[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1548 - April 13, 2007
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Fri Apr 13 17:42:39 EDT 2007
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1548 - April 13, 2007
The following is a Q-S-T. A space adventurer is on the air from the
International Space Station and we have the audio. Also, President
Bush honors a California ham for his volunteerism and the FCC issues a
possible record fine is issued for selling illegal C-B gear. Find out
the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1548 coming your
way right now.
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SPACE TOURIST ON THE AIR
It cost him an estimated 20 million dollars to get there, but Space
tourist Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP, is on the air from the International
Space Station Amateur Radio Newsline producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF,
is in our Los Angeles newsroom with the audio of some of his first
contacts:
--
Simonyi: "November Alpha One Sierra Sierra. CQ, CQ, CQ."
--
As we go to air space tourist Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP, has only been on
the International Space Station for a few days. No matter because he
seems to have really taken to the idea of talking to people back on
mother Earth using Amateur Radio and does it like a pro. Take a
listen:
--
Simonyi: "Kilo Echo 7 please repeater your callsign.Kilo Echo 7 Mike
Henry George this is Charles. I hear you loud and clear. And a big 73
for you. Thanks for the contact. QRZ.
The Whiskey 6 stand-by. Whiskey 6 Mike Echo Uniform, my name is
Charles and I hear you loud and clear. 73 to you. "
--
One of the first stations contacted by KE7KDP was Scott Avery, WA6LIE,
in Salinas, California. Avery had his recorder running as KE7KDP sent a
message of thank you to the ham community which worked with him to get
him licensed in time for the flight:
--
Simonyi: "Well I just want to congratulate the (ham radio) community
for the great job that they are doing in performing their charter. As
we learned about it (in training) and to thank everybody who helped me
to get into the community and helping me along. It is not easy for me
and I do the best that I can. So, thanks a lot guys, and I hope I can
talk to as many people as possible. Over."
--
We also got the chance to ask Avery what it was like to talk to Charles
Simonyi and relay his message to the ham radio world:
--
Avery: "Being one of the first to talk to Charles on the International
Space Station was definitely an honor and a surprise. I feel very
lucky to have had this opportunity and I hope that others enjoy their
contacts as much as I did. Its pretty awesome and a once in a lifetime
experience."
--
After they chatted for about a minute, KE7KDP said 73 to Avery and went
on to work station after station, almost as if he was on a DX-pedition.
In some ways he was and Avery kept tape rolling until the I-S-S faded
from view:
--
Audio of KE7KDP making rapid-fire contacts. Hear it in the MP3 version
of this newscast downloadable from www.arnewsline.org
--
KE7KDP has since gone on to make numerous of random QSO's using the
call sign NA1SS. Most U-S hams report that they heard him on 145.8 MHz
and made contact by calling him split frequency on the 144.490 I-S-S
uplink channel. The frequencies used in other parts of the world
vary. Most of the information you need and a blog by those who have
made contact with Simonyi can be found on-line at www.issfanclub.com
Charles Simonyi will be on board the I-S-S until April 20th. That's
when he returns to Earth with Expedition 14 crew members of Michael
Lopez-Alegria, KE5GTK, and Mikhail Tyurin, RZ3FT, both of whom who have
been in space since last September. So until then, keep an ear open
for Charles Simonyi, KE7KDP, operating mainly as NA1SS from space.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. I'm at the
studio in Los Angeles.
Jim
--
You can follow KE7KDP's space and ham radio adventure on-line at
www.charlesinspace.com (ARNewsline with audio supplied by WA6LIE)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: PRESIDENT'S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD PRESENTED TO
VICTORVILLE CA HAM
President Bush has recognized a Victorville, California ham with a
volunteer award. Randy Hatfield, AG6RH, has been presented the
President's Volunteer Service Award in recognition of his helping 350
others obtain their amateur radio licenses. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, has more:
--
The award presentation to Randy Hatfield, AG6RH by President Bush took
place on Wednesday, April 4th. This, during a stopover of Air Force One
at the Southern California Logistics Airport.
According to a White House press release, in addition to his work in
training new radio amateurs, Hatfield was also honored for more than
500 hours he has volunteered to the city of Victorville's Emergency
Communications Service.
Randy Hatfield is with the City of Victorville Community Emergency
Response Team and the local Emergency Communication Service. He began
volunteering with the Victorville team about 18 months. His group
trains volunteers in basic response skills such as fire safety, light
search and rescue, disaster preparedness and emergency communications.
