[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1541 - February 23rd, 2007
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Wed Feb 28 06:10:04 EST 2007
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1541 - February 23rd, 2007
The following is a Q-S-T. Morse testing disappears in the United
States but the node seems stronger than ever. We have a special
report. Also, Australia seeks a new band at 500 Kilohertz and more
proposed cellphone control laws that could affect ham radio mobile
operations. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report
number 1541 coming your way right now.
**
RESTRUCTURING: MORSE TESTING GOES AWAY IN THE UNITED STATES
For better or for worse, Morse testing to obtain a United States
Amateur Radio service license disappeared on February 23rd. Amateur
Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V, and a friend take a look at the
mode and its illustrious history as a part of the wonderful world of
Amateur Radio: :
--
Many hams who either wanted Morse testing retained or a return to the
more stringent 5, 13 and 20 word per minute testing regime said that
the fight to save code exams would not be over until the proverbial fat
lady sang. Well, she not only has sung her final song but also danced
her last dance. Now Morse testing in the United States is being
relegated to the ham radio history books. But the mode itself,
continues. Joe Schroeder, W9JUV, is a Chicago area ham who happens to
love Morse operation and knows a lot of its history in the hobby:
--
Schroeder: "You really have to go back a long way. Back to Samuel
F.B. Morse himself. The invention by him of the Morse Code and
telegraphy which literally electrified the world as far as
communications was concerned, and that was until the invention of the
telephone.
Of coarse, that (Morse) was the only way you could get messages
instantaneously from city to city and then across the country and
across the ocean between continents (via cable). And until the
invention of radio and its wide-spread use, that was the only means of
rapid communications. Otherwise you would write a letter and hope that
in a month or two a couple of ship voyages would get it to where it was
going."
--
Morse code and Morse testing has been a part of ham radio since its
earliest days. It made sense back then because Morse was the only mode
available to hams in those early days. So it was reasonable to assume
any exam to obtain an Amateur Service license would contain an element
to determine a candidates proficiency in what many called the artform
of Morse code. Before the advent of computerized keying, with many
seasoned C-W operators able to tell who is calling from the first dots
and dashes without ever hearing a stations callsign.
--
Schroeder: "What you are talking about is the Morse operators swing
which dates back originally to the straight key but more appropriately
to the bug. Different operators using the same bug are going to sound
very, very different."
--
The introduction of voice communications using A-M telephony in the
1920's caused a schism among hams. Seasoned Morse operators looked
down on the new mode. Many said that there was no need for voice
because Morse could get a message through far better under adverse
conditions.
And so it was that the proponents of Morse and the supporters of voice
went their separate ways. But they were all still bound together by
one common point in their ham radio careers. Each had passed a Morse
proficiency exam, because the government maintained that to get a ham
license, code was a prerequisite.
--
Schroeder: "One of the tenants of Amateur Radio is that we are
supposed to be there for emergency communications in time of need.
And, the simplest form of radio communications, which was CW, the
breaking and renewing of a carrier, was both easier to create and
better able to get through under adverse conditions. So, with our
responsibility of being an emergency communications system, CW was a
necessity."
--
Eventually, Morse even spawned its own entry level license in the U-S-
A. the Novice class was introduced inn the mid 20th century as a one-
time-only, non-renewable ticket. While in its first incarnation it did
have some very limited VHF voice privileges, those eventually went away
leaving the Novice as a Morse only ticket.
--
Schroeder: "Of coarse the purpose of the Novice license was not to get
people to talk for one year on VHF/UHF and then off the air. The
purpose was to give them an opportunity to learn Morse code by actually
using it on the air instead of having to listen to tapes or records."
--
That philosophy testing for Morse held true until the latter part of
the 20th century when the FCC noted that the numbers of new hams coming
to the service was dropping. The FCC asked the ham community how to
kick start interest in the service. That lead to the dropping of Morse
testing for the Technician class license in the 1990's and doing away
with 13 and 20 minute Morse exams several years ago.
