[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1539 - February 9th, 2007

Sun Feb 11 09:32:08 EST 2007

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1539 - February 9th, 2007

The following is a Q-S-T.  A big memory research project involving 
Morse code, a meeting of the I-A-R-U and lots of news of ham radio in 
space highlight Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1539 coming your 
way right now.

**

RADIO RESEARCH:  MORSE CODE AND PEOPLES SHORT TERM MEMORY

Morse code testing may soon be a thing of the past in Amateur Radio, 
but a researcher in Pennsylvania is conducting an experiment is Morse 
proficiency.  This to help learn more about short term memory.  And 
those conducting the experiment want ham radio operators as to be a 
part of it.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Marc Abramowicz, NT3V, is here 
with the rest of the story:

--

Dr. Julie Fiez, a psychology professor from the University of 
Pittsburgh, got the idea to use Morse code from a family member who is 
a ham with good proficiency in CW.

Fiez says she's not licensed herself but was drawn to the idea of using 
CW in an experiment to compare how people respond to and process verbal 
and audio tones.

"Our interest in Morse actually arose out of our interest in what's 
called verbal working memory, which is the ability to kind of keep on-
line for a short period of time information that you can then access 
later," Fiez explains. 

"And, in the verbal domain this could be information about words or 
letters or digits. And, a common, everyday example would be when you go 
to a phonebook to look up a phone number and then you find the phone 
number that you're interested in and then you close the phone book.

"And, then that time between when you close the phonebook and when you 
actually dial the number you would need to maintain that verbal 
information in mind so that you can actually retrieve it when you go to 
dial the number."

Fiez says her research has focused on using neuro-imaging and 
behaviorial studies to try to understand what brain areas contribute to 
a person's ability to perform a task.

"Morse is relevant for us because there's a line of work that suggests 
that when people hear spoken language, they're able to recruit 
something that some people have called an 'echoic storage' like a 
little tape recorder in your brain, in a sense," Fiez says.

"And, this echoic store plays an important role in keeping track of the 
verbal information that's entered into working memory." 

But Fiez says that raised another question, sparking the idea for her 
research project.

"So, for us the question was: 'What about Morse where subjects have 
potentially great skill with Morse Code, it's an auditory input, it 
actually maps into the language system?" Fiez recalls.

"But the acoustic part of the signal is not speech. And, so what we're 
interested in trying to understand is whether or not in a highly-
skilled ham radio operator who's very fluent in Morse. Is it possible 
that they are able to make use of this echoic store process in order to 
support their performance?"  

Fiez says subjects who will take part in the testing at the university 
will be exposed to Morse Code at different rates - 16, 19, and 25 words 
per minute. Fiez says she relied on some of the same kind of resources 
most hams had been turning to learn the code.

"So we have constructed our materials actually using some online 
software that you can enter and you can type in the items that you want 
and then it generates the acoustic output that we then are able to save 
and then present to subjects under experimental control," Fiez says.

The researcher says she's consulted with local hams in the Pittsburgh 
area to discuss her parameters and has learned from them what she might 
expect from those who take part in the experiment.

"Based upon our conversations that we've had both with kind of local 
experts and with a number of people that this is likely to be something 
that there may be considerable individual variability and it may depend 
also in part on how a person tends to use Morse," Fiez says.

"If mainly you receive and just copy as you receive, that may not 
develop the use of this echoic store in the same way that it may 
develop if you get into the habit of just sort of listening to Morse as 
it's being transmitted and not sort of immediately trying to copy it 
down. 

"So, we're expecting that there's going to be differences between 
individuals both on the basis of how skilled or proficient they are 
with Morse and also possibly just in terms of how they've used Morse in 
that experience."

Fiez says she's still looking for volunteers who'd be willing to travel 
to the Pittsburgh area to take part. Sorry, the travel costs are yours.

If you want to learn more, you can send an email to 
morsestudy at hotmail.com, that's morsestudy at hotmail.com. Mention you 
heard about it here on Amateur Radio Newsline.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in 
Philadelphia.