In accepting the award Hatfield noted that he became involved in
Amateur Radio and the Community Emergency Response Team because he
knows the day will come where volunteers will be needed to support the
infrastructure of every city that might be affected. AG6RH says -- and
we quote: "If you don't have communications, you can't recover."
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR.
--
Hatfield was nominated for the award by his co-workers. Since March
2002, President Bush has met with almost 600 individuals around the
country to present similar accolades. (CGC, San Bernardino News,
others)
**
RESCUE RADIO: HT SAVES PAIR STRANDED ON N.M. MOUNTAIN
An interesting story with a ham radio twist out of New Mexico. That's
where two men from the Gulf Coast found themselves stuck overnight on
March 15th in the mountains just East of Albuquerque.
According to news reports, 19 year old Nathan Gerber and his companion
Hunter Welch, 21 of Corpus Christi, Texas were visiting the area, The
two were attempting to descend from Sandia Crest but found themselves
stuck on a sheer rock face, unable to proceed down and confronted with
loose rock that stopped them from retracing their steps back up.
The two were not properly dressed for the overnight temperatures that
occur at 10,000-plus feet in mid March. The only thing that they had
going for them was a two-way radio. And according to the news report
it was that radio that likely saved their life.
It seems a local radio amateur heard their pleas for assistance. He in
turn alerted the state police which dispatched a rescue crew.
The two men were plucked from the mountain face at about 4 a.m. on the
16th . Officials say they were exhausted but otherwise okay.
No information was provided in the K-Oh-B news story as to who the ham
was that picked up the rescue call was or what type of radio Gerber and
Welch were carrying. Neither of their name appear in the FCC database
as being licensed radio amateurs. (KOB TV News, others)
**
RADIO LAW: HFA FILES PETITION FOR RECONSIDERATION ON ANTENNA RIGHTS
A small group of antenna rights activists has petitioned the FCC to
reconsider the agency's denial of their request to override deed
restrictions that preclude Amateur Radio antennas.
Hams for Action filed its initial request back on July 31st of 2006. In
it, the group urged the FCC to establish reasonable regulation of
outdoor ham antennas by Homeowners' Associations and other private land
use regulators. This, in place of the total antenna bans which
currently prevail in many neighborhoods across the United States.
Currently the FCC has PRB-1 which precludes states, cities and other
local governments from banning ham radio antenna installations. It has
no such rule governing land use agreements which the agency considers
to be a private matter between buyers and sellers.
The Hams for Action request was turned down by the FCC this past
February 28th. The group has now filed its Petition For Reconsideration
which is in effect, an appeal for the 5 FCC Commissioners to review and
reverse the decision of the Commission's staff.
More is on-line at the Hams for Action website. Its in cyberspace at
www.hamsforaction.net (Press release)
**
ENFORCEMENT: OHIO FIRM FINED $150,000 FOR ALLEGEDLY MARKETING ILLEGAL
11 METER GRER
Possibly one of the largest fines ever for selling non certified C-B
sets under the guise of it being ham radio gear has been issued to
Ramko Distributors Inc. of Toledo, Ohio. It's a massive $150,000
Notice of Apparent Liability for alleged marketing of 17 models of non-
certified radio transceivers that the FCC say are all capable of easily
being converted to the 11 meter band. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce
Tennant, K6PZW, has the details
--
Back on November 26, 2001, the FCC Enforcement Bureau's Dallas, Texas
Field Office issued a Citation to Ramko Distributors for allegedly
marketing 41 models of non-certified "10-meter" CB radio transceivers.
The Dallas Office noted that the Commission had evaluated devices
similar to those in the past and had concluded that the devices
marketed by Ramko were not only Amateur Radio transceiver but could
easily be altered for use as C-B devices. The Dallas Office further
noted that the Commission has concluded that such devices fall within
the definition of a C-B transmitter and therefore cannot legally be
imported or marketed in the United States.
The Citation warned Ramko of the possible consequences of continued
marketing of these devices in violation of the rules, including
monetary forfeitures and criminal sanctions.
On November 30, 2001, Ramko submitted a follow-up letter to the
Citation. The company not only disputed all of the legal and factual
contentions in the document. It also demanded that the FCC withdraw
the citation within 30 days.
The FCC did not withdraw. In fact it did a number of follow-ups. By
letter dated January 28, 2002, the Dallas Office again explained that
the subject devices were CB transmitters and warned Ramko to stop
marketing the equipment immediately. But in its response Ramko again
disputed the Citation's conclusions and again asked the Dallas Office
to withdraw the Citation. In April 2002, Ramko filed a third letter
which asserted that in the absence of a response to its February
letter, it assumed that the Dallas Office agreed with its position and
would withdraw the Citation.
