[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1634 - December 5, 2008

Sun Dec 7 08:08:36 EST 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1634 - December 5, 2008

The following is a Q-S-T. Manned ham radio in space hits year 25. We 
take you back to the very beginning. Also, a new European 40 meter 
plan to become effective in March of 2009 and the story of an award 
based on a famous bird of flight. Find out which one on Amateur Radio 
Newsline" report number 1634 coming your way right now.

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: CELEBRATING THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF W5LFL AND 
STS-9

ARISS -- Amateur Radio on the International Space Station -- is 
celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first manned ham radio 
operation from Earth orbit by Owen Garriott, W5LFL. Bill Pasternak, 
WA6ITF, was there a quarter of a century ago when he was the Field 
Producer for the film making team that captured this historic event. 
Hes here now to take us on a trip back through time:

--

If you were a ham a decade and a half ago you might remember these 
words:

--

Roy Neal K6DUE: "This is the story of an expedition, the flight of 
STS-9. The Columbia. And these are the explorers: John Young, the 
commander; Brewster Shaw the shuttle pilot; and the scientists Dr's 
Ulf Merbold, Byron Lichtenberg, Robert Parker and Dr. Owen Garriott 
-- an astronaut who also is amateur radio operator W5LFL. This is an 
expedition to probe the outer limits of science and amateur radio's 
newest frontier."

--

That is the late Roy Neal, K6DUE, as he introduced a video titled 
"Amateur Radio's Newest Frontier." It was the story of the first ham 
radio operator to take an amateur station to space. That ham radio 
astronaut -- Owen Garriott, W5LFL.

--

Owen Garriott W5LFL: "I was still in high school and my dad came home 
from work one day and said that a friend of his at the office was 
going to be teaching a code class and would I like to come along with 
him? So, at that point, having not much to else do in the evenings I 
began going to code class with my father foe a period of 3 or 4 
months at the Enid Amateur Radio Club which is still in existance -- 
W5 HTK -- in Enid Oklahoma.

And the a few months later he said that this friend is going to be 
teaching a theory class down at the local high school and would I 
like to come along to that. So I was still game and my father and I 
ended up going through both the code and theory classes and getting 
our licenses just toward the end of World War 2.

--

It was on November 28th, 1983 that Garriott rode the spaceship 
Columbia to Earth orbit on mission STS 9. A few days later, he became 
the first ham radio operator to ever come on the air fromspace. This 
historic moment was also captured for posterity in the "Amateur 
Radio's Newest Frontier:"

--

Owen Garriott, W5LFL: "This is W5LFL in Columbia. W5LFL in Columbia 
orbiting the Earth at an altitude of 135 nautical miles and passing 
over the U.S. west coast calling CQ. Calling CQ North America. This 
is W5LFL in Columbia."

--

A moment later W5LFL held his first contact on-orbit with Lance 
Collister, WA1JXN, of Frenchtown, Montana:

--

Lance Collister WA1JXN: "WA1JXN in Frenchtown, Montana, standing by."

Owen Garriott W5LFL: "WA1JXN. Hello WA1JXN, this is W5LFL and I 
picked up your signal fairly weekly. I think our attitude is not 
really optimum yet but you're our first contact from orbit."

--

Owen Garriott's ham radio adventures on STS-9 ushered in a host of 
ham radio in space outreach activities that first evolved into SAREX 
-- The Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment.

--

Actual audio of early SAREX contact between W0ORE and GW6GW. Hear it 
in the mp3 version of the newscast downloadable at 
www.arnewsline.org.

--

With the commissioning of the International Space Station that 
mission continues today with ARISS -- the Amateur Radio on the 
International Space Station program. And little more than a month or 
so ago Owen Garriott's son Richard, W5KWQ, became the first second 
generation space traveler to hold QSO's with hams here on Earth.

--

Actual ARISS audio of contact between W5KWQ and W4TNJ. Hear it in the 
mp3 version of the newscast downloadable at www.arnewsline.org.

--

Now to celebrate 25 years of manned amateur radio operations from 
space, the ARISS group has planned a set of special event 
opportunities during the month of December and part of January 2009. 
A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate 
with the ISS, either 2-way direct with the crew, through the 
digipeater, or using the on-orbit cross band repeater. Certificates 
will also be available for one-way reception of SSTV or voice 
downlink signals.

