[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1570 - September 14, 2007

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Mon Sep 17 06:32:40 EDT 2007



Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1570 -  September 14, 2007

The following is a Q-S-T.  Amateur Radio in South Africa take a hard 
line stand against BPL, the killers of a ham radio operator are 
sentenced in Gambia, Region 2 if the IARU meets in Brazil and ham radio 
remembers September 11th, 2001.  A look back at 911 six years on Amateur 
Radio Newsline report number 1570 coming your way right now.
 
**

THE BPL FIGHT:  SOUTH AFRICAN HAMS TAKE A HARD LINE

Interference from Broadband Over Powerline is in the spotlight once 
again.  This as the South African Radio League issues an update on 
progress made at minimizing the radio frequency pollution caused by 
powerline Internet access.  And, as we hear from W-I-A Newsman Graham 
Kemp, VK4BB,  the SARL is taking a hard line stand in its part of the 
world:

--

Well, the fight isn't over.  Our friends at the SARL in South Africa 
tell us draft PLT or BPL regulations are under the spotlight in South 
Africa.
 
Their regulatory body, ICASA has been hard at work and has asked the 
EMC workgroup of the STANSA TC73 and TC80 committees to come up with 
draft regulations for type approval of PLT (BPL) equipment as an 
interim measure. 

These interim standards will eventually be replaced by internationally 
accepted standards. There is however much debate amongst members of the 
International Special Committee on Radio Interference (CISPR) about 
international standards with an agreement seemingly some time off. 

The SARL even tell us that this CISPR will meet here in Australia.  The 
Work group has held meetings over the past two weeks and hopes to 
complete a draft to be tabled at the TC80 meeting later this month.  
Once agreed at TC80, the draft will be forwarded to ICASA for further 
consideration and once agreed by the ICASA Council, the draft 
regulations will be published in the government gazette for comment. 

The SARL is represented at the Workgroup and has made its input.  There 
is much ongoing debate and unhappiness about the SARL's demands that 
all Amateur Radio HF frequencies be notched at the time of 
installation.  In particular the vendors of PLT equipment would only 
like to notch when an interference complaint is received.  The SARL's 
view is that Radio Amateurs are licensed to operate on HF and that 
their rights should be protected.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News 
in Australia.

--

Graham Kemp adds that BPL is everyone bad boy problem, world-wide.  
(WIA News)

**

RADIO JUSTICE:  TWO MEN GET LIFE FOR MURDERING RADIO AMATEUR

Its taken several years but justice has finally been served.  This as a 
criminal court judge in Gambia sentences two men to life imprisonment 
for the murder of radio amateur Ron Ford, G3NKO. 

Ford was killed in by two Gambian nationals in September 2002 while on 
vacation in the region. In passing sentence on Dawda Bojang and Kawsu 
Jarju, judge Buba Jawo said the evidence before the court had clearly 
shown that the prosecution has proven its case. 

The two were tried in Kanifing Magistrates' court where the life 
sentences were imposed.  (Southgate)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO AT THE ZACA FIRE WINDS DOWN

Back in the United States, Amateur Radio operations allied to the giant 
California Zaca Wildfire have wound down as flames are brought under 
control.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports:

--

We have already told you that Amateur Radio operators from throughout 
California's Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties assisted during the 
recent Zaca wildfire.  The blaze, which started July 4th burned over 
240,000 acres before it was contained on September 2nd.  This makes it 
the second largest wildfire in California state history.  

With the response now winding down, the statistics are coming in and 
some of it is amazing -- especially for ham radio.  For example, 
members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteered over 850 
combined man hours during the course of the firefight.  Hams worked at 
the Forest Service base camp, staffed road blocks, answered phones at 
the Forest Service information call center, drove fire patrols, and set 
up communications at a Red Cross shelter until phones could be 
installed. Radio amateurs also served as observers and communicators in 
aircraft flown by the Sheriff's Aero Squadron.  Some of these positions 
were staffed around the clock for many days at a time.   

