[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1615 - July 25, 2008
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Sun Jul 27 11:20:04 EDT 2008
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1615 - July 25, 2008
The following is a Q-S-T. Several popular digital audio programs that
were pulled from the World Wide Web have returned, but with a
different coding and decoding scheme. Are they as good as before?
Also, hams help as hurricane Dolly hits the gulf coast, the ARRL and
FCC meet to discuss B-P-L and a United Kingdom amateur radio club gets
a public grant to go D-Star. Find out the details on Amateur Radio
Newsline report number 1615 coming your way right now.
**
RADIO LAW: WINDRM AND OTHER SOUND CARD PROGRAMS GET CODEC CHANGE
Several popular digital voice programs that were pulled from
distribution have returned with a different digital coding and decoding
scheme. This following major rewrites to avoid problems dealing with
intellectual property rights. Amateur Radio Newsline's Gary Pearce,
KN4AQ, is in Cary, North Carolina, with the details:
--
Hams who tried to download any of the sound-card based Digital Voice
programs - WinDRM, DRMDV and FDMDV - this past week, found them gone,
as were the Google-Groups message boards that supported them.
The problem was licensing, or lack of it, for the codec that all the
programs shared. That codec was developed for the US military and NATO,
but was never licensed for free distribution. Several companies shared
the intellectual property rights, and finally, one of them complained.
This caused a quick re-write of WinDRM and FDMDV with an open-source
codec. At air-time, the new version of FDMDV was available again at the
download site, N1SU dot COM, and WinDRM is expected to be back soon.
DRMDV, little used since FDMDV was developed, has been dropped.
Digital Voice users will need to download the new version of FDMDV to
maintain compatibility.
The new codec isn't quite as good as the old one, so audio quality, a
hallmark of the Digital Voice programs, will suffer a bit. The old
codec, called MELP, was designed for high quality, low data-rate
communication, and was particularly well suited for HF radio
applications.
WinDRM occupies about 2.5 kHz of spectrum and sounds like FM with few
artifacts when signals are good. FDMDV, uses only 1.1 kHz of spectrum.
It sounds a little rougher, but still remarkable for that low
bandwidth. It works closer to the noise level, and has almost no
latency. Both programs use OFDM multiple carrier modulation schemes,
and work with ordinary single-sideband transceivers.
This episode points out the need for someone - somewhere - to develop a
codec for low-bandwidth digital voice on Amateur Radio. The sound-card
based digital-voice programs have been a continuous "work in progress."
But they need a codec for that work to continue.
Note that the AOR digital voice modems, and D-STAR radios, use a
commercial product, the AMBE 2020 vocoder, so they are NOT affected by
this license situation.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Gary Pearce, KN4AQ.
--
More on this in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports. (ARNewsline,
KN4AQ)
**
RADIO LAW: FCC AND ARRL MEET TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF BPL
The ARRL and the FCC have met to discuss the future of Broadband over
Powerline Internet access. This after an appeals court ruled earlier
in the year that the FCC handled the matter of B-P-L's introduction to
the U-S improperly.
On July 9, ARRL officials including President Joel Harrison, W5ZN;
Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, and General Counsel Chris
Imlay, W3KD met with members of the FCC's Office of Engineering and
Technology. According to Imlay, the meeting was hold to discuss a
possible regulatory approach to BPL with the FCC. Suggestions put
forth by ARRL addressed the needs and concerns of Amateur Radio
operators in avoiding harmful interference from BPL systems while
imposing the minimum necessary regulatory obligations on B-P-L
deployments.
Imlay said, that there are at this point rules that could be adopted
which would, at once, both protect Amateur Radio communications from
predictable harmful interference from BPL; and permit broadband over
power line systems to operate in the 3 to 80 MHz range without
significant constraint and without substantial redesign or retroactive
build outs.
Meantime, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of
Columbia Circuit has ordered that the Federal Communications Commission
\ reimburse ARRL for the docketing fee and the cost of reproducing
copies of briefs and other documents in the ARRL's successful challenge
of the FCC's Broadband over Powerline rules. The Order, issued on July
9 following review of an opposition from the FCC and a reply from the
ARRL, awarded the ARRL's full claim of $6,096.18. (ARRL)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: BREAKING NEWS- SATELLITE WEEKING STREAMING ON THE
WEB
Thanks to the British Amateur Television Club this year's AMSAT-UK
Satellite Weekend will be streamed live to the web. In fact it
happening as this newscast hits air.
