[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1563 - July 27, 2007
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Sun Jul 29 08:51:27 EDT 2007
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1563 - July 27, 2007
The following is a Q-S-T. The FCC says no to a petition seeking to
overturn antenna deed restrictions, the new ARRL Headquarters Diamond
Terrace is dedicated and a gift of ham radio love from a ham who truly
cared. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report
number 1563 coming your way right now.
**
REGULATORY: FCC TURNS DOWN HFA REQUEST TO PREEMPT CCR'S
The FCC has turned down a request filed by Don Schellhardt, KI4PMG,
representing a group calling itself Hams For action that sought FCC
preemption over deed restrictions some hams face ip putting up towers
and antennas. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has more:
--
In the petition Don Schellhardt and Hams For Action challenged the
depiction of all CC&Rs as voluntary. This is because some
jurisdictions require housing developments to adopt CC&Rs and other
areas have little or no housing available that is not subject to such
restrictive rules. They also cited the role played by hams in disaster
situations.
In it letter of denial, the FCC said that it still views deed
restrictions as a personal contract between a buyer and a seller. As
such they are not subject to Commission oversight.
The FCC also disputed the claim that antennas are needed at the homes
of radio amateurs to handle disaster relief operations. It said that
there has been no showing by Schellhardt and Hams For Action that the
communications provided by Amateur Radio operators during emergencies
such as earthquakes and hurricanes have been adversely affected by
residential CC&Rs. Rather, says the FCC, communications from areas
affected by disasters typically occur from transmitters that are not
subject to CC&Rs. These are usually mobile or hand-held radios, or
temporarily installations at buildings such as schools, shelters, or
government locations.
The bottom line: The FCC says that it does not believe that the
anticipation of disaster events is grounds for it to revisit a policy
that applies to an Amateur Radio operator's ability to install antennas
and antenna support structures where they reside. Nor will it preempt
private deed restrictions to make it so.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the
stidio in Los Angeles.
--
At this point Schellhardt and Hams For action have two choices. They
can continue to administrative appeals process or they can take the
matter into the federal courts. (FCC)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: ARRL DEDICATES THE DIAMOND TERRACE
Theres a new edition at ARRL Headquarters. Take a listen as it is
dedicated:
---
Actuality audio of ceremony.
--
That's the sound of ARRL President Joel; Harrisson, W5ZN, and Executive
Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, cutting the ribbon that marked the
opening of the new Diamond Terrace at the entrance of ARRL Headquarters
in Newington, Connecticut. The ceremony took place at the beginning of
the summer Board of Directors meeting.
While the Diamond Terrace may be a point of beauty at the League's
headquarters building, it also has deeper meaning. According to
President Harrisson, the Diamond Terrace is really a tribute to the
ARRL's staff, its leadership and to those who have financially
supported the ARRL's efforts to protect and defend the hobby at home
and world-wide.
--
W5ZN: " When you talk to the average ham out on the street, and you
ask him what's important to him in Amateur Radio, he will tell you, 'I
want to go into my shack, I want to turn on my radio and I want to get
on the air. I want to enjoy Amateur Radio. You take care of that for
me.
And obviously it takes a lot of work behind the scenes to make things
happen. With all that we have going on in Washington, nationally, with
all the attacks on Amateur Radio's resources, it takes people like you
in Newington, it takes people like we have on the Board of Directors
and most importantly, it takes people who donate to our development
program to make that all happen."
--
While there were a lot of people working behind the scenes to make the
Diamond Terrace a reality, likely nobody was more dedicated to the
project than Chief Development Officer Mary Hobart, K1MMH. And her
contribution was not forgotten by those attending the ceremony. In his
remarks, Dave Sumner gave kudos to her and her staff. Sumner said that
the idea of the Diamond Terrace originated in the ARRL Development
Office and they saw it through to fruition.