--
Schroeder: "Certainly the no-code Tech was a real incentive for people
who wanted to communicate (locally) but were not that interested in
long distance communications. So the no-code Tech really was a great
boon for VHF and UHF.":
--
Meantime, the International Telecommunications Union which sets world-
wide standards for all telecommunications decided that in their eyes
Morse testing was no longer needed. They made Morse exams optional and
it was not long before administrations world-wide began dropping the
Morse test requirement. Now several years later, the U-S is following.
And after all the fighting and recriminations, it appears that interest
in Morse is as strong as it has ever been. Maybe even stronger now
that is just another fun aspect of the hobby and not the entry hazing
ritual that many say it had become the past several years.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in
Philadelphia.
--
With the abolition of Morse testing, the restructuring of ham radio in
the USA seems to be almost complete. It now remains to be seen if
doing away with the CW testing requirement will lead to any appreciable
growth in the service as some proponents have predicted. That part of
the story, next week. (ARNewsline)
**
RESTRUCTURING: VK HAMS REQUEST 500 KHZ ALLOCATION
Australia's national Amateur Radio society says that its time to let
hams down-under experiment on the 500 KHz. The Wireless Institute of
Australia is asking the Australian Communications and Media Authority
to make it so. Glenn Dunston, VK4DU, reports:
--
The WIA has applied to the ACMA for experimental access to a small band
of frequencies near 500 kHz. Amateur radio operators in the United
States, Sweden and Germany have recently been granted experimental
access to frequencies just above 500 kHz
.
The WIA submission requests a temporary/experimental MF amateur
allocation be made for the frequency range 505-515 kHz.
This proposed allocation places us above the guard band around the
distress and safety channel at 500 kHz, and lines up with the current
amateur MF allocations in Europe and the US.
The limited spectrum available precludes the use of wide band telephony
type modes. The WIA submission proposes a maximum necessary bandwidth
of 200 Hz, to limit operation to CW and slow speed robust data modes,
such as PSK31. This is the practice adopted in the current experimental
MF amateur band in Europe and the US.
The WIA also proposed that because of the technical challenges
involved, the MF band be only made available to Advanced class amateur
stations. It is also proposed that normal amateur output power limits
be used.
I'm Glenn Dunstan, VK4DU, for the national WIA.
--
Applications for access to this band have also been lodged by the New
Zealand Amateur Radio Transmitters and the United Kingdom's RSGB. (WIA
News)
**
RADIO LAW: MORE STATES JOIN THE NO MOBILE OPERATIOIN PARADE
Two more states are joining the parade to ban all mobile communications
devices and anything else that cam distract a driver of a motor
vehicle. The ARRL Letter reports that Georgia, House Bill 5 would
assess anyone found to be operating a motor vehicle while using a
wireless communication device one driver's license infraction point.
The bill defines "device" to cover not only cellular or mobile
telephones -- whether or not they're hands-free -- but any wireless
communication device. This includes personal digital assistants,
citizens band transceivers or commercial two-way radios. HB 5 appears
to also prohibit such routine activities as changing the station on a
car radio or even turning the volume up and down.
In New Jersey, Assembly Bill 1966 would broaden the scope of that
state's existing law prohibiting the use of a hand-held wireless
telephone while driving. It would expand the law to cover distracted
driving by prohibiting a motor vehicle operator from engaging in any
activity unrelated to the actual operation of a motor vehicle in a
manner that interferes with the safe operation of the vehicle. It also
would make enforcement of this law a primary issue and raise the fines
imposed on violators.