The event also known as the AMSAT U-K Soace Colloquium takes place over
3 days from Friday July 25th through Sunday the 27th at the University of
Surrey, Guildford, England. Peter Blakeborough G3PYB, President of
BATC, is streaming video of the presentations live to the Internet so
that Radio Amateurs and SWL's can watch them from anywhere in the
world. In addition to the webcast club is providing a Live Chat web
page enabling viewers to post messages.
This streaming video is available at www.batc.tv with no log in or
membership required,. More information on Satellite Weekend is on line
at www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium (G4TUT, Southgate)
**
RESCUE RADIO: VOIP HURRINCE NET ACTIVATES FOR DOLLY
The VoIP Hurricane Net was called up last Tuesday Evening as Hurricane
Dolly threatened the U.S. shoreline. We have more in this report:
--
When hurruicane Dolly slammed into the Texas coastline on Wednesday
morning, July 233rd, hams involved in the VoIP Hurricane Watch Net were
already on the air. Dolly had became a Class 2 hurricane packing winds
exceeding 100 miles an hour. The storm causing heavy damage to low
lying areas on the border of the United States and Mexico, ripping off
roofs, and leaving thousands of people without power or telephone
service. Cellular service was also reportedly overwhelmed.
But hams involved in Skywarn and Hurricane Watch activities stood their
ground. WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane
Center in Miami, had already activated its High Frequency network and
its EchoLink, and IRLP station at 1800 U-T-C on Tuesday, July 22nd.
Accordiong to Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, the VoIP Hurricane Net was called
on 14.325 MHz on Tuesday evening, by Rob Macedo, KD1CY. Merecado is
the Net Operations Manager. WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center
monitored the net for field reports both by radio and by VoIP.
Dolly is the second hurricane of the Atlantic season., It dropped
close to a foot of rain in the first few hours after coming ashore.
Hardest hit was the area South of Port Isabel in the border town of
Brownsville.
After making landfall it weakened to a tropical storm on Thursday July
24th but concern remains over flooding along the heavily populated Rio
Grande Valley. As we go to air on Friday, July 25th, hams across the
area involved in emergency response reportedly remain on alert.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in The
studio in Los Angeles.
--
More on this story in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports. (KN4AQ,
ARNewsline)
**
RESCUE RADIO: UK CLUB RECEIVES GRANT TO GO D-STAR
A United Kingdom based amateur radio organization has received a grant
to go D-Star. The Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has been
awarded over œ9,000 in lottery funding towards new radio equipment
which will serve a large area of Sussex.
The repeaters will be located in the Worthing Borough Council
buildings serving an extensive area along the Sussex Coast. They will
allow digital communication both locally and worldwide using radio and
internet technology.
In addition to the repeaters, part of the funding will be used to
replace the club's current radio equipment with new state of the art
equipment. This will include new transceivers, antennas, microphones
and several other pieces of equipment.
The Worthing and District Amateur Radio Society is an organization with
well over 100 members. More about it is on-line at www.wadarc.org.uk
(Southgate)
**
RESCUE RADIO: SERVICENATION TO HOST 911 SUMMIT
A major conference on volunteerism and emergency preparedness will be
held this September in New York City and planners hope to have both
Presidential froint runners attending. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff
Reinhardt, AA6JR, reports:
--
The two major presidential front runners have been invited to speak
about the need for public service at a national symposium being held on
the anniversary of the 911 terror attacks.
The ServiceNation Summit being held in New York September 11th and 12th.
Planners hope it will bring together 500 leaders of all ages and from
every sector of American life to celebrate the power and potential of
citizen service. Planners also hope to lay out what the group calls a
policy blueprint for addressing America's greatest social challenges
through expanded opportunities for volunteer service.
Theres already talk on the blogs that ham radio operators could play a
significant hole in some programs that ServiceNation plans to put in
place. This, by providing volunteer communications for some of them.
Some thoughts are that this type of involvement could breath new like
into thousands of ham radio repeaters that currently lie dormant most
hours of the day.
ServiceNation has invited Prseidential hopefulls Brack Obama and John
McCain to speak at the event. As we go to air only Republican McCain
has accepted. Also confirmed to address the meeting are New York Mayor
Michael Bloomberg and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The
latter has already created a cabinet level post dedicated to service
and volunteering.
Look for more on the ServiceNation volunteer program and just how ham
radio might fit in coming in future Newsline reports.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, in Los
Angeles .
