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Thu Mar 8 06:28:51 EST 2007

Amateur Radio Newsline. 

--

In all, RACES members provided 494 staff-hours to the man hunt. Most of 
this was contributed during the 36-hour period when radio direction 
finding activities to locate Woodring were being conducted.  
(ARNewsline(tm) from lead provided at www.qrz.com)

**

THE FIGHT FOR OUR SPECTRUM:  HAM RADO VS. BPL

If you think that the term Broadband Over Powerlines and its acronym 
BPL will never afect you, guess again.  BPL could effectively spell and 
end to ham radio as we know it.  This, if it is ever approved by the 
FCC and popularized across our nation.

Just how real is the chalange to the survival of the Amateur Radio 
Service?  ARRL Southwestern Division Director Art Goddard, W6XD, gave 
some graphic details at last weeks Fort Tuthill Hamfest in Arizona 
based on test data collected by Ed Hare, W1RFI, of the ARRL Lab:

--

Goddard: "If you are an engineer, anywhere from 33 to 63 decibels 
increase in the noise level that you will see at your receiver due to 
BPL run in the power lines in your neighborhood.  If you are into S-
Meter readings, thats somewhere between an S-6 and 10 over S-9."

--

For those unaware, Broadband over Power lines is a scheme to give 
consumers and businesses high speed Internet connections using the 
existing power distribution grid.  This would put the power providers 
in the position of also being broadband Internet providers as well.  
The problem is that power lines are not shielded.  They will act as much 
like giant antennas as they will a closed carrier of the broadband 
connection.  In other words, whatever is on the power lines will be 
radiated and heard by your ham band receiver.  And Art Goddard says 
that the Broadband Over Power line signals will occupy the spectrum from 
2 through 80 MHz, meaning every band from 75 meters through 6 meters 
will be affected.  

According to Goddard, BPL has the backing of the White House which 
views the increased use of unlicensed devices as being good for the U-S 
economy.  He also notes that the FCC - which is supposed to be neutral 
and regulating in the public interest, is - in this case -- actng like 
cheerleaders for the proposed service.  

Goddard says that this is an issue that the ARRL is keeping a very 
close eye on.  He also indicates that the League may soon be asking ham 
radio operators to lend their voice in opposition to BPL.  
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

RESTRUCTURING:  NCVEC FILES TO END CW TESTING IN THE USA

The National Conference of Volunteer Examination Coordinators has filed 
a Petition for Rule Making before the FCC to end Morse testing in the 
United States.  In its July 29th request, the NCVEC asks the FCC for an 
immediate end of CW testing of applicants.  

The NCVEC request is based primarily on the action taken in Geneva at 
last months World Radio communications Conference.  At that time, Morse 
testing as a world standard was abolished, leaving it to individual 
nations to decide whether or not to continue to administer CW exams.

The NCVEC petition concurs with the WRC findings.  It notes an 
appearance that most of today's radio amateurs want to communicate 
using voice.  Because of this, the NCVEC says that it makes no sense 
from a regulatory standpoint to require hams to be Morse proficient 
when the greater majority of radio amateurs show no desire to use the 
mode.  The petition also notes that the future of the hobby now 
encompasses many new modes that were undreamed of only a few short 
years ago.  It adds that while manual telegraphy is a noble part of 
Amateur Radio's past, it is no longer the services prime emission mode. 

The NCVEC approach will still requires all applicants for an Amateur 
Service license or upgrade to pass the current written exams.  Only 
Morse testing would be eliminated.  

As we go to air no Rule Making designation has been assigned to this 
request by the FCC.  The full text of the petition can be found on our 
website at www.arnewsline.org  (ARNewsline(tm) from NCVEC release)

**

HAM RADIO TESTING:  QPC RECALLS QUESTION

Also from the National Conference of Volunteer Examiners Coordinators 
word that its Question Pool Committee of has withdrawn question T5B04 
from the Element 2 Question Pool.  This,  effective July 27th.  This 
question is withdrawn due to the changes in Part 97 of the Amateur 
Service rules dealing with the new 60 Meter amateur allocation.  
(NCVEC)

