[South Florida DX Association] The ARRL Letter, Vol 23, No 39

[Bill Marx]

 ***************
> The ARRL Letter
> Vol. 23, No. 39
> October 1, 2004
> ***************
>
> IN THIS EDITION:
>
> * +North Carolina utility shuts down BPL trial
> * +Amateur Radio volunteers confront fourth hurricane in six weeks
> * +ARISS logs two firsts during school group contact
> * +ARRL member to head radiocommunication relief mission to Haiti
> * +Get ready for JOTA 2004
> * +Federal employees can designate CFC pledges to ARRL
> *  Solar Update
> *  IN BRIEF:
>      This weekend on the radio
>      ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration
>      Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration
>     +MARS members asked to assist in hurricane health-and-welfare traffic
>     +Saudi Arabia's HZ1AB is history
>      Amateur microsat model on display at Smithsonian
>      Supreme Court case involves radio amateur but not amateur antennas
>      Santa Clara Valley gets new Section Manager
>      UK amateurs poised to get bigger 40-meter band
>
> +Available on ARRL Audio News
>
> ===========================================================
> NOTE: To accommodate travel schedules, The ARRL Letter and ARRL Audio News
> for Friday, October 8, will be distributed a day early. The Solar Update
> will be available via the ARRL Web site and as a W1AW bulletin.
> ===========================================================
>
> ==>NORTH CAROLINA UTILITY DECOMMISSIONING BPL FIELD TRIAL
>
> Progress Energy Corporation (PEC) this week shut down its BPL field trial
> in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area and began removing system hardware.
> The utility's action came just as local amateur Tom Brown, N4TAB, had
> filed a "Response and Further Complaint" about the system. His filing
> disputes an FCC determination this summer that PEC's BPL system complied
> with Part 15 rules--with notched BPL emissions averaging 24 dB below Part
> 15 emission limits--and that ham band notching was "effective." Brown, who
> has an extensive background in RF engineering, says the FCC's findings
> have nothing to do with defining--or excusing--harmful interference.
>
> "I can find no reference that states that equipment operating under Part
> 15 with an emission level below some specified value is defined as being
> 'non interfering,'" Brown told Bruce Franca of the FCC's Office of
> Engineering and Technology. Franca's July 22 report characterized the 24
> dB average notch depths as "sufficient to eliminate any signals that would
> be deemed capable of causing harmful interference, including interference
> to amateur operations."
>
> Brown disagreed. "This is a subjective leap of judgment that is
> unsupported under Part 15 rules and without precedent," he responded. BPL
> proponents have touted the FCC's conclusions in the Progress Energy field
> trials to debunk findings by the ARRL and others that the technology can
> and does generate harmful interference. The ARRL also took issue with
> certain claims Franca made in his July 22 letter, but the Commission has
> yet to respond.
>
> Brown, who also asked the FCC to shut down the system, now has gotten his
> wish. The utility announced nearly two months ago that it had
> "successfully" completed Phase 2 of its BPL trial and would be
> terminatiing the operation. At the same time, Progress indicated that it
> "does not have plans for a large-scale commercial rollout of BPL in the
> company's service territories." PEC has since backed away from that
> statement and says it has not ruled out BPL.
>
> Speaking at the United Power Line Council (UPLC) BPL conference in
> mid-September, PEC's Matt Oja said that that while the utility had worked
> with local amateurs to successfully quell interference, the amateurs kept
> raising the bar until Progress had to put its foot down. Even after the
> FCC study that essentially gave the system a clean bill of health, Oja
> said, the amateurs still were unhappy.
>
> Oja suggested that radio amateurs would never be happy about BPL, and he
> advised utilities to simply move forward with their BPL programs.
>
> Responding to Oja's comments--as reported in the newsletter BPL
> Today--another amateur directly involved in the Progress Energy BPL field
> trials, Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, offered a somewhat different version of
> events.
>
> "The only bar Progress Energy and Amperion need to meet is the one set by
> Part 15," Pearce said. "No harmful interference to licensed services."