--
ServiceNation is a non-partisan organization formed to promote
volunteerism by creating target groups with a goal of having 100
million citizens involved as volunteers in schools, workplaces and
faith-based and community institutions each year. The summit is part of
that campaign. More information on this meeting and on ServiceNation
is on-line at http://www.bethechangeinc.org/servicenation
(ServiceNation release and other sources)
**
ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENSED FLORIDA BROADCASTER WARNED TO CEASE OPERATION
The FCC has told a Florida resident that he must immediately cease
operation of an unlicensed broadcast transmitter. One that the FCC
alleges he or someone on his premises has been operating.
In its July 14th letter to David A. Keir of Lake Worth the regulatory
agency says that its Miami Office had earlier received information that
an unlicensed broadcast radio station on 92.5 MHz. On June 18th agents
from this office confirmed that radio signals on frequency 92.5 MHz
were emanating from property in the Lake Worth area that Florida
records showed as belonging to Keir.
The Commission says that its records show that no license was issued
for operation of a broadcast station at that location in Lake Worth,
Florida. It ordered Keir to immediately cease operation of this radio
station and warned him of severe penalties if he did not comply. This
could include monetary fines, in seizure of the offending radio
equipment, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment.
Keir was given 10 days from the date of the notice to respond with any
evidence that he has been granted authority to operate the station by
the FCC. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: THAT'S NOT REALLY HAM GEAR
The owner of a company that sells wireless video solutions has pulled
several wireless transmitters from his website. This after the FCC
issued a Citation to Georgia based Range Video for importing and
marketing unauthorized wireless video transmitters and failing to file
the proper FCC forms with the US Customs office and the US Border
Patrol.
In its July 21st Citation sent to Vladimir Reznik who is the owner of
Range Video, the FCC says that it had previously sent him a Letter of
Inquiry regarding this issue. Reznik responded to that Letter of
Inquiry by fully admitting that he first imported the devices in 2006
and that he continues to import the units.
Reznik went on to say that before he ships a transmitter that he
switches each unit to operate only in the Amateur Radio Service bands.
He also claimed that equipment that transmits solely on Amateur Radio
Service frequencies is not subject to the equipment authorization
requirement prior to manufacture or marketing.
But in its letter of Citation the FCC says that it appears that the
seven transmitter devices marketed on Reznik's website were equipped
with external toggle switches. The FCC says that if these switches are
engaged it would allow operation of the device on the restricted
frequencies.
The FCC has warned Reznik that if he violates the Communications Act or
the Commission's Rules in any manner after receipt of the Citation,
that the regulatory agency Commission may impose monetary forfeitures
for each such violation or each day of a continuing violation.
Reznik was given the customary 30 days to reply to the Citation. He
was directed to specify the actions he is taking so as not to violate
the Commission's Rules governing the marketing of radio frequency
equipment in the future. But the federal regulators really don't have
to wait. All they have to do is go to the World Wide Web to find a
notice on the Range Video website next to each of these units that
reads:
" This item is temporary not available. The FCC is not allowing us to
sell these transmitter to the USA because they can be modified to
transmit on restricted frequencies."
The Range Video website notice goes on to state that all future
transmitter devices shipped to the USA will have this toggle switch
permanently removed by the manufacturer to allow transmission only on
910 MHz.
The FCC noted that more than 2600 of these illegal transmitters have
been sold by Range Video since 2006. (FCC)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: K0DXC FEARURED ON KTSP TV
A teenage Minnesota ham has been featured on a local news show for his
outstanding accomplishments as both a radio amateur and an athlete. 13
year old Cal Darula, K0DXC, of Waconia has been featured on Minneapolis
St. Paul station KTSP in a story that highlights his love of baseball
and his dedication to our world wide communications hobby.
Darula says that he has been playing baseball since he was a toddler.
He discovered ham radio at age 10 when he got his Technician license .
At 12 upgraded to General, and he has since worked the world using
mainly Morse. In fact, Cal can handle Morse at speeds up to 30 words
per minute.
In the KTSP news item, K0DXC says that ham radio is really a hobby for
people of all ages. He also says that it has also helped him to
become a straight A student in school.
In addition to his love of Morse, Cal Darula is a member of the ARRL,
FISTS, the Minnesota Wireless Association, the Young Amateur Contest
Ham Team and World Wide Young Contesters. He is also the ARRL
Minnesota Youth Assistant Section Manager.