But that's not all.  On September 3rd hams spotted a new fire just 
outside the burned area.  They reported it to fire crews who quickly 
sent in air tankers to put it out.

A total of 45 A-R-E-S operators responded from Santa Maria, Lompoc, 
Santa Ynez Valley, and Santa Barbara, and mutual aid resources from 
Ventura.  The Amateur Radio Emergency Service coordinated its response 
through the county Emergency Operations Center, from where their 
station kept in constant contact with field units and relayed 
information from the field to officials in the Emergency Operations 
Center.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the 
studio in Los Angeles

-- 

One post script to this story.  On August 11th, when A-R-E-S members 
arrived at the Emergency Operations Center, they found the following 
message left on their incident log: 

"Thanks, ARES. You are the best!"

It was signed by  Bruce Carter, OES.  Carter is the Santa Barbara 
County Office of Emergency Services Manager.  (N6ZKJ, ARNewsline)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  RESPONDER ID CARD PROGRAM BEING TESTED

The federal government is launching an ambitious I-D program for rescue 
workers.  This, in an effort by the Federal Emergency Management Agency 
says is to to keep everyday people from swarming to a disaster scene. 

FEMA came up with the idea after the World Trade Center attack and 
Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  That's when countless Americans rushed to 
help.  Some were unasked, undirected, and says the agency, sometimes 
unwanted

A prototype of the new first responder identification card is already 
being issued to fire and police personnel in the Washington, D.C., 
area.  Proponents say the system will get professionals on scene 
quicker and keep untrained volunteers from making tough work more 
difficult. Supporters say the ID cards could be checked at a disaster 
area with a card-reader and used to verify a person's skills. But they 
also know it is a touchy subject, particularly for those devoted to 
helping in moments of crisis.

But many of those volunteers from both disasters angrily dispute the 
notion they were a burden.  They insist that in numerous  instances 
they were able to deliver respirators, hard hats, and protective boots 
to workers when no one else seemed able.

After 911, ground zero volunteer Rhonda Shearer launched a fast-moving 
supply system that bypassed regular channels, and often infuriating 
city officials.  She says that even as she delivered trucks packed with 
supplies over months of recovery work, she increasingly ended up in a 
cat-and-mouse game with New York City's police and Emergency Management 
Agency.  Shearer says that the experience has convinced her that 
agencies are ill-equipped to handle major disasters, but don't want 
outsiders pointing out their failings.  (Published news reports)

**

LONG AWAITED DX:  ST. BRANDONS - 3B7C IS ON THE AIR

The long awaited St. Brandon's D-Xpedition is on the air.  Word is that 
3B7C took to the air at about 20:05 hours U-T0C on September 7th. N3GV 
who is the Pilot for the operation reported ober the expeditions 
website that he worked them on 40 meter CW within 2 minutes of their 
planned startup time and then heard them on 20 meters. Since then the 
operation has been creating massive pile-up wherever they call C-Q.  
For the latest news and to view the on-line logs, take your web browser 
to www.3B7C.com  (3B7C.com)

**

RADIO POLITICS:  IARU REGION 2 MEETS IN BRAZIL

Turning to ham radio political news, word that the opening Plenary of 
the 16th General Assembly of International Amateur Radio Union for 
Region 2 was held on Monday morning, September 10th in Brazil.   As the 
gathering got underway, Region 2 President Rod Stafford, W6ROD noted 
the success that Region 2 has enjoyed in relations with CITEL and the 
Caribbean Telecommunications Union.  He also noted the challenges that 
must be faced.  This, by urging member societies to do more to promote 
Amateur Radio in their countries and by finding ways to more 
effectively represent the radio amateurs of countries where the IARU 
member-society is not sufficiently active on their behalf.