Surprise. Not only did the FCC not withdraw the citation, it continued
to let the matter hang fire until July 2005 when it acquired a Ramko
flyer which advertised substantially the same equipment that was the
subject of the 2001 Citation. Because it appeared to the FCC that
Ramko may have continued to market CB transmitting devices as Amateur
Radio equipment after receiving the 2001 Citation, on April 17, 2006,
the Division issued a First Letter of Inquiry to Ramko concerning these
units.
On May 22, 2006, Ramko filed a late response to the Letter of Inquiry.
In it, Ramko stated that it neither manufactured nor imported the
subject devices. But it also failed to provide responses to questions
concerning the length of time it marketed each device, the total number
of units sold, and the identity of its retailers and distributors.
Instead, the company argued that it only has a two-year document
retention policy and that most documents dated before 2004 have
probably already been destroyed. Also, that it was unable to conduct a
computerized search for the number of units sold before April 1, 2006,
when new computer software was installed and that matching customers to
products before then would be limited to the existing paper invoices.
It also claimed that it is unable match customers with products under
the current computer system. Ramko did concede that it sent out
catalogs or price lists which were "substantially similar" to the
contents of its web page. Further, Ramko admitted that none of the
subject devices received Commission authorization prior to marketing.
On July 20, 2006, the Division issued a Second Letter of Inquiry to
Ramko. It once again requested that Ramko provide information
concerning certain devices that it was marketing as amateur radio
equipment. In view of Ramko's statement that it had a two-year
document retention policy, the Division directed Ramko to provide the
requested information for the most recent two-year period.
On August 23, 2006, Ramko filed a response. In its response, Ramko
provided data on the total number of units sold for certain of the
subject devices for the five-month period from April 1, 2006, to August
17, 2006. In answer to a question as to whether the subject devices
were capable of operating, or of being modified to operate, on any
frequencies beyond the Amateur Radio Service, Ramko stated that "every
Amateur radio is capable of being modified to work out of band." Ramko
also said that information on how to modify almost every brand of
Amateur radio to work out of band is freely available on the Internet."
Subsequently, in September 2006, the FCC observed that Ramko was still
advertising several models of 10-meter radios in a flyer on its
website. Of these 17 models, 16 models were specifically identified by
the FCC in the 2001 Citation as devices that could easily be altered
for use as CB devices and therefore could not be lawfully marketed in
the United States.
And says the FCC, under Section 503(b)(1)(B) of the Communications Act,
any person who is determined by the Commission to have willfully or
repeatedly failed to comply with any provision of the Communications
Act or any rule, regulation, or order issued by the FCC shall be liable
to the United States for a forfeiture penalty. In this case the FCC
has set the amount of Ramko's fine at $150,000.
In simpler terms, this is one of the biggest fines ever issued for what
amounts to selling illegal C-B radios under the guise of it being ham
radio gear. It also may be a sign of things to come to others who sell
the same type of easy to convert to 11 meter pseudo ham radio gear.
For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.
--
In case you are wondering, the radio gear in question carry brand names
like Conex, Magnum, General models Jackson and Lee and Galaxy. Ramko
was given the usual amount of time to pay the fine or to file an
appeal. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENSED BROADCASTER ORDERED TO PAY $10000
Another unlicensed broadcaster has been dinged for $10,000 by the FCC.
This time the recipient of the order to pay is Junior Lahens Charles of
Tampa, Florida.
The FCC says that Charles failed to respond to a Notice of Monetary
Forfeiture issued to him on February 2nd for operation of an unlicensed
radio transmitter. As a result of his ignoring the FCC and based on
the information the FCC has before it, the agency has ordered Charles
to pay the full within 30 days of the orders April 2nd release. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC ACCEPTS HAM LICENSE TICKET FOR CANCELLATION
The FCC has accepted for cancellation the Technician ticket of a
licensee. One who has been the target of inquiries and warnings from
the Commission's Enforcement Bureau dating back to 2005. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY, has the rest of the story:
--
The ARRL Letter says that the FCC's Special Counsel Riley Hollingsworth
wrote Brandon Duke, KC0UWS, on March 6th. This, to confirm receipt of
Duke's Amateur Radio license for cancellation.
Past FCC communications to Duke have cited information before the
commission as well as Duke's own admission to indicate he had been
operating on 10 and 20 meter frequencies not available to him as a
Technician class licensee. Also in the past Hollingsworth had taken
Duke to task for allegedly ignoring requests to stop using certain
repeaters in his area.