> Amperion, PEC's BPL partner, ultimately was only partially successful in
> "notching" amateur frequencies out of its BPL system, Pearce noted, and
> interfering signals remained even after Progress announced it was ending
> its BPL field trial. Pearce said the utility gave the amateur community
> "no confidence in their ability to get it right in any reasonable time
> frame."
>
> Amperion Marketing Vice President Jeff Tolnar told the same BPL conference
> that "all ARRL complaints have been mitigated and/or found to be invalid."
>
>
> Franca, who also addressed the UPLC BPL convention, was quoted this week
> in USA Today as saying that the FCC has tried to come up with rules to
> ensure BPL can be deployed and that licensed radio operators are
> protected. But, the article by Paul Davidson continued: "Banning power
> companies from ham-radio bands outright could reduce the download speeds
> of the high-speed Internet service or limit the number of customers who
> could be served, Franca says."
>
> A copy of Brown's filing also went to FCC Chairman Michael K Powell's
> Legal Assistant Sheryl Wilkerson, with whom ARRL officials met this week
> on the BPL proceeding, ET Docket 04-37. ARRL General Counsel Chris Imlay,
> W3KD, said that one of Wilkerson's "many misconceptions" was that actions
> such as notching by BPL systems to resolve interference have been
> successful.
>
> The FCC is expected to consider a draft Report and Order in the BPL
> proceeding when the full Commission meets Thursday, October 14.--Anthony
> E. "Goody" Good, K3NG, provided information for this report
>
> ==>STORM-WEARY AMATEUR RADIO VOLUNTEERS CONFRONT HURRICANE'S AFTERMATH
>
> Amateur Radio this past week once again was part of a storm relief and
> recovery effort in the wake of Hurricane Jeanne--the fourth storm in six
> weeks to hit Florida. Jeanne made landfall September 25 some 5 miles
> southeast of Stuart--not far from where Hurricane Frances struck September
> 5. Authorities blamed the storm--a Category 3 hurricane with 120 MPH
> winds--for at least six deaths, and the state was declared a major
> disaster area. The Hurricane Watch Net (HWN) <http://www.hwn.org>--whose
> members tracked the storm up through the Caribbean--wrapped up three full
> days of communication support September 26.
>
> "Since the wind field was much larger than Frances', Jeanne knocked out
> recently restored power to much of east and central Florida quite early
> and easily," said HWN Assistant Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV. He noted
> that since debris cleaned up after Hurricane Frances had not yet been
> picked up, Hurricane Jeanne had an "abundance of projectiles" at her
> disposal.
>
> Other reports indicated that after Frances denuded much of the region's
> vegetation, Jeanne came along and tore off roofs, then dumped heavy rain
> into the vulnerable houses and buildings. The storm disrupted conventional
> telecommunications and left some 2.5 million homes without electrical
> power.
>
> Over the storm's course, HWN members received reports throughout the
> northwestern Bahamas and eastern and central Florida. Many areas of the
> Bahamas also were still recovering from Hurricane Frances. As Marti Brown,
> KF4TRG/C6A, reported to the HWN: "Let me tell you that this storm was
> virtual hell."
>
> During severe storms, the HWN works hand-in-hand with WX4NHC
> <http://www.wx4nhc.org> at the National Hurricane Center in Miami to
> gather ground-level weather data and damage reports from Amateur Radio
> volunteers in a storm's path. The net relays these to forecasters via
> WX4NHC, which regularly checks into the net and also disseminates weather
> updates.
>
> Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteers were at the ready before
> Hurricane Jeanne arrived, supplementing communication at emergency
> operations centers and shelters set up for evacuees. ARRL Southern Florida
> Section Emergency Coordinator Jim Goldsberry, KD4GR, said Indian River
> County appeared to be the hardest hit. ARES teams in Palm Beach, Martin,
> St Lucie, Brevard and Indian River counties also assisted American Red
> Cross and Salvation Army relief and damage assessment efforts.
