[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1593 - February 22, 2008
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Sat Feb 23 10:29:02 EST 2008
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1593 - February 22, 2008
The following is a Q-S-T. The SouthEastern Repeater Association
announces the beginning of digital voice repeater coordination, hams
answer the call as floods hit Hawaii and the next Global Amateur Radio
Emergency Communications Conference will take place this spring in
Germany. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number
1593 coming your way right now.
**
REPEATER COORDINATION: SERA ANNOUNCES DIGITAL VOICE BANDPLANS
Someone had to take the lead in coordinating digital voice repeaters
and the SouthEastern Repeater Association has. While not the first
digital voice repeater plan, it represents the largest geographic area
and likely will have an impact on neighboring states and those states
neighbors. Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM has the
details:
--
Acting on a motion presented by Mississippi Director Steve Grantham,
AA5SG, the giant SouthEastern Repeater Association has adopted
provisions to allow for the introduction of digital voice technology
systems. This includes such entities as P 25 and D-Star repeaters.
To make this happen association President Roger Gregory, W4RWG,
appointed a working committee to implement the needed changes on the
groups web site. While the web presentation is described as a work-in-
progress there are already links to the newly posted 144 to 148 MHz and
420 to 450 MHz Frequency Utilization Plans.
And it appears as if the SouthEastern Repeater Association has taken
the positron that the introduction of digital voice technology must
have minimal impact on all existing analog operations in both the
repeater and non repeater portions of any band. A quick glance shows
that on both bands the coordinating body has chosen to keep most,
though not all, digital voice operation within current repeater
subbands. It uses interleaving between existing F-M repeaters to
accomplish this.
But the committee has a lot more work ahead of it to make this all
happen smoothly. This includes modifying any association documents or
forms requiring change. Its also tasked with assisting district
coordinators in matters pertaining to the introduction of such digital
repeaters. The committee will also continue to study and bring forth
new information as needed to facilitate ongoing effective digital
repeater coordination efforts.
Whether or not the SouthEastern Repeater Association plan will be
adopted nationally is not known, but it opens the door to a coordinated
effort to introduce digital voice repeaters while protecting all other
spectrum users. And that's definitely a step in the right direction.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM
--
For those not aware, the SouthEastern Repeater Association is the
nations largest repeater band-planning body. It provides voluntary
frequency coordination for Amateur Radio repeaters in Georgia, South
Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee,
and Mississippi. The action on digital voice repeaters came at the
organization's winter board meeting on January 5th. You can see its new
2 meter and 70 centimeter bandplans on line at:
OVERVIEW OF SERA PLAN:
http://www.sera.org/D-Star%20Position%20Statement%20-%203.htm
SERA 144-148 MHz Frequency Utilization Plan: http://www.sera.org/2.html
SERA 420-450 MHz Frequency Utilization Plan:
http://www.sera.org/440.html
(From SERA release)
**
REPEATER COORDINATION: DIGITAL REPEATER CHANNEL SPACING
Still with digital voice repeaters, word that the Utah VHF Society has
produced what observers are calling a very useful article on channel
spacing for D-Star digital relay devices. Titled "Analysis and
recommendations of channel spacing for D-Star operations on the VHF and
UHF amateur bands" the article addresses the issues of co-channel D-
Star interference. It also covers adjacent channel interference issues
between D-Star and existing analog FM systems.
The article is well worth the time to read. You will find it on line
at www.utahvhfs.org/dstar_channel_spacing/html (From Utah VHFS
release)
**
RESCUE RADIO: THE FLOODS IN HAWAII
Hams in Hawaii were quick to respond in early February when heavy rain
caused flooding in many parts of the state. According to ARRL Pacific
Section Manager Bob Schneider, AH6J, Skywarn and several nets were
activated. Information came in from several areas including Hawaii
County Civil Defense.
IRLP and Echolink were used in conjunction with VHF and HF radio to
keep the information flowing. Harvey Motomura, AH6JA, also sent several
test messages from Hawaii County C-D by Winlink. This, to prove that
e-mail is still possible even if wire and cable connections are lost.
Even though hurricane season in Hawaii officially ended last November
30th, continued weather problems remind hams in the Island State that
they are never completely out of danger. (From Hawaii SM Report)
**
RESCUE RADIO: GAREC-08 AT FREDRICHSHAFEN HAM SHOW
The fourth Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference,
GAREC- 2008, will take place on June 26th and 27th. This, in conjunction
with the 2008 Ham Radio convention in Friedrichshafen, Germany.
