[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1546 - March 30, 2007

Sun Apr 1 09:11:38 EDT 2007

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1546 - March 30, 2007

The following is a Q-S-T.  The ARRL kind of changes its 
mind on Regulation by Bandwidth, European hams get 
interference protection from ultra wideband operations, 
Scouts world-wide plan to celebrate 50 years of their 
Jubilee On The Air and our annual April 1st report from 
roving reporter Pierre Pullinmyleg.  All this and more on 
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1546 coming your way 
right now.

**

REGULATION BY BANDWIDTH:  THE ARRL VS THE BLOGGERS

The ARRL has partially changed its mind on Regulation by 
Bandwidth.  It now suggests confining these changes to 10 
meters and above.  But even this has not placated the 
detractors of both the League and the proposed rules 
change.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V. 
reports:

--

The ARRL says in the wake of the recent changes to the Part 
97 Amateur Radio rules, it has revised its regulation by 
bandwidth proposals to the FCC.

The League says this is being done to avoid some unintended 
consequences and temper some of the controversy the 
original petition had aroused.  

But bloggers on QRZ dot com and elsewhere in cyberspace 
seem to consider the revision nothing more than a smoke-
screen.

Some look at it as a sellout by the national organization 
to the proponents of digital communications to the 
detriment of all others in the hobby.

The bloggers also say that almost any form of digital ham 
radio will disrupt most or all of the current 
communications on all bands and therefore must remain 
segregated into subbands of its own. 

By way of review, back in November 2005 the ARRL filed a 
Petition for Rule Making dealing with the concept of 
Regulation by Bandwidth.  

RM-11306 requested the FCC replace the current segregation 
of modes by subbands with a regulatory scheme that would 
segment bands by necessary bandwidths ranging from 200 Hz 
to 100 kHz rather than by emission mode.

This proposal immediately brought the wrath of the high-
frequency ham radio community.

Through filings to the FCC and by numerous cyberspace web 
postings, the ham radio community told the ARRL and the FCC 
that regulation by bandwidth was simply not wanted.  

Now the ARRL appears to be capitulating.

At least to the extent where the high frequency bands below 
28 Mhz are concerned.

In a statement published in the ARRL Letter, League 
Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, said that:

Regulation by bandwidth rather than by mode of emission 
remains controversial below 28 MHz because of its perceived 
potential impact on established operating patterns, so 
these proposals were removed from the list with one narrow 
exception.

The ARRL now is urging the FCC to adopt what it terms a 
"subsetƒ€ of the rules contained in its original petition 
that largely affects only the amateur bands at 28 MHz and 
above.

If the FCC adopts the League's revised proposals, the 10, 6 
and 2 meter amateur bands would be segmented into subbands 
allowing maximum emission bandwidths of 200 Hz, 500 Hz, 3.0 
kHz 16 kHz or 100 kHz.

The only exception would be for double-sideband, full-
carrier AM phone. 

This modified proposal is already drawing fire from several 
factions in ham radio.

First are the proponents of weak signal communications on 6 
meters and above.

They fear that the introduction of any form of wideband 
modes close by weak signal segments will spell disaster.

They contend it will raise the ambient noise floor of the 
bands, rendering it impossible to detect the minute traces 
of RF that they are searching for. 

As one post on QRZ put it:  "Digital 100 khz wide signals 
thousands of them 100 kHz wide only 175 kHz from the 6 
meter calling frequency and 100 kHz from 2 meters and the 
noise floor will go through the roof."

Also not happy are the operators of FM repeaters on 2 
meters.

They point to the already overcrowded conditions in both of 
the repeater subbands.

They also ask the rhetorical question of how and where can 
numerous 100 kHz wide digital modes be shoehorned in 
without degrading the performance of existing analog FM 
communication?

Most believe that wideband digital and 2 meters simply do 
not mix.  Others do not want them on any band below 1 point 
2 Gigahertz.  

On the other side are the proponents of digital on the High 
Frequency bands.