--

The researchers say that what they learn should be useful for 
improving mans understanding of certain aspects of short-term 
memory.  Look for more about this experiment in an upcoming issue of 
Worldradio Magazine.  (ARNewsline, WZ8C)

**

RADIO LAW:  IARU TO MEET IN VIENNA FEB 24 - 25

The next International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 Interim Conference 
will be held in Vienna, Austria from February 24th to the 25th.  Among 
items being discussed are a new 70cm and  23 cm bandplan for radio 
gateways and the need for minimum requirements for a valid digital QSO.  
WSJT developer Joe Taylor, K1JT, has compiled a document regarding this 
somewhat controversial proposal.  More is on-line at www.iaru.org
(WIA News)
**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  ASTRO-HAM SHARES SPACE ADVENTURE

A ham Astronaut is enjoying the time she has on-orbit and is sharing 
the experience with kids on the ground.  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, reports:

--

International Space Station Expedition 14 flight engineer Suni 
Williams, KD5PLB, is proving a dab hand as a radio amateur.

Although she has only been on the space station since late December, 
she has already chatted with pupils at five schools as part of the 
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station program.

In one of her most recent amateur radio contacts with schools, she told 
youngsters at Dilworth Elementary School in San Jose, California, that 
being able to see the whole of Earth from space is the most amazing 
thing she has ever experienced. She also told the school pupils about 
the effect zero gravity was having on her body.

Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.

--

Despite being active on the airways, KD5PLB still has a long way to go 
before she gets close to Expedition 12 Commander Bill McArthur's record 
.  He made 37 school contacts while on-orbit on the ISS.  (GB2RS)

**

THE LAW:  HAM ASTRONAUT CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER

Meantime, another radio amateur who flew in space is now accused of  
attempted murder. U-S astronaut Lisa Nowak, KC5ZTB, is accused of 
attacking a woman she considered as a rival for the affection of a 
shuttle pilot.

Nowak who is a Navy Captain and mother of three was arrested outside 
Florida's Orlando International Airport on Monday, February 5th.  She is 
charged with trying to kill Colleen Shipman whom news reports describe 
as a NASA employee and the girlfriend of Astronaut Bill Oefelein. 

Nowak's biography shows she is a 1985 graduate of the U.S. Naval 
Academy at Annapolis with a degree in aerospace engineering.  She is 
also a former test pilot who has logged more than 1,500 hours of flight 
in at least 30 types of aircraft. 

Nowak joined the space program in 1996 and received her Amateur service 
license in 1997.  She flew as a mission specialist aboard last summer's 
12 day shuttle Discovery flight to re-supply the International Space 
Station and test safety features and repair techniques.

According to the space agency, Nowak's arrest may be the first ever 
felony charges filed on an active duty Astronaut.  If convicted at 
trial she could face life behind prison bars.  (Published news reports)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  AMSAT_NA AND AMSAT-UK FUND ZEL

AMSAT North America and AMSAT U-K will donate a total of 40,000 Euros -
- that's about $52,000 -- to AMSAT Germany.  This, for the purpose of 
funding the continued operation of the Central Development Lab for 
Electronics or Z-E-L.

The major current project in the ZEL is the construction of the Phase 3 
E ham radio satellite. Phase 3E is considered vital to the amateur 
radio space community because there are currently no high orbit 
satellite carrying analogue transponders allowing multiple simultaneous 
D-X contacts.

The Central Development Lab for Electronics was established over 20 
years ago at the University of Marburg.  Its purpose is for satellite 
construction and it is where several amateur space frames have been 
constructed, integrated and tested.  This includes OSCAR 13.  (AMSAT)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE:  LA MARATHON COURSE TO BE RECONFIGURED

Ham radio operators supplying communications for the upcoming Los 
Angeles Marathon will likely be covering a new route.  This after the 
City Council's Transportation Committee approves a new  26.2-mile 
course for the March 4th event.

 The new route was unveiled by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa last July 31st 
in an effort to avoid traffic disruptions near churches on race day.  
The proposed route begins at Universal Studios, goes through the 
Cahuenga Pass and heads past city landmarks such as the Hollywood Bowl, 
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Staples Center before ending in front 
of the downtown Central Library.  Ham radio operators are normally 
positioned at every mile location, at first aid stations, in the lead 
and trail vehicles, at the start and finish lines, and in the Command 
Center.  Some hams are also usually assigned as shadow communicators 
for the race officials.