**

HAM SPECTRUM: ARRL & CQ PRESENTS A PRIMER ON 5 MHZ

And speaking about 60 meters, want to know just about everything there 
is to know about how to operate legally in this new 5 MHz spot 
frequencies?  Walk, run or drive to your news stand and buy a copy of 
the August issues of both QST and CQ Magazines.  Then go home, settle 
down and read the articles titled 60 Meters Frequently Asked Questions 
by Rick Lindquist N1RL and Ed Hare W1RFI in QST and Getting Ready For 
60 by Gordon West, WB6NOA.  Both are a wealth of information on how to 
approach this rather specialized allocation and handily compliment one 
another.  We asked Gordo to explain what readers will find in his:

--

West: "One of the things that my CQ Magazine article talked about was 
the Amateur frequencies And tuning in.  There was allot of confusion 
about what exact frequency one uses for upper sideband on the 60 meter 
band. As long as everybody remembers that 60 meters - 5 MHz - point 5 -
-  all of the upper sideband frequencies end with point 5."

--

And why did she write the article?

--

West:  "When I first heard about the band it immediately came to mind 
as channelized operation that many new hams are not used to.  Well, 
growing up on 10 meter FM as well as 6 meter FM,  I knew what 
channelized operation was all about.  And the key word is "sharing."  
There's no QSY'ing - at least not easily on the 60 meter band beyond 
the 5 channels, so its going to be up to all hams to sort of take turns 
in using this exciting 60 meter - 5 MHz band."

--

Where Gordon takes the story telling approach, Lindquist and Hare 
present their material in pure Question and Answer form.  A style of 
writing that computer enthusiasts call a FAQ.  That's an acronym  for 
the words "Frequently Asked Questions"  and the answers that they 
provide is fact filled, precise and right to the point.

Taken together, "60 Meters Frequently Asked Questions" and "Getting 
Ready for 60" are the most complete operating guide for the 5 MHz band 
penned to date.  Hams contemplating operation on the five channels that 
make up the 60 meter allocation would be well advised to read both  
before hitting the transmit switch.

For more information about subscribing to CQ, visit www.cq-amateur-
radio on the world wide web.  You can join the ARRL, support its work 
and begin receiving QST by signing up at www.arrl.org.  
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

THE WAR ON TERROR:  TWO HAMS KILLED IN IRAQ

Two recent casualties of the war in Iraq were amateur radio operators, 
one American and one from Sri Lanka.  The ARRL Letter reports that 
Specialist Jon Fettig, KCZ0HSQ, of Dickinson, North Dakota, was killed 
in an ambush on July 22nd. 

The following day, Nadisha Yassari Ranmuthu, 4S7NR, an International 
Red Cross aid worker, was killed and his Iraqi driver was wounded after 
their vehicle, marked with the Red Cross emblem, came under fire south 
of Baghdad.   Ranmuthu was 37 and well-known in the Sri Lankin ham 
radio community.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  HAM TOLD HE MUST RESPOND TO FCC QUERY

A California ham has been told that he had better respond to an earlier 
FCC letter to him regarding a pair of uncoordinated repeaters that he 
allegedly operates.  Otherwise it could cost him his ham ticket. The 
agency's Daryl Duckworth, NN0W, explains:

--

Duckworth:  "The Enforcement Bureau has sent a warning letter to 
WA6SEK, Thomas De Lasaux, of Stockton California, concerning 
uncoordinated repeaters on 224.660 Mhz and 441.275 Mhz.  There has been 
no response to a letter of May 5th where he had 20 days to reply.  He 
is being afforded an additional 20 days to respond."

--

According to Duckwoth, if there was no resolution by July 25th, the 
agency planned to initiate enforcement action against WA6SEK's Amateur 
Service license.  Its now past that date and we are awaiting word from 
the FCC as to wether or not De Lasaux has filed the required reply.  
(FCC, RAIN)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  TRUCKING COMPANY WARNED ABOUT UNLICENSED 10 METER 
OPERATION

Also receiving a letter from the FCC is the Tidewater Transit Company, 
Inc. of Kinston, North Carolina.  This one warns the company to stop 
using the 10 meter ham band for its communications or face some rather 
severe consequences.

In his letter to Tidewather, the FCC's Riley Hollingsworth notes that 
information before the Commission indicates that a 2002 Volvo truck 
belonging to Tidewater and bearing North Carolina license plate LK 
4130, was the source of radio transmissions on the Ten Meter Amateur 
Radio band on July 8th.  This while it was driving on Interstate 20 
near the city of Lexington, South Carolina.