They believe that the ARRL is caving in to pressure brought 
by current H-F spectrum users.

Some involved in rescue radio operations have already 
warned that in the near future emergency communications 
systems used by the agencies that they serve will go to 
wideband data-based communications systems.

They warn that for ham radio to continue to serve its 
emergency communications clients, the rules must be changed 
so that Amateur Radio is fully compatible with that 
technology. 

Another bone of contention is why the ARRL continues to 
pursue any form of  bandwidth-based regulation in the face 
of across-the-board opposition from the ham community.

Dave Sumner seems to address this in his comments in the 
ARRL Letter: 

Regulation by bandwidth provides a better regulatory 
framework, not only for the introduction of future digital 
emissions but for the protection of traditional narrowband 
modes as well.

Unfortunately for the ARRL, not everyone agrees.  

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

--

K1ZZ has expressed the hope that the subset of RM-11306 
modifications offers an alternative that will make it 
easier for the FCC to move at least part of the way in that 
direction. Even so, the analog ham radio world appears to 
be gearing up for a fight to maintain the status quo.  
(ARNewsline with input from numerous sources including 
ARRL Letter, QRZ.com, eHam.net, VHF Reflector, others.)

**

REGULATION BY BANDWIDTH:  AN ARNEWSLINE ON-LINE POLE

So what's your thought about the idea of converting from 
the current subband system to regulation by bandwidth?  To 
get an idea we have set up a pole on our website at 
www.arnewsline.org. Just go there, scroll down and watch 
for the word "Polls" on the left hand side of the page.  
Then click on the box that is closest to your view.  

The nice part about the software we use is that the results 
are instant.  As soon as you cast your vote you will see 
the result.  

And before we get a horde of e-mails from those who need to 
point out the flaws of electronic polling, we freely admit 
that this poll is not very scientific.  In fact it is 
easily subject to multiple voting from those with a 
personal ax to grind for or against regulation by 
bandwidth.

That said, after a few weeks the cumulative results will at 
least give the ham radio community an idea on the way the 
majority feels on this subject.  One  that can and likely 
will affect the day to day operation of every radio 
amateurs across the United States.  (ARNewsline)

**

THE BPL FIGHT:  SUPPORT NEEDED FOR HR-462

Supporters of congressional measure HR 462 are fearful that 
the recently announced the IEEE Broadband Over Powerline 
Standards Project announced last week could hamper efforts 
to get the measure enacted.  

HR-462 is better known as the Emergency Amateur Radio 
Interference Protection Act of 2007.  If passed, it would 
require a study by the Federal Communications Commission on 
interference caused by broadband internet transmission over 
power lines.

The measure is currently before the House Energy and 
Commerce Committee.  Proponents say that the IEEE project 
seems to give the aura of respectability to BPL which they 
feel is not deserved.  They believe only legislative 
pressure can force BPL providers to use non-interfering 
technology.  They also urge all hams to write their 
political leaders in support of HR-462.  

The March issue of QST Magazine has the full background on 
this bill.  
(K2IVX) 

**

RADIO RULES:  EUROPEN HAMS TO BE PROTECTED FROM UWB 
INTERFERENCE

The European Commission has decided to impose more 
stringent rules on the use of ultra wide band equipment on 
frequencies below 6GHz.  In essence that protects hams from 
interference the mode might cause.  Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is 
in Nottingham in the UK with more:

--

The decision is a victory for a host of amateur radio 
groups which have been fighting for greater regulation of 
ultra wide band.

Amateur radio organizations including the Radio Society of 
Great Britain, the UK Microwave Group, AMSAT-UK, BATC and 
the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society have put in a lot of 
work over the last two years making the case for protection 
of the amateur bands from ultra wide band devices. The 
European Commission appears to have listened.

In an official statement published on the web, the 
Commission said: "The conditions in the 4.2 to 4.8GHz band 
for ultra-wideband technology should be time limited and be 
replaced by more restrictive conditions beyond December 
2010."

