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William Powell
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Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1956 March 13 2015
The following is a QST. The European Space Agency to make camera on the Mars Express spacecraft available for public use
in May; the Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 is introduced in the House of Representatives; commentary cutoff looms in
possible restructuring of 77 to 81 Ghz; lawmakers say activating FM receiver chips in smartphones a matter of public
safety and a group of hams in Germany bring back part of an abandoned shortwave station for amateur radio. All this and
more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1956 coming your way right now.
RADIO IN SPACE: ESA OFFERING ELIGIBLE GROUPS USE OF MARS EXPRESS VISUAL MONITORING CAMERA IN MAY
A webcam on board the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft will be available for public imaging requests in
May and E-S-A is inviting schools, science clubs and youth groups to submit proposals for one of about eight
opportunities to image another planet. We get the details from Heather Embee KB3TZD...
[HEATHER:] The Visual Monitoring Camera or V-M-C is described as a simple, low-resolution device that was originally
intended only to provide visual confirmation of Beagle lander separation. While it's not a scientific instrument the
camera has the ability to deliver good quality pictures of intriguing martian features.
In May, Mars will be in solar conjunction, meaning that line- of-sight radio signals between Earth and Mars Express will
be disrupted by the Sun. As a result, the spacecraft's normal scientific payload will be switched off. This offers a
first-ever, three-day period when the V-M-C camera can be freely pointed at almost any target on the planet from the
spacecraft's 300 by 10,000 kilometer orbit.
While any number of eligible groups may submit proposals, only the most