The Terrace will eventually host up to 5000 personalized, 4x8-inch
laser-engraved bricks. It recognizes donors wishing to venerate their
own call signs or to honor or memorialize the call sign of a family
member, club or mentor. There are also six benches of Vermont granite
placed around the Terrace and also engraved with names and calls. A
short video of the dedication ceremony has been posted to the YouTube
dot com website. Its in cyberspace at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hdPAhJGhYs (ARNewsline, ARRL)
**
INTRUDER WATCH: RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS TAKE TO 10 METES
As if truckers on this side of the Atlantic were not enough, now
reports have been received in the United Kingdom of religious
broadcasts in the 10 meter band.
The transmissions are thought to emanate from Ireland. That nation
recently started licensing wireless Public Address services to operate
in the 11 meter Citizens Band but German radio amateurs have monitored
signals at 28.105MHz.
The Irish Radio Transmitters Society is asking for any reception
reports, with beam headings and recordings if possible, to try and help
locate the transmitter or transmitters. Reports should be sent to
Thomas Caffrey, E-I-2-J-D, by e-mail to thoscaffrey at hotmail.com. Irish
telecommunications regulator ComReg says that it is prepared to act on
the matter if sufficient information is supplied to it. (GB2RS)
**
RESTRUCTURING: TEMPORARY 4 METER ALLOCATION GRANTED IN ITALY
Italy now has a temporary ham radio allocation in the European 4-meter
Amateur band. On July 12th the Italian Authorities released three 25-
kHz segments centered around 70.100, 70.200 and 70.300 MHz for use by
that nations radio amateurs for use through the end of the year.
According to I0JX posting to QRZ.com, the new allocation began with a
request by a few Italian hams to carry out an experimental propagation
study under the technical coordination of a university. This to see if
the band will offer opportunities of transatlantic contacts during the
summer sporadic-E season
The authorization expires on December 31st. I0JX says that the
prospects for a permanent 4 meter allocation in Italy appear to be
good. Meantime, Italian hams now join those in the United Kingdom and
several other European nations who will be beaming toward the United
States and Canada in search of cross-band contacts on 10 and 6 meters.
(I0JX. QRZ.com)
**
RESTRUCTURING: DENMARK LICENSES 40 MHZ HAM RADIO BEACON
Denmark's telecommunications regulator has approved a permit for a
beacon on 40.021 MHz.
Signing the call OZ7IGY, the beacon will be subject to several
conditions once it comes on the air. These include no interference to
any other spectrum users and a maximum output of 25 watts to a unity
gain omnidirectional antenna at no more than 10 meters above ground.
The permit is valid for a year. Results of the experiment are to be
reported to the regulatory agency.
Denmark's OZ7IGY currently operates beacons on 50.021 and 70.021 MHz
and a number of other frequencies. More information is on-line at
www.oz7igy.dk/
By the way, Denmark is the second country to announce the licensing of
an Amateur Radio beacon on 40 MHz. A couple of weeks ago the GB3RAL
beacon system near Oxford in the United Kingdom was authorized to
operate on the band as well. Its sponsors hope to have it on the air
this fall. (Southgate)
**
RESCUE RADIO: UK HAMS ACTIVE IN FLOODS
Breaking nerws from the U.K.. That's where hams belonging to RAYNET
are on alert as floods continue to ravage that nation. Jeramy Boot,
G4NJH, has more:
--
The main news of the week is the extensive flooding across many parts
of the country. We are aware of many RAYNET groups being put on standby
due to the flooding and continued flood warnings. As this is an ongoing
scenario we are unable to bring you news of the RAYNET groups who have
been involved but we will broadcast full details when known.
I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, and you are listening to the amateur Radio
Newsline
--
More in future Newsline reports. (GB2RS).
**
REGULATORY: FCC SAYS NO TO VANITY CALL RECONSIDERATION
Being a little late has cost a Minnesota ham the vanity call sign he
had hoped for. This, after the FCC acts on Friday, July 20th to deny
the petition of Quinten Erickson, N0RD, requesting a reconsideration
of his application for vanity call sign N7AZ. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Jeff Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, has the details:
--
The story goes this way. Both Quinten Erickson and Jon Goering had
filed for the N7AZ callsign. Erickson lives in Big Lake Minnesota and
used to hold the call N7GXA. Goering who formerly held the call NJ7I is
from of Apache Junction, Arizona.