The statement went on to say that in the long term ultra 
wide band equipment should be restricted to operating above 
6GHz. 

Jeramy boot, G4NJH

--

A link to the statement can be found on the RSGB website.  
Its in cyberspace at www.rsgb.org  (GB2RS)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  THAI HAMS GET CONTEST ONLY PRIVELEGES

E21EIC and others report that the Radio Amateur Society of 
Thailand has received authorization from that nations 
telecommunications regulator for Thai operators to operate 
on 80 and 160 meters during 2007 contest periods.  During 
those periods Thai operators may operate their stations on 
CW and SSB from 1.800 to 1.825 MHz and 3.500 to 3.536 MHz.  
Split operation  has   also been authorized. 

Stations in Thailand currently can only operate on 40, 20, 
15 and10 meters.  They are barred from 30, 17, 12 and 6 
meters, however, activity on the WARC bands and 6 meters is 
sometimes granted with special permission. (OPDX, others)

**

RESCUE RADIO: CLUB EXPANDS SKYWARN IN INDIANA WITH CLASS

Amateur radio operators in Monroe County, Indiana have been 
turning the annual National Weather Service's severe 
weather spotter training program into a public outreach 
event.  Jack Parker W8ISH has this report.

--

Severe weather spotter training in Monroe county, Indiana 
has been taken to the next level.  Through radio, 
newspapers and the internet the Bloomington Amateur Radio 
Club has expanded training  to include emergency 
professionals and the general public.  This years Severe 
Weather Training had over one hundred and thirty people in 
attendance.  

Each year Monroe county hams schedule the class on the 
first Friday in March.  That coincides with the start of 
Severe Weather Prepardness Week in Indiana.  

History has shown Bloomington and Monroe county to be a 
prime target for tornadoes.  Getting the general public, 
government officials and first responders trained can only 
add to the number of eyes and ears needed to warn the 
public of a severe weather outbreak.  

This years class was followed up with a series of radio 
interviews on WHCC radio  in Bloomington.  Radio 
personality and self proclaimed  "weather junky"  Rick 
Evans, invited amateur radio storm spotters to talk about 
their chasing experiences during Severe Weather Week.  The 
interviews aired live during the morning commute.  The 
early bird reports included severe weather safety tips and 
background on the role amateur radio plays in emergency and 
public service events.  

Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack Parker 
W8ISH 

--

This years class included 2004 ARRL Educator of the Year 
award winner Neil Rapp WB9VPG and Indiana State 
Representative Matt Pierce N9VKU.  (KB9WVI)

**

RESCUE RADIO: NPSTC AND ARRL SIGN MOA

The ARRL and the National Public Safety Telecommunications 
Council  have signed a Memorandum of Agreement.  As 
reported on the ARRL's website, under the pact the League's  
Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, will 
participate in meetings and serve on committees and working 
groups. The League also has agreed to provide other 
expertise, advice and resources to further the goals of the 
Memorandum of Agreement.  

For its part, the National Public Safety Telecommunications 
Council has  agreed to provide a National Support Office.  
Among other things, it will coordinate its outreach 
activities and provide national level technical assistance 
to the public safety telecommunications community.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council is a  
federation of public safety organizations.  It serves as a 
forum for the exchange of ideas and information for 
effective public safety telecommunications in the US and 
abroad.  

The ARRL is a National Public Safety Telecommunications 
Council member.  The Memorandum of Agreement culminates 
efforts begun in 2003 to formalize the relationship between 
the two organizations.  The full story is on-line at 
www.arrl.org  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  STAY OFF UNTIL YOU RENEW YOUR LICENSE

The FCC has written to a now former ham to tell him that 
his license has expired and that he must go Q-R-T.  That 
February 28th note went to Thurland Bristol Jr. Of Orange, 
Connecticut.  In it the FCC says that Bristol's license and 
K1ACD callsign expired back on July 5th of 2005 and that 
operation without a valid license could bring with it some 
severe penalties.  As his ticket is within the Commission's 
two year grace period all he needs to do is to renew it to 
bring it current once again.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  TO MANY CALLSIGN CHANGES

The FCC wants to know why a Texas ham has filed over two 
dozen applications that first request and then cancel four 
specific callsigns.  That's the question that they ask of 
Barney Boone, NO5R in a letter to him dated February 28th.

