[Ham-News] Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1636 - December 19, 2008

Sun Dec 21 10:04:37 EST 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1636 - December 19, 2008

Ladies and gentlemen, with some thank-you's to our listeners, here's 
amateur Radio Newsline's Support Fund Administrator Andy Jarema, N6TCQ:

--

During the 3-month period of January through March of 2008 we heard 
from our regular contributors Benton Bonney, W4PE of Orlando, Florida; 
Joseph Bartzi, Jr., KC8DKF of Columbus, OH; Frank Hemko of Harrods 
Creek KY; William Walters, WA2IBM, and Scott Hensley of the Area 
Communications Team, both in San Jose, California; Stephen Perluss and 
the South Orange County Amateur Society in Mission Viejo, California.

We also heard fro the Greensboro, North Caolina ARS, W4GSO; the Tampa 
Florida ARC; t he Reading, PA ARC, W3BN;  K6OX, the Antelope Valley ARC 
in Lancaster and the Conejo Valley ARC based in Thousand Oaks, 
California who passed the hat on our behalf at their holiday party.

During this season of giving and thanks we at Newsline are thankful of 
our listeners who give. Give to keep these up-to-the minute newscasts 
on the air. We've made it easy for you to do so through PayPal at our 
website arnewsline.org.  Or you can help directly at our address which 
will be given at the end of this newscast.  Either way, you will help 
continue a 31 year tradition of getting you the news of Amateur Radio 
first.

I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ, and the very best of holidays to you.

--

Thank you Andy.  Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1636 with a 
release date of  Friday, December 19th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   

The following is a Q-S-T.  The ARRL Antenna Defense Fund donates $5000 
to help a California ham in his suit against a the city of Palmdale, 
Switzerland gives it hams access to 6 meters, South Africa to host 2011 
I-A-R-U Region One conference, go Q-R-P with a tree -- and -- a musical 
trip to a rare DXpedition spot highlight Amateur Radio Newsline report 
number 1636 coming your way right now.

**

RADIO LAW:  ARRL ANTENNA DEFENE FUND MAKES $5000 DONATION TO WB6X 
LAWSUIT 

The ARRL's Amateur Radio Legal Defense and Assistance Committee has 
voted to contribute $5,000 toward the costs of a lawsuit against the 
City of Palmdale California.  This, after the city forces a ham to take 
down his antenna after issuing a permit for him to put it up.  Amateur 
Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has been following this case and 
has the latest:

--

The suit against the city of Palmdale was filed by ARRL Volunteer 
Counsel Len Shaffer, WA6QHD, on behalf of Alec Zubarau, WB6X.  Zubaru, 
who lives in the city located about 55 miles north-east of Los Angeles 
was forced by to remove an antenna tower erected under a previously 
issued and valid building permit. The permit revocation followed 
complaints of radio frequency interference by some of Alec's neighbors. 
Those complaints were never substantiated and, in any case, are a 
matter of federal preemption and not within the jurisdiction of the 
city.

Over $1,500 had already been contributed by clubs and their members 
from throughout the ARRL's Southwestern Division.  This contribution 
from the League-managed Antenna Defense Fund is meant to further help 
defray the expenses of preparing for the February, 2009 court date.  
Even with attorney Len Shaffer performing the legal work free of 
charge, just compiling the record to present in court can be costly. 

The Chairman of the ARRL Defense Committee is Jay Bellows, KOQB.  
Bellows noted that, although the case has not yet reached the appellate 
level, the egregious nature of Palmdale's actions, including ordering 
removal of a previously approved antenna tower, the potential impact on 
a large number of amateurs and the existence of substantial local 
financial support from the ham community were significant factors in 
the Committee's decision to provide support for this case.

Meantime it appears as if Palmdale is trying to play a political get 
even game with its local ham radio community over the Zubaru matter.  
Shortly after issuing the WB6X permit revocation order, the City of 
Palmdale began drafting an amended antenna ordinance.  One that places 
severe restrictions on all Amateur Radio antennas. This includes a 
height limit of only one inch above a buildings roof.  