According to the FCC, Goering's application for N7AZ was received by
the FCC on Sunday, January 14th, 2007. Because the application was
received on a weekend, the FCC deemed it to be filed on the next
business day. That turned out to be Tuesday, January 16th.
The FCC says that Goering and Erickson's applications for N7AZ were
included in a lottery to determine the processing order of applications
with a filing date of January 16th. Of the applications that requested
N7AZ, Goering's was the first selected. The FCC granted the vanity
call to Goering on February 13th and Erickson soon filed an appeal.
In his reconsideration request to the FCC, Erickson argued that the
agency should have dismissed Goering's application for N7AZ as being
premature. That Goering's application was still reflected in the
Commission's licensing records on Sunday, January 14, 2007.
But the FCC disagreed. It said that the fact that Commission's records
were not updated until after the weekend does not change the date on
which the call sign became available to the vanity call sign system.
Based on this, the FCC says that Goering's application therefore was
not premature because with the two year grace period the N7AZ call
expired on January 13, 2005 and was not available for re-assignment
until January 14, 2007. As the 14th was a weekend, the 17th of January
was the date the agency said that it did its first vanity call sign
business for the week.
As far as the FCC is concerned, the matter is now closed.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Fred Vobbe, W8HDU.
--
And a post script to this story. Quinten Erickson is not without a
vanity call of his own. He applied for call sign N0RD this past April
10th. He received it on April 28th. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC TO K6TXH - WE HAVE COMPLAINTS
The FCC has sent a letter to Steve L. Wingate, K6TXH, of Eureka,
California. In its note the regulatory agency tells Wingate tat it has
complaints alleging his lack of station control and deliberate
interference.
The Commission gave K6TXH 20 days from his receipt of his letter to
respond to the complaints in detail. And something new this time
around. Wingate was also ordered by the FCC to support his reply with
a signed and dated affidavit that, under penalty of perjury, verifies
the truth and accuracy of the information he submits in his response.
For those not aware, under Federal law, to knowingly and willfully make
any false statement or conceal any material fact in reply to a
government inquiry is punishable by fine or imprisonment. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: NO AUTOMATIC CONTROL FOR YOU
The FCC has suspended the automatic remote control privileges of up to
a dozen Tennessee repeaters. Its also told the ham whose call sign is
on the machines that he has no choice but to solve the user abuse
problems or keep the repeaters off the air. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, teels us about an FCC decision that could be
precedent setting:.
--
The story of the FCC involvement in the matter of repeaters operated by
John C. Kimbrough, WR3S, goes back to April 10th of this year. That's
when the regulatory agency wrote to notify him that a problem existed
and required his attention.
The FCC said that its Enforcement Bureau had monitoring information
indicating that on various dates in March that repeater stations
identifying as or by WR3S operated without proper control and re-
broadcast portions of commercial TV programming and music. The FCC
says that the monitoring also showed that operators on the system
failed to identify properly and used false call signs.
The letter went on to warn Kimbrough that the Commission requires that
repeaters be under the supervision of a control operator and not only
expects, but requires, control operators to be responsible for the
proper operation of the repeater system. Also, that control operators
must take whatever steps are appropriate to ensure compliance with the
rules. This might include limiting the repeater use to certain users,
converting the repeater to a closed system or taking it off the air
entirely.
In his response, Kinbrough indicated to the FCC that he oversees a
dozen repeaters on the 2 meter and 223 MHz bands. Also that he used at
least ten control operators.
But the FCC stated that the failure of all ten of control operators to
prevent or eliminate these violations is inexcusable, especially in
view of the wide scale linking of these repeaters. The FCC then told
WR3S that he will soon receive a directive from the Atlanta office of
the Commission removing the automatic control privileges of your
repeater systems. This means that you may not operate any repeater
stations under his callsign unless he is the control operator and at
the control point at all times. This, to make certain that Commission
rules are being followed and that no interference is occurring.