>
> Northern Florida SEC Nils Millergren, WA4NDA, reported that operators
> handled shelter duty in Flagler, Orange, Seminole, Lake and Volusia
> counties.
>
> The Salvation Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) on 14.265 MHz
> handled health-and-welfare traffic in the aftermath of the storm on the
> air and via its Web site. Special sessions of the Southern Florida ARES
> Net were called up on 7242 kHz.
>
> August and September have seen unprecedented activity, said the HWN's
> Graves, who thanked all stations that participated in the recent
> activation. Noting that four major tropical storms have not struck the
> same state in the same year since 1886, Grave said, "Let us hope and pray
> that record is not broken this year."
>
> ==>ARISS LOGS TWO "FIRSTS" IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL CONTACT
>
> The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program
> marked two "firsts" during a September 23 school group contact with
> students from an elementary school in Australia. The QSO with youngsters
> from Kilburn Primary School was the first using the ARISS Phase 2 radio
> gear aboard the ISS and the first in which an attempt was made to provide
> contact audio worldwide via IRLP (Internet Radio Linking Project) nodes.
> NASA ISS Science Officer Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, took the controls of the
> NA1SS Kenwood TS-D700 transceiver in the crew quarters for the occasion.
> Responding to one youngster's question, Fincke described an ultrasound
> experiment that he and Expedition 9 Commander Gennady Padalka, RN3DT, have
> been running during their tour of duty.
>
> "Ultrasound uses sound waves to look inside people's bodies," he
> explained, "and we can see how our bodies have changed because we've been
> exposed to this weightlessness--this microgravity--for a long time."
> Fincke said he and Padalka already have noted some changes. "By being able
> to tell how our bodies change in microgravity, we can figure out how to
> keep us healthy and strong, so that when we go to the moon and Mars, we'll
> be ready for it."
>
> Fincke also fielded questions about how the ISS gets its electrical power,
> sleeping in space, the ISS' onboard environment, space walks, how Earth
> and the moon look from space and--of course--space food.
>
> The Kilburn students were guests of the Investigator Science and
> Technology Centre in Adelaide for the occasion, and 13 of them got to ask
> Fincke questions about life in space before the ISS went out of range.
> Serving as the Earth station for the contact was Nancy Rocheleau, WH6PN,
> in Honolulu. An MCI-donated teleconferencing circuit provided two-way
> audio to the students. ARISS veteran Tony Hutchison, VK5ZAI, assisted at
> the Investigator Centre.
>
> Members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club in Nova Scotia undertook the
> IRLP experiment, which had limited success. ARISS International Chairman
> Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said he'd like the program to explore future
> opportunities to make ARISS school group contacts available to other
> schools and the general ham radio population. One major issue this time
> was the presence of timers on IRLP systems.
>
> ISS crews have used the Phase 1 Ericcson handheld VHF radio for the 146
> previous ARISS school group contacts. The Phase 2 station was not expected
> to be used for a school group contact until the Expedition 10 crew arrives
> later this month.
>
> ARISS <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/> is an international educational outreach
> with US participation by ARRL, AMSAT and NASA.
>
> ==>RADIO AMATEUR TO SPEARHEAD DERA RELIEF MISSION TO HAITI
>
> An ARRL member from Florida, Catherine Lawhun, KG4UKI, is heading to Haiti
> with a small team to provide communication support for the relief effort
> in the flood-ravaged city of Gonaives. The Disaster Preparedness and
> Emergency Response Association (DERA) <http://www.disasters.org> is
> sponsoring the project. Lawhun says she recognizes that while
> storm-stricken communities in the US also need help in recovering, the
> need in Haiti is especially urgent.
>
> "Haiti is really in trouble," Lawhun said recounting DERA's rationale for
> making Haiti a priority. "The US is probably going to recover. We have the
> resources. Haiti might not."
>
> While plans remain in flux, Lawhun says she'll fly to Haiti October 5 with
> an Icom IC-706MkIIG HF/VHF/UHF transceiver to establish an HF link to the
> US from Gonaives. The project still needs donations of General Mobile
> Radio Service (GMRS) portables--which Lawhun's small team will transport
> to Haiti--and Amateur Radio operators to serve as HF liaison stations in
> the US.