Twenty-five years ago, Amateur Radios Newest Frontier ended with 
these words:

--

Roy Neal, K6DUE: "STS-9 was only a beginning. The communicators off 
amateur radio are truly on their way to the new frontier of space and 
no one, no one can predict exactly how far they will go."

--

We still do not know the final answer as to how far ham radio in 
space will go. Maybe to the moon. To Mars or beyond. What it is safe 
to say is that in the past 25 years, manned ham radio operations from 
space have come a long, long, way. And ARISS says that this is the 
time to celebrate the past and to say thank you to Owen Garriott, 
W5LFL, for opening the door.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the 
newsroom in Los Angeles.

--

More information about this 25th anniversary celebration of Owen 
Garriott, W5LFL, first on-orbit mission is on-line at www dot ariss 
dot org or www dot rac dot ca slash ariss. Copies of the movie 
Amateur Radio's Newest Frontier suitable for viewing as a club 
meeting program should still be available from the American Radio 
Relay League. (ARNewsline", ARISS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SOUTH AFRICA TO LAUNCH 2ND HAMSAT IN MARCH

Ham radio will soon have another orbiting star in the sky. This with 
the announcement that South Africa's second satellite carrying a 
amateur is now scheduled to be launched on March 25th, 2009.

The bird I called SumbandilaSat. The amateur radio portion will be an 
FM voice repeater on-orbit. Specifically, it's a crossband 
transponder with an uplink in the 2 meter band and a downlink in the 
440 MHz amateur allocation.

Also on board will be a store and forward voice digipeater. This unit 
acts as a parrot immediately repeating back transmissions beamed to 
it in the same way a packet digipeater repeats back data.

Last is a rather unique beacon system. It to is voice rather than the 
more common Morse C-W found on most other ham radio satellites.

But SumbandilaSat will not be totally dedicated to amateur radio. The 
satellite will also contain a number of scientific experiments. These 
include a Very Low Frequency radio research project for researchers 
at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and an architectural radiation 
experiment for commercial off the shelf devices by the University of 
Stellenbosch.

Further information on the launch of SumbandilaSat is available at 
www.amsatsa.org.za. (AMSAT-SA, Southgate)

**

RESTRUCTURING: NEW EUROPEAN 40 METER PLAN IN LATE MARCH

A new 40 meter European bandplan is set to go into effect in the 
first quarter of 2009. At the recent IARU Region 1 Conference in 
Croatia, a new advisory band plan was adopted for the 7 MHz band to 
be effective from March 29th, 2009.

Why March 29th? This is the date by which broadcast stations should 
have vacated the 7.1 to 7.2MHz segment. It then becomes an amateur 
primary allocation. This, in accordance with the agreements made at 
the 2003 World Administrative Radio Conference and agreed to under 
international treaty. (GB2RS)

**

RADIO RESTRUCTURING: GROUP PROPOSES MOVING THE AM BROADCAST BAND

Here in the USA, a group calling itself the Broadcast Maximization 
Committee, has recommended the conversion of all AM stations to 
digital broadcasting and their migration to a new spectrum allocation 
over an extended period of time. It also proposes relocating the Low 
Power FM service to a portion of this spectrum.

In a nutshell, the Broadcast Maximization Committee plan would extend 
the current FM band downward to include frequencies 76.1 to 87.7 MHz 
with a 100 kHz channel spacing. This would create 117 new channels. 
The first eight channels from 87.0 to 87.7 MHz would be reserved for 
non commercial use as they would be contiguous to the current non 
commercial broadcasting allocation.

The next 100 channels from 77.0 to 86.9 MHz would be used to migrate 
AM stations to the proposed FM new extended band channels, where they 
would operate in digital mode. One channel at 76.9 MHz would be set 
aside for NOAA and other government use nationwide. The last eight 
channels from 76.1 to 76.8 MHz would be for Low Power FM use. Lastly, 
the vacated AM band from 540 to 1700 kHz) would open up for multiple 
uses including an improved AM broadcast service.