The note to Boone asserts that May of 2000, he has filed 25 
or more applications with the regulatory agency regarding 
the calls W5JB, AI5L, KC5KJG and KJ5AE that either 
requested or cancelled one of those calls.  The FCC says 
that 10 of those applications were filed in 2006.  

The FCC says that once requested and cancelled, the calls 
were made unavailable to anyone else for a period of two 
years.  The agency says that this appears to be an abuse of 
the agency's application process and gave Boone 30 days 
from receipt of its inquiry letter to respond and explain 
his actions.  He was also told to choose which one of the 
call signs that he wanted to keep.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  KIT BUILT TRANSMITTERS BRING $7000 NAL

The FCC says that Richard Mann who does business as The 
Antique Radio Collector in Toledo, Ohio is apparently 
liable for a $7000 forfeiture.  This for allegedly 
marketing of uncertified AM radio transmitters in repeated 
violation of the Communications Act and of the Commission's 
Rules.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff Reinhart, AA6JR, 
reports:

--

On November 15, 2006, the FCC's Spectrum Enforcement 
Division issued a Letter of Inquiry to Richard Mann and The 
Antique Radio Collector.  This, in response to a complaint 
alleging that the was marketing fully-assembled S S TRAN 
model AMT3000 AM transmitters.  

In a reply dated November 25, The Antique Radio Collector 
indicated that it was not aware of a certification 
authorizing a fully assembled AMT3000 transmitter.  The 
response indicated that Mann had purchased the transmitters 
in kit form from a third party and assembled the them in 
his residence.  Mr. Mann advertised the assembled 
transmitters for sale online at www.oldtimeradio.com and 
had sold a number of completed units to end users since 
December 2003.

But the FCC says that buying a banned radio transmitter as 
a kit and building it expressly to sell it for profit is 
the sane as marketing a fully factory assembled unit.  It 
says that Section 302(b) of the Communications Act provides 
that no person shall manufacture, import, sell, offer for 
sale, or ship devices or home electronic equipment and 
systems, or use devices, which fail to comply with the 
agency's regulations.  As such it would be Mann's 
responsibility to obtain FCC certification before offering 
any units for sale which he did not do.  

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, 
in Los Angeles.

--

Mann and The Antique Radio Collector were given the normal 
30 days to pay the fine or to file an appeal.  (FCC)

**

HAM RADIO AND SCOUTING:  AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 HOURS

Around the World in 50 Hours will be the theme of this 
years Scouting Jamboree On The Air.  JOTA as it is better 
known, is an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts and 
Scout Guides all over the world make contacts with each 
other by means of Amateur Radio.

The idea of the 50 hour operating schedule is to honor the 
golden-jubilee of the Jamboree by extending it two hours.  
One hour for every year that it has existed.  As a result, 
this years 50th JOTA will run from October 19th at 22:00 
hours to October 21st at 24:00 hours your local time.  

An official start will be given by the World Scout Bureau 
radio station in Geneva, Switzerland on October 19th at 
21:00 h GMT with a transmission in the 20 and 80 meter 
bands and on Echolink.  (WIA, GB2RS, Southgate)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  NEW DIGITAL HAM RADIO REMAILER FORMED

A new cyberspace remailer dedicated exclusively to the 
emerging world of digital Amateur Radio communications has 
been formed on Yahoogroups.  This reflector will primarily 
discuss the use of digital voice and data communication 
techniques on the VHF and UHF bands.  Technology to be 
addressed will include D-STAR, APCO P25, packet radio 
including APRS, High Speed Multi Media, Wi-Fi, P-S-K  and 
F-S-K.  To join the group just take your web browser to     
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/illinoisdigitalham/ and 
follow the sign up instructions.  (WB9QZB)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  PAPERS SOLOICITED FOR ARRL AND TAPR 
DIGITAL CONFERENCE

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 26th 
Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to 
be held September 28th to the 30th  in Hartford, Connecticut.  
These papers will also be published in the Conference 
Proceedings.