But here is the kicker. The FCC is forbidding Kimbrough from simply
delegating control authority to other area hams. In what may well be a
first of a kind order, the FCC has told WR3S that at those times when
he is unable to function as the control operator of the stations
identifying with his call sign, they may not transmit. In other words,
if he is not at the specific geographic point where the controls are to
physically located, that repeaters must stay QRT. The FCC says that
Kimbrough has no other choice.
For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.
--
The FCC order to WR3S does not end there. It tells Kinbrough that his
failure to control stations bearing his call sign, or any
communications over his repeaters not complying with Commission rules,
will result in enforcement action against his license. The FCC says
that this could take the form of a fine, the modification of his
license to remove all voice operating privileges or even the suspension
and revocation of Koimbrough's Amateur ticket. It also directed him to
contact the local frequency coordinator and clear up the records as to
which systems actually belong to him, and which are the property of
other hams and only utilize his call. (FCC)
**
REGULATORY: FCC TO ICOM - NO CHANGE AT 150 MHZ
It took three years, but FCC has denied a June 15, 2004, Petition for
Rule Making filed by Icom America. . One that asked the Commission to
begin a proceeding seeking comments on the re-designation and related
transfer of certain spectrum in the 150 MHz . This, band from the
Public Mobile Radio Service to the Public Safety Radio Service.
On Tuesday, July 24th, the FCC finally concluded that, based on the
record before it. Icom had not made a sufficient showing to support the
commencement of a rulemaking. Therefore it was denying the Icom
request. (FCC)
**
RESCUE RADIO: UK RAYNET ASSISTS TOUR DE FRANCE
RAYNET members provided valuable assistance during the recent Tour de
France bicycle race stages in southern England. Members of this U-K
based emergency communication service provided communications, safety
and marshalling services to supplement the professional emergency
services.
Kent RAYNET coordinated the effort. They were also assisted by
volunteers from outside the county. Although it was reported to have
been a long day for all concerned, it was also deemed to be a emergency
preparedness communications success. (GB2RS)
**
RESCUE RADIO: NO LA NINA DOES NOT MEAN FEWER TROPICAL STORMS
Back in the USA, the hurricane season is here and hams are preparing
for a worst case scenario. And they are not getting as much help from
Mother Nature as they might have hoped.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that a
cooling of Pacific Ocean waters that generally brings a more active
Atlantic hurricane season will be absent for the next two months. But
Dennis Feltgen, a meteorologist and spokesman for the National
Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration in Miami says that the
non-appearance of what forecasters call La Nina doesn't necessarily
mean a tame summer for tropical storms and the hurricanes some grow
into.
This year, forecasters have predicted an above-average hurricane
season, which runs June 1 through November. They believe there will be
13 to 17 named storms. Seven to ten of them will become hurricanes and
three to five of those will reach at least Category 3 velocity.
But meteorologist Feltgen says that there are so many other
ingredients that contribute to the development of tropical cyclones.
He adds that it's not just the fact that we don't have a La Nina that
comes into play here. For hams involved in severe weather spotting it
means to keep your go kit ready and your batteries fully charged.
(Science Online)
**
REGULATORY: SENATE WANTS FCC OBSENITY RULES ENFORCED
A Senate committee is working to restore the government's authority to
fine radio and T-V broadcasters for airing obscenities.
The committee has approved a bill to undo an appeals court ruling that
invalidated the FCC's new profanity procedure. That ruling overturned
the regulatory agency's resolve to punish any use of two common
profanities. This, even if they were used in fleeting reference.
Before the new rules went into place the FCC only punished use of the
words if they referred to sexual activity or bodily functions. Now
the agency says both words are inherently indecent.
