No subject

Thu Mar 8 06:28:51 EST 2007

Radio Newsline.
--

The political signifigance of this change is obvious.  Having a ham 
radio operator in this position gave the service considerable leverage 
in negociations involving spectrum issues.  (Q-News)

**

RADIO REGULATIONS:  HAM RADIO GAINS OBSERVER STATUS AT THE IARU

The International Amateur Radio Union now has observer status at ITU 
meetings.  IARU President Larry Price, W4RA, was on hand to represent 
the organization at at a major ITU gathering which was held in Marrakesh 
Morroco in late September.  And Region 2 Executive Committee member Tim 
Ellam, VE6SH, is now  participating on behalf of the organization.  (Q-
News)

**

THE WAR ON TERROR:  COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS ADOPTED

Back here in the United States, the communication industry has adopted 
emergency procedures intended to help maintain the nation's telephone, 
cable and Internet networks in case of a natural disaster or terrorist 
attack.  The procedures were developed by a council of more than 50 
industry officials formed by the Federal Communications Commission in 
January. 

The group adopting the standards is called the Network Reliability and 
Interoperability Council. Their job was to recommend ways to strengthen 
communications networks to resist attack.  The plan all have now agreed 
to will help companies in a crisis contact and work with partner firms 
to keep services running. (NRIC)

**

ON THE AIR:  IRLP NODES TO GET AN EXTRA DIDGIT

Changes are in the air for those of you involved in internet radio 
linking.  This, to permit an increase the number of possible I-R-L-P 
nodes to over 99 000.  

Right now most I-R-L-P users will not notice any difference.  Eventually 
IRLP node codes will increase from three numbers to four.  The result is 
that node 640, for example, will become 6400.  ( G6PHF/Bass IRLP Group 
via APC News)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FOUR LICENSES CANCELLED IN EXAM INVESTIGATION

Turning to enforcement news, a group radio amateurs who did not show up 
for a retest are no longer membewrs of the ham fraternity.  The FCC's 
Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, explains:

--
Duckworth:  "As a result of an audit by the Enforcement Bureau of the 
September 1st 2001 examination session given in Yucaipa California by 
the W5YI VEC, the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau has cancelled the 
licenses of four who did not appear for a retest.  Those are Technician 
Camito E. Lopez KG6GJG and General class licensees Marcileno Llanes 
KG6HBR, Manual Vega KG6GSP and Marcial Rivas KG6HCP.
--

Duckworth says that the investigation into the exam session continues.  
(FCC, RAIN)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  KENYAN PIRATES OFF THE AIR

Still in the enforcement arena, ham radio in Nairobi Kenya have gotten 
some relief from illegal operators.  Kenyan Intruder Watch Coordinator 
Ted Alleyne reports that five High Frequency stations have been 
confiscated.  Also, the operators of a Nairobi travel agency that was 
using 2 meter amateur frequencies were caught and equipment has been 
siezed.  (Q-News)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  IRANIAN JAMMER UPDATE

The 40 meter Iranian jammers we recently reported on are still being 
heard.  Intruder Watch Regional Coordinator Martin Potter says that the 
jamming is being done to a low power station called Radio Mujahed.  It's 
being head in 10 Kilohertz steps from 7 point 010 to 7 point 090 Mhz.  
Potter says that S-W-L's may find the same situation in the broadcasting 
frequencies as well.  (Q-News)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  FCC CHAIRMAN POWELL COMMENTS ON MEDIA OWNERSHIP

Some names in the news.  First is FCC chairman Michael Powell.  He  has 
warned that rules on media ownership will probably be struck down by the 
courts if they aren't modified to account for sweeping changes in the 
media landscape over the past 30 years. Powell's comments came shortly 
after the FCC released the results of studies suggesting that many 
ownership rules are outdated. The studies mark the foundation of the 
FCC's review of key rules on media ownership.  (ComOnline)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  CULTURAL RESOURCE SPECIALIST NAMED

The C-G-C Communicator reports that Dr. Amos J. Loveday, Jr. has been 
appointed as the "Cultural Resource Specialist" in the F-C-C's Wireless 
Telecommunications Bureau's Commercial Wireless Division.  His job will 
be to insure that tower and antenna siting projects comply with the 
requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966.  He will 
also assist the FCC in establishing a closer working relationship with 
Native American Tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations.  (CGC 
Communicator)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  KB5HAV APPOINTED ASST MGR OF HURRICANE WATCH NET

Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, of Pearl, Mississippi, has been named as
the Assistant Manager of the Hurricane Watch Net.  According to the ARRL 
Letter, Graves appointment was announced by Mike Pilgrim, K5MP, who is 
Manager of the net.  More information is on the web at www.hwn.org  
(ARRL)

** 

RESCUE RADIO:  AOL SIGNS ONTO AMBER ALERET SYSTEM

The worlds largest Internet service, America Online, says that it will 
soon begin transmitting Amber Alerts.  The service says that the alerts 
about abducted children will show up on the screens of computers, pagers 
and cell phones of more than 26 million of its subscribers in dozens of 
states and cities beginning in early November.   Warnings issued by most 
communities that use the system will go to AOL users in those areas who 
request to receive them.  All but one of the existing Amber Alert 
systems are participating in the America Online project.  (AoL)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  X-RAY EYES 

If you thought only cartoon super-heros like Superman could see through 
walls to detect the villains, guess again.  New technology called ultra-
wideband will soon allow mere mortals to detect objects buried 
underground and to build cars enhanced with sensors that help avoid 
collisions. 

According to press reports, ultra-wideband uses millions of narrow 
pulses each second to get an accurate reading of location and distance, 
opening the door for new applications in radar tracking, precise 
positioning and wireless communications. The possibilities vary from 
short-range computer networking for homes to devices that determine the 
location of golfers on a course. 