ANATEL President Ambassador Ronaldo Sardenberg then spoke as the 
representative of Brazil's Minister of Communications.  He said that he 
was pleased to report that Amateur Radio is growing in his nation, with 
36,000 active operators.  Also, that an Amateur Radio school is being 
launched in conjunction with Parana University as an initiative that it 
is hoped will be reproduced throughout the country.  He was also 
pleased  that the Brazilian telecommunications administration supports 
the Amateur service in its desire for a low-frequency allocation.

Ambassador Sardenberg also provided some detail of an investigation of 
radio interference from power line communications systems.  He said 
that initial tests showed a great potential for interference, but more 
recent tests show some improvement and he expressed optimism that a way 
will be found to allow BPL to be deployed without endangering radio 
services.

The final speaker during the opening Plenary was International Amateur 
Radio Union Vice President Tim Ellam, VE6SH.  Ellam said that the IARU 
has a number of objectives for the upcoming 2007 World 
Radiocommunication Conference. He also noted that he is chairing a 
committee that is developing a proposal for a substantive restructuring 
of the IARU so that it will be better able to meet future challenges.

As we go to air, the conference is winding down.  The last orders of 
business will include the election of the Region 2 Executive Committee.  
Delegates from IARU member-societies throughout North and South America 
are attended the meeting.  (RAC, Southgate, ARNewsline)

**

REGULATORY:  FCC TO LOWER VANITY CALL SIGN FEES SEPTEMBER 17 

Here in the United States, the FCC will reduce the regulatory fee to 
obtain or renew an Amateur Radio vanity call sign by more than 40 
percent starting September 17th.  In a Report & Order released August 
6th, the Commission says that it will cut the fee from its current 
$20.80 to $11.70. This marks the lowest fee in the history of the 
current vanity call sign program. 

According to the ARRL Letter, the FCC is authorized by the 
Communications Act of 1934 to collect vanity call sign fees to recover 
the costs associated with that program.  This fee has fluctuated over 
the past 11 years from a low of $12 to a high of $50. 

But in the Report and Order on the Assessment and Collection of 
Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2007, the  FCC says it anticipates some 
14,700 Amateur Radio vanity call sign applications during the next 
fiscal year.  This means that it expects to collect $171,990 in fees 
from the program.  (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  PA FIRM TOLD TO GET TRUCKERS OFF 10 METERS

A Smithfield, Pennsylvania based Smith Trucking, Inc, has been cited by 
the FCC.  This, for operating radio equipment on the frequency 28. 535 
MHz without a license and causing interference to licensed stations in 
the 10 Meter Amateur Band. 

According to the FCC, drivers in Smith Trucking vehicles were seen 
operating radio gear in April and May 2007 at everal locations in West 
Virginia. The FCC directed Smith Trucking to advise it drivers that 
operation of radio transmitting equipment without a license is a 
violation of the Communications and could subject them to a fine or 
imprisonment, as well as in seizure of any non certified radio 
transmitting equipment.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  LETTER ASKS WI. HAM TO RESPOND

A Wisconsin ham who never replied to a letter from the FCC has been 
sent another.  Mark F. Hubeny, N9ZHW, of Kaukauna, was sent 
notification from the regulatory agency asking why he never responded 
to its Warning Notice sent him on June 1st.  In that note the FCC had 
asked Hubeny to explain his alleged operation of his amateur station on 
non-amateur frequencies.  The FCC said it would afford N9ZHW an 
additional 20 days from the date of its latest letter to respond.  At 
airtime, its unknown if he has or has not.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  UNCOORDINATED VS. COORDINATED RPT IN ARIZONA

The owner of an uncoordinated Arizona repeater has been sent a notice 
by the FCC .  One stating that his system is interfering with a 
coordinated machine and that he needs to act to mitigate the problem.

James Ogden, N7KPU, of  Prescott Valley has been told by the FCC that 
it has supporting documentation alleging that the repeater bearing his 
call sign on 447.350 and 442.350 MHz is causing harmful interference to 
a coordinated system on the same channel pair.  