You can see the complete news item featuring Cal Darruls, K0DXC, on
line http://kstp.com/article/stories/S519423.shtml?cat=206 (KQ0NN)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: ART BELL W66OBB INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL RADIO
HALL OF FAME
A word of congratulations to ham radios own Art Bell, W6OBB. This on
word that he has been inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame as
a part of the hall's class of 2008.
In its press release the Hall of Fame said the following about W6OBB:
"Showing an early interest in radio, Art Bell became a licensed amateur
radio operator at the age of 13. In 1989, he was offered a five hour
time slot in the middle of the night by KDWN in Las Vegas. The
original format was a political talk show, but Bell switched the focus
to paranormal-themed topics in the mid 1990s.
At its peak, "Coast to Coast AM" was syndicated on over 500 stations
and enjoyed an audience of 15 million. While Bell has reduced his
schedule, he still occasionally hosts the weekend edition."
Others inducted along with Art Bell include radio legands Charlie Tuna
and the late Dick Wittinghill. Art Bell, W6OBB, can usually be found
on 75 meter SSB when he takes to the ham radio airwaves. (RW)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: AUSTIN SUMMERFEST CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
Austin, Texas will be the spot to be on August 1st and 2nd for the 2008
Austin Summerfest ham radio show. 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of
the Summerfest and to mark the event planners has set up an entire
roster of happenings. These include presentations and meetings, a
swapfest and lots of prizes.
The venue is the Wyndham Garden Hotel and Conference Center off
Interstate 35 and Woodward Street, in Austin. More information is on-
line at www.austinsummerfest.info (Via e-mail)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: DUKE CITY HAMFEST
The 2008 Duke City Hamfest takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico,
August 15th and 16th. Its venue this year is the Sandia Baptist Church
on Constitution Avenue in the North East Heights area of the city.
Admission is free but banquet tickets are not included. This years
banquet speaker is ARRL's Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager
Dennis Dura, K2DCD.
Talk-in for the Duke City Hamfest is on the local 145.33 and 444.0 Mhz
repeaters. Both require a 100 hertz access tone. More information is
on the web at www dot qsl dot net slash dchf or by snail mail to the
Duke City Hamfest, P.O. Box 30394, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87190.
(Via e-mail)
**
THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: BOB SIEVERS. W9FJT - SK
A radio legend has become a Silent Key. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim
Davis, W2JKD, has the story of the passing of Mr. WOWO:
--
The ham known as Fort Wayne, Indiana's "Mr. WOWO" became a silent key
last fall, but its only now hit the ham radio community that radio
legend Robert Bob Sievers was also one of us and held the call W9FJT
Bob Sievers spent five decades with WOWO as host on the very popular
morning shows "Little Red Barn Show" that aired from 5 to 7 a.m., and
the Bob Sievers show that was on from 7 to 10 a.m..
Sievers started his career at WOWO in 1932 as an unpaid announcer for a
morning gospel while he was still a freshman at South Side High School.
He was hired as a morning announcer in 1936, for $5 a week while still
in high school.
The only break Sievers took from the station was when he served in the
U.S. Navy. He did four years during World War II and two years during
the Korean War. After his enlistment's ended it was back to W0WO where
the stations 50,000-watt signal put Sievers' voice into 28 states and
even overseas. He often received reception reports from listeners that
included missionaries in places as far away as Africa.
In 1981 Bob Sievers was Inducted into the Indiana Broadcasting Hall of
Fame. He retired from WOWO in 1987 after more than 50 years at the
station.
In the world of amateur radio, Bob Sievers W9FJT had an equally big
voice, though not quite as powerful as that of WOWO. He enjoyed 160
meter AM operation using an RCA transmitter that was retired from WOWO.
W9FJT gave it a second life and his rich broadcasters voice became well
known on Top Band.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD.
--
Bob Sievers, W9FJT, became a Silent Key on September 3, 2007. A note
posted to his QRZ.com listing simply say that he will be greatly missed
by all his friends. (W2JKD and various other sources)
**
HAM HAPENINGS: QCWA ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED
Bob Roske, N0UI, will be the next Preident of the Quarter Century
Wireless Association succeeding John B. Johnston, W3BE, in that post.
Roske, a longtime Q-C-W-A Board member from Hutcninson, Minnesota, beat
out Len Nathanson, W8RC, by a close vote of 1037 to 991.