The draft was released just before Thanksgiving, and a hearing was 
scheduled for December 4th.  At the request of ARRL Vice-Director Marty 
Woll, N6VI, who attended the Palmdale Planning Commission meeting along 
with about a dozen local hams and supporters, ARRL General Counsel 
Chris Imlay, W3KD, wrote a lengthy letter to the City Attorney pointing 
out numerous flaws in the proposed ordinance.  Imlay's letter also 
explained why many of its provisions are unenforceable due to federal 
and state preemption.  Thanks to help from Keith Hoyt K6GXO, Eugene 
Humphreys KG6SLC and others in the Antelope Valley Amateur Radio Club, 
Woll has an opportunity to meet with management of the Palmdale Public 
Safety Department, which is supportive of hams.  He and  Hoyt are also 
scheduled to meet with the Planning Department and Assistant City 
Attorney in early January. 

Unfortunately, the restrictive nature of the proposed ordinance has 
made it a hot topic on ham radio Internet chat sites.  Much of the 
information appears to be hearsay.  Some of it is simply opinions that 
others consider to be fact even though many of the posters live 
thousands of miles away and really have no idea of what the situation 
is.  

Obviously they can have no idea of the organized effort that local hams 
in concert with ARRL officials are working on to bring the matter to a 
positive conclusion for the hams of Palmdale.  As such far better way 
for those outside of the region to show support for the Palmdale ham 
radio community is to make a donation to the W6BX Defense Support Fund.  
Checks should be made payable to Leonard J. Shaffer, Esq. P.O. Box 
570936, Tarzana, CA 91357.  Make certain to include the words "WB6X 
Defense Fund" on the memo line.

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

--

If we at Newsline may be permitted to express an editorial comment.  
With local hams along with ARRL division and national representatives 
devoting considerable time and resources toward resolving the issue, 
any direct intervention by outsiders can only put Palmdale into a 
position where, politically, it cannot back away from its hard line 
stand.  If that happens it could very easily force the Palmdale ham 
radio community to spend thousands if not tens of thousands of dollars 
in litigation fees fighting the matter in the federal courts.  And 
that's the last thing the hams of Palmdale want to have happen.  Please 
respect their wishes as you would want them to respect your.  End of 
editorial.   (ARNewsline from information supplied by ARRL 
Southwestern Division)

**

RADIO LAW:  SAN DIEGO TOWER HEIGHT ISSUE 

Still in California, the City of San Diego has also proposed a 
modification of its antenna zoning rules.  Up to now, ham antennas have 
not been subject to the height restrictions applicable to buildings and 
other structures.  Under the modification, however, those restrictions 
will apply unless the amateur obtains a time-consuming and cost-
prohibitive Process Three Site Development Permit.   

A Three Site Development Permit requires very specific site plans, 
engineering studies,  public hearings, and perhaps hiring a land use 
attorney.  And after all of this an applicant  may be denied the 
request for a height increase. 

Attorney Larry Serra, N6NC, San Diego DX Club President Glenn Rattmann, 
K6NA, Section Manager Steve Early, AD6VI, and others are staying on top 
of this proposal, which has a short comment deadline of January 2, 
2009.  The San Diego ham community has also engaged the services of a 
prominent local land-use attorney to prepare and file a comment on 
their behalf.  Also, ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay, W3KD, is 
preparing a formal League response to the City. 

More on both of these issues in future, Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  
(ARNewsline from information supplied by ARRL Southwestern Division)

**

RESTRUCTURING: SWITZERLAND ALLOCATES 6 METERS TO HAM RADIO ON JANUARY 1

Some good news for hams in Switzerland.  Swiss telecommunications 
authorities will allocate the 50 MHz band to amateur radio on a 
secondary basis beginning January 1, 2009.  