But there is also some good news in all of this. In New Mexico, House
Bill 241 that we reported on last week has been tabled by that states
legislature. It would prohibit a driver from using any form of mobile
communication device while operating a motor vehicle. Also tabled is
In Montana, House Bill 233. That measure would restrict drivers from
the use of electronic communication devices, or any other activity that
causes the driver to become inattentive. Being tabled does not mean
the proposed laws are dead. Only that the legislatures are putting off
action till a later date. (ARRL. Others)
**
RADIO LAW: SENATOR AIDS UNLICENSED BROADCASER TO RETURN TO THE AIR
A high ranking Democrat and leader in the Senate has helped an
unlicensed radio station return to the airwaves. This, after the FCC
acted to take it off the air following an inspection revealed that it
had no license. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, is in
Scottsdale, Arizona with more:
--
Rod Moses, the owner of Radio Goldfield Broadcast Inc., was given
special temporary authority to go back on the air with his low-power
radio station in a January 29th letter from the Federal Communications
Commission. A letter generated by pressure brought by Nevada
Democratic Senator Harry Reid.
Based the action on a complaint filed with the agency, FCC enforcement
agents came to Moses' trailer on June 9, 2006. This is the location
that also houses his radio station, The FCC engineers inspected the
station, and then requested that it be shut it down. Moses complied
but then wrote to Senator Reed asking his assistance in getting back
on the air. He explained that he had been running the station he calls
Radio Goldfield since March 2005. In that time frame he had been
broadcasting community news as well as oldies from an MP3 player. He
wanted a low power license but had been informed by the FCC that the
period to apply had long ago expired.
Reed apparently got Moses letter and in turn wrote to the FCC. In his
letter to FCC chairman Kevin Martin dated Sept. 1, 2006,, Senator Reed
stated that Radio Goldfield made significant public interest
contributions to the local community. He told Martin that the
unlicensed stations programming brought regular weather reports to this
high-desert area of Nevada, where conditions can abruptly change in
often times dramatic ways.
It did not take the FCC very long to act. It soon wrote to Moses
giving him permission to put his unlicensed station back on the air.
The letter cites Section 309(f) of the communications Act of 1934,
which authorizes the commission to grant the temporary allowance in
cases of extraordinary circumstances requiring temporary authorizations
in the public interest.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline., I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reporting from
Scottsdale.
--
Moses originally from Fresno, California was a radio broadcaster for 40
years. He says that a friend who used to run a radio station in
California has informed him that because of his protest, other hopeful
radio station operators are bringing up a resolution to ask the FCC to
offer low-power FM licenses again. Its not known if Senator Reed will
lend his support to such a request. (CGC, RW, Pahrump Valley Times)
**
ENFORCEMENT: A VEC MISTAKE
A ham who was given an Extra class license in an upgrade clerical error
will have it downgrade to the General class that he applied for. On
February 15th the FCC notified John R. Ure, W5VXJ, of Phoenix, Arizona
that it was taking this action after being informed that the VEC
handling the upgrade has made the mistake.
By way of background, on February 2, 2006 the Commission receive an
electronic data file from the ARRL VEC that contained Ure's application
requesting modification of the license for amateur station W5VXJ to
upgrade your operating privileges from Technician Plus Class to Amateur
Extra Class. It then routinely granted the request. On April 19, 2006
the ARRL VEC notified the Commission that its February 2nd data file
contained an error. Specifically, the ARRL VEC stated that the
requested upgrade was intended to modify Ure's operator privileges to
General Class and that the requested upgrade to Amateur Extra Class
privileges was due to a typographical error in its processing of the
application.
The ARRL VEC requested that the FCC set aside this grant so that it
could file an application to properly upgrade Ure's operator license to
General Class operator privileges. The FCC says that it agrees with
the ARRL VEC that the license should be modified to show the correct
class of operator privileges but in accordance with Section 1.87(a) of
the Commission's Rules, it we will not modify Ure's license until he
has received notice of the proposed action and is given an opportunity
to file a protest. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: TV STATION TO PAY $16,000 HURRICANE CHARLEY CLOSED
CAPTIONING
A Ft. Meyers, Florida CBS television affiliate is paying a steep price
for not providing enough closed-captioned information during Hurricane
Charley. Jim Danron, N8TMW, is here with the details.