>
> Relief workers and medical personnel in the still-flooded city and at a
> newly opened health center will use the GMRS transceivers to keep in touch
> with her and with each other. The HF link will permit Lawhun to
> communicate back to the US regarding the situation and any equipment or
> supply needs. Doctors Without Borders is part of the relief effort in
> Haiti.
>
> "As many handheld devices as we can carry in can be given out to doctors
> on the ground in the affected city," Lawhun said in an appeal for both
> radios and cash donations on the DERA Special Projects Web site
> <http://www.manywaters.org/haiti.htm>. The page contains a link to a
> signup form for anyone wishing to volunteer for daily HF monitoring
> shifts. "The need is huge. Please get involved!"
>
> Many Waters Resource Network will provide free FedEx shipment of GMRS
> units and batteries, she said, and donors can email teams at many-waters.com
> to request the shipping information. The Special Projects Web site
> includes plan details and a "Make a Donation" button for cash
> contributions. Donors also may send checks to DERA c/o Haiti Relief
> Support, 11445 Honey Jordan Pt, Inglis, FL 34449.
>
> "When recovery is completed for the current disaster, the communications
> station will remain on the island," said Lawhun, a radio amateur for about
> five years. "This will give the entire island a leg up in the event of any
> future catastrophes and establish a working relationship between DERA and
> the entire network of missions currently active on the island."
>
> Lawhun, who edits DERA's newsletter, also is a member of The Salvation
> Army Team Emergency Radio Network (SATERN) and serves as DERA's SATERN
> liaison.
>
> While the DERA project initially had hoped to use local Amateur Radio
> operators with VHF handhelds, Lawhun says she found few ham radio
> operators in Haiti who were willing to risk entering the city, which not
> only is ravaged by floodwaters but by disease and looting. She still hopes
> that Amateur Radio emergency communication resources can be developed in
> Haiti for future disasters.
>
> "I'm one of those people who has just enough faith to get me in trouble,"
> Lawhun quipped. "So, I decided that I would pursue this as long as doors
> would open, and, lo and behold, they are, so here I am."
>
> A wall of water and mud resulting from then-Tropical Storm Jeanne
> inundated much of Gonaives September 18 as it lingered over the island of
> Hispaniola for more than a day, dumping heavy rain. The densely populated
> city of some 200,000 was the most severely affected region in Haiti. As of
> this week, the death toll was nearly 1300, and hundreds more are still
> missing.
>
> ==>JAMBOREE ON THE AIR (JOTA) 2004 IS OCTOBER 16-17
>
> The 47th Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) takes place October 16-17. Details on
> JOTA also appear in September QST, page 104. JOTA is an annual event in
> which Boy and Girl Scouts and Guides from all over the world speak to each
> other via Amateur Radio to share experiences and ideas. Since 1958, when
> the first Jamboree On The Air was held, millions of Scouts have become
> acquainted through this event.
>
> Amateur Radio clubs and individual licensees make it possible for Scouts
> to get on the air, and your club is invited to be a part of JOTA 2004. If
> your club is planning a JOTA activity, register it on the ARRL Youth Skeds
> Database page <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/youthskeds/>. There,
> youngsters and parents can search for scheduled on-the-air activities in
> which to participate. You also can contact your local Boy Scouts of
> America Council <http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?s=xx&c=lc> and let
> it know that you're planning a JOTA activity.
>
> With assistance from ARRL HQ staff members, Education and Technology
> Program Coordinator Mark Spencer, WA8SME, will operate Maxim Memorial
> Station W1AW on Saturday, October 16, for JOTA. "This year the focus will
> be on achieving the radio merit badge," he noted. Spencer has set up a
> program that should allow Scouts participating at W1AW to walk away from
> the JOTA experience with the merit badge, "with some preparation and a
> little homework on the Scout's part," he added.
