[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1600 - April 11, 2008
ham-news at mailman.qth.net
ham-news at mailman.qth.net
Sun Apr 13 15:18:40 EDT 2008
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1600 - April 11, 2008
(Note: This weeks newcast has several audio intensive stories which
cannoy properly be displayed as text. We suggest that you go to our
website at www.arnewsline.org and download and play the mp3 audio version
of this weeks newscast. -- ARNewsline)
The following is a Q-S-T. Morse code comes to the Internet, a middle-East
broadcaster highlights ham radio, and Newsline celebrates newscast number
1600 with a look back. Please join us for this trip through time on
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1600 coming your way right now.
HAM RADIO ON THE NET: IRC MORSE COMES TO THE WWW
It was bound to happen and now it has, Morse code over Internet Relay Chat
or IRC.
According to its host website, CWirc is a plug-in for the X-Chat IRC
client. It is designed to transmit raw Morse code over the internet using
I-R-C servers as reflectors. The transmitted Morse code can be received
in near real-time by other X-Chat clients who are equipped with the CWirc
plug-in.
CWirc tries to emulate a standard amateur radio rig. It has the ability
to send and receive Morse over virtual channels, and it can listen to
multiple senders transmitting on the same channel. Morse code is keyed
locally using a straight or iambic key connected to a computers serial
port, or using the mouse buttons, Sound is played through the soundcard
or through an external sounder.
Note that CWirc doesn't do any Morse decoding. It simply transmits and
receives C-W timing events. The program and your computer does the rest
to give you a Morse code experience without the radio, the antenna or any
T-V-I.
More about CWirc is on-line at users.skynet.be/ppc/cwirc/ The website
also has historic information on the Morse code and the telegraph.
(Southgate)
**
RADIO LAW: KANSAS PROTECTS HAM RADIO TOWERS AND ANTENNAS
Kansas Becomes 26th State to have a law assuring to rights of hams to have
antennas. Known as the Kansas Emergency Communications Preservation Act
the new measure is fashioned after federal statute PRB-1.
The wording of HB 2805 is simple an unambiguous. It states that if a
municipality takes any action that regulates the placement, screening,
number or height of a ham radio station antenna structure, that this
action must reasonably accommodate federally licensed amateur radio
service communications. Also that the action must constitute the minimum
regulation practicable to carry out the legitimate purpose of the
governing body.
As to existing towers and antennas: These are grandfathered under a
stipulation that says antenna support structures constructed prior to the
bill's effective date are exempted from subsequent changes in zoning
regulations. Also that they may be repaired as needed.
According to Tom Laux, N0AG, the Salvation Army was very supportive of the
measure. Representatives of the Salvation Army twice testified in support
of it at hearings held in Topeka. Laux says that they were fantastic.
The bill, written was by Rep Arlen Siegfreid. It unanimously passed in
both the houses of the Kansas legislature. Kansas Governor Kathleen
Sebelius signed HB 2805 into law on April 9. It takes effect July 1,
2008.
In the newsroom, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. (QRZ, eHam, N0AG, others)
**
WORLDBEAT - LEBANON: AL JAZEERA TELEVISION COVERS HAM RADIO
Amateur Radio was highlighted on Quatar's international television service
Al Jazeera. This in a documentary news show on Sunday April 6th. Amateur
Radio Newsline's Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, is here with the details:
--
The Al Jazeera program, Hadeeth Al Sabah featured Radio Amateurs of
Lebanon President, Hani Raad, OD5TE. Raad talked about Amateur Radio
principles and his personal experience in ham radio emergency service
communications over the past 28 years.
By way of background, Hani Raad, OD5TE, is a graduate of George Washington
University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He also holds the
United States call sign AA3EI and was very active in both ARES and RACES
when he lived in the Washington D.C area. As such he holds expertise on
the methods used in the area of ham radio Emergency Communications in both
the United States and Lebanon.
The show, which was repeated on Monday the April 7th, was described as a
look at both worlds of ham radio and the way in which hams respond in time
of crisis in both.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, saying a happy
1600 to all.
--
In an e-mail to Newsline, OD5TE said that the program was extremely
successful and all the feedback he has received form hams around the world
has been very positive. (OD5TE, others)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: WORLD AMATEUR RADIO DAY AND THE WARD AWARD
World Amateur Radio Day 2008 will take place on April 18th and this year
you can win an award just for taking part in this years celebration.
That's because the Polish Radio Amateur's Journal, with the support of the
Polish Amateur Radio Union will be sponsoring this years WARD or World
Amateur Radio Day award. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW,
has the details:
--
By way of background, each year on the anniversary of its founding, the
International Amateur Radio Union marks its inaugural meeting in Paris. A
meeting that took place on April 18th some 83 years ago.