The Letter warned Tidewater that continued unlicensed operation could 
bring with it a fine of up to $10,000.  The owners of Tidewater Transit 
were also instructed to contact Hollingsworth to discuss the matter 
with him.  (FCC)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS TO THE RESCUE AS CELL PHONES FAIL

Interlinked emergency repeaters played a key role in providing 
communications during the recent Arizona wildfires.   

As learned at last weekends Ft. Tuthill Hamfest, radio amateurs in 
Navajo County set up repeater links to allow contact between the Red 
Cross communications center and a number of evacuation sites.  This, 
after it was found that cellular telephone coverage across the area was 
inadequate. 

The hams stepped in when the walkie-talkie feature of the cellular 
telephones failed to operate as advertised.  The reason appears to have 
been the small number of relay sites available in the isolated areas 
where the fires were burning.  

The hastily assembled Amateur Radio relay system along with existing 
high level Amateur service repeaters are reported to have performed 
flawlessly.  This made possible an ongoing exchange of vital evacuation 
information.  (ARNewsline (tm) from information gathered at Ft. Tuthill 
Hamfest)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  E-911 KIND OF ON HOLD

A lack of funding from cash-strapped state and local governments 
appears to be slowing the roll out of enhanced 911 services.  And in 
some areas it has put the new wireless emergency phone location service 
on what appears to be an indefinite hold.

--
Under FCC regulations, wireless companies were required to respond to 
911 center requests within six months by providing technology that can 
locate any individual on a given wireless phone networks who is using a 
phone equipped to gather information from the global positioning 
satellite system.  This technology lets emergency operators locate cell 
phone users in need of assistance, but only one in ten  emergency call 
centers has access to it. 

But John Melcher, who is the president of the National Emergency Number 
Association says that moneys earmarked for Enhanced 911 are being spent 
on other needs.  In a recent press statement Melcher charged that some 
states have diverted millions of dollars 
in Enhanced 911 funds collected from consumers and have used the money 
to subsidize budget shortfalls.  This says Melcher puts the public in 
danger, adding that moneys earmarked on customer billing for Enhanced 
911 services should be spent only on Enhanced 911 and nothing else.

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

--

The FCC set specific deadlines for implementing this new service back 
in 1966.  To date, many providers have yet to meet that implementation 
goal.  (Published news reports)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  THE INTERNATIONAL AREN NET

Still with rescue radio and emergency communications news, word that 
the Irish Amateur Radio Emergency Network takes to the air for its 
regularly scheduled drill session the first Tuesday of each month.  The 
net is at 21:45 local Ireland time.  That's  pretty close to UTC, with 
the net operating on 7 point 043 Mhz on SSB.  (Q-News)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  WI-FI SPEED INCREASED 4X

The most widely used wireless local area network protocol, IEEE 
Standard 802.11, also known as Wi-Fi, was extended last month to make 
it four times faster.  The CGC Communicator reports that the new 
standard, IEEE 802.11g transmits data at up to 54 Megabits per second.  
Thats up from 11 megabytes per second as was called for in Wi-Fi 
standard 802.11b.  (CGC Communicator)

(DO NOT READ:  CGC)

**

INTERNATIONAL - ASIA: NON HAMS INVADING THE 7, 10 AND 14 MHz HANDS

The increasing use of more frequencies on various ham radio bands by 
the  Indonesians and other South East Asian non amateurs for their 
personal or business traffic, is becoming a very serious problem.  Q-
News reports that the Indonesians are using the lower 40 kHz of 40 
meters, and  frequencies around 14 point 100 MHz in the 20 Meter band 
most of the time.  

Nor have they spared the 10 MHz allocation.  There unlicensed oprators 
are regularly heard in the  10.0 to 10.1 MHz segment which primarily 
carries international air traffic control communications. 

Q-News notes that this is a very serious situation.  One which could 
endanger the lives and safety of air travelers in ITU Region 3 and a 
situation that needs to be to be dealt with quickly at the highest 
levels of international diplomacy.  (Q-News)

** 

INTERNATIONAL - UK:  BBC HELPS THE BLIND

The British Broadcasting Company is playing a crucial role in 
developing new radio equipment that could help increase number of 
visually-impaired people working at the organization.  Across the UK, 
BBC local radio stations are converting from analog to digital 
equipment. The digital equipment is designed to make life easy for 
full-sighted broadcast journalists, using a visual touch-screen system, 
which is why it needs to be adapted for visually-impaired people.  