The former semi-circular race route is being reconfigured for the 
eighth time in the marathon's 22-year history.  With some 26,000 
runners, the Los Angeles Marathon is the fourth-largest in the country 
and seventh-largest in the world.  Dozens of Los Angeles area radio 
amateurs are normally involved in the communications aspect of this 
event.  (Published reports)

**

ENFORCEMENT: METROMERCHANT FINED $14,000 FOR SELLING NON-CERTIFIED GEAR 

Electronics distributor Metromerchant, of Laguna Nigel, California and 
the business owner Jason Kaltenbach have been fined $14,000 by the FCC.  
This, by offering for sale non-certified VHF and UHF transceivers.

The FCC says that on November 9yth of 2006 it issued a Notice of 
Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $14,000 to 
Kaltenbach.  The FCC says that despite repeated contacts by the Los 
Angeles Office, that Kaltenbach has not filed a response to the NAL.  
Now the agency has given Kaltenbach and Metromerchant 30 days to pay 
the now affirmed fine.  (FCC, CGC)

**

RADIO ACCIDENTS FOLLOW-UP:  REPLACING THE FALLEN KFI TOWER

It been almost two years since a small plane piloted by a ham collided 
with Southern California radio station KFI- AM's main tower.  The tower 
collapsed as a result of the aircraft hit and the station said it would 
rebuild quickly.  Yet today the tower has yet to be rebuilt and the 
station is still broadcasting from a short auxiliary one.  

According to the Orange County Register, the proposed height of the 
replacement tower has been reduced from 760 to 684 feet.  Also, Clear 
Channel, the owner, has agreed to add flashing white lights during the 
day to supplement flashing red lights at night.

Ian Gregor, an FAA spokesman, is quoted as saying that the critical 
point is that they legally have the right to rebuild and we're doing 
all we can to ensure it's safe.  That conclusion, however, has angered 
Fullerton Airport pilots and airport officials.

KFI is authorized to operate on 640 kHz with 50,000 watts of power and 
is non-directional day and night.  (CGX, Orange County Register, 
others)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  MAINE'S GOVERNOR IS AN ACTIVE HAM

Maine Governor John Baldacci may be a busy man be he always has his 
hobby with him.  And his hobby is Amateur Radio.

According to WCSH television, Governor Baldacci first got interested in 
becoming a ham during the 1998 ice storm that brought much of his state 
to a standstill.  He witnessed first hand the support given relief 
agencies by radio amateurs in his state and was quite impressed.   Soon 
after he was elected governor he took his Amateur exam, passed and was 
granted the callsign KB1NXP.

Never without his H-T, WCSH says that the Governor keeps his radio in a 
location only a Governor could.  It sits  right next to his homeland 
security phone and the red phone that is used strictly for state 
emergencies.  (Various)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  K7LR KILLED IN AUTO ACCIDENT

Some sad news to report.  Word that Q-R-P expert Mike Caughran, KL7R, 
of Juneau, Alaska, was killed on Monday, January 21st in an automobile 
accident in Hawaii.  The 51 year old Caughran died after bus crashed 
into his rental car on Kauai.

According to news reports, officials said it appears the driver of the 
car tried to make a U-turn in front of the tour bus when they collided.  
Caughran's wife and son who had been riding with him were taken to a 
local hospital where they were treated and released.

In addition to his contributions to the world of QRP operation, 
Caughran, and London, England based Bill Meara, M0HBR, created and 
produced the weekly SolderSmoke podcasts.

An on-line memorial page to KL7R has been created.  The URL is  
https://kiwi.state.ak.us/display/mc/Home  (QRZ.com, 
TheHawaiiChannel.com, others)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  BLIND BROADCASTER DEAN  SPRATT, N0HSR - SK

And a familiar voice in the Twin Cities of Minnesota is silent.  Dean 
Spratt, N0HSR, of Minneapolis, became a silent key two weeks ago 
following a short illness. 

Spratt who was blind was well known to listeners of WCCO AM for his  
traffic reports.  He had an encyclopedic knowledge of streets and 
highways in his head, all the while monitoring a forest of scanners and 
taking Braille notes for his traffic updates

Ham radio wise, Spratt was often heard on the Twin Cities 146.85  
repeater system and around the world on the W0KIE  Satellite Network.  
Thats where he hosted a program called "Thursday Night Potpourri."  
(N9QIP)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  PATRICK de VERTEUIL, HH7PV - SK

