kenwood Communications. C-Q Publisher Dick Ross, K2MGA and Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, along with Kenwood's Paul Middelton, K4NUH, will be there as your host.

Amateur Radio Newsline will also be loitering around the convention and the Ham Radio Reception.  We will be represented by Producer Bill Pasternak WA6ITF and by Todd Hitzeroth, N6ZXJ, who serves on the Young Ham of the Year Award committee.  (CQ, ARNewsline(tm))

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EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  KERMIT AND THE V-CHIP

Sesame Street's Kermit the Frog has a new part-time job.  According to news reports the little green guy will be put to work boosting the awareness of the television V-Chip.

The V-Chip is a mandatory internal accessory built into any T-V set larger than thirteen inches diagnal picture.  The chip reads a digital code that contains a program's rating and can be programmed to block out television shows parents deem inappropriate for their kids.

Now the Hallmark Channel in conjunction with The Jim Henson Company, has donated the image of Kermit to the Federal Communications Commission for use in an upcoming promotional campaign to bring attention to the availability of the V-Chip.  A new brochure to be distributed to the public by the FCC, the Hallmark Channel and other interest groups, will feature Kermit sporting a "V" with his fingers and urging parents to monitor the programming their children watch. (Published news reports)

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INTERNATIONAL - CANADA:  VE7BFK IS NEW ARDF COORDINATOR

Gordon D. Young, VE7BFK has been appointed as the Radio Amateurs of Canada National A-R-D-F Coordinator.  Young first became interested in A-R-D-F when the Friendship Amateur Radio Society hosted the 3rd Friendship Radio Games in Victoria British Columbia back in 1993.  He has since attended A-R-D-F events in Russia, Japan and the United States.  He replaces Perry Creighton, VA7PC who has held that appointment for several years. (RAC)

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INTERNATIONAL - ISRAEL:  500TH NEWSLETTER ON THE AIR