According to the FCC, the complaining party indicates that Ogden was 
contacted numerous times about this problem but he has declined to 
address it.  Ogden was given a list of questions that he must respond 
to.  He was also told that any information he provides will be used to 
determine what, if any, action the FCC might take in this matter.  
(FCC)

**

RESCUE RADIO PRODUCT ALERT:  WEATHER RADIO RECALL

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Oregon 
Scientific Inc., has announced a voluntary recall of approximately 
66,000 weather radio receivers distributed by Oregon Scientific.  This, 
after it was  been determined that these radios could fail to receive 
National Weather Service alert signals in certain areas of the country. 

Only four models are affected.  They were sold at retail stores 
nationwide, including some electronics and sporting goods stores, 
online retailers and in catalogs from December 2005 through June 2007 
for between $30 and $150.  The CPSC says that in the event of severe 
weather, this failure could put a consumer's life and property at risk.  

For additional information on which models are covered in the recall, 
contact Oregon Scientific at (800) 203-4921 Monday through Friday 
between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific Coast Time .  Or you can visit the 
firm's website at www2.oregonscientific.com.  

More the Consumer Product Safety Commission position on these radios is 
on-line  http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07292.html   (CGC)

**

LEGAL FILE:  AMERICAN RED CROS SUED OVER USE OF ITS OWN SYMBOL

More bad publicity for the American Red Cross.  The relief agency 
that's already under fire from ham radio over lifestyle checks of its 
volunteers is now facing legal action over its emblem.  Burt Hicks, 
WB6MQV, has the rest of the story:

--

Pharmaceutical Johnson & Johnson, the giant that uses a red cross as 
its trademark has sued the American  Red Cross.  Its demanding that the 
charity halt the use of the red cross symbol on products it sells to 
the public.   Johnson & Johnson said it has had exclusive rights to use 
the trademark on certain commercial products -- including bandages and 
first-aid cream -- for more than 100 years. It began using the red 
cross design as a trademark in 1887.  That's six years after the 
creation of the American Red Cross but before it received its 
congressional charter in 1900.  

The lawsuit contends that the charter did not empower the Red Cross to 
engage in commercial activities competing with a private business.   It 
asserts that the Red Cross is supposed to use the symbol only in 
connection with nonprofit relief services. 

This is the latest negative publicity for the American Red Cross and 
follows a campaign among ham radio operators to get the relief agency 
to stop demanding lifestyle and credit checks of its volunteers in 
addition to normal security screenings.  This issue is already causing 
some hams who would normally volunteer to provide communications 
assistance to the Red Cross to offer their services to other charities 
and post disaster relief groups.  At airtime, the requirement for 
volunteers to submit to lifestyle checks is still in place.  

--
News reports say that the American Red Cross intends to vigorously 
defend its right to use the symbol as it sees fit.  (Published news 
reports)

**

RADIO RULES:  FCC SETS OWNERSHIP CAP AT 39 PERCENT

The FCC has officially rewritten its rules to raise the cap on a TV 
group owner's household reach to 39%.  That's the total percentage of 
U.S. households a single TV station group owner is allowed to reach, 
although only half of a UHF stations audience counts toward that cap.  

That move comes a little over three years after President Bush signed 
the bill into law that changed the cap to 39%.  The FCC had wanted to 
raise it from 35% to 45%, but Congress stepped in to split the 
difference.  (Broadcasting and Cable)

**

SPECIAL EVENTS:  JOTA 2007 - OCTOBER 20 - 21

The 50th anniversary of scoutings Jamboree on the Air or JOTA is coming 
up in October.  The dates this year are October 20th and 21st.  

JOTA is the largest official scouting event in the world with an 
expected 500,000 participants. It is also open to both Boy and Girl 
Scouts, making it one of the few joint events between the two scout 
organizations, and one of the few internationally sponsored events.  