--
WINK-TV in Fort Meyers, Florida, has voluntarily agreed to pay the
Federal Communications Commission $16,000 to settle a complaint brought
by local hearing-impaired viewers.
The storm, which hit in August 2004, came ashore along Lee County's
barrier islands before sweeping across Charlotte County. WINK-TV
dropped all its regular programming and was in solid storm coverage in
the hours leading up to landfall. The station's team of anchors,
reporters and meteorologists supplied a steady stream of information to
viewers.
The only problem: Many of the fast-changing details were spoken aloud
by the news team, but didn't make it into the more limited written
information WINK was providing in its graphics and news tickers along
the bottom of the screen. This violates a federal rule protecting the
rights of the hearing-impaired.
Soon after Hurricane Charley, the station took steps to add real-time
captioning to all its major newscasts.
The settlement came in the form of a consent decree. WINK admitted no
fault and it ends the FCC investigation into the matter.
--
Both the local NBC and ABC stations were each fined $24,000 in late
2005 for the same lack of comprehensive closed-captioning. Those
stations appealed the fines and their managers each say the matter is
still pending. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: TWO LINEARS BRING $2500 CB FINE
Another C-B operator has been dinged with a heavy fine for operating an
over power transmitter that the FCC views as an unlicensed station.
This as the regulatory agency issues the $2500 fine to Larry J.
Duckworth of Cordele, Georgia. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the
details:
--
The case dates back to July 18, 2006. That's when agents from the
Commission's Atlanta Office conducted an inspection of Duckworth's CB
radio station and observed a coaxial cable connecting a linear
amplifier to his CB transceiver. The power of the station as installed
measured at 106 watts. Duckworth admitted to the agents that he had
been operating the station with the attached linear amplifier and
voluntarily surrendered it to them.
But it did not end there. In response to another complaint, on
September 28, 2006, agents from the Atlanta Office re-inspected the CB
station in Duckworth's residence. This time the agents observed a
coaxial cable connecting not one but two linear amplifiers to his CB
transceiver. The power output measured 2500 watts. Also, the CB
transmitter at his station was a non FCC certified Galaxy model DX99V.
Duckworth admitted he used his station as the agents found it. On
December 15, 2006, the Atlanta Office issued a Notice of Apparent
Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $10,000. Soon after,
Duckworth submitted a response to the N-A-L requesting a reduction or
cancellation based on his inability to pay. After examining the
documentation that Duckworth provided the FCC determined that a
reduction of the forfeiture amount to $2,500 is appropriate based
Duckworth's demonstrated financial hardship.
For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the
studio in Los Angeles.
--
The order was issued on February 14th. Duckworth was given 30 days to
pay the $2500. If he fails to do so the FCC says it will turn the
matter over to the Department of Justice for collection. And that as
they say on 11 meters is a big 10-4. (FCC)
**
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: SALUTE TO ISREAL PARADE NETWORK CREATOR LOUIS
BELSKY, K2VMR, - S.K.
Unless you live in the Metro New York area, the name Louis Belsky and
the callsign K2VMR, will likely not ring much of a bell. But for those
of us here at Amateur Radio Newsline, the word of his passing leaves a
very deep void.
You see, Lou -- as he preferred to be called -- was one of those unseen
and un-heard volunteers who has helped to bring these newscasts to you
since our earliest days as Westlink Radio. Lou not only served as our
eyes and ears in the New York and New Jersey area, but contributed in
so many ways to the success of both Westlink Radio and Amateur Radio
Newsline that we cannot begin to enumerate the ways. Whether it was to
research background information for a story or pick one of our staffers
up at a local airport and buy dinner, Lou was always there. Always
willing to help. Always a good friend.
Lou was also an ardent supporter of Amateur Radio. He was born and
raised in Brooklyn and that was his home until he passed on. And back
in the late 1960's, it was Lou Belsky, K2VMR, who created the
communications network for the city's annual Salute to Israel Parade.
He guided this yearly ham radio support operation for many years until
family obligations and health issues forced him to step aside.