Back in 2006, an apologetic Duke had pledged in a letter to
Hollingsworth to change his on-the-air behavior, noting that he'd
destroyed an audio CD containing apparently objectionable material he'd
been accused of airing. He also said he'd refrain from jamming,
interfering and even using any repeaters.
In January of this year Hollingswotrth sent Duke a "last warning." It
was mailed to Duke at a Colorado address, but came back as
undeliverable. At the time of the license cancellation letter Duke had
a Minnesota address on file with the FCC
For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Paul Vinoski, KR8ZZY
--
Duke applied for W0BMD last fall. In his letter, Hollingswoth noted
that his office had forwarded Duke's license to the Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau for cancellation and for dismissal of his
application for a vanity call sign. (ARRL, FCC)
**
THE BPL FIGHT: VK HAMS RELEASE SECOND BPL INTERFERENCE VIDEO
Hams down-under have released a second BPL video on DVD and streaming.
One that depicts the interference potential of Broadband Over Powerline
Internet access.
The show is a 4 minute virtual tour of the North Hobart B-P-L trial
area. This is an installation that has been the scene of complaints
back to telecommunications regulator ACMA. The video contains
commentary about the trial, technology, issues and background
information on BPL. The interference that can be seen on the S-Meter
and heard in the soundtrack remains for most of the video at S9 and
above.
This video is similar to the Mt. Nelson tour but has one disturbing
difference. Its on-line at http://reast.asn.au/vk7bplwatch.php#bpltours
(WIA)
**
RADIO RECOGNITION: HAM RADIO WEEK DECLARED IN CONNECTCUT
And Connecticut Governor Jodi Rell has declared June 17th to the 23rd as
Amateur Radio Week in that state. In the proclamation Governor Rell
noted that the state recognizes and appreciates the diligence of radio
amateurs who serve in SKYWARN as weather spotters and the efforts of
the many radio amateurs who volunteer their time in crisis situations.
The governor also made note that Connecticut is the home of the
American Radio Relay League which represents the interests of radio
amateurs and also acts to interest young people in the sciences by
performing as an educational gateway. (ARRL)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: MENDELSOHN TO SPEAK AT QCWA BANQUET
Former ARRL 1st Vice President Steve Mendelsohn, W2ML, has been tapped
as this years speaker at the Quarter Century Wireless Association's
Hamvention Banquet. Mendelsohn, who is with the ABC Television Network
will talk about the 2003 Superbowl's High Definition TV coverage and
the technology that went into making it happen.
The QCWA Hamvention Banquet will be held at Alex's Continental
Restaurant in the Dayton suburb of Miamisburg Ohio on Friday, May 18th
at 7:30 PM. Advanced reservation required. Send request to Jerry
Ragland, WA8BOB, 409 Park Av. Franklin Ohio, 45005. (QCWA)
**
RADIO BUSINESS: TTI, INC. AND MOUSER ELECTRONICS BOUGHT BY BERKSHIRE
HATHAWAY
One of the worlds richest men now owns a company that services the
needs of hams who still like to homebrew their own gear. This with
word that the Berkshire Hathaway Company headed up by billionaire
Warren Buffett has acquired T-T-I Incorporated and its new affiliate
Mouser Electronics.
As most listeners are aware, Mouser Electronics, is a component
distributor which advertises in most ham radio magazines and is noted
as a parts source in most electronic construction articles. The
company ships globally to over 280,000 customers in 170 countries from
its 432,000 square foot state-of-the art facility in Mansfield, Texas.
Its new parent company, Berkshire Hathaway is located in Omaha,
Nebraska. Its core business is insurance, including property and
casualty insurance, reinsurance and specialty nonstandard insurance.
According to Wikipedia dot com, Berkshire Hathaway averaged a
phenomenal 25%+ annual return to its shareholders for the last 25 years
while employing large amounts of capital and minimal debt.
Both TTI and Mouser's management will remain in place. This ownership
change should be invisible to customers and suppliers.
For more information about Mouser Electronics, please visit
www.mouser.com. (VHF Reflector and other published reports)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: ZERO DAY ATTACK ON W.Va. TV STATION
A vulnerability in Microsoft Windows operating system apparently
allowed a computer virus to penetrate the computer systems at WSAZ
television in Charleston, West Virginia, almost taking the stations
news off the air.
It was discovered early Saturday, March 31st just before the 6 a.m.
newscast was to go on the air . Information technology personnel at
WSAZ believe it was a "zero day attack" that affected some of the
station's critical systems including those dealing with the station's
graphics, closed captioning, and many other applications that help
bring a newscast to air.