And VHF enthusiast Patrick de Verteuil, HH7PV, died of a heart attack 
on January 13th.  Patrick lived in Haiti for some 34 years.  During that 
time he gave many their first QSO with that nation.  Six meter ops will 
no doubt remember working him on that "Magic Band".  A tribute to HH7PV 
is on-line at www.haitipartage.org/patrick.html.  (Via e-mail)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE WEB:  QRZ.COM STARTS SKED FORUM

The famed QRZ.com website has announced the introduction of its new 
Sked Forum to assist in QSO Scheduling.  This new forum will permit  
amateurs from around the world to seek and arrange for all types of 
prearranged contacts including 1on 1 skeds, Nets, round tables, 
contests, and QSO parties.  Persons seeking skeds and contacts on all 
bands and/or operating modes are welcome.  To view and/or post current 
and upcoming skeds, please check out www.qrz.com/ib-
bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=SF;f=25 (QRZ.COM

**

WITH HAMVENTION:  PROBLEM WITH AWARD NOMINATION E-MAIL

If you have electronically nominated someone for the 2007 Dayton 
Hamventionr awards listen up.  According to the planners. some e-mail 
award nominations may have been lost with a lot of spam.  They ask that 
if  you have not received an acknowledgement of a nomination please 
contact the awards chairman at chair at hamvention.org.  

Also, some responses are being rejected by spam filters.  If your mail 
provider or e-mail client has a spam filter be sure to add 
Hamvention.org to your list acceptable domains.

Of coarse you can always print out your nomination, put it in an 
envelope and send it by U-S Mail.  The address is the 2007 Hamventionr 
awards, in care of the Dayton Hamventior, Post Office Box 964, Dayton, 
Ohio, 45401.  (Hamventionr)

**

WITH HAMVENTION:  WEBCAST VIDEO AGAIN IN 2007

And word that Tom Medlin, WA5KUB, will once again be streaming video 
and audio live from Hamvention 2007. As in previous years the fun 
starts when Tom gets in his car, turns on the video and begins his 550 
miles drive from Memphis, Tennessee to Dayton. 

The live webcast begins at 0800 Central Standard Time on Wednesday 
morning May 16th and will continue until about midnight on Sunday May 
20th as Tom pulls back into his driveway back home.

While on from Hamvention, the famous "helmet cam" will be back again. 
This innovation gives you the same view as if you were there walking 
around the Hara Arena for yourself.  

Last year, Tom's webcast was viewed by hams in more than 150 countries.  
So if you cant make it to Hamvention 2007, you can join in on the fun 
at http://wa5kub.com  (Hamventionr)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  LIMARC IN HICKSVILLE NY IN FEBRUARY

The Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club's Hamfest will be held 
February 25th at the Levittown Hall in the township of Hicksville.  
Doors open 9 a.m. with a ham radio exam session slated for 10a.m. 
Admission $6.  Talk-in on W2VL, 146.85 repeater that requires a 136.5 
hertz access tone.  For more information write to LIMARC, P0 Box 392, 
Levittown. NY 11756 or visit www.Iimarc.org on the World Wide Web. 
(LIMARC)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  SWLFEST 2007 IN PA IN MARCH

March 8th through the 10th are the dates for this years Winter SWL Fest.  
The venue is once again the Best Western of Towamecin, in Kulpsville, 
Pennsylvania,.  Thats about 30 minutes' driving time from Philadelphia. 

This years gathering will feature forums dealing with Radio Control 
Software, Radio on the Road , a Receiver Market Review of the years 
1988-2007 and much more. For more information please contact 
ka2emz at verizon.net or visit www.swlfest.com  (KA2EMZ)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE:  ANNUAL M2ANTRENNA BBQ MARCH 31 IN FRESNO CA

M2 Antennas will hold its annual Open House and Barbecue at the 
company's headquarters on  March 31st.  Gates open or swapers at 7:30 
am.  The M2 Shop will open at 8:00 a.m..  The company also says that it 
will raffle off M2 products along with goodies for the XYL's and non-
hams from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.  M2 Antennas is located at 4402 North 
Selland Avenue in Fresno, California. According to a posting on the M2 
website, hams are invited to bring their  swap tables and a empty 
stomach to this fun event.  More information is on-line at 
www.m2inc.com/index2.html  (VHF Reflector)
**

RADIO TECHNOLOGY:  MARCONI RE-ENACTMENT CONTINUES

A group of radio amateurs on both sides of the Atlantic continue to 
explore how Guglielmo Marconi was able to copy a radio signal sent from 
Poldhu in the United Kingdom to Newfoundland, Canada in December 1901.  
Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM, brings us up to date:

--

Marconi's 1901 transmission was the first time that a radio broadcast 
had been heard across the Atlantic but even to today there is still 
some confusion over how he managed to do it.  Especially since there 
was a solar minimum at the time and propagation was spotty at best.