Ham Radio has always been an important aspect of JOTA.  To find your 
nearest local council, go to www.scouting.org or 
www.girlscouts.org/councilfinder to locate your nearest boy or girl 
scout council.  If they have no ham radio station planned, you might 
want to think about volunteering your time and gear to bring one on the 
air.  

More about the Jamboree on the Air is on-line at www.scout.org/jota.  
And listen for a special JOTA 2007 preview in coming weeks with Mark 
Abramovich, NT3V, right he on Amateur Radio Newsline.  (RSGB, 
ARNewsline)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  TEXAS RADIO CLUB HONORS ONE OF ITS OWN

Some names in the news.  First is the Ellis County Texas Amateur Radio 
Club has announced a fund-raiser for a new repeater.  One that the 
group says will better serve the eastern area of the county and at the 
same time honor an important local radio amateur.  

The new equipment will be dedicated to Bob Fitch, K5ASU.  Fitch is 
described as one of the original Ellis County Amateur Radio Club 
members and still an active and enthusiastic participant in the 
organization. 

The Waxahachie Daily Light newspaper says that Fitch's interest in 
radio and communications began at age 14 and led to a life-long passion 
which continues to this day.  He has been active in the club since the 
early 1970s, has helped to recruit new ham operators and assisted them 
in getting licensed by teaching radio theory classes and acting as a 
Volunteer Examiner.  He also served with as a local Radio Amateur Civil  
Emergency Service officer from 1971 to 1993.   In 1993 his late wife 
Denie was disabled with a broken hip and other bone problems so Fitch 
gave up his club duties to care for her.  After she passed away in 
2000, Bob resumed his post and still an active RACES member conducting 
the monthly nets and distributing identification cards to members.

The Ellis County Amateur Radio Club provides communication support for 
bike rallies, and other numerous contests, and provides ground truth 
reports to the National weather Service during severe weather events.  
The newspaper also quotes Robert Crosby, KD5YHY who says that this 
event is a golden opportunity for all of in the club to honor a guy who 
has been a guiding light to us in the Ellis County Amateur Radio Club.  
(Waxahachie Daily Light)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  KB2GSB MAY GO TO RLTV

Retirement Living TV is trying to lure America's most trusted man, 
Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD,  back to television.  This, as RLTV prepares 
to become a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week network, and the 89-year-old 
news icon might be perfect for the fast-growing 55+ demographic that 
Retirement Living TV serves.

Retirement Living TV President Brad Knight has confirmed that his 
Columbia, Maryland based network is in talks with Cronkite. One 
scenario would have the former CBS news anchor presenting a weekly 
commentary about anything he wants to share.  

And if KB2GSD came to RLTV it would make it a kind of a family affair.  
This is because his son Chip Cronkite is a segment producer on the 
networks The Art of Living program.  But its also possible that Chip 
would produce whatever projects his father were to do with Retirement 
Living T-V.  (NewsGate)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  THE SAGA OF AO-7 CONTINUES

Like a Timex watch, its still ticking.  Of coarse we are referring to 
the AO-7 ham radio satellite which was one of the earliest birds that 
radio amateurs had to work with.   Amateur Radio Newsline's Fred Vobbe, 
W9HDU, takes a look at this aging but still operational ham radio 
miracle on orbit:

--

The Amsat OSCAR 7 ham satellite was launched on November 15, 1974 on a 
Delta rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Lompoc, California. It 
initially stopped transmitting in 1981 after a battery failure.  But it 
sprang back to life on June 21st 2002.  Since its miraculous emergence 
from the long term battery problem, AO-7 has been an available to use.  