The bill that the Senate committee approved would require the FCC to
have a policy in which a single word or image could be considered
indecent. Broadcasters and civil rights advocates have vowed to fight
the imposition of any regulations that they feel might stifle
creativity or impinge on their rights to freedom of speech. Meantime.
the FCC is still pondering what action to take on the appeals ruling.
(Published news reports)
**
RADIO FUN: THE TOP 5 HAM VIDEOS ON YOUTUBE.COM
Antenna Stirs Up Controversy has become the number one most viewed ham
radio video on YouTube dot com. Its actually a posting of a television
news report showing how the sight of ham radio antenna has angered
neighbors in exclusive neighborhood. As of this weeks newscast being
prepared, it has been viewed 45,780 times.
Coming in second this month is the music video "The Contrest" performed
by Andrew John Huddelston, OZ5E and the Ham Band. The 4 minute and 15
second presentation also features a video montage of the famed OZ1ADL
and OZ5E Contest Station with lots of famous guest operators. Its
sitting with 43,639 views.
Dropping to third place is the ARRL sponsored production of Amateur
Radio Today. Hosted by retired CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, this show
tells the story of ham radio in emergency situations that include the
911 terror attack on New York City and the 2003 Colorado wildfires.
Its currently at 33,361 screenings.
In number 4 position is the Tonight Show bit that pitted two ham radio
operators using Morse code versus a text messaging champion and his
assistant. As you might already know, the hams running Morse beat out
the text messaging by a mile. That video has been looked at 30,781
times.
Rounding out the top five the Ham Band is back with their music video
titled "Come And Join Us On The Airwaves." This show again features
lead singer Andrew John Huddelston, OZ5E, this time in a tuxedo and top
hat hanging off the top of a 120 foot high tower while singing the
praises of Amateur Radio. Its currently at 29,155 views.
Keep in mind that the ratings system on YouTube is very dynamic. This
means it changes all the time based on how many people stop by a given
video to watch. (ARNewsline)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: FREE WI FI TRAVELING IN CALIFORNIA
Travelers on California State Highway 99 now have access to free
wireless Internet service at two rest stops near Tipton and Turlock.
The state is offering free Wi-Fi Internet access at those San Joaquin
Valley rest stops under a one-year pilot program through a Web portal
called "Road Connect." Using the hot spots travelers can now go online
to visit sites with information on road conditions, tourism, weather
reports and parks and lots more. The two Wi Fi hot spot locations are
the first in the state. (CALTRANS)
**
WORLDBEAT - BULGARIA: CELEBRATING THE RADIO BULGARIA DX PROGRAM WITH
LZ50DX
Radio Bulgaria's DX Editor Dimiter Petrov, LZ1AF is using the Special
Event call sign LZ50DX until December 31 to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of his weekly DX Program.
He is active on all bands 160 through 10 meters on CW usually for a
while around 05 UTC and after 21.30 UTC on weekdays, as well as more on
weekends.
Special QSL cards depicting the people involved in the DX Program and
Radio Bulgaria's mighty antenna array will be sent via the LZ QSL
Bureau to confirm all contacts and SWL reports. You can also arrange a
contact with LZ50DX especially on SSB by e-mail to lz1af at yahoo.com.
Have in mind that he will be on leave vacationing in a tent on the
Black Sea coast August 3 through 18, thus, no activity on the air!
(Southgate)
**
WORLDBEAT - CANADA: NEW TOWER SITING RULES ANNOUNCED
Telecommunications regulator Industry Canada has released its long-
awaited new policy and procedures on towers and antenna siting. The
document was released on June 28th by Industry Canada without a final
review by tower proponents despite their requests.
Radio Amateurs of Canada says that is now analyzing the new tower
policy to see what impact it might have on ham radio operations. It
will describe its impact for the Canadian Amateur Radio service in an
upcoming issue of The Canadian Amateur magazine.