Swiss and foreign CEPT class licensees will be permitted to  transmit 
with up to 100 watts PEP on 50 to 52 MHz without any antenna 
restrictions.  The one caveat is that primary users may not be 
disturbed.  This includes some TV stations active on the VHF band I in 
Northern Italy. (Southgate)

**

WORLDBEAT:  SOUTH AFRICA TO HOST 2011 IARU REGION 1 CONFERENCE
Sun City in South Africa will host the next IARU Region 1 Conference in 
2011.  The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club website reports that the IARU 
Region 1 Conference meeting in Cavtat, Croatia held a ballot to choose 
the venue for 2011.  Of the 47 votes cast, there were 22 to Sun City, 
15 to Malaga and 10 votes to Hatfield.
According to the DARC's website. newly elected secretary Dennis Green, 
ZS4BS was visibly surprised.  He's quoted as saying that the delegates 
would be welcome in South Africa.  (IARU, Southgate)

**

KIDS IN THE NEWS:  YACHT RECRUITS ITS FIRST INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS

A contest club for youngsters has its first members overseas.  Rebecca 
Bruce has the details:

--

The Young Amateur Contest Ham Team, better known by the acronym yacht 
has invited to young South African amateurs to join their group.  11 
year old Mitchell Mynhard, ZU6M, and his 9 year old sister Melinda, 
ZU6MM will be the groups first international members.  

The Young Amateur Contest Ham Team was founded by Ed Engleman, KG8CX, 
of Memoniee, Michigan.  Its purpose is to generate interest in 
contesting among younger hams and to foster a greater appreciation of 
the role that younger license holders play in the overall hobby of 
amateur radio.  

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

--

More information on The Young Amateur Contest Ham Team is at the groups 
website.  Its on-line at www.wd8dx.com /yacht.htm  (YACHT)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: ARMAD RECEIVES SPECIAL FLAG

The sponsor of Amateur Radio Military Appreciation Day -- better known 
as ARMAD -- has received a flag that flew over Camp Fallujah, Iraq by 
U.S. Marines, and other United States service members.  

The December 14th delivery of the flag to ARMAD though its founder  
Emory McClendon, KB9IBW, was made possible by Mary Ellen Wooten of the 
organization "From Us To You."  This is a military support group that 
sends packages to our Troops that are deployed.  

ARMAD has worked with "From Us To You" and the Albamarle Amateur Radio 
Club over the past few years on several projects.  Among its 
involvement it has set up a live station at one of their events  using 
amateur radio.  This, so that U.S. troops could hear the voices of 
Americans expressing support for them.  

You can learn more about "From Us To You" on the Web at www dot 
fromustoyou dot us.  More information regarding ARMAD at www.armad.net.   
(ARMAD)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS ASSIST DURING NORTHEAST ICE STORM

Ham radio was called out the evening of Thursday, December 11th into 
Friday December 12th.  This as a  major ice storm accompanied by 
freezing rains hit the New England states.  Called into action were 
ARES, RACES, SKYWARN and MARS.  All four groups responded to calls for 
assistance from served agencies and then participated in the recovery 
phase of the storm.  Hardest hit were Western, Central and Northeast 
Massachusetts, as well as parts of New Hampshire and Maine.  A full 
report on what hams did is on line at the ARRL website at www.arrl.org.  
(ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  NEW RAC ARES OPERATIONS TRAINING MANUAL

The recently introduced Radio Amateurs of Canada A-R-E-S Operations 
Training Manual has met with widespread approval from the amateur radio 
community and is even being requested by Emcomm groups in other 
countries.  Because of this plans are that it will be printed in a 
handy and portable hard copy form early in 2009. Once published, the 
new training resource will be offered for sale on the Radio Amateurs of 
Canada on-line store.  It will continue to be available for 
downloading, free of charge, at 
www.rac.ca/fieldorg/RACARESTrainingManual.htm.   (RAC)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  RAC ANNOUNCES EMCOMM E-MAIL ALERT SYSTEM

The Radio Amateurs of Canada Field Services Organization has also 
created an ARES-Alert system for Radio Amateurs who are part of the 
Amateur Radio Emergency Service or other Canadian Emcomm unit.  The e 
mail based system is being provided as a means to alert Canadian radio 
amateurs of emergencies or disasters, or threat of same, where ham 
radio emergency  services are or may be required.  It will also serve 
to advise stations of the need to avoid or monitor frequencies that are 
being used in an emergency event anywhere in the world.  (RAC)

**

HOLIDAY HAM RADIO:  OPERATION SANTA CLAUS IN FLORIDA

Operation Santa Claus continues as Christmas Approaches and it was 
recognized this week by a Florida news service.  The Tampa Bay 10 
Connection says that the Bay Care Emergency Amateur Radio group  in 
Tampa recently used amateur radio to connect kids at St Joseph's 
Children's Hospital with Saint Nick so that they could put in their 
special gift requests.  