Late last year the Poldhu Amateur Radio Club in the United  Kingdom and 
the Marconi Radio Club in Canada teamed up to try to re-enact the 1901 
experiment.   Their aim was to shed new light on this landmark event in 
radio history.  They decided to perform the experiment now because the 
solar conditions at present are similar to when Marconi claimed to have 
succeeded.   

On  November 1st of 2006, the Poldhu Amateur Radio Club fired up its 
GB3SSS beacon and began making regular two-minute transmissions on 1 
point 960 Megahertz.   The 160 meter Amateur band was chosen for the 
experiment because the frequencies 800 to 900 kilohertz are now part of 
the very crowded medium wave broadcast radio spectrum.

Soon after GB3SSS took to the air, its signal was received by  members 
of the Marconi Radio Club on Signal Hill.  This is on very spot where 
the same signals were first heard almost 105 years ago.  And while this 
initial confirmation appears to back up Marconi's claim of spanning the 
Atlantic by radio, the two clubs are continuing to transmit, receive 
and to analyze the results.

For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM, reporting.  

--

This experiment is due to conclude later this month.  (GB2RS)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  SOLDERLESS XLR CONNECTORS FROM NEUTRIK

Audio connectors do not normally make the news, but this one does.  
It's the worlds first solderless X-L-R connector.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY reports:

--

A wishful question here.  Did Santa bring you one of those new, high-
end H-F radios for Christmas?  One that use a balanced microphone input 
through a 3-pin X-L-R connector?  If so, here's a product that might 
interest you.  

Connector manufacturer Neutrik has announced what it calls the 
industry's first line of crimp-on X-L-R cable connector and chassis 
receptacle products.

X-L-R connectors have been a standard in the broadcast and sound 
reinforcement business for decades but are fairly new to ham radio.  
Using this type of connector in conjunction with a balanced audio input 
on a transmitter and a balanced output mic like the Heil PR-40 assures 
reduced hum pick-up and can help in curing stray R-F feedback problems 
as well.

Until now, installing these connectors required soldering and 
mechanical assembly.  Neutrik says that its three-pole NC3FD-LX-HA plug 
and NC3MD-LX-HA chassis connectors are terminated with hand crimp 
tools.  This eliminates the need for soldering and greatly speeds up 
connector installation.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY.

--

More about these new connectors and other Neutrik products are on-line 
at www.neutrik.com  (Broadcast Technology Information)

(RW)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  PEHUENSAT NOW PO 63

Argentina's new Amateur Radio Satellite Pehuensat-1 has been awarded 
the title of PO-63. The bird is a project of  the University of 
Comahue, the Argentine Asociation for Space Technology and AMSAT 
Argentina.  (AMSAT)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  AO-27 IS BACK

Some good news for satellite users. The AMSAT Oscar 27 amateur 
satellite is back in operation.  This, thanks to the dedicated toil of 
the satellite's command team.

Michael Wyrick, N3UC, reports that after working on several problems 
with the A-F-S-K modem onboard AO-27, the controllers were able to 
upload the flight code.  As a result, AO-27 is now running the proper 
software and sending back good telemetry. The satellite's analogue 
repeater has also been turned back on.

The command team asks that all users keep in mind that AO-27 is 13 
years old and that it takes some work to keep it going.  More 
information about the satellite can be found at www.ao27.org. (AMSAT)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  MARYLAND-DC AMSAT MEETING AND SEMINAR

A local AMSAT Meeting and Space Seminar will be held in the Maryland 
and Washington D.C. area on Saturday, March 24th.  Planners say to 
expect satellite talks, demonstrations, tutorials on amateur 
satellites, ground station set up, and high-altitude balloon 
experiments in  the mid-Atlantic USA area.