While the policies, standards and priorities for an AM migration 
would need to be developed, the Broadcast Maximization Committee has 
offered a technical plan to show that its proposal is possible and to 
encourage further discussions. What the group has not addressed is 
what to do about the 10's of millions of people who want to listen to 
AM radio the way it is on a $5 radio that anyone can afford to own. 
(RW, BE, others)

**

ENFORCEMENT: $1500 FINE FOR JAMMING A SCHOOL BUS

The FCC has affirmed a $1500 Forfeiture to Dale Lloyd Allred of 
Tunnel Hill, Georgia. This, for willful and repeated operation of an 
unlicensed transmitter and interference with licensed radio 
communications in nearby Dalton, Georgia. Amateur Radio Newsline's 
Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, says it all revolves around a business contract 
that was lost:

--

In response to several complaints over last summer of interference to 
school bus radio operations coming from Dalton Communications, Inc., 
agents from the Commission's Atlanta Office of the Enforcement Bureau 
monitored the frequency 157.5675 MHz in Dalton. They observed 
repeated radio transmissions directly on top of school bus 
communications, often disrupting the school bus radio transmissions. 
Using a mobile direction finding vehicle, identified the location of 
the interfering radio transmissions as the office and radio shop of a 
company called Tri-County Communications.

The agents conducted an inspection of radio equipment at Tri-County 
Communications and interviewed Dale Lloyd Allred who they identified 
as its chief executive officer. Allred admitted that he had 
intentionally operated a radio transmitter on 157.5675 MHz to cause 
the interference that day and on other days as well as at other 
times. Allred told the agents that he was interfering with Dalton 
Communications' transmissions, because Dalton Communications had 
taken the school bus communications contract away from his company.

On October 16, 2008, the Atlanta City Office issued a Notice of 
Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to Allred in the amount of 
seventeen thousand dollars. Allred submitted a response to the 
requesting cancellation or reduction of the proposed forfeiture and 
at that time changed his story. He denied that his operation was 
intentional or that he maliciously caused interference to the school 
bus communications. Instead he claimed that his equipment was mounted 
incorrectly in his service vehicle which caused the Push to Talk 
button to activate when it hit another radio. He also stated that he 
was intimidated by the police officer who accompanied the agents 
during the interview and that he would have admitted to anything at 
the time. He also claimed that a $17,000 fine would produce a 
financial hardship and provided documentation to back up his claim.

The FCC did not buy his explanation as to how the repeated jamming 
took place. It noted that Allred does not dispute that transmissions 
on 157.5675 MHz were sent from his handheld transceiver and sent on 
more than one day. It says that even assuming that the transmissions 
were not willful, that he admitted that his operation was repeated. 
The FCC noted that it need not find his violation of Section 301 of 
the Act to be willful to assess a forfeiture.

As to the hardship claim? That the FCC did accept. After reviewing 
the financial documentation that Allred provided, it conclude that a 
reduction of the forfeiture to $1,500 would be appropriate. It then 
notified him that he was being assessed that amount.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los 
Angeles.

--

Allred was given the usual 30 days to pay the fine or to file a 
further appeal. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC FINES LOUISIANA BRIADCASTER $15000 FOR FAILURE TO ID

The FCC has fined a Corinth, Mississippi broadcaster $15,000 for 
failure to transmit legal ID's. It has also refused to let the 
licensee to pay the forfeiture in six installment payments.

The station in question is WTKN located in the city of Corinth and 
owned by Perihelion Global. Its trouble began when the FCC inspector 
out of the New Orleans office found a large hole in the locked gate 
around the tower and then couldn't reach anybody at the station. It 
also failed to do its mandatory top-of-the-hour IDs while the agent 
was on-site at the transmitter.

In it reply, the station requested that it be permitted to pay the 
fine in six payments. In denying the request the FCC said that 
Perihelion Global had failed to provide the requested documentation 
about ability to pay .

One of the morals of the story: You have to pay attention when the 
FCC comes to visit. (FCC, "Taylor On Radio" newsletter)

**

RESCUE RADIO: THOSE GOOD VIBRATIONS GET THROUGH

With today's cars and light trucks designed to lock out road and 
traffic noise, how does an emergency vehicle signal a driver to pull 
over and let him pass. Maybe some good vibrations are the answer. No, 
we are not talking about the 1960's Beach Boys tune. This is modern 
technology as we hear from Jim Linton, VK3PC:

--

Just image driving along the road and your car starts to vibrate? Is 
it an earthquake you think, a service overdue or are the wheels about 
to fall off?

No, it will be a blast from the latest low frequency howler being 
fitted to ambulances to augment their traditional lights and sirens. 
These send pulses of low frequency tones every eight seconds vibrate 
cars and other things including pedestrians within range of an 
ambulance on an emergency dash. This will hopefully alert motorists 
who may be not concentrating on the driving task, perhaps with their 
car stereo's turned up too loud, or dare we say ... they're on the 
mobile phone.