SSB in Mode A is the normal with several QSO's able to take place at a 
time.  Mode A uses an uplink from 145.850 to 145.950 MHz and a 10 meter 
downlink of 29.400 to 29.500 MHz .  This transponder is linear, non-
inverting.  
: 
Numerous reports of its switching between mode A and B have been 
verified.  Mode B uses an uplink og 432.125 to 432.175 MHz and 
downlinks on 145.975 -through 145.925 MHz.  But there is aa bit of a 
problem in using Mode B. Due to changes in Amateur Service and Amateur 
Satellite Service there are questions as to legality of Amateurs 
transmitting to AO-7. The uplink frequency predates the WARC '79 
allocation of 435 to 438 MHz by the International Telecommunications 
Union for the Amateur Satellite Service.  This puts the uplink in 70cm 
weak signal segment.  Potential users should realize that when they are 
uplinking Mode B to a satellite, they are no longer operating in the 
Amateur Service but instead operating in the Amateur Satellite Service. 
Thus they are subject to Amateur Satellite Service rules.  Therefore 
uplinking to AO-7 is possibly illegal since the Amateur Satellite 
Service is not permitted at 432.1 MHz. 

But in Mode A, the AO-7 the satellite has a much larger footprint than 
AO-51 and is in view much longer.  It also requires some of the 
simplest gear of any ham radio bird currently in flight.  Equipment 
that you will find in almost every hamshack, world-eide.

For the amateur radio Newsline. I'm Fred Vovve, W8HDU.

--

So dust off those mode A high frequency receivers and 2 meter SB 
transmitters or transverters and try to make a contact on the AO-7 
bird.  It may take a little more effort to use, but it's fun and 
rewarding.  
(LA2QAA)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  VOYAGERS AT AGE 30

The two NASA's Voyager spacecraft are celebrating three decades of 
flight as they head toward interstellar space.  This as they continue 
to probe the unknown and radio their information back to researchers 
here on Earth.  

Voyager 2 was launched on Aug. 20, 1977, and Voyager 1 went skyward on 
Sept. 5, 1977. During their first dozen years of flight, the twin 
Voyagers made detailed explorations of Jupiter, Saturn, and their 
moons, and conducted the first explorations of Uranus and Neptune.  For 
the past 18 years, the two spacecraft have been probing the sun's outer 
heliosphere and its boundary with interstellar space.  

According to NASA, both Voyagers remain healthy and continue to radio 
back information from distances more than three times farther away than 
Pluto.  (NASA  - JPL)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  HUBBLE DISCOVERS FAINT STARS

An international team of astronomers has uncovered the faintest stars 
ever seen in any globular star cluster. Using NASA's Hubble Space 
Telescope, the team took hundreds of high-resolution photos that were 
then radioed back to Earth.  The astronomers then compared the images 
pixel-by-pixel to identify the dimmest stars in the globular star 
cluster NGC 6397.  The researchers say that the light from these faint 
stars is so dim that it is equivalent to that produced by a birthday 
candle on the Moon, as seen from Earth.  (Space)

**

DX

In D-X, word that DL2MDU, will be active as portable 5Z4 from Kenya 
through September 24th.  He plans to operate holiday style meaning he 
comes on the air whenever he has the time.  Operation will be mainly 
CW.  QSL via the bureau to his home call.

And DL7VOG, will be active as stroke J3 from Carriacou Island in the 
Grenadines.  This until mid-month.  His plans called for operation on 
160 through 6 meters using CW and RTTY, with SSB on request.  QSL to 
his home call or via the bureau.  

M0TQJ, will be on East Falkland Insel using the call VP8CXV through 
Januar 15th, 2008. He prefers SSB but will do also some RTTY and PSK31. 
QSLs will be answered after his return home.