>
> ARRL staffer Larry Wolfgang, WR1B--a veteran Scout leader--will be setting
> up a station at the Mohegan District Fall Camporee at Waterford Beach in
> Connecticut. "We will be operating WA1BSA," Wolfgang said, adding that
> he's expecting some 400 to 500 Scouts to turn out for the campout.
>
> The ARRL New Hampshire Section, the New Hampshire Amateur Radio Service
> Club (WB1BSA) and the Lawrence L. Lee Scouting Museum
> <http://www.scoutingmuseum.org/> have announced that the Max I. Silber
> Memorial Station will be on the air during JOTA 2004 using special event
> call sign N1S--primarily using SSB and SSTV on 20 and 40 meters.
>
> Scouts and scouters worldwide also can participate in JOTA via Internet
> Radio Linking Project (IRLP) Reflector 9205. There's more information on
> the IRLP Web site <http://www.irlp.net>.
>
> If you hear any participating JOTA stations on the air, be sure to make a
> contact--and don't forget to QSL. There's more information about JOTA on
> the Web <http://www.scouting.org/international/jota.html> and
> <http://www.arrl.org/FandES/ead/jota.html>.
>
> ==>FEDERAL EMPLOYEES CAN DONATE TO ARRL THROUGH COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN
>
> Employees of the US government can designate their Combined Federal
> Campaign (CFC) pledges to the ARRL. (The League is CFC No 9872.) Federal
> employees who participate in the CFC can donate all or part of their CFC
> contribution to the League to support ARRL's efforts on behalf of Amateur
> Radio. Some private-sector employers also match donations their employees
> make to ARRL, while others will donate to the League if you volunteer your
> time--as an Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) volunteer, for example.
>
>
> "ExxonMobil gives ARRL a donation of $500 for every 25 hours that I
> volunteer for ARES activities, including training, exercises and
> preparation--with a max of $2000 per year," says ARRL member Alan
> Isaachsen, KB2WF. ARRL is a qualifying §501(c)(3) organization, and
> contributions may be tax deductible for both employer and employee.
>
> To learn how to donate to various ARRL funds, visit the Support Amateur
> Radio and ARRL Web page <http://www.arrl.org/development/#top>. For
> additional information, contact ARRL Chief Development Officer Mary
> Hobart, K1MMH, mhobart at arrl.org; 860-594-0397; fax 860-594-0259.--thanks
> to Alan Isaachsen, KB2WF, and Walt Dubose, K5YFW
>
> ==>SOLAR UPDATE
>
> Sunspot seeker Tad "You Are My Sunshine" Cook, K7RA, Seattle, Washington,
> reports: The sun was quiet this week. Average daily sunspot numbers fell
> by more than 31 points to 20.9, and average daily solar flux declined by
> more than 11 points from last week to 89.7.
>
> Geomagnetic conditions were very stable, and conditions for the near term
> look the same, but with a slowly increasing solar flux and sunspot
> numbers: 90 is the predicted solar flux for October 1-2, 95 for October
> 3-4 and surpassing 200 around October 7. Quiet geomagnetic conditions
> should prevail over the next two days, with a rise to only slightly
> unsettled conditions for October 3-5.
>
> Sunspot numbers for September 23 through 29 were 19, 15, 24, 22, 22, 22
> and 22, with a mean of 20.9. The 10.7 cm flux was 90.2, 89.4, 89.5, 89.5,
> 89.8, 89.9 and 89.8, with a mean of 89.7. Estimated planetary A indices
> were 12, 6, 5, 4, 5, 8 and 5, with a mean of 6.4. Estimated mid-latitude A
> indices were 10, 5, 2, 2, 2, 5 and 3, with a mean of 4.1.