The Emergency Medical Services Authority in Oklahoma is among the 
first to be installing them in ambulances. If they prove successful 
in reducing delays and intersection accident collision rates of 
ambulances then we can expect others to fit this latest technology.

I just can't wait to experience the good vibrations.

I'm Jim Linton VK3PC.

--

This is just one of many ideas that engineers are looking at as a way 
to clear the roads to make way for emergency vehicles when the 
situation arises. (WIA News)

**

RADIO EDUCATION: BROADCASTERS TO DEVELOP NEW ENGINEERING POOL

Wisconsin broadcasters are committing money to the future to develop 
new engineering talent. The announcement is from the Wisconsin 
Broadcasters Association and the W-B-A Foundation says that a new 
summer intern program has been created and that it will issue up to 
10 grants to stations at $2,500 each. This, to cover engineering 
internship stipends and expenses.

Separately, Fellowship Grants will provide funding for experienced 
broadcast engineers at member stations to acquire continuing 
education. The foundation will award five grants of $1,000 to be used 
for continuing-ed courses in Information Technology networking, 
engineering leadership and management as well as electrical or 
transmission engineering.

In either case the money may not be used for trade shows, but factory 
training does qualify and travel expenses may be covered. Hopefully, 
other broadcast groups around the country will follow the Wisconsin 
broadcasters lead and develop similar programs in their geographic 
regions. (RW)

**

BROADCAST FUN: WKRP IS ON THE AIR - FOR REAL

WKRP is back on the air in Cincinnati, but this time as a TV station.

Several industry news reports say that a low-power TV station has 
changed its call letters to WKRP. Those are the same call letters 
used in the 1970's hit series "WKRP in Cincinnati."

Until recently the station went by the call WBQC television. But 
changed its call letters to promote its new digital TV signal. 
General Manager Elliott Block says the new call letters give the 
station recognition because so many people remember the television 
sit-com.

The station says that its getting a lot of calls, e-mails and letters 
asking how people can see this 21st century WKRP. According to its 
website -- www dot wkrp dot com, that's only possible if you live 
within 15 to 20 miles of downtown Cincinnati. It also says for 
optimum reception an outdoor antenna is recommended. (Broadcasting 
OnLine)

**

RADIO HAPPENINGS: RADIO NETHERLANDS ENDS SHORTWAVE TRANSMISIONS TO 
NORTH AMERICA

According to the new issue Popular Communications Magazinen now on 
newsstands, Radio Netherlands has decided to end its shortwave 
broadcasts beamed to North America. This, after a survey showed a 
decline in listeners to the service.

Programming that used to come via skywave will now be delivered using 
more modern means. This includes streaming audio on the Internet, 
satellite transmissions and over the Sirius subscription service.

PopComm notes that many listeners are upset with the Radio 
Netherlands decision. They say that they do not want to be shackled 
to a computer to hear the programs that they have been able hear 
froma shirt pocket sized receiver for years. The full article and 
other interesting shortwave listening news is on page 8 of the 
December issues of the magazine. (PopComm)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: MUNS TO HEAD CQ RTTY CONTESTS

A name in the news. Ed Muns, W0YK, of Los Gatos, California, has been 
named Director of 'CQ' magazine's RTTY radioteletype contests. Muns 
succeeds Glenn Vinson, W6OTC, who has been CQ's RTTY Contest Director 
since 2000. CQ sponsors the world's two most popular annual RTTY 
competitions. These are the CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest each 
February and the CQ World Wide RTTY DX Contest held every September. 
(CQ)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: ORLANDO HAMCATION FEB 13 - 15 2009

Turning to the ham radio social scene, 2009 kicks off with the 63rd 
annual Orlando Hamcation. The dates are February 13th to the 15th.at 
the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando. Tickets are only $10 at 
the gate. More information on this winter getaway ham radio treat is 
on line at www. hamcation.com. (Orlando Hamcation)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE NET: HAMRADIOTUBE.COM

A new website dedicated to ham radio and hobby radio related films is 
now on line. Called www.hamradiotube.com, the site contains many 
amateur radio video clips and shows covering the past 70 years. Also 
there are a large number of videos showing to other aspects of hobby 
radio including some about 1960's off-shore radio broadcasting. Again 
the site is www.hamradiotube.com for hours of watching all aspects of 
hobby radio at its best. (Via e-Mail)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: GENE HARLAN, WB9MMM - SK

The changing of the guard in amateur radio continues with the sad 
news out of Rockford, Illinois, of the passing of Eugene Harlan, 
WB9MMM, reportedly from complications of ALS. ALS is better known as 
Lou Gehrig's Disease..