Len Calahan who is the Senior Maintenance Mechanic for the hospital and 
a member of the radio club.  He  told Tampa Bay 10 that the north 
pole's a long way away and cell phones up there.  So he and other club 
members use ham radio as substitute.  

Another club member is Bob McElroy, who goes room to room letting kids 
make Christmas requests through a two way hand held.  He says that 
whether they understand the technology or not, they are hearing Santa 
Claus and that's making a little bit of a difference in their lives. 

This is the first year the St. Joseph's Children's Hospital has had ham 
radio connect kids to Santa.  The call signs of the hams involved were 
not included in the Tampa Bay 10 Connection report.  (eHam, TampaBay 10 
Connection)

**

D-STAR NEWS:  SUPPORT NET EXCEEDS 600 AND GROWING

There are now more than 600 radio amateurs world-wide posting to the D-
Star on-line forum and the number seems to increase every day.

Since the introduction of www.dstarforum.com earlier this year, 
membership and site usage has been increasing drastically.  D-Star 
usage has also shown a marked increase since the introduction of the DV 
Dongle giving hams a relatively inexpensive and easy way to gain the 
benefits of D-Star from home.

www.dstarforum.com holds  a weekly D-Star net on reflector 5A on 
Saturdays at 19.00 UTC.  This net, chaired by G0KSC and all D-Star 
enthusiasts are invited to join in.  (News release)

**

WORLDBEAT:  CHU CANADA TO CHANGE FREQUENCY TO 7850 KHZ

After seventy  years of broadcasting Canada's official time, shortwave 
station CHU will move the transmission frequency for the 7335 kHz 
transmitter to 7850 kHz. This, to avoid interference to its operations 
as the result of band allocation changes approved by the International 
Telecommunications Union back in April 2007. 

CHU is a part of Canada's National Research Council's system for 
disseminating official time throughout that nation.  It broadcasts 24 
hours a day from a location approximately 20 kilometers south-west of 
Ottawa.  Transmissions include tones to mark the seconds, voice to 
announce the time in French and English, and digital data to interface 
with computers.  

The frequency change to CHU change will occur on January 1st,  2009 at 
0000 UTC.  More is on-line at www.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca   (W8HDU)

**

WORLDBEAT:  UK TIME STATION CLOSED FOR MAINTENANCE

The UK based M-S-F 60 kHz time and frequency signal broadcast was to be 
shut down from 1000 UTC to 1400 UTC on December 11th. The interruption 
to the transmission was required to allow scheduled maintenance work to 
be carried out.  Additional information is on their website at 
www.npl.co.uk/time.  (RSGB, Southgate)

**

ON THE AIR:  NORTH AMERICAN TRAFFIC AND AWARDS NET RETURNS

After an absence of more than three decades the North American Traffic 
and Awards Net is returning to the ham bands.  The net resumes 
operation on New Years Day, January 1, 2009  at 11 p.m. Eastern 
Standard Ttime.

In addition to its normal operations, the net will also be handling 
formal message traffic at the outset of each session and welcome all 
stations with messages to be passed to join it nightly on 3 point 905 
MHz.  The net has also created an award to recognize stations for 
bringing and passing message traffic.  