>
> __________________________________
>
> ==>IN BRIEF:
>
> * This weekend on the radio: The TARA PSK Rumble, the Oceania DX Contest
> (SSB), the EU Autumn Sprint (SSB), the California QSO Party, the UBA ON
> Contest (SSB), the RSGB 21/28 MHz Contest (SSB) and the German Telegraphy
> Contest are the weekend of October 3-4. The ARS Spartan Sprint is October
> 5, the 432 MHz Fall Sprint is October 6 and the SARL 80-Meter QSO Party is
> October 7. JUST AHEAD: The Pennsylvania QSO Party, the YLRL Anniversary
> Party (CW), the Makrothen RTTY Contest, the Oceania DX Contest (CW), the
> EU Autumn Sprint (CW), the FISTS Fall Sprint, the North American Sprint
> (RTTY), the 10-10 International 10-10 Day Sprint and the UBA ON Contest
> (CW) are the weekend of October 9-10. The YLRL Anniversary Party (SSB) is
> October 13-15. See the ARRL Contest Branch page
> <http://www.arrl.org/contests/> and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar
> <http://www.hornucopia.com/contestcal/> for more info.
>
> * ARRL Certification and Continuing Education course registration:
> Registration for the ARRL RFI (EC-006) and Antenna Design and Construction
> (EC-009) courses remains open through Sunday, October 3. Classes begin
> Friday, October 15. Antenna Design and Construction students will, among
> other things, learn about basic dipoles and ground planes and how to
> assemble combinations of these into more complex antennas. Students also
> learn about transmission lines, standing wave ratio, phased arrays and
> Yagis. Students participating in the RFI course will learn to identify
> various interference sources. To learn more, visit the ARRL Certification
> and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce> or contact the
> ARRL Certification and Continuing Education Program Department
> <cce at arrl.org>.
>
> * Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Course registration: Registration
> for the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Level I on-line course
> (EC-001) opens Monday, October 4, 1201 AM EDT, and remains open through
> the October 9-10 weekend or until all available seats have been filled.
> Class begins Friday, October 22. Radio amateurs over age 55 are strongly
> encouraged to participate. Thanks to our grant sponsors--the Corporation
> for National and Community Service and the United Technologies
> Corporation--the $45 registration fee paid upon enrollment will be
> reimbursed after successful completion of the course. During this
> registration period, seats are being offered to ARRL members on a
> first-come, first-served basis. To learn more, visit the ARRL
> Certification and Continuing Education Web page <http://www.arrl.org/cce>.
> For more information, contact Emergency Communications Course Manager Dan
> Miller, K3UFG, cce at arrl.org; 860-594-0340.
>
> * MARS members asked to assist in hurricane health-and-welfare traffic:
> Army MARS Eastern Area Coordinator Robert Hollister, AAA9E/N7INK, has
> asked Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS) stations and nets to assist
> in handling health-and-welfare traffic related to the recent hurricanes.
> "MARS stations in Florida and other affected areas should coordinate with
> ARES/RACES and local ham radio operators and see if MARS can help handle
> some of this workload for them," Hollister said in a message to MARS
> members in the Eastern US. "This is another opportunity for MARS to
> demonstrate our capabilities and provide a service to the people stricken
> by these storms." Hollister said that Army MARS stations not supporting
> the disaster response in the stricken areas should continue to monitor
> regional net frequencies and remain available to assist as needed in
> handling traffic. He also encouraged Army MARS members to work with their
> Air Force and Navy counterparts "to get the traffic out of the affected
> area."
>
> * Saudi Arabia's HZ1AB is history: The HZ1AB club station in Saudi Arabia
> now is history. Originally the United States Military Training Mission
> station and more recently known as the Dhahran Amateur Radio Club, HZ1AB
> was a well-known DX call sign for almost six decades. Club Secretary
> Thomas Carlsson, SM0CXU/AB5CQ, said this week that new station license
> requirements in Saudi Arabia made it necessary to shut down the station,
> and the call sign has been reissued to a Saudi national. QSL manager Leo
> Fry, K8PYD, has the HZ1AB logs to handle any late QSL requests. Earlier
> this year, Saudi Arabia licensed 18 new Amateur Radio operators. Details
> about licensing there are available on the Saudi Arabia Communications and
> Information Technology Commission Web site
> <http://www.citc.gov.sa/CITC/EN/SpectrumManagement/generalservices/?sm=9>.