Lastly, listen out for ON4LO to be active portable 9A from Mali Losinj 
Through the 28th of September. He's expected to be on the HF bands as 
well as on 6 meters.  QSL as directed on the air.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  HAM RADIO REMEMBER 911

As America and the world paused to remember the September 11th 2001 a-
Quida terror attacks on the World trade Center and the Pentagon, 
several ham radio stations took to the air in honor of all who lost 
their lives on that day.  They also remembered the role played by radio 
amateurs immediately after the attacks and in the weeks that followed.   
This report by Feinberg, K2SSQ, is from the Amateur Radio Newsline 
archives.  It was filed only hours after the terrorists struck.  In it 
Henry outlined ham radios first response:

--

Archive audio (fade up):  ".This is what we know so far.  Here in the 
metropolitan New York area some ARES and RACES organizations opened 
emergency nets in response to the disaster.  According to ARRL Section 
Emergency Coordinator Tom Caruba, KA2D, a net was set up on the WB2ZSE 
repeater with Guy Richmond, KC2AYG as NCS.  The net handled emergency 
traffic and provided hams to shadow some New York City officials.  
Meanwhile.(fade out)"

--

For three days ham radio was essentially the only way to get 
information into and out of lower Manhattan after the twin towers of 
the World Trade Center fell.  The disaster had taken out the heart of 
the city's emergency communications system as well as the areas 
cellular telephone switching center.  But radio amateurs came to the 
rescue and remained on the air until normal lines of communications 
could be restored.  Being decentralized, there was no way that a terror 
organization like al-Quida could destroy ham radio communications in 
the way they did that of the city.  

But that was just the beginning.  In the weeks that followed, ham radio 
operators from all across the nation took time off from work, gathered 
up their gear and signed up to volunteer in New York or at the 
Pentagon.  They brought with them their own supplies and paid their own 
way.  It was ham radio volunteerism at its very best.  As a result, 
Amateur Radio was quickly recognized as being essential to homeland 
security because it had proven to be the singular radio service able to 
provide emergency communications that is was close to being 100 percent 
reliable in time of disaster as there ever can be.  

Then came word of the toll on ham radio.  Of those lost when the twin 
towers fell.  Again we go to our archives and Henry Feinberg, K2SSQ:

--

Archive audio:  " At least four Amateur Radio operators are among the 
many still missing the aftermath of the attack.  They include Steve 
Jacobson, N2SJ, age 53, of New York City.  Jacobson worked as a 
transmitter engineer for WPIX channel 11.  Also, on transmitter duty at 
the time of the attack was Bill Steckman, WA2ACW. of West Hempstead out 
on Long Island.  He is employed by WNBC channel 4 and is well know in 
the area for a number of repeaters he operated from the World Trade 
Center.  Most notable among them a 434 Mhz ATV system.  

Another missing ham is Robert D. Cirri Sr., KA2OTD, of Nutley, New 
Jersey.  Cirri is a Port Authority police officer and the ARRL District 
Emergency Coordinator for Hudson County.  He was last seen helping to 
evacuate workers from one of the buildings when it collapsed.   

Also, Michael G. Jacobs, AA1GO of  Danbury, Connecticut who works at 
Fiduciary Trust Company International, which had offices in the World 
Trade Center.  He too has not been seen since the twin towers 
collapsed.

Meanwhile, hams worldwide are praying for a miracle.  A miracle that 
maybe they and others who were in the twin towers when they collapsed 
have escaped but have not yet reported in.  Or that they are under the 
rubble -- still alive -- and that rescue workers will reach them in 
time."

--

As we came to learn in the weeks that followed, these were not the only 
members of the ham radio community to die on  September 11th.   Also 
lost in New York were Rod Coppola, KA2KET, and Winston Grant, KA2DRF. 
Bill Ruth, W3HRD, died in the Pentagon attack.  

On September 11th of 2007, as commemorative ham radio stations took to 
the airwaves in remembrance of all whose lives were lost on that same 
day in 2001, they were also a testament of sorts.  An affirmation that   
radio amateurs are among the worlds best trained volunteer 
communications personnel.  Communicators who also possess a level of 
technical knowledge that prepares them to put their stations on the air 
no matter what the situation and to do so at a moments notice.  Hams 
are people who truly care.  (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'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. 

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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