Lou Belsky, K2VMR, was age 65 when died at about 2 a.m. on Wednesday,
February 21st at the Long Island Jewish Hospital due to complications
from Cancer. He is survived by his wife Linda, WB2GZW, and twin sons
Alan and Steven. Services were scheduled for Thursday, February 22nd,
in Brooklyn, New York. We at Amateur Radio Newsline will miss his warm
friendship very much. (ARNewsline)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: HEIL SOUND SUPPORTS BREST CANCER RESEARCH WITH
SPECIAL PR-20 PINK MIC
Bob Heil, K9EID, has announced new variation on his famed Heil Sound
PR-20 microphone that could eventually help to save lives. Its not a
scientific innovation but an aesthetic one.
Heil says that the PR-20 P Pink Pearl was developed as a breast cancer
awareness project. This, in conjunction with the Susan G. Komen
Foundation and its Susan G. Komen for the Cure campaign.
The new mic has the same audio response as the standard PR-20 but is
emblazoned with the pink ribbon on a pink pearl finish. More important
is that ten percent of the retail sale price and a minimum guarantee of
$6,800 will be donated to the Susan G. Komen group for the purpose of
raising the awareness of breast health and breast cancer.
For more than 20 years, the Komen Foundation has been a global leader
in the fight against breast cancer through its support of innovative
research and community-based outreach programs. (Heil Sound)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: W9JUV PRESENTED WRIGHT BROTHERS MASTER PILOTS AWARD
The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded Joe Schroeder, W9JUV,
its very prestigious Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award. This, in
recognition of more than half century as an accident free pilot.
Joe received the award at a recent meeting of the Chicago Flight
Instructors Association on Monday, February 12th. The award is given
by the FAA to pilots who have been licensed and who have flown without
an accident or citation for 50 years or more. There are only about 40
recipients of this award in the state of Illinois. (ARNewsline)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: LOS ANGELES TO BECOME A WI FI CITY
Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has announced that Los Angeles
will create a citywide wireless network for its citizens.
Villaraigosa said the network will benefit business and plug every
neighborhood directly into the knowledge-based global economy.
As a first step, Los Angeles plans to hire a technology expert to help
structure a proposal to attract interest from the private sector. A
spokeswoman said the system would cover 400 square miles when completed
in 2009.
Also planning to go wireless is Houston Texas. Its city leaders have
announced that they have inked a deal with Earthlink Inc. to build a
citywide wireless Internet network that would eventually cover about
600 square miles.
The two cities would join more than 250 communities nationwide that
have built or plan to build a public Wi-Fi network offering cheaper or
free wireless Internet access to residents, businesses and government
workers. As previously reported, last month, Earthlink and Google
finalized a four-year deal to provide free wireless Internet service
throughout San Francisco.
So far all technology being discussed is Wi-Fi based. B-P-L does not
appear to be included in with the Los Angeles or Houston plans.
(Published reports)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: UK SPACE COLLLOQUIUM LOOKING FOR PRESENTERS
AMSAT-UK has put out a call for papers for its 22nd International Space
Colloquium. Taking place from Friday July 20th to Sunday the 22nd at
Surrey University, Guildford, England, the colloquium is the flagship
amateur satellite and space event in the United Kingdom. You can find
out more about the International Space Colloquium 2007 on the web at
www.uk.amsat.org. (GB2RS)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: IMPROPER SOFTWARE MAY HAVE CAUSED MARS SURVEYOR
FAILURE
NASA is investigating whether incorrect software commands may have
doomed the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. This after it abruptly
fell silent last year after a decade of mapping the surface of the red
Planet.
John McNamee, is the Deputy Director of Solar System Exploration at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He says that a preliminary
investigation points to incorrect software commands uploaded to the
spacecraft in June. That software was aimed at improving the
spacecraft's flight processors. Instead, bad commands may have
overheated the battery and forced the spacecraft into safe mode.