The event will be organized by the IARU Region 1 Emergency Coordinator,
Seppo Sisatto, OH1VR with the team that already put together the
previous conferences in Tampere, Finland, in 2005 and 2006. Global
Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Conference 08 will focus on the
cooperation among IARU member societies with specialized groups working
on emergency communications in the Amateur Radio Service.
General information on subjects such as travel and accommodation is
available at http://www.hamradio-friedrichshafen....l/en/index.php and
details of program. The URL for on-line registration will be announced
on the IARU pages at http://www.iaru.org/emergency/ in a few weeks.
(HB9AQS)
**
RESCUE RADIO: THE UN AND INDUSTRY COMBINE IN RESPONSE EMCOMMS
But hams are not the only ones looking at the future of first response
emergency communications. A new United Nations program to train
communications experts to respond faster in dangerous and hostile
environments got a boost at the recent World Mobile Congress in Spain.
This with word that the Vodafone Group Foundation has pledged $6.3
million for the effort. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more:
--
According to the news release, training and deployment in time of
crisis will be handled through Vodafone's technology partnership with
the private United Nations Foundation. The U.N.'s World Food Program
is designated as the lead communications agency in international
crises. This, by nature of its longtime first-responder role.
By way of example of what these and other fly-away operations can do,
when a suicide bomber struck a U.N. office in Algeria last December it
not only killed 17 U.N. employees. The bomb also took out the agency
communications infrastructure necessary for it to respond to the
tragedy. Two communications experts were dispatched from Dubai with
satellite telephones and a radio transmitting gear. They were up and
running less than 24 hours after the attacks providing emergency
communications support needed in the aftermath of this terrorist
attack.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los
Angeles.
--
Obviously there is a lot of interest growing in split second emergency
communications response, world wide. (Vodafone)
**
WORLDBEAT - RWANDA: EA5RM VS DJ9ZB OVER RWANDA
A big rift in D-X circles over a team of German operators beating out a
Spanish operator to be the first to activate Rwanda. Antonio Gonzalez,
EA5RM, who now also holds the call sign 9X0R says in a statement posted
to his website that DJ6SI, DK2WV and DJ9ZB used political lines of
communications that he developed to slip in and operate from that rare
one before his DXpedition could arrive.
EA5RM claims that he was the one who traveled to Rwanda and secured
permission for hams to once again take to the airwaves. He says that
as a courtesy that he informed the German DX Foundation of his plans.
He also requested that the Federation supply a member to his team
Gonzalez says that instead German DX'ers DJ6SI, DK2WV and DJ9ZB got
their own Rwandan licenses and quickly mounted the 9-X-Zero operation
that was on the air through February 21st. EA5RM says that because of
this that he is returning the German DX Foundation funds donated to his
upcoming 9X0R operation because he and his operators believe that the
actions of its President, Franz Langner, DJ9ZB, are not the proper ones
to promote amateur radio and DX. Gonzalez also asks everyone who took
part in the German lead operation to and remember which kind of hams
you were trying to contact.
No response to EA5RM's charges from DJ9ZB or his team They have been
to busy running the pileups that they have been crating on the air from
Rwanda. (EA5RM from various DX news sources)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOW WINTER OLYMPICS IN 2010
The 2010 Winter Olympics is seeking amateur radio volunteers. This
with the announcement that the Vancouver Olympics Committee has given
Radio Amateurs of Canada details of their search for ham radio
volunteers to assist during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and
Paralympic Winter Games.
Of the 25,000 volunteers required, Amateur Radio operators are
especially needed to help in technical roles during the events, and
perhaps earlier. Volunteers must have their own local accommodation in
Greater Vancouver or Whistler areas.
The on-line volunteer application form at www . vancouver2010 . com
includes space to list skills and experience. If the applicant wishes
a communications or technical role, the or she should add a key phrase
on their application form to make it easy for planners to identify
them. And on the fifth application page, add the words "Amateur Radio
Operator" in a box called "Additional Information."
Again, if you want to volunteer to provide communications support for
the 2010 Olympic Winter Games and Paralympic Winter Games go to
www.vancouver2010.com and fill out the form. (Radio Amateurs of
Canada)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC TELLS TEXAS HAM TO STAY OFF TWO REPEATERS
The FCC has told a Texas ham that he must obey the orders of repeater
trustees who want him to keep off of their repeaters. In a January 29th
Warning Notice to Travis L. Maltese, AD5CT, of Edna the FCC states that
he trustees of the W5DSC and K5SOI repeaters have requested in writing
that Maltese refrain from use of the repeaters.