What regulators like even better is that ultra-wideband devices can work 
within frequencies already allocated for other radio services -- helping 
to maximize this dwindling resource. The Federal Communications 
Commission believes the technology is so promising that the agency has 
proposed allowing it to be used on an unlicensed basis. 

But it may be a while before the new technology is available.  First, 
government agencies and private groups are testing to make sure ultra-
wideband can safely coexist with other services, like the Global 
Positioning System.  More information is on the Ultra-wideband working 
group website at www.uwb.org  (Science Today)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: PCSAT -  HELP NEEDED TO BUILD A NEW BIRD

Bob Bruninga, WB4APR,  of the P-C-sat Project Team has put out a call 
for an antenna designer for the next generation of this type of ham 
satellite.  According to Bruninga, to get a free ride to orbit for P-C-
Sat the satellite must fit inside of a perfectly spherical but totally 
passive mirror surfaced 18 inch diameter ball.  Also, the antenna must 
be totally internal with no external protrusions.  

To make it happen, the P-C-Sat team at the US Naval Academy Satellite 
Lab, needs a good RF designer and antenna modeler to help out.  If you 
can help, please contat Bob Bruninga by e-mail to wb4apr at amsat.org.  P-
C-Sat is scheduled for launch in less than a year.  (AMSAT BB)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS FOR NREW WESATS

The government has selexcted TRW Space and Electronics to build the 
fleet of next generation weather satellites.  The Redondo Beach 
California unit of Cleveland Ohio based company will build two 
satellites with options for up to four more.  

Eventually six new polar-orbiting satellites will collect data on the 
Earth's weather and climate, as well as its land, oceans and atmosphere.  
The birds will go into orbit between 2009 and 2018.  The contract to 
build the new weather satellites is worth up to $4.5 billion dollars.  
And that's billion - with a B.  (Published reports)

**

INTERNATIONAL - AUSTRALIA:  THE CB MOUNTAIN CHALLENGE

Turning to the international pages, C-B operators in Australia are about 
to embark on what is best described as a cross between an emergency 
training operation and a contest.  Its called the Mountain Challenge 
where the object is to accurately pass a message around the state of 
Victoria using C-B radio.

It will all take place on Saturday the 30th of November.  Both 27 MHz 
and U-H-F  C-B radio is used to get the message through.  And this year 
the event will extend beyond Victoria, with C-B'ers in Mount Gambier and 
Tasmania having expressed interest in taking part.

Find this interesting?  Want to learn more?  Well you can - on the web 
at www.mrc.cat.net.au.  (Q-News)

**

INTERNATIONAL - AFGHANASTAN:  KANDAHAR GETS TV

A new television station in Kandahar Afghanastan is being called a 
resounding success.  This even though the signal is so poor the Afghan 
musicians shown in the first broadcast looked like grainy, quivering 
ghosts.  According to Abdul Ali who heads up broadcasting in Kandahar, 
all of the equipment is than 20 years old and had not been used at all 
during the years that the Taliban ruled the country.  (Media Network)

**

INTERNATIONAL - CANADA: VE3CT WLECTED QCWA PRESIDENT

For the first time in the history of the Quarter Century Wireless 
Association  a Canadian radio amateur has been elected as its  
president.  Croft Taylor VE3CT , who previously served as vice 
president, assumed office on September 1st and will serve a two year 
term.  The QCWA was founded in 1947.  You can learn more at www.qcwa.org 
(RAC)

**

DX

In D-X, A group of five American operators will be active using ZK1 
callsigns from Manihiki in the remote North Cook Island group through 
the 31st of October.  They will be active on 6 to 160 metres on CW, SSB 
and RTTY. During the CQ World Wide SSB Contest on the 26th and 27th of 
October they will use the callsign of ZK1MA.  (GB2RS)

9V1SM is Sasi, a new operator from Singapore.  He is active on all bands 
from 40 to 6 metres, mainly on SSB.  He also plans to start PSK-31 
operation in a few week's time.  (RSGB)

Lastly, the new address for the ARRL W 5 Incoming QSL
Bureau is O.K.D.X.A, PO Box 2591, Claremore, Oklahoma 74017-2591.  If 
you have cards for W-5 land, send them there.  (ARRL)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  

WITH THE SCOUTS:  JOTA THIS WEEKEND

This weekend, the 19th and 20th of October, is the scouts Jamboree on 
the Air, or JOTA.  Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, tells us what its all about:

--
The Jamboree on the Air is an annual event.  Every October a half a 
million Scouts and Scout Guides all over the world take to the airwaves 
to make contact with each other by means of Amateur Radio. 

The World Scout Bureau owns and operates its own Amateur Radio  station.  
The the call sign H-B-9-S and it operates from a permanent  radio room 
located in its offices in Geneva Switzerland.  The station normally 
operates  during Scout Nets and other major scouting events like the 
Jamboree On The Air.  This year, the station is active on 160 through 10 
meters in a number of languages.

Here in the United States, the big JOTA gathering takes place at Camp 
Wisdom near Dallas, Texas.  The call sign to listen for from there is 
K2BSA slash 5.  Other stations expected to take part include GB2GP in 
London England and JA1YSS from Tokyo Japan.  

If you are hearing this newscast before or during this years Jamboree on 
the Air, get on the air and show your support of the worlds youth and of 
scouting by making contact with a J-O-T-A station.  Who knows, it could 
evenb be HB9S.

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

Again, this weekend, the 19th and 20th of October, is the 2002 Scouting 
Jamboree on the Air.  And if you are hearing this newscast later in the 
week we hope you had time to contact a Jamboree station.  (ARNewsline, 
Q-News, GB2RS)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, Amateur News Weekly, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC 
Communicator, CQ Magazine, 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 
@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. 