Authors need not attend the conference to have their paper 
included in the Proceedings. Papers will be published 
exactly as submitted and authors will retain all rights. 
The submission deadline is July 31, 2007. Please send 
papers to Maty Weinberg , at the ARRL , 225 Main St , 
Newington, Connecticut,  06111.  Submissions can also go by 
e-mail to maty at arrl.org (ARRL)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  THE 12th ANNUAL IOTA DINNER IN APRIL

The 12th annual Islands On The Air  or IOTA Dinner will be 
held on Friday, April 27th, in the Birch Room of the 
Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Visalia, 
California.  This, in conjunction with the 58th annual 
Visalia International DX Convention.

Reservations for this event are not required and attendees 
will pay as they enter at the door.  Admission is free for 
those  wishing only to watch the programs without dining.  
As usual, seating will  be first come, first seated.   

For additional  information regarding this event, please 
contact Jim Zimmerman, by e-mail to jimzim1 at mindspring.com  
(Press release)

**

SPECIAL EVENTS:  HAMS CELEBRATE THE TITIANIC'S 95th 
ANNIVERSARY

Ham radio will help to memorialize one of the greatest 
tragedies ever to happen on the high seas.  To commemorate 
the 95th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner 
Titanic, radio amateurs worldwide will be mounting an 
operation originating from the Titanic Museum Attraction in 
Branson, Missouri.   That's where members of the Nixa 
Amateur Radio Club will be making contacts world-wide using 
the special event callsign W-Zero-S.  

Three stations will operate simultaneously using SSB, and 
CW.  Trhere will also be operation using Echolink.  All 
stations will be manned by operators from a consortium of 
clubs and non-club members from across Southwest Missouri, 
as well as licensed visitors from outside the area. 

Operations beginn at 8 a.m., Saturday, April 14th, and 
concluding at 7p.m., Sunday, April 15th.  The W-Zero-S call 
being used which stands for White Star.  White Star the 
name of the company that built the Titanic.A U-K group is 
also expected to be active during that same time as GB6MGY.  
That reportedly was the actual call sign of the Titanic.  
More information is on-line at www.nixahams.net  (W7ZVD)

**

A WORD OF THANKS FROM THE SUPPORT FUND WITH ANDY JAREMA 
N6TCQ

Ladies and gentlemen, with a word of thanks to those who 
contributed to the Newsline Support Fund in April of 2006, 
here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Support Fund Administrator 
Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

In the month of April we heard from Regular contributor 
Benton Bonney, W4PE of Orlando , The Potomac Highlands ARC 
of Moorefield, WV, The Cookville, TN Repeater Association, 
W4HPL, monthly contributor Joseph Bartzi, Jr., KC8DKF of 
Columbus, OH and monthly contributors William Walters, 
WA2IBM, and Scott Hensley of the Area Communications Team, 
both in San Jose, CA, and the South Orange Amateur Radio 
Association

Via PayPal we heard from C Mark Burlingame, KB6TVD of 
Northlake, IL and Stuart Cole, N5LBZ of Gulfport, MS.

Month in and month out Newsline takes an average of $1000 
to put the latest news of Amateur Radio on the air- it 
doesn't come to us- we have to go get it. With no 
advertising, we depend on you- our loyal listeners.  Our 
website- arnewsline.org has all the info you need to 
contribute, including a quick link to PayPal. Or there's 
our address: Newsline Support Fund, PO Box 660937, Arcadia, 
CA 91066. That address will be repeated at the end of the 
newscast. Thanks for your help.

I'm Andy Jarema. N6TCQ.