In honor of this historic event the IARU dedicates World Amateur Radio Day
to the future of the world-wide service. And in continuing this theme the
World Amateur Radio Day award will be granted by the Polish Radio
Amateur's Journal to those who make either 10 QSOs on the High Frequency
bands, or 10 QSOs on the VHF bands. All contacts must be made between 0000
and 2400 U-T-C on April 18th.
The full colored award is also available to SWL's for the same numbers of
reports. To claim it you will need to send a completed application form
along with a log extract that includes your list of QSO's and 5
International Reply Coupons to the The Polish Radio Amateur's Journal.
Its address is MK QTC, Suchacz-Zamek - Wielmozy 5b, 82-340 Tolkmicko,
Poland. Miore information is on-line at www.ward.pzk.pl
Saying a happy 1600 to all, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles, for
the Amateur Radio Newsline.
--
Oh yes. The deadline to file for this years World Amateur Radio Day award
is midnight UTC on May 31st. (Southgate)
**
RESCUE RADIO: CANADIAN EARTH HOUR EXERCISE A SUCCESS
An emergency communications radio system was tested in Southern Ontario
Canada during the March 29th Earth Hour. That's when the Toronto FM
Communications Society in association with the Canadian Amateur Radio
Emergency Service and Emergency Management Ontario conducted a trial of
the ability of the amateur radio repeater system in the Southern Ontario
to respond to crisis situations.
During the Earth Hour, the Toronto FM Communications Society net control
station operated from an Emergency Management Ontario mobile command
center. He logged in excess of 60 stations. All were operating on
emergency back-up power sources with some operators in Hamilton to Oshawa
and north to Barrie responding. The exercise proved the importance of
amateur radio operators and repeater organizations in the event of a
widespread disaster.
Toronto FM Communications Society operates repeaters on the CN Tower in
Toronto, Ontario as well as at the highest elevation in Southern Ontario
atop the Skyloft Ski Resort in Uxbridge, Ontario. More about the group is
on line at www.tfmcs.com (eHam, PRWeb)
**
BREAK 1
>From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W5DSC repeater
serving the ham radio community in and near Victoria, Texas.
(5 sec pause here)
**
RESCUE RAFIO: EMCOMMWEST IN RENO NEVADA MAY 2 - 4
If you are into emergency communications and public service, then Reno,
Nevada, is the spot to be the weekend of May 2nd to the 4th. Amateur
Radio Newslie's Don Carlson, KQ6FM, is in Reno with the details:
--
EMCOMMWEST 2008 is returning to "The Biggest Little City in the World",
Reno, Nevada, It will be held at the Circus Circus Hotel in downtown
Reno, May 2-4.
This year's keynote speaker will be Dennis Dura, K2DCD - Emergency
Preparedness and Response Manager from the ARRL headquarters in Newington,
CN. Dennis will bring some great information about how we can be better
emergency communicators, and use the latest technology and resources
available in doing so.
Emcommwest will also feature a special video presentation from Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH special council of the FCC's enforcement Bureau, who
has agreed to do the video which will be shown at EMCOMMWEST.
Also, Emcommwest will welcome Gordon West, WB6NOA from southern
California, who was with us a few years back will return as the Saturday
night banquet speaker and also host a forum during the event as an
introduction to Emergency Communications, and he will have a display booth
set up in the vendor hall. Gordon is also bringing his mobile
communications unit for us to see. Banquet seating is limited, so make
reservations early!
Forums covering leadership, handling PIO duties during callouts, working
with different served agencies, MARS, the latest technology, and many new
presentations will highlight this year's event. Emcommwest will also have
it's own SPECIAL EVENT STATION, operating on HF, UHF and VHF! Pacific
Division Director Bob Vallio, W6RGG will host an ARRL forum on Sunday May
4 with many SM's and other officials taking part.
There will be raffle prizes, including radios, power supply, and many
other items along with an all new, larger vendor room and an all day
amateur licensing class along with VE testing, so non-ham attendees can
become licensed while they are there. Advance conference and banquet
registration is now available online via the website, at
www.emcommwest.org. Special room rates are available from Circus Circus,
via a link on the website. For information, email your requests to:
info at emcommwest.org We are looking forward to a great EMCOMMWEST this
year!
>From the site of Emcommwest in Reno, Nevada, this is Don Carlson, KQ6FM
for Amateur Radio Newsline.