The FCC say that the letters were issued as a result of Maltese alleged
failure to follow operational rules set forth by the licensee/control
operators of the repeater systems for their users. As such, the
regulatory agency says that Maltese will be expected to abide by the
requests to stay off the W5DSC and K5SOI systems and any other such
requests by repeater licensees, control operators or trustees.
The FCC notice also warns Maltese that should he use these repeaters
again after receipt of its letter, that the agency will initiate
enforcement action against his license. This could include revocation,
monetary forfeiture of his license or a modification proceeding to
restrict the frequencies on which AD5CT may operate. Fines normally
range from $7,500 to $10,000. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FLORIDA MAN TOLD TO STAY OFF HAM BANDS
And the FCC has warned a Florida non-amateur to stay off the ham bands.
In its January 29th letter to Joseph Goldberg of Tavernier, the
regulatory agency warns him that he could face a fine of up to $10,000
if he's again caught operating without a license. The FCC gave no
other details but did add that this is the last warning that Goldberg
will receive. (FCC)
**
RADIO LAW: COMCAST UNDER FCC SCRUTINY OVER INTERNET DELAYS
The FCC is looking into complaints that a telecommunications giant is
tinkering with communications over the Internet. Jim Davis, W2JKD, is
here with the details:
--
FCC Chairman Kevin Martin says that the FCC will investigate complaints
that Comcast Corporation actively interferes with Internet traffic as
its subscribers try to share files online. January 8th release says
that a coalition of consumer groups and legal scholars asked the agency
in November 2007 to stop Comcast from discriminating against certain
types of data. The two groups also asked the FCC to fine the nation's
No. 2 Internet provider $195,000 for every affected subscriber.
Comcast denies that it blocks file sharing, but acknowledged that it
was "delaying" some of the traffic between computers that share files.
The company said intervention was necessary to improve the surfing
experience for the majority of its subscribers.
The FCC's policy statement makes an exception for "reasonable traffic
management." Comcast has said its practices fall under that exception.
I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD.
--
The government will be looking to see if Comcasts actions fit the
permitted exception. (FCC)
**
RADIO REGULATIONS: THE FCC CHANGES BANKS
U.S. Bank has replaced the Mellon Bank as the incoming lockbox for all
FCC programs except auction related payments. A lockbox bank serves as
the filing and processing agent for a corporation or government entity.
Fees and payments along with associated identifying information, are
sent directly to the lockbox account. The address of U.S. Bank is 1005
Convention Plaza; SL-MO-C2-GL; St. Louis, MO 63101. (RW)
**
RADIO BUSINESS: MOTOROLA MAY OPT OUT OF THE CELLPHONE BUSINESS
Motorola says that it is considering separating its loss-making mobile
phone unit. The world's third-largest mobile phone maker has been
losing market share to market leader Nokia Corp and Samsung
Electronics. It now says that is looking at a structural and strategic
realignment to help it recapture market share and enhance shareholder
value. Options include spinning off or selling the phone division,
which accounts for about half of revenue.
Motorola is best known for its commercial two-way land mobile radio
equipment. The company recently completed a deal to acquire control of
Vertex Standard Corporation which manufactures its own line of two-way
land mobile equipment and Yaesu brand Amateur Radio gear. It also
manufacturers television set-top box and network equipment.
As already noted, potential suitors for it mobile telephone division
are believed to include rivals such as Samsung Electronics, which took
the number two ales position from Motorola in 2007, or number five
ranked LG Electronics.
Contrary to the rumors being circulated by uninformed Internet bloggers
and web rumor mongers, any sale of Motorola's mobile phone business is
not expected to in any way impact on the manufacture and sales of Yaesu
brand ham radio gear. (Published reports, ARNewsline)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: ARRL SECTION MANAGERS ELECTED
Some names in the news. The ARRL reports that in the only contested
Section Manager race this winter, Steve Early, AD6VI, has been elected
ARRL San Diego Section Manager. Early has been active in several
Amateur Radio clubs and ARES, as well as providing public service
support to agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Community
Emergency Response Team.
Louisiana will also be getting a new Section Manager. Gary Stratton,
K5GLS, of Shreveport, the Louisiana Section Emergency Coordinator for
the last three years, will be taking the reins from Mickey Cox, K5MC.
Cox, who has served as Section Manager for the past eight years,
decided not to run for another term of office.
Carl Clements, W4CAC, of Portsmouth, Virginia, returns to the Virginia
Section Manager's post. He had previously served in this position from
May 2001 to March 2006. Glen Sage, W4GHS, the outgoing Virginia
Section Manager, did not seek a new term of office.