> --The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com> and Thomas Carlsson, SM0CXU/AB0CQ
>
> * Amateur microsat model on display at Smithsonian: AMSAT's Perry Klein,
> W3PK, reports that the Smithsonian National Museum of American History in
> Washington, DC, has put the microsat mechanical test model on display,
> just in time for AMSAT's 35th anniversary celebration and its Symposium
> and Annual Meeting October 8-13. "They suspended it from the ceiling
> outside the NN3SI Smithsonian Amateur Radio Club station, located at 'The
> Information Age' exhibit on the first floor, west end of the American
> History Museum," Klein said. "It's been a number of years since an OSCAR
> satellite has been on continuous display at the Smithsonian." An OSCAR 1
> model was in the Hall of Satellites at the National Air and Space Museum
> for several years, Klein notes, although it's now in storage. But, OSCAR 1
> and PCSat models currently are being readied for display at the Air and
> Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport. The center's space
> exhibit hangar is expected to open soon.
>
> * Supreme Court case involves radio amateur but not amateur antennas: The
> US Supreme Court this week agreed to hear a case that involves ARRL Life
> Member Mark J. Abrams, WA6DPB, of Rancho Palos Verdes, California. While
> the case does not involve Amateur Radio antennas, it got started several
> years ago when Abrams began diplexing his commercial Land Mobile Radio
> Service facilities into his Amateur Radio repeater antennas--something the
> city said he needed an additional permit to do. The city years earlier had
> okayed the 45-foot Amateur Radio antenna support structure at Abrams'
> residence, and its legality was never in question. The city denied him a
> conditional use permit for the commercial application, but the California
> Supreme Court eventually ruled that Abrams didn't need one anyway. In the
> meantime, Abrams filed suit in US District Court asserting the denial of
> the conditional use permit violated the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
> Again, Abrams prevailed, but the District Court denied Abrams monetary
> damages and attorneys' fees. The US Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit
> reversed the US District Court, but the 3rd and 7th Circuits ruled
> otherwise. The City of Rancho Palos Verdes then took the case to the US
> Supreme Court on the issue of damages and attorneys' fees, and the high
> court agreed to hear the case because of the disparity in findings at the
> Circuit Court level.
>
> * Santa Clara Valley gets new Section Manager: Kit Blanke, WA6PWW, of
> Milpitas, California, has assumed the office of Santa Clara Valley Section
> Manager, effective October 1. He took over the reins from Glenn Thomas,
> WB6W, the SCV SM since March 1999, who has moved out of the section. "I've
> had a blast being SM!" Thomas said. "I'll be seeing you all on the air."
> Blanke is no stranger to the section's top job. He headed up the Santa
> Clara Valley Section from 1995 until 1998 and still has his SM certificate
> from his earlier tenure on the wall of his ham shack. He's served as the
> SCV Section's Technical Coordinator since last December. Blanke is a
> self-employed RF engineering consultant involved in the design of Part 15
> devices.
>
> * UK amateurs poised to get bigger 40-meter band: Amateur Radio operators
> in the United Kingdom hope to soon have a bigger 40 meter band. UK
> telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced plans to extend 40 meters
> by an additional 100 kHz to 7000-7200 kHz for Foundation, Intermediate and
> Full Amateur Radio licensees in the UK. Ofcom says the band extension
> would be a secondary allocation to the Amateur Service on the basis that
> amateurs not cause interference to other services within or outside the
> UK. Allowable modes would include CW, phone, RTTY, data, facsimile and
> SSTV. Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) Spectrum Forum Chairman and HF
> Manager Colin Thomas, G3PSM, says that barring the unlikely event of an
> objection, the additional 100 kHz should become available to UK amateurs
> Sunday, October 31. Ofcom has invited comments on the proposal until
> October 23.--The Daily DX <http://www.dailydx.com>; RSGB
>
> ===========================================================
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