Now comes word that Claire Jennings, who is the the BBC's Disability 
Advisor for Technology, has been working alongside technology company 
Calrec.  This, to design a digital radio broadcast mixing console that 
is user-friendly for visually-impaired radio producers  

The BBC has spent the past few months working with Calrec to adapt the 
broadcast desk and with BBC Technology to extend the touch-screen 
control system so that it can convert text into speech and be 
controlled using a standard keyboard.  As well as controlling sources 
to faders on the Calrec, the BBC system  can control most other 
hardware in a similar manner.

The entire story may be found in cyber space 
www.bbctechnology.com/newsarchive4.htm.  (Media Network)

**

SPACE:  NASA TEAMS WITH LOCAL LIBRARIES TO DELIVER -- SPACE

NASA and the American Library Association have partnered to create a 
one-of-a-kind interactive space research exhibit.  This, as part of a 
new program called NASA @ your library. 

The unique exhibit will tour 120 public libraries in five regions 
across the nation for the next two years.  It will feature special 
presentations specifically created to expose people of all ages to NASA 
research in the areas of health, home and transportation, agriculture 
and environment, and commerce. 

The program was recently launched at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in 
Baltimore.  NASA @ your library was created to inspire more 
participation at public libraries, raise awareness and encourage 
interest in science.  (NASA)

**

CONTEST CALENDAR:  FISTS C2C IN SEPTEMBER

Mark September 13th and 14th on your calendar for the third outing of the 
annual Fists Coast to Coast contest. This year the contest will run a 
full 24 hours beginning at 5 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time on September 
13th and concluding at 5 P.M. on the 14th.  That corresponds 0000 to 
2400 UTC on September 14.

This year the rules are easier to understand and the sponsors say that 
there is the potential for higher scores due to the use of multipliers. 
The URL for rules and awards is complex and appears in the print 
edition of this report.  If you have questions, please e-mail them to 
Paul Beringer NG7Z at fistsc2c at yahoo.com.  On-line information is at 
www.tomochka.com/k7fff/fnw_c2c03.html.  (FISTS)

**

DX

In D-X, word that two separate groups will be operating from Swaziland 
through the 3rd of August.  K4SV and VA7DX will be active as 3DA0SV and 
3DA0WC.  Four South African  operators will be on as 3DA0DX between the 
same dates.  QSL each group as directed on the air.  (GB2RS)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  ARNEWSLINE TAKES YOU TO A HAM RADIO BALLOON LAUNCH

And finally this week, take a listen to this:

--
"15,790 feet.  Course 44 degrees moving at 10 miles an hour."
--

That's the report of one of the controllers tracking a high altitude 
ham radio balloon launch that took place Saturday, July 26th at the Fort 
Tuthill Hamfest just outside of Flagstaff Arizona.   

The launch was sponsored by hams belonging to Arizona Near Space 
Research.  Brian Bingham is a Physics teacher from Deer Valley High 
School in Glendale, Arizona, who came out to take part in the launch.  
He says that many of those assisting are also educators who want to 
bring space a bit closer to their classrooms:

--
Bingham:  "Most of the people you see out here helping are that group 
and a group of Arizona high school teachers that are going to be taking 
on some of the balloon launches.  They will have teams from their 
schools do balloon launches through the NASA Arizona Space Grant."

--

Bingham, who was a radio amateur many years ago described the system 
being readied to be sent aloft:

-- 

Bingham:  "You can see a small package down here.  It was built by one 
of the teams from a workshop and contains temperature sensors, humidity 
sensors, a small still camera, solar cells all in something just a 
little over a pound in weight.  It has telemetry equipment with GPS 
position via satellite and transmits it back so that we an track it on 
the ground and recover the equipment."

--

And how high will it all go?

--

Bingham:  The balloon will go up to somewhere in the neighborhood of 
100,000 feet. The balloon will also swell to somewhere about forty feet 
in diameter before it finally bursts.  And then the parachute will 
bring it back down to Earth.

--

Brian Bingham says that his students will soon be choosing a project of 
their own to launch to the edge of space on a future balloon flight.  
It will be another educational experience made possible through the 
cooperative efforts of NASA, the educational community and ham radio.  
(ARNewsline(tm))

**

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. 