The North American Traffic and Awards Net was founded back in 1976 to 
assist hams trying to earn the ARRL Bicentennial Worked All States 
Award.  Its new goal is to assist in the ARRL's new Triple Play Award 
announced by the League a few weeks ago. (Press release)

**  

RADIO SAFETY:  EMI MAY HAVE CAUSED AIRPLANE TO DIVE

Electromagnetic interference can make it impossible for hams to 
communicate, but aviation authorities want to know if it almost caused 
a  Quantas airline flight almost falling out of the sky.  Amateur Radio 
Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reports:

--

WORLDBEAT - AUSTRALIA:  EMI MAY HAVE CAUSED AIRPLANE TO DIVE

This the incident occurred last month as a Qantas Airbus A330 flew off 
West Australians coast en route from Singapore to Perth.  A preliminary 
report into the incident, by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, 
says that there is a possibility that transmissions from the Harold E 
Holt Naval Communications Station interfered with aircraft onboard 
electronic systems.  

The review board is also investigating the possibility that passenger 
electronic devices aboard the aircraft caused the problem but admits 
that both are unlikely.  That said, it cannot rule either out at this 
stage.  

--

Experts in the field of electromagnetic interference are deeply divided 
on whether or not random EMI could cause an incident such as this.  
(Science On_line)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  NEW NAND FLASH MEMORY SYSTEM FROM MICRON

Micron Technology has introduced a new serial NAND flash memory 
technology. One that the company said will enable easier and more cost- 
effective expansion of storage capacity for embedded applications in 
products like television set-top boxes, DVRs, printers and even 
automobile navigation systems.

The technology, with a chip density starting at 1 gigabit, improves on 
traditional NOR flash, which typically tops out at a density of 128 
megabytes.  Company officials said that as many embedded applications 
transition from merely decoding information to more sophisticated 
operations like managing multimedia, photos and other data-intensive 
content, the need for cheap and easy storage expansion is increasingly 
important.  (Press Release)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  THEY CALL IT TREE POWER

Imagine being able to run a QRP station by powering it from a near-by 
tree.  Sound strange?  Well that's one of the possible uses for an 
emerging technology called tree power. Jim Linton, VK3PC of the WIA 
News explains:

--

A voltage difference exits between a tree and the ground. Researchers 
have found that the metabolism of a tree works to maintain the voltage 
difference, whether it's day or night, rain or shine all year round. 

Up to two volts is available, enough to trickle-charge a battery or 
power a wireless transmitter. 

Tree-power will be helping to collect improved local climate data that 
is essential for computerized fire modeling. 

The United States Forest Service is about to field test a tree-powered 
wireless network. It looks like being an alternative to installing 
intrusive solar panels in a forest. 

The bio-energy source may have other applications too, such as border 
security and managing agriculture. 

Could this lead to self-illuminated Christmas trees or even radio 
amateurs tapping in it for QRP operation. 

Anyone pine for the day that this kind of energy becomes poplar? 

For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Linton VK3PC. 

--

A rather cute play on words from our friend in Australia, VK3PC.  (WIA 
News)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  L-BAND EXPERIMENT ON THE ISS

Another experiment using the ham station on board the International 
Space Station.  From December 28th through January 3rd ARISS plans to 
reconfigure the on-orbit crossband repeater for test of its L-Band 
uplink capability, which, to date, has not been proven out. 

Plans call for an for an uplink of 1269.65 MHz and downlink on the 
standard frequency 145.80 MHz.  The system will be in low power 
transmit. Given the substantial cable losses of the L-band system, 
ARISS hopes that some big gun stations on the ground will be able to 
penetrate through, keep up with Doppler, and make a contact.  (ANS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT TO OFFER DXPEDITION LOANER GEAR

The AMSAT North America Operations Team is in the process of acquiring 
a few sets of basic loaner gear that will be available to DXpeditions 
and other groups. This, as a way to promote activity on the satellites 
from rare locations around the globe.. 