The new tower siting procedures will come into effect on January 1st
2008. Until then Canadian hams should follow the current guidelines
dated June 24, 1995. (RAC)
**
DX
In D-X, word that 2E1EUB, will be active portable from north-
east Scotland beginning July 27th for 7 days. Activity will be
mainly on the satellites and maybe some HF. QSL direct to 2E1EUB.
And WA1S, is expected to be active portable CU2 from the Azores between
July 27th and August 10th. Listen out for her on 80 through 10 meters
except for 30 meters. QSL WA1S direct.
Last but by no means least, keep an ear open for Look for special event
station GB100J. I'ts being activated by an international group of hams
operating from the 21st World Scout Jamboree at Hylands Park,
Chelmsford, in the United Kingdom. GB100J will be on the air between
July 27th and August 7th. Operations will take place on all bands and
all modes including PSK31. QSL as direct on the air.
(Above from various DX news sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: DECEASED HAMS GEAR GOES TO UNDERPRIVELEGED YOUNGSTERS
And finally this week, a truly nice story out of Saint Louis, Missouri.
That's where a radio amateur from a suburban community has made a
donation of ham gear that could open a new world to some of the city's
disadvantaged youth. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V,
tells us how the station of a Silent Key will now live on:
--
Carl Hohenberger, WB0BZP, was passionate about being a ham. This
despite physical disabilities that pretty much confined him to home.
His sister, Carol, recalls how he overcame his challenges to become one
of the St. Louis area's most recognized operators...
"My brother was a quadriplegic, he was almost 7 foot tall," Carol
recalls. "And, had he been normal, I think he would have been a
basketball player at least - hands very large to take the basketball.
He was always interested in sports, that was certainly a great hobby
for him, the interest in sports.
"But we were looking for something else to challenge his mind and to
open the world for him and I heard about CB radio. And, so I believe it
was in 1968 I bought him a little 69-dollar CB radio."
Wait a minute! CB Radio? That's what Carl's neighbor at the time said,
Ben Ward, W0BWD. He was scandalized by the purchase and Carol remembers
he decided, no, Carl would need something more - as in ham radio.
She said Ward Elmered Carl and he was successful in passing license
tests and setting up a pretty respectable station that she said he
operated for some 25 years.
Carol says amateur radio became a family affair.
"My dad was WB0RIP and I'm KA0HZS," Carol says. "I never was very
active but I did have some rigs. And my mother, who did not get her
license, however, was kind of a cook and bottle washer and made many a
desert for many a meeting that we would have and it became very
important to all of us."
Carol says her brother died in 1996 and it was difficult for her family
to part with his equipment. She says she thought about what to do with
it a few times over that period, but never really had an answer.
Enter, Dennis McCarthy, AA0A.
"She thought that it could best be used to help other young hams become
ham operators," McCarthy says. "And, Jim Berger, WA0FQK, and I go out
to Camp Wyman to give demonstrations of amateur radio but they had no
equipment. So I suggested to Carol that that would be a good place to
send it, and she said: 'Go for it.' "
Camp Wyman is a camp for urban youngsters who face a variety of
challenges in their lives. And, McCarthy says, it's a place that can
really use the gear.
"Carol donated a TS-440, a Butternut antenna, all the accessories, a
power supply and other equipment, including SWR bridges and even a
couple of scanners which in this tornado- and severe-storm prone area
might be of great value for the kids and people out at Camp Wyman,"
McCarthy says.
McCarthy says it's a fitting tribute to Carl.
"Carl brought a world into his house if he couldn't go out into the
world and of course, viz-a-viz, he brought his mom, his dad and his
sister into the world of Amateur Radio and a world outside the house."
Carol says her brother would be pleased to know his love of amateur
radio will live on.
"I know he would have wanted this to go to some young people," Carol
says. "And, over the years, I looked for a group that dealt with young
people to expose them to ham radio and communications."
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, in
Philadelphia.
--
Carl Hohenberger, WB0BZP, may be gone, but his station will surely
bring a lot of joy to youngsters who might otherwise never even what
ham radio is really all about. (ARNewsline)
**
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 Don
Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline is Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.
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