All other incumbent ARRL Section Managers facing re-election faced no
opposition and were declared winners. Ballots were counted at ARRL
Headquarters on February 19th. All begin their new terms of office on
April 1st. (ARRL)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: MT BEACON HAMFEST IN NY IN APRIL
Turning to the ham radio social scene, word that the 2008 Mt. Beacon
Amateur Radio Club Hamfest takes place on Sunday April 1. The venue
is Tymor Park in LaGrangeville, New York. More is on-line at
www.wr2abb.org. (WA2BSS)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: IOTA DINNER IN CALIFORNIA IN APRIL
The 13th annual Islands On The Air or I-Oh-T-A Dinner will be held on
Friday, April 25th, 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. In addition to
dinner, G3ZAY will present a talk on the Islands On The Air program and
how it functions. For additional information regarding this event,
please contact: Jim Zimmerman N6KZ, by e-mail to: jimzim1 at mindspring.com
( OPDX)
**
THE SOCIAL: SCENE: TAPR IN CHICAGO IN SEPTEMBER
The Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Corporation has announced that the 2008
joint Digital Communications Conference with the ARRL will take place
September 26th to the 28th. This, at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Elk Grove
Village, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, near O'Hare airport.
The conference is an international forum for radio amateurs to meet,
publish their work and present new ideas and techniques. Presenters
and attendees will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn
about recent hardware and software advances, theories, experimental
results and practical applications. Forums will feature the latest
developments in Amateur Radio digital communications, as well as
demonstrations of emerging digital technology.
More information is available on line at www.tapr.org/dcc.html (TAPR)
**
RADIO ENTERTAINMENT: THE BANK JOB AND HAM RADIO
And a new British movie titled The Bank Job features Amateur Radio.
Due for release before months end, the film is a fictionalization of a
daring, unsolved robbery, which took place in London more than 35 years
ago. In the film, handhelds used by the criminals are intercepted by a
ham radio operator who becomes involved in the attempt to catch them.
An official website at www.bankjobmovie.co.uk gives 5 movie clips to
view. But be aware. This film does carry an R rating. (Southgate)
**
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: ROD DINKINS, AC6V, S.K.
Some truly sad news out of California's Palomar Amateur Radio Club.
Word that Rod Dinkins, AC6V, the man behind the famed www.ac6v.com
ham radio information website, has become a silent key.
Called the Google of ham radio by some, www.ac6v.com quickly
became the place to go for information on anything amateur radio
related. Its 132 pages contain 700 topics and 6000 links. If its not
found on or linked to www.ac6v.com its safe to say it does not
exist in ham radios world. Rod was also the author of a number of ham
radio related books including the Amateur Radio DX Reference Guide and
DX 101 for HF and 6 Meters.
Rod Dinkins started in radio in the late 1940's as an SWL, AM, and ham
band listener with a Knight Kit Ocean Hopper receiver but it was not
until 1977 that he became a radio amateur with the call WA6WTO. But
his career was all radio and electronics. He spent four years in the
US Navy during the Korean War as an Aviation Electronics Technician.
Re entering civilian life, Dinkins spent four years at Convair in
Pomona, California as an instructor of electronics and guided missiles.
This was followed by 2 years as a vocational electronics teacher at a
Junior college level in Walnut California and over 30 years as an
Electronics Technical Writer within the aerospace industry.
Rod Dinkins, AC6V, passed away on Saturday, February 16th at the Tri-
City Hospital in the city of Oceanside. He is survived by his wife
Karla. At airtime funeral arrangements were pending. (W6VR, others)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE SOUTH AFRICA'S SUMBANDILA SAT DELAYED
South Africa's Sumbandila Sat launch has been delayed indefinitely. The
satellite, which includes an amateur radio payload, was to have been
launched from a Russian submarine last year but arrangements went sour
when the two defense authorities could not agree on a reciprocal
satellite arrangement.