Initially these loaner packs will consist of simple FM portable 
stations including a full duplex dual band HT and an Arrow or other 
suitable antenna. Depending on the success of the program, AMSAT says 
that it will likely expand it  to include the all-mode transponder and 
digital satellites as well.  They also expect to be able to integrate 
AO-51 into this program at a future date.   (ANS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: W5KWQ SPACE MOBILE QSL CARD UPDATE

Those of you lucky enough to hold a QSO with Richard Garriott, W5KWQ, 
when he was on-board the International Space Station can receive an 
ARISS QSL card using the normal process as outlined at www.ariss.org.  
But that's not al. W5KWQ is also planning a personal card which is in 
development. Once it is ready, it will be shipped to the ARISS 
international QSL volunteers for distribution.  

Those that have already sent in for an ARISS QSL card will also get a 
Richard Garriott personal card once it is available.  If you made a 
contact with W5KWQ but  have not sent in your QSL, and would like 
Richard's personal card, please stand by until the that card is ready.  
The distribution of this special QSL will parallel how we are 
distributing the 25th   anniversary certificate.  (ANS)

**

RADIOSPORTS:  THE 2009 CQ DX MARATHON. 

The fourth running of the CQ DX Marathon begins at 0000 UTC on January 
1, 2009, and runs through 2359 UTC on December 31, 2009.  The goal, as 
always, is to work as many countries and CQ zones as possible at least 
once during the calendar year. 

The only change from the 2008 rules is that the prohibition on 
assistance, such as lists and passes, for the Unlimited Class is 
deleted however this limitation remains in effect for the Formula 
Class.  

Once again they will use a downloadable Microsoft Excel template which 
may be filled in and e-mailed to a special address as your log entry.  
For complete details, please visit the website at: http://cq-amateur-
radio.com/DX%20Marathon%20Rules%20Dec08.pdf  (CQ, OPDX)

**

DX

In DX,  G3SWH and G3RWL will be active from Mayotte here between 
February 26th and March 5th. Both operators will use the single callsign 
of G3SWH portable FH. Their activity will be mainly on CW on 80 through 
10 meters with a possibility of CW on 160 as well.  . QSL via G3SWH, 
either direct with a self addressed stamped envelope and adequate 
return postage.

Lastly, HA9RE, and a team of operators will be active from Wallis 
Island as FW0RE early in 2009.  The group is expected to arrive on the 
island January 26th and may begin operation as early as the 28th.  
Activity will be on 160 through 10 meters, including 30, 17 and 12 
meters, using CW, SSB and RTTY. 

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  CHRISTMAS ISLAND - THE SONG

And finally this week, its not likely that Broadway, television and 
motion picture entertainer Kristin Chenoweth ever dreamed that she 
would be mentioned in a ham radio newscast.  But guess what. This week 
she is and Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is here to tell us why:

--.  

No, Kristin Chenoweth is not a radio amateur.  But her new holiday CD 
titled "A Lovely Way To Spend Christmas" contains a song that radio 
amateurs in general and DX'ers in particular will likely want to 
embrace.

The tune, written by Lyle Moraine, is titled "Christmas Island." It 
musically tells of the fun one can have spending the upcoming holiday 
on that Indian Ocean rock located some 1600 miles northwest of the 
Western Australian city of Perth.  And while it may not make you want 
to immediately pack your bags and head out to operate, anyone who is 
knowledgeable about Christmas Island will be left smiling.

Because its music, we cant play it for you here.  However you can get 
to hear it and the rest of Kristin Chenoweth's new holiday CD on her 
own website at www.kristin-chenoweth.com.  Just click on the words 
"Launch Player" next to the advertisement for the album right at the 
top of the page.  Then sit back and enjoy the magic of the season as 
songstress Kristin Chenoweth vicariously transports you across the 
oceans for a true DX holiday treat. 

Enjoying the holiday season, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the studio 
in Los Angeles.

--

For those not aware, Christmas Island ranked as number 66 on the 2007 
DX News most wanted countries list.   (ARNewsline)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ 
Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, 
the RSGB, the Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all 
from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  Our e-mail address is 
newsline at arnewsline.org.  More information is available at Amateur 
Radio Newsline'sT only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.  
You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline, P.O. 
Box 660937, Arcadia, California 91066. 

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim 
Meachen, ZL2BHF, saying 73 from Auckland, New Zealand saying the best 
of seasons greetings to all, and we thank you for listening.  