The vulnerability was announced on Wednesday, March 28. According to
Microsoft, a "hole" in certain versions of Microsoft Windows could
allow an attacker to remotely run programs on some computers if the
user accesses certain websites that contain malicious code.
A Zero-day attack is described as a targeted time threat that exposes
computer application vulnerabilities. Zero-day attacks are considered
extremely dangerous because they take advantage of computer security
holes for which no solution is currently available.
At airtime, Microsoft has not released a patch to fix this latest
vulnerability found in its Windows software. (Science On-Line)
**
WORLDBEAT - CUBA: CONGRESS TO SCRUTINIZE RADIO MARTI
In news from around the world, the Miami Herald reports that a
congressional committee now led by Representative William Delahunt of
Massachusetts plans oversight hearings into Radio and TV Mart¡. This,
amid allegations of mismanagement of taxpayer money.
The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the House
International Relations Committee will hold the hearings according to
the news account. Radio and Television Marti are United States
propaganda stations that beam news and other information to communist
dominated Cuba. (Published reports)
**
WORLDBEAT - ISRAEL: GLOBAL QSL UNVEILED
A pair of Israeli hams have teamed up to create what they call a unique
approach to Q-S-L'ing with real cards over the Internet. Called Global
QSL, it was developed by Azar Hami, 4X6MI and Paul Gross to permit hams
with web access a way to design and send out QSL's to other hams and
SWL's.
It works like this. First you register with Global QSL. That costs
you nothing. Then you download their graphic editing tool to design
their own QSL cards and upload their finished work to Global QSL's
server.
Once the QSL design is in place, users can then upload the QSO
information using either the standard ADIF format found in most
electronic log programs or, by manually uploading the QSO information.
QSL cards are then printed sorted and forwarded to the respective QSL
bureaus around the world.
More information on Global QSL, how it works and the cost of printing
and mail-out is on-line at www.qlobalqsl.com (Global QSL)
**
DX
In D-X, word that DL6UAA, will be active as 3B8MM from Mauritius for
the next few weeks. He will operate mostly CW, but will also give SSTV
a try. More information including how to QSL is on-line at
www.dl6uaa.de/indexa.html
And DL9MWG will be active from Malta as 9H3RT. This, from April 18th
through May 11th. Activity will be on HF, mainly CW. QSL this one as
directed on the air.
Lastly, PA5CW will be active portable YB9 from Bali from April 25th to
the 10th May. QSL direct via his callbook address.
(Various DX sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: WOK TV
And finally this week, another of those stories where necessity is the
mother of invention. This one happened down-under in Australia where a
new T-V station wanted to get on the air but did bot have the cash on
hand for a studio to transmitter link antenna. So instead an engineer
turned to a Chinese cooking utensil for a solution. WIA News Anchor
Graham Kemp, VK4BB, has the rest of the recipe:
--
Ken Jones asked himself "Why pay $20,000 for a commercial link to run
your television station when a $10 kitchen wok from the Warehouse is
just as effective?"
This is exactly how North Otago's newest television station "45
South"is transmitting its signal from its studio to the top of Cape
Wanbrow, in a bid to keep costs down.
45 South volunteer Ken Jones designed the wok transmitter in his spare
time last year. Along with friend Murray Bobbette they worked out
mathematical equations to prove the curved metal face of a wok would
have the same effect as a small satellite dish.
"We have spent a lot of time getting it right -- the first time we
installed one we had it up a pole with the handle still on the end of
the wok," he said.
"$20,000 for a commercial link was just money we didn't have, so we
bought several woks from The Warehouse instead which was convenient and
cheap."
--
And this story makes us wonder if the station might decide to hold a
celebration cook out using the rest of the unused woks. We hope they
invite us if they do. (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'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.
Two reminders before we go. First about our on-line poll regarding
your position on the concept of Regulation by Bandwidth. To take part,
take your web browser to www.arnewsline.org. 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. As soon as you cast your vote you
will see the current results.
Also, the nominating season for this years Amateur Radio Newsline Young
Ham of the Year Award is now open. Any radio amateur age 18 or younger
residing in all 50 United States, plus Puerto Rico and all 13 Canadian
Provinces can qualify. Full details and nominating forms are on our
special website at www,yhoty.org. Also see the Vertex-Standard
sponsored ad on page 8 of the March issue of QST Magazine.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF reporting from Auckland, New Zealand, saying 73 and we
thank you for listening. Amateur Radio Newsline is Copyright 2007.
All rights reserved.
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