Word is that the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs was recently
in Russia this week as part of a technical and scientific cooperation
mission. Its likely that an alternative launch was to have been
discussed. Meantime there is no official comment on what may have
transpired and Sumbandila Sat is still sitting in the clean room at the
nations Sunspace launch assembly facility. (SA AMSAT)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HOUSTON SATELLIE NET CHANGES BIRDS
The Houston AMSAT Net has moved to the K-band the SkyScanner Satellite
Radio Network on the Galaxy-25 geostationary satellite. The net was
formerly retransmitted on the SBS-6 bird over the W0KIE Satellite
Radio Network. No reasons was given for the change which took place on
February 5th. (ANS)
**
WORLDBEAT - EUROPE: CZECH HAMS TO GET 4 METER BAND
The Czech Telecommunication Office has announced that nations radio
amateurs will soon have access to the 4 meter band. The
telecommunications regulator plans to issue up to 20 special permits
for 70.2 to 70.3 MHz with 10 Watts ERP. This is a band unique to parts
of Europe but not available to radio amateurs in I-T-U Region 2. The
Czech permits will be valid until 31 Dec 2008. (Southgate)
**
RADIOSPORTS: CQ UPDATES THE WPX AWARD PROGRAM
CQ magazine and W-P-X Awards Manager Steve Bolia, N8BJQ, have announced
several changes to that program. Under the new rules, contacts on all
bands between 160 and 6 meters will count for W-P-X award credit. In
addition, new band endorsements will now be available for 5 MHz, 10
MHz, 18 MHz, 24 MHz and 50 MHz contacts.
And a separate digital W-P-X award has also been added. It covers
contacts made on RTTY, PSK and other keyboard modes. 300 confirmed
prefixes required for the basic level of the award. digital-mode
contacts will also count toward the existing Mixed award, as will those
prefixes worked on the newly added bands.
The changes are effective immediately. Details on these and other
changes will be published in the March issue of CQ magazine. They are
also posted along with the March issue highlights at
www.cq-amateur-radio.com. (CQ)
**
DX
In D-X, the 3Y0E Bouvet Island Dxpedition went QRT at 19:15 U-T-C on
February 9th. Any contacts made with any station claiming to be 3&0E
after that time and date will be considered as fakes. All log issues
will be double checked and all operators concerned will be informed of
their log status at that time
G3SWH and G3RTE will be active from Georgetown, Guyana, through
February 29th. The callsign is 8R1PW. As there have been two operations
from Guyana in 2007 which used mainly SSB, their activity is CW only on
160 to 10 meters. WSL via the bureau.
And word that SM4XDJ is active as S21XJ from Dhaka, Bangladesh for a
few weeks. He's reportedly operating SSB and digitalmodes during his
evening hours and the weekends. QSL via SM4XIH.
And G3TBK will once again be active from Saint Vincent signing J88DR
for the March 1st and 2nd ARRL DX Phone Contest and the following week.
Activity will be on all HF bands using CW, SSB, RTTY and SSTV. QSL via
G3TBK, direct or by the RSGB Bureau.
Look for 11 Lithuanian special event stations to be active with the
prefix LY90 from February 16th through March 16th.. This, to celebrate
the 90th anniversary of independence in the Lithuanian Republic. QSL
as directed on the air.
Lastly, keep an ear open for G3RWF who is active from Uganda as 5X1NH
through March 22nd. His operation will be limited because he is on
holiday but he expects to operate all bands except 160m and 6 meters.
Modes will be CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK at 100 watts to wire antennas. QSL
to G3RWF.
>From various DX news sources
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: NASA SENDS "ACROSS THE UNIVERSE" ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
And finally, using a highly directional antenna NASA has transmitted
The Beatles' song "Across the Universe" toward the North Star. The
transmission originated from the NASA Deep Space Network of antenna
array. It marked the 40th anniversary of the song along with the 45th
anniversary of the Deep Space Network and the 50th anniversary of NASA
itself.
The transmission is aimed at Polaris in the constellation Ursa Major
some 431 light years away. The song is currently traveling toward it at
a peed of 186,324 miles per second. The target audience, assuming
something is one out there, won't hear the broadcast until the year
2439.
According to a NASA press release the Beatles Paul McCartney responded
to the planned broadcast by asking NASA to end his love to the aliens.
Yoko Ono, the widow of Beatle John Lennon, was a pit more
introspective. She said that she sees this as the beginning of the new
age in which we will communicate with billions of planets across the
universe.
Meantime we have been sitting around the Newsline office trying to
think of some other songs that NASA might want to beam into space. Two
came immediately to mind. First is Metaphor from the off-Broadway show
The Fantasticks. The other is a bit more obvious but shows our age.
"I Told Every Liittle Star" by songsters Linda Scott recorded back in
1961. (RW)
**
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.
Before we go we want to remind you that the nominating period for the
2008 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year is now open. Any
licensed radio amateur age 18 or younger residing in the United States
or Canada is eligible for the award. Full details and both
downloadable and on-line nominating forms are in cyberspace at
www.YHOTY.org.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim
Damron, N8TMW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline is Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.
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