Elected as QCWA Vice President is Ken Oelke, VE3AFO, of Calgary,
Alberta, Canada. Walt Supina, N3WS, of State College, Pennsylvania
was selected as Secretary and Frank Harris, WA4PAM, from Clewiston,
Florida as Treasurer. 12 directors were also elected or re-elected as
well. (QCWA)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: WIN A SOLAR POWERED RADIO FROM RNW
To mark the launch of its SMS texting service, shortwave broadcaster
Radio Netherlands is offering liteners the chance to win a solar-
powered shortwave radio and lots of Radio Netherlands Worldwide
goodies. All you have to do is text the answer to a very simple
question, plus supply your name and email address. Full details are on
line at a special Radio Nretherlands website at
www.radionetherlands.nl/radioprogrammes/080714-sms-rnw-programmes
(Media Network)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: VIDEO GAME HELPS TEENS FIGHT CANCER
Science OnLine reports on a new video game designed to give young
cancer patients a sense of power and control over their disease. Re-
Mission is the 3D game described as a 20 level journey through the
bodies of fictional patients with different types of cancer.
Players control a nano robot named Roxxi. Its task is to destroy cancer
cells, battle bacterial infections, and manage realistic, life-
threatening side effects
.
But the game is more than a fun challenge. Studies show that young
cancer patients who play the Re-Mission are more likely to take their
medicine, undergo needed therapy and understand their illness. Thats
because the game is geared to help teenagers better adhere to their
cancer treatment and embrace vital behaviors to improve their health.
For more information on Re-Mission is available on-line at
www.CIGNA.com/Re-mission. (Science OnLine)
**
RADIO RESEARCH: NEW 2 METER BEACON IN NC
A new two meter propagation beacon has become operational from
Oriental, North Carolina. Its callsign is N7BHC slash B and it
operates Morse on 144.290.8 MHz. Power out is 50 watts at the antenna
which is a KLM yagi pointing 70 degrees. QSN reports go to
n7bhc_ob_remote at carolina.rr.com (VHF Reflector)
**
WORLDBEAT - NEW ZEALAND: WAITAKERE SPRINTS TO CONTINUE
New Zealand's Papakura Radio Club inc. has announced that the Waitakere
Sprints will continue. The dates of these mini-contests will be the
same as previously held. The Phone Sprint will be on the last Saturday
in July and the CW Sprint will be on the first Saturday in August.
Both are one-hour duration on 80 meters and are open to all licensed
amateurs in New Zealand, Australia and the Oceania call areas.
(Papakura Radio Club)
**
DX
In DX, EP3BN is reported on from Iran. Listen out for him on 20 meter
SSB between 13:30 and 16:00 UTC. QSL via JH1NBN.
The Hong Kong Amateur Radio DX Association will use the special call
VR2008O on 40 through 6 meters during the upcoming Olympic Games.
Operations will use SSB, RTTY and PSK31 through August 31st. QSL direct
only by VR2XMT, Charlie Ho, P.O. Box 900, Fanling Post Office, Hong
Kong..
LA3OHA, will be staying in Caucasus through September. He will
operating on several bands and looks for QSLs during his time there.
If you work him QSL to Terje Hovde, P. O. Boks 58, 0102 Tbilisi,
Georgien.
Lastly, DL5XX, is on a business trip to Ghana through August 10th and
will be active on CW on all bands as 9G5MM. Equipment is IC-706 and 1
kW power amplifier feeding a G5RV antenna. More information is on-line
at www.rrdxa.eu/9g5mm .
(From various DX news sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: THE RADIO SPEEDGUN KID
And finally this week, since police can't be everywhere an 11 year old
armed with a toy radio spredgun is filling in the gaps. Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with more:
--
His name is Landon Wilburn. He is only 11 but he stands tall against
speeders.
As he recently told the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper, he used
to shout at speeders to slow down. Then Landon got a better idea.
Dressed in a reflective vest, wearing a bicycle helmet and armed with a
Hot Wheels brand radar gun, he points it at cars speeding through the
sub-division where he lives and records the speed of passing traffic.
One of the subdivision residents is George Ayers. He told the
newspaper that he has seen drivers lock up their brakes when they saw
Landon clocking them.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the
studio in Los Angeles.
--
Officials say the city will install speed bumps in the neighborhood if
70 percent of residents agree and are willing to put up half the money.
Until that happens Landon, toy radio speed gun in hand, will likely
continue to do his part to get speeders to slow down. (courier-
journal.com)
**
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 WIA 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 2008. All rights reserved.
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