--
Again the dates are May 2nd to the 4th at the Circus Circus Hotel
in Reno, Nevada for Emcommwest 2008 -- the premiere ham radio
emergency communications show west of the Continental Divide. More
information is on the web at www.emcommwest.org (KQ6FM, Emcommwest )
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC TELLS TWO HAMS TO STAY OFF LOCAL REPEATERS
Two hams in different parts of the country have received warning letters
from the FCC. Letters that tell them to stay off of certain repeaters in
their respective geographic areas.
In New York, the trustees of the K3TSA 2 meter repeater system had
requested in writing that David R. Henry, W2DRH, refrain from use of that
repeater. The request was issued as a result of Henry's alleged failure to
follow operational rules set forth by the licensee and or the control
operators of the repeater and of the FCC rules. The FCC says that Henry
had previously been requested to refrain from using the system, but had
apparently ignored both verbal and written requests.
The FCC not only warned Henry that any further unauthorized use of him by
the repeater will bring enforcement action against his license. It also
noted that his license expires on April 21, 2009. It says that his
license will not be routinely renewed unless this matter is resolved.
A warning letter has also been sent to Edward R. Drone, W0NYF. In this
instance the trustee of the St. Louis and Suburban Radio Club repeaters
K0STL, N0TYZ, W0FF and W0SRC had requested in writing that Drone refrain
from use of the repeaters. The request was issued as a result of his
alleged failure to follow operational rules set forth by the licensee and
control operators of the repeaters for their users.
In a conversation with the FCC in February 2008 Drone reportedly
acknowledged that he had been directed to stay off of the repeaters and
stated that he would comply. However, the FCC says that on March 31st he
was heard utilizing the K0STL repeater and reportedly stated that he would
not refrain from using it.
Now, in its April 2nd letter to Drone the FCC warns him that it expects
him to abide by the request to stay off of the repeaters and any other
such request by a repeater licensee, control operator or trustee. It
warns W-Zero-N-Y-F that failure to do so will lead to enforcement action
that could include revocation of his license , or a modification
proceeding to restrict the frequencies on which he may operate.
Drone was also asked to contact FCC rules enforcer Riley Hollingsworth and
issues with him. (FCC)
**
RADIO LAW: NEW CALIFORNIA HANDS-FREE MOBILE PHONE LAW MAY IMPACT TWO-WAY
RADIO AFTER ALL
California's soon to be in force hands free mobile phone law could impact
on two way radio users after all. While a recently released pamphlet
released by the states Department of Motor Vehicles states that the use of
dedicated two-way radios such as walkie-talkies or Citizen Band radios is
not affected by the new hands-free law, there are some who tend to
disagree. And because of this two camps of thinking have developed.
Those fearful of the consequences of the new law are of the opinion is
that judges will ignore the language in the Department of Motor Vehicles
pamphlet. Instead, this group believes that those adjudicating such a
case will refer to the actual law which does not generally exempt two-way
radio operations from the hands-free provision.
However, a contrary opinion is that the law clearly refers to and is
written around wireless telephone handsets and their use. These people
note that most two-way radios are not wireless telephones. Also, that even
the California Highway Patrol seems to acknowledge that the new law is
about Wireless Telephones only.
The bottom line. Its likely that one of these days someone will get
ticketed for using a business band radio, a C-B set or even a mobile ham
radio station. That will be the test case and we are all going to have to
wait and see if it actually happens and what the final outcome will be.
More is on-line: http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/dl208_
03cell_phone.pdf and http://www.chp.ca.gov/pdf/media/cell_phone_faq.pdf)
(CGC, others)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: ARRL'S HARRISON APPOINTED TO AK SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AUTHORITY
A word of congratulations to ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, who has
been appointed to a four year term on the Board of Directors of the
Arkansas Science & Technology Authority by Governor Mike Beebe.
The Arkansas Science & Technology Authority was created by statute in 1983
with the mission to bring the benefits of science and advanced technology
to the people and state of Arkansas. Harrison's appointment has already
been approved by the Arkansas State Senate. (ARRL)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: K6JGN NAMED NEWPORT BEACH VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
And congratulations also to Ed Karagozian, K6JGN. On March 20th,
Karagozian was named as the 2007 Volunteer of the Year for his eighteen-
plus years of service with Newport Beach California RACES. The honor was
bestowed by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce held its 37th Annual
Police Appreciation Awards Breakfast (Via e-mail)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: N2NT NAMED NEW CQ WW 160M CONTEST DIRECTOR
Veteran contester Andy Blank, N2NT, of Dayton, New Jersey, has been named
the new Director of the CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest. Blank succeeds
Dave Thompson, K4JRB, who has decided to retire after 16 years at the helm
of the event. (CQ)
**
YHOTY: 2008 NOMINATIONS SOUGHT
And a reminder 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 dot YHOTY dot org. (ARNewsline)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: HEIL SOUND HOSTING 2008 NAB HAM RADIO RECEPTION
If you are planning to attend the National Association of Broadcasters
Convention, Bob Heil, K9EID, advises that the annual Ham Radio Reception
hosted by Heil Sound will be held on Wednesday night, April 16th, from
6:00 to 8:00 p.m. local Las Vegas time.