--

Thank you Andy.  (ARNewsline)

**

RADIO OPPS:  PETER THOMAS VE7PT IS NOT A SILENT KEY

If you happen to be a fan of the British comic group Monty 
Python then the line "I'm not dead yet, I'm just resting" 
will have a great deal of  meaning.  And it's also what may 
be going through the minds of the editorial staff at The 
Canadian Amateur magazine after it learned that it made a 
big oops in reporting the departure from life of a Canadian 
ham.  Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, is here with the rest of the 
story:

--

Well it happened this way.  The March/April 2007 issue of 
The Canadian Amateur carried a listing in the Silent Key 
column saying that Peter Thomas, VE7PT, had passed on. Only 
one problem about this for the magazine.  It seems that 
Peter was and is definitely not a Silent Key.  

It was all explained in a March 19th special bulletin issued 
by  Radio Amateurs of Canada which publishes The Canadian 
Amateur.  It seems that the mix-up came about when an 
obituary in local newspapers was spotted for a "Philip 
Thomas" in which it was stated that his interests included 
ham.  It also listed his callsign as being VE7PT.  And 
dutifully, the information was re-reported by the Canadian 
Amateur magazine but did not bother to check on the 
accuracy of the initial report.  

Well the good news is that the real VE7PT is very much 
alive.  In fact, the R-A-C release describes him as an 
active 86 year-old living in British Columbia and a 25 year 
retiree who still enjoys being active in the hobby. He is a 
member of the Westcoast Amateur Radio Association, the 
Victoria Area Packet Association, and he particularly 
enjoys training new hams by having them visit his shack.  
And although VE7PT is no longer sailing the high seas, 
Peter is an honorary member of  the Blue Water Cruising 
Association.  A very active radio amateur indeed.  

Radio Amateurs of Canada has apologized to VE7PT and to his 
many friends and family for the error.  

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

--

Kind of reminds us of the words of Mark Twain who once sent 
a telegram to the press all across the United States.  
This, after an erroneous obituary about him had been 
published.  That cable simply said:  "The reports of my 
death are greatly exaggerated."  (RAC, others)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  DONATIONS NEEDED FOR NEW ARISS STATION

The European Space Agency has agreed to an amateur radio 
station being installed onboard the Columbus module, the 
new space laboratory that will be attached to the 
International Space Station at the end of the year.  As 
part of the station a series of antennas developed at 
Poland's Wroclaw University of Technology will be attached 
to the panels that protect Columbus's hull from meteorite 
debris. 

The cost of installing the antennas will amount to more 
than 100,000 Euros which is in the area of $120,000 in U-S 
dollars.  ARISS-Europe is the amateur radio group which is 
organizing the project.  It is calling on radio amateurs 
around the world with an interest in space communications 
to provide financial support. 

Although work is progressing well on the antennas, money is 
still needed to build the amateur radio equipment onboard 
Columbus.  You can find out how to donate to the project on 
the web at www.ariss-eu.org/donations.htm. (ARISS-EU)

**

DX

In DX that's on the air, word that Clive Penna, GM3POI, has 
become the second ham to achieve 9 band DXCC using only 
Logbook of The World electronic QSL confirmations.  John 
Sluymer, VE3EJ, in Ontario, Canada was the first.

Also, news that DL9MWG, will be active from Malta  as 
9H3RT.  This,  from April 28th through May 11th. Activity 
will be on the High F requency bands mainly on C-W. Q-S-L 
via DL9MWG.

PA5CW, will be active portable YB9 from Bali from April 25th 
to May 10th. No other info provided at this time.

Lastly, keep an ear open for DL2GAC in the Solomon Islands 
who is once again active as H-44-M-S. Bernhard is expected 
to be there until April 25th. The "DX Newletter" reports 
that he is collecting QSLs for his U.S.  Counties
Award as well as 5 Band Worked All States from there. His 
activity is mainly on 80, 40 and 20 meters. QSL direct or 
via the bureau to DL2GAC.