Eugene Harlan was best known for his work in amateur television. He 
ran Harlan Technologies which published the ATV Quarterly magazine 
for amateur television enthusiasts. The company also provided amateur 
television gear, accessories along with software and name tags.

Harlan's last major public appearance was in May at the Dayton 
Hamvention ATV Forum. At that event he was using a motorized scooter 
to get around.

Memorial services for Eugene Harlan, WB9MMM were not announced. He is 
survived by his wife Sharon, N9SH. (WB9QZB, AG9D, W9XA)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD: CQ'S SCRATCHI - GEORGE FLOYD JR., WA4DGA - SK

George H. Floyd, Jr., WA4DGA of Lynchburg, Virginia, has become a 
silent Key. Floyd, the former W2RYT, spent more than two decades 
entertaining thousands of his fellow hams writing as a politically 
incorrect Japanese American ham with fractured English and used 
contorted spelling.

>From 1947 to 1971 Floyd wrote a letter to the editor of CQ magazine 
unsung the pseudonym Hashafisti Scratchi. He suppodsedly lived in or 
near Feenix, Arizona -- spelling the city's name FEENIX. He began 
each column with "Deer Hon. Ed.," and regularly skewered the 
pomposity and poor operating practices he encountered on the air. He 
passed away on November 22nd at the age of 91.

Old time CQ readers are invited to submit reminiscences of Scratchi 
for a tribute in an upcoming issue of the magazine. A special e-mail 
address has been set up at scratchi at cq-amateur-radio.com. (CQ)

**

WORLDBEAT - EUROPE: PUBLICIZING HAM RADIO TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIMENT

Amateur Radio is being promoted in the European Parliament. Jeramy 
Boot, G4NJH, reports from Nottingham, in the UK:

--

An Amateur Radio 2009 Year Planner has been sent to all 785 Members 
of the European Parliament along with an introductory letter, co-
signed by MEP Fernando Fernandez-Martin, EA8AK and IARU Region 1 
EUROCOM Working Group chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF.

The Year Planner was created by RSGB staff and highlights the use of 
amateur radio in Space and Emergency Communications, amongst other 
aspects of the hobby.

I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH.

--

Hams across Europe appear to favor his approach of bringing the word 
of radio amateurs directly to the various government administrations 
that make the rules governing their operations. (GB2RS)

**

WORLDBEAT - UK: SOS RADIO WEEK FUND RAISER

>From the U-K comes word that the Royal National Lifeboat Institution 
S-O-S Radio Week will be held early next year. The event starts at 
00.01 on 24th January 2009 and ends at 23.59 on 30th January.

S-O-S Radio Week is part of the organizations SOS Fund Raising Day. 
To take part all U-K hams need to do is decide whether you want to 
operate as a team or on your own. Then, get as many sponsors as you 
can in the lead up to the event. Once S-O-S Radio Week starts, you 
make as many contacts as you can and then convert the sponsors and 
contacts made in to money.

Sound confusing? Not really and all you need to know is on-line at 
www.sosradioweek.org.uk. (RSGB)

**

WORLDBEAT - BANGLADESH: BANGLADESH RESUMES HAM TESTING

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission has resumed 
amateur radio license testing after a gap of four years. A test 
session was held on November 27th using a computer based testing 
system that required 18 correct answers of 33 questions on the exam.

A total of 84 candidates took the exam and 62 passed. This equates to 
62 new S 21 prefix stations soon to be on the air. The administration 
of ham radio exams in Bangladesh had been suspended in 2004. (S21RB)

**

ON THE AIR: NI6IW FROM THE USS MIDWAY DECEMBER 7

On the air, listen out for special Event Station NI6IW operating from 
the USS Midway Museum Radio Room on December 7th. This, in 
commemoration of Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

The station will be on 1700 to 2359 UTC.using C-W, SSB, PSK, MT63 and 
RTTY on both 40 and 20 meters. The station will include a D-Star 
radio, connected to the PAPA System D-Star Gateway which will be 
linked to San Diego Reflector REF012C and can be heard locally on the 
145.615, KI6MGN Palomar Mt. D-Star Repeater.