As usual, the venue in Ballroom B of the Las Vegas Hilton Hotel. The
hotel adjoins the Las Vegas Convention Center which is the home of the
National Association of Broadcasters gathering. Bob says that there will
be lots and lots of prizes and that you never know who might show up.
(Heil Sound, K9EID)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: REPEATERS FOR HAMS ATTENDING THE NAB CONVENTION IN LAS
VEGAS
And the Las Vegas Radio Amateur Club invites you to enjoy the use of our
repeaters while you are in town. The club says it will have its UHF and
VHF systems linked together most of the time. According to Bill Croghan,
WBOKSW, the 2-meter repeater is on 146.94 MHz with a minus 600 kHz offset,
and requiring a 100 Hz sub-audible access tone. The 70 cm system operates
on 448.500 MHz with its input MHz lower. It too requires a 100 Hz tone.
(CGC, WBOKSW )
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: THE ARRL AT NAB 2008
Also, last but by no means least, the ARRL will have its usual presence at
NAB 2008. Look for them in Booth L One off to the left of the main
exhibit hall entrance. This years National Association of Broadcasters
Convention runs from April 11th to the 17th, at the Las Vegas Convention
Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (CGC, WBOKSW )
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: SHELBY HAMFEST LOOKING FOR A NEW HOME
The famed Shelby Hamfest is not cancelled. But it is looking for a new
home.
Word of the supposed demise of Shelby began spreading across ham radio
cyberspace last week. This as bloggers interpreted a newspaper story
regarding the inability of the Shelby Amateur Radio Club and the operators
of the Cleveland County Fairgrounds to reach agreement on a contract for
the 2008 show.
But Susan Melvin, K4ZXN, who is a member of the Shelby Amateur Radio club
has posted to QRZ dot com that the blogs are not correct. She says that
the Shelby Hamfest has not been cancelled. Rather, the planners are
actively seeking a new site for the show.
Melvin adds that as soon as the official word comes, it will be posted on
the club's website. Its URL is www.shelbyhamfeast.org. (QRZ.com)
**
BREAK 2
This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States
of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from
our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the
volunteer services of the following radio amateur:
(5 sec pause here)
**
THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: AZDEN'S LEW REINBERG, W2BIE - S.K.
Once again the changing of three guard in ham radio continues. This with
word that Lew Reinberg, W2BIE, formerly with the Amateur Radio Products
division of Azden Communications, has passed away.
Reinberg came to Azden after a long career in the photographic and
electronics industries. This, as a final job prior to his full retirement
several years ago. He left when Azden announced that the company had
decided to exit the ham radio marketplace.
First licensed back in 1954, Reinberg was active on all bands from HF
through UHF. He was an avid DX'er and well known in both the New York
City and Baltimore, Maryland ham radio communities. He was a fixture with
the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club almost since the groups
inception and its said that there was a room in Lew's house that wasn't
within ear shot of a ham radio or scanner.
Lew Reinberg, W2BIE, is survived by his wife Elaine, W2ECR, and son
Steven, N2HOK. Services for W2BIE were held on Monday, March 17th at the
Young Israel of West Hempstead Temple on New York City's Long Island.
(K2EPM)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: COMMERATING THE TITANIC
At least two ham radio groups say that they will mark the 96th anniversary
of the sinking of the RMS Titanic special event operations. First up is
W- Zero-S, which stands for "White Star Line." It will be on the air from
the Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri. 1300 UTC on Saturday, April 12,
and conclude at 2400 UTC on Sunday, April 13.
Members of the Nixa Amateur Radio Club and the Southwest Missouri Amateur
Radio Club will bring W0S to life along with corporate underwriters Icom,
MFJ, MicroLog, Rayfield Communications and Vibroplex. Listen out for this
one on SSB, CW, PSK plus some activity on D-Star, EchoLink and IRLP. More
information including a full list of frequencies and the QSL route is on-
line at www dot wzeros dot com
Alson on tape is special event station W1MGY. It will operate from the
Titanic Historical Society Museum in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts.