The space agency said that theory is just one of several that may
explain the probe's failure. It continues to investigate others.
(NASA)
**
WORLDBEAT - UK: BBC TO BEGIN DRM TRIALS IN APRIL
The BBC has announced that it will trial Digital Radio Mondiale
transmissions on medium wave. This in the Plymouth area for a year
beginning the end of April.
An audience panel of BBC Radio Devon listeners will be given special
radios that can receive DRM, DAB and FM transmissions. They will
compare the quality of BBC Radio Devon transmissions on the three
different modes and report back to the BBC. The trial Digital Radio
Mondiale transmissions will be broadcast from an existing medium wave
transmitter in Plymouth. (Southgate, BBC)
**
DX
In D-X, keep an ear open for K8PT, and K3PLV, to be active again stroke
MJ from the Isle of Jersey from March 14th to the 22nd. They will
operate on 160 through 6 meters on CW, SSB and RTTY, with an emphasis
on the lower High Frequency bands.
And listen out for NE1B, and C6ANM. They will be active from the
Bahamas through March 6th. They plan to operate mainly on 160 and 80
meters and on the WARC bands
DL3KWR, and DL3KWF, will be active again stroke CT3 from Madeira from
the 8th to the 22nd of March. They plan to operate mostly CW and on the
WARC bands.
G3PJT, will be active as E51PJT from Raratonga in the South Cook
Islands. This from March 3rd to the 17th. He will operate mainly CW and
will definitely be on for the RSGB Commonwealth Contest. QSL all of
these as directed on the air
NE8Z will be active as HC1MD from Tumbaco, Ecuador from February 24th
to March 14th. Most activity will be on 80 through 10 meters on CW and
SSB using 500 watts into a Carolina Windom antenna. QSL via John C.
Kroll, K8LJG, 3528 Craig Drive, Flint, Michigan 48506.
Lastly, after three years of trying, a multinational team lead by Bob
Vallio, W6RGG, has been given permission to operate from Scarborough
Reef. A team is being assembled that will include members from Asia,
Europe and the USA. W6RGG and this group will operate from the reef
for ten days in late April. Scarborough Reef is currently considered
as being the most wanted entity in the world.
(Above from various DX News Sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: THE BATTERY AND THE BARIN
And finally this week a question: Can a jolt from a nine-volt battery
make you smarter? Happier? This report was found by the Wireless
Institute of Australia on the packet system down-under. It explains
that medical researchers have revived a discarded technology and set
the stage for the "brain pod". We have this report from the W-I-A
News:
--
He sits hunched over a desk in his bedroom, groping along the skin of
his forehead, trying to figure out where to glue the electrodes. Wires
lead to a Radio Shack Electronics Learning Lab, a toy covered with
knobs, switches, and meters.
Even though he's working with a kiddie lab, he can't afford to make
mistakes: He's about to send the current from a nine-volt battery into
his own brain.
Called trans-cranial direct current stimulation the technology works on
the principle that even weak electrical signals generated by a small
battery can penetrate the skull and affect hot-button areas on the
outer surface of the brain.
In the past few years, scholarly research papers have touted tDCS as a
non-invasive and safe way to rejigger our thoughts and feelings, and
possibly to treat a variety of mental disorders.
Most provocatively, researchers at the National Institute of Health
have shown that running a small jolt of electricity through the
forehead can enhance the verbal abilities of healthy people. That is,
tDCS might do more than just alleviate symptoms of disease. It might
help make its users a little bit smarter.
Needless to say, researchers caution against trying this sort of thing
at home, although they had a grudging respect for anyone with the pluck
to do it.!
--
Kind of reminds us of that scene from the 1950's science fiction movie
Forbidden Planet. You know -- the scene when the scientist takes a
brain boost to learn all about the mythical civilization called the
Krell. What that fictional character found out cost him is life and if
you play around with your brain, it could cost you yours. (WIA News)
**
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's 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.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Burt
Hicks, WB6MQV, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline is Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
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