QSL with a self addresses stamped envelope to the USS Midway CV-41 
Museum Radio Room, 910 North Harbor Drive, San Diego CA 92101. (W9EN, 
D-Star Remailer)

**

ON THE AIR: 75th ANNIVERSARY OF FM RADIO

The Major Edwin H. Armstrong Memorial Radio Club will operate special 
event stations W2XMN and W2XEA, December 13 and 14. This to celebrate 
the 75th anniversary of the invention of FM radio by Major Edwin H. 
Armstrong in 1933. The operation is from 1400 to 2200 UTC each day on 
7.270 and 14.270 SSB and 29.600 and 52.525 FM. QSL with a self 
addressed stamped envelope to the Major EH Armstrong FM Association, 
PO Box 1584, Loxahatchee, FL 33470. (Press Release)

**

DX

In D-X, word that E51QQQ will be on the air from Manihiki Atoll in 
the North Cook Islands until December 9th. Activity will be on 80 to 
10 meters using CW, SSB and possibly digital modes. QSL to JA1KAJ.

A team of six operators from Brazil will show up as ZV5Z or ZV5V from 
Paz Island. This, from December 6th to the 13th. QSLs direct via 
PP5CIT.

EP3SMH, has been on from Iran operating on 20 meters RTTY around 1400 
UTC. He has been calling for North America on a regular basis. It is 
suggested to listen carefully because he likes to operate on his 
calling frequency.

F4EGX, continues to be active as FT5YI from the French scientific 
station during his free time. He will be there at least until mid-
December and try to be on the air between 2300z and 0200z for North 
America on or near 14 point 267 MHz. QSL via F4EGX.

Lastly, ON4JM is once operating portable OD5 from the southern part 
of Lebanon near the city of Tibnin. He will be there until mid-
December as part of the Belgian Army to assist the United Nations 
Forces. QSL to his home call address.

Above from various DX newsletters and other sources.

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: VK HAM WINS JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL AWARD

And finally this week, a ham down under has won a prestigious award 
that can be aid is truly for the birds. But for the birds in a very 
positive way. We have more in this report:

--

At the annual gala dinner of the Australian Radio Communications 
Industry Association held at the Melbourne Telstra Dome in front of 
over 500 people, Peter Young VK3MV, a WIA Director, was awarded the 
Jonathon Livingston Seagull Award and Perpetual Trophy in recognition 
of his contribution to the

radio industry in Australia.

The concept of the Jonathon Livingstone Seagull award is to recognise 
someone who has learned more and risen above what would normally be 
expected of them in their usual role in the Industry, and then 
contributed back to the industry in a way that doesn't necessarily 
relate to their own direct benefit. This could be through additional 
training, encouragement of other people to benefit themselves, a 
contribution that is to the benefit of the community, either as a 
whole in the context of the radio industry, or perhaps

within their own local community in smaller areas.

The WIA congratulates Peter on this industry recognition, and again 
acknowledges his contribution to the Australian Amateur Radio 
community in his capacity as a Director on the WIA Board.

--

Now, a bit of history. If the name Jonathan Livingston Seagull is not 
familiar to you, then you likely have never been near a small airport 
or have not had the opportunity to fly in a small, light plane. You 
see, Jonathan Livingston Seagull is the central character in a book 
written by a pilot and author named Richard Bach. It is a fable about 
a seagull learning about life and flight, and a lesson about self-
perfection.

The book tells the story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a bird who 
is bored with the daily squabbles over food. Instead he has developed 
a true passion for flight and dedicates himself to learning 
everything he can about flying,

Jonathan's refusal to conform results in his expulsion from his 
flock. Nonetheless, he continues to educate himself and this leads 
him to a new level of perfection and knowledge in a new higher plane 
of existence.

But Jonathan is not satisfied. He has a need to share his wisdom and 
returns to Earth to find others like him. His mission is successful, 
gathering around him others who have been outcast for not conforming. 
Ultimately, the very first of his students, Fletcher Lynd Seagull, 
becomes a teacher of flight as well.

By the end of 1972, over a million copies of Jonathan Livingston 
Seagull were in print, Reader's Digest had published a condensed 
version, and the it reached the top of the New York Times Best Seller 
list. In fact, it remained for 38 weeks. And in 1973, Jonathan 
Livingston Seagull was turned into a movie produced by Paramount 
Pictures Corporation that included an original music score and 
soundtrack by Neil Diamond. Both the book and the movie are still 
available from retailers worldwide.

And now you know the story behind the story of the award and the 
imaginary bird that made it possible. (WIA News, 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 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's" only official website located at 
www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur 
Radio Newsline", P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Don 
Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.