Operation will concentrate on 20 and 40 meters. Listen out for it on
April 11-12 from 1400 UTC until 2030 UTC both days QSL' for this one go
to the Titanic Historical Society, W1MGY, PO Box 51053, Indian Orchard, MA
01151. (Press releases)
**
WORLDBEAT - ENGLAND: RSGB STAFF MEMBER RUNNING LONDON MARATHON ON STILTS
Meantime. on Sunday April 13th, a Radio Society of Great Britain staff
member hopes to set a new world record. That's when Michelle Frost, of
the RSGB Commercial department, will be running the London Marathon on
four foot high stilts!
Michelle has been stilt-walking for close to ten years but only graduated
to the four foot high ones about three years ago. This time around she is
taking to her lofty perch to raise money for REACH. This is a U K based
charity dedicated to helping children with upper limb deficiencies.
To date, no-one has ever competed in a marathon on stilts and the Guinness
Book of Records is reportedly starting a new record category to celebrate.
To find out more about Michelle and her charity walk on stilts, go to
www.justgiving.com/rainbowdave on the World-Wide-Web. (RSGB)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: CELEBRATING 1600 WEEKS OF THE AMATEUR RADIO NEWSLINE
And finally this week . Hmmm... How many times have you heard those
words on these newscasts? The words ".and finally this week."
Well, if you have been with us since the beginning in 1977, this week
marks the 1600th time one of our news anchors has introduced the last
story of the week with those words going right back to the days we were
the Westlink Radio Network.
It Jim Hendershot, WA6VQP, who originally conceived, produced and voiced
the Westlink newscasts. Actually, Westlink was originally intended for
one newscast to talk about the pros and cons of the hottest topic of the
day. That topic was repeater deregulation:
--
Audio only: Please download and play the mp3 version of the newscast
available at www.arnewsline.org
--
That's how it started. And after 70 some off newscasts, Jim Hendershot
moved away from Los Angeles, turning the reins of Westlink Radio over to
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. He in turn solicited the assistance of two
friends from NBC News. Broadcast Engineer Bill Orenstein, KH6QX, and the
late Alan Kaul, W6RCL:
--
Audio only: Please download and play the mp3 version of the newscast
available at www.arnewsline.org
--
Over the years there were many highlights of the world of Amateur Radio
that Westlink and then Newsline covered live on tape. Among them the
grand opening of the ham radio station on board the Queen Mary Ocean Liner
and the first QSO's from its refurbished radio room. That happened back
on April 4th of 1979, when the late D-X'er Don Wallace, W6AM, made that
opening night contact.
--
Audio only: Please download and play the mp3 version of the newscast
available at www.arnewsline.org
--
Then there was the first contact made from the space shuttle Columbia by
astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL, and Lance Collister, WA1JXN, in
Ferenchtown, Montana. That QSO took place on November 28th 1983 and we
were the first to bring not only the story, but the sound of the actual
contact as well:
--
Audio only: Please download and play the mp3 version of the newscast
available at www.arnewsline.org
--
But not all of the stories we covered were happy times. One of the
saddest days in ham radio history took place on May 23, 1980. At three
minutes into the launch of Amsat's Phase 3 A satellite something went
wrong with the French-built launch rocket and the ham radio payload went
into the sea:
--
Audio only: Please download and play the mp3 version of the newscast
available at www.arnewsline.org
--
Undaunted, within a few weeks Amsat began work on Phase 3B. It would go
to space on June 16, 1983 and became the highly successful AMSAT-OSCAR 10.
A year later, A Oh 10 was used for the first ever HT to HT repeater to
repeater contact and we brought the sound of that historic moment to your
repeater and even to your HT:
--
Audio only: Please download and play the mp3 version of the newscast
available at www.arnewsline.org
--
Admittedly by today's standards with the Internet, IRLP and Echolink that
1984 repeater interlink using a ham radio satellite sounds kind of crude.
But it did open the eyes of many hams who had been conditioned to think of
a repeater as a purely local device. Suddenly repeaters had matured to
where a 2 watt H-T could be heard nationwide. Eventually the technology
of the 1990's and this first part of the 21st century would give a tiny
hand held a voice heard around the world.
And so here we are in April of 2008, some 30 years and 8 months after the
very first Westlink radio bulletin aired in Los Angeles. Back then, none
of us had any idea that it would be here this long and that some of us who
were there back then would still be doing it now. But we are and we will
continue for as long as you want us. In our book, you are the most
important reason that we work to bring you a timely news bulletin every
week. And as we say at the end of each newscast, and as we say again
today, we thank you for listening.
Im' Jim Davis W2JKD.
The Amateur Radio Newsline is copyright 2008. All rights are reserved.
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