(From various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  HAM RADIO AND FURSUITS - AN APRIL 1st  
REPORT FROM THE ROAD

And finally this week, a question.  What do ham radio, fur 
and the YouTube website have in common?  Well if you said 
hidden transmitter hunting, you would be pretty much 
correct.  Here's our roving reporter Pierre Pullinmyleg 
with his annual early April report:  

--

Zee Hyena is zee very interesting anna-mil. Zay are 
moderately large and are  native to Africa and India.  So, 
it iz very rare zat you find one on zee streets of a town 
in zee U-S-A much less one zat likes to go on zee 
transmitter hunt.  But if you go to zee YouTube dot com 
website  you just might run into a ham radio operator 
dressed in zee Hyena costume who talks about finding zee 
elusive hidden T: Ok, it is a human in a Hyena suit who is 
also a ham: 

--

KD8AYJ:  "My name is Julie Fraedrich, I currently live in 
Streetboro, Ohio,  and my callsign is KD8AYJ."

--

Ah, you are surprized zat it's a young lady zat is wearing 
zee Hyena costume?  Well, if you get to talk with Miss 
Julie, she will tell you zat zee video was fun to make:

--

KD8AYJ:  "At the time, I had just gotten my brand-new new 
Samsung Mini-DV camera and I just had to have an excuse to 
play with it.  I put on my Hyena costume because I saw 
another video on YouTube of a group of people who are 
actually fox-hunting in animal costumes.  I said that this 
is 'so cool' so I put on my animal costume and I decided to 
talk about fox hunts."

--

Zats right.  Zere really is a convention where hams go to 
T-hunt dressed up as annna-mals.  It is called Anthrocon 
and Miss Julie sez zat zere are really similarities between 
making zee annamal costume and being zee ham radio 
operator.  She says zat both are  challengzes:

--

KD8AYJ:  "Ham radio like animal costuming is a challenge in 
itself.  Some are in ham radio to get that optimal signal.  
Sometimes you are in it just to see how you can operate ham 
radio with the very basic or primitive tools in situations 
such as Field Day." 

"I think that I was drawn to animal costuming and to do 
Amateur Radio in the animal costumes just from the 
challenge of the two.  If you were to look at it from an 
event diagram perspective, both incorporate challenges.  
Some people build their own Amateur Radio gear and some 
people like to build their own animal costumes.  I think 
that people who like to do both -- you know -- fox hunts 
and animal costumes -- like at Anthrocom, they just have 
overlapping similarities."

--

And where can you wear ze anna-mal costume and mingle with 
other radio amateurs?

--

KD8AYJ:  "Anthrocon is a convention that features and bases 
itself on people who come from all over the world to wear 
their costumes for an (extended) 4 to 5 day weekend.  And, 
of coarse they do have fox-hunts there.  They have a mobile 
fox-hunt and a stationary fox-hunt where people wear their 
costumes doing -- which is pretty neat and is one of the 
things that drawed me to make my own animal costume in the 
first place."

--

A very fun story, no?  Yes?  And remember zat zee Hyena 
always has zee last laugh.

On zee road, I am Pierre Pullinmyleg, reporting for zee 
Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

If you want to see Miss Julie and her Hyena costume that 
she calls Jixser, just go to www.youtube.com and search for 
"What happens when you combine fursuits and amateur radio?"  

And if you want to hear more about how she got interested 
in costuming and Amateur Radio, tune into this weeks RAIN 
Report for part one of an in-depth two part interview with 
her.  Its on line now at www.therainreport.com and on the 
phone at 773-249-0720.

And oh yes.  Happy April 1st.   

Story links: 
KD8AYJ as Jixser - Part 1:  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CPMQTQs9RM
KD8AYJ as Jixser - Part 2: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Mv6IEZfpM
KD8AYJ becomes Jixser:    
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsDVkonlpkY

(Story by Pierre Pullinmyleg for ARNewsline)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

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