The event will be held in the Pioneer Hall at the Historical 
Electronics Museum in  Linthicum, Maryland. No tickets are needed. 
AMSAT members, students, educators & the public are all invited.  More 
is on-line at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/fieldops/events.php  
(AMSAT)

**

WORLDBEAT - OCEANA:  THE OCEANIA MOST WANTED LIST

If you live down-under, listen up.  ZL3AB is collating an "Oceania Most 
Wanted" Countries list and is seeking submissions from operators in 
Australia, New Zealand and Oceania only. Lists can be submitted in 
text, Word, or Excel formats or simply pasted into the body of an e-
mail. Submissions will close on 28 February with results published in 
March.  E-mail your list to: giggs501 at yahoo.com.au.  (ZL3AB, NZART 
News)

**

THE CONTEST SCENE:  HOLYLAND DX CONTEST IN APRIL

The 2007 Holyland DX Contest sponsored by the Israel Amateur Radio Club 
will be held on Saturday April 21st from 00.00 UTC until 23.59 UTC.
Trophies and certificates will be issued to participating Radio 
Amateurs and SWL's for different classes and modes of operation.  More 
information is on-line at www.iarc.org. This year's contest is 
dedicated to the memory of Meir Lang 4X1OZ and Ahron Kirschner 4X1AT, 
both of whom became Silent Key's after the last contest in 2006.  
(IARC)

**

DX

In D-X, word that 2E0WMG will be active as 2U0WMG from Guernsey March 
19th to the 23rd. He will be active on all H-F bands if conditions allow.  
Skeds are available by E-mail to poopsie219 at hotmail.com

Swaziland as 3DA0 will be on the air in March.  The team has announced 
that in addition to all band activity on St Patrick's day, they will be 
concentrating on the WARC bands and LF frequencies at other times. 
There is also a possibility of some 2-metre EME activity.

K3TEJ and K3CT will be active from St. Croix as WP2Z during the ARRL 
International DX CW Contest on February 17th and 18th. They will operate 
as a Multi-2 entry. QSL via KU9C. 

(From various DX sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  THE STORY OF RADIO ROE

And finally this week, have you ever heard of Radio Row?  Our producer 
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, did.  He grew up not far away and he is here 
with some golden memories:

--

I knew about Radio Row first hand because it was my electronics 
playground when I was growing up across the East River in Brooklyn.  
One that I discovered after a quick 10 cent subway ride when I was 
about age 11.  A place where I bought the parts to build my first 
crystal radio set and later, my first homebrew phonograph amplifier.  

If you grew up in New York City in the 1930's, 40's, 50's or 60's the 
term Radio Roe is synonymous with a few blocks in lower Manhattan that 
were centered at Cortlandt Street.  A world of old radio parts in area 
that eventually became home to the World Trade Center.  

Now, thanks to the National Public Radio program "All Things 
Considered"  you cam hear the story of "Radio Row" as told by some of 
the merchants who were there.  Folks who I had the pleasure of knowing 
like  Bill Schneck, Cy Bemby, Irv Simon and Eugene Blan.  Men who 
fought to keep their stores after plans to build the trade center were 
first announced.  

For this reporter,  hearing Cy's voice in particular was kind of 
special since its one of those that has remained in my mind since the 
day I went to his place to buy a replacement 6L6 for my home built 
phonograph system.  A booming voice that I always thought should have 
been on radio reading the news to a waiting public.  But I doubt that 
being a news anchor ever entered Cy's mind.  He was a salesman and a 
good one.  

As such the story of New York's "Radio Row" is also the story of the 
places of business where radio oriented New Yorkers hung out on a 
Saturday afternoon.  Places like Metro Radio, Niagra Radio, Leotone 
Radio, Blan the Radio Man, and numerous other localities.  Places where 
a few pennies could put a kid ham into used radio parts heaven.  At 
least it did for this young kid who was lucky enough to grow up in 
those rather fabulous times.  Go take a listen for yourself.

>From the Newsline studios some 3000 miles West of where "Radio Row" 
once stood, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.

--

The oral history of "Radio Row" is at the All Things Considered Sonic 
Memorial website. You will need RealPlayer installed on your computer 
to hear it. The U-R-L is http://sonicmemorial.org/public/stories.html 
and  scroll down to "Radio Row" and click on photos or on actual replay 
of NPR audio report..  (NPR)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ 
Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, 
the RSGB, the Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all 
from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  Our e-mail address is 
newsline at arnewsline.org.  More information is available at Amateur 
Radio Newsline'sT only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.  
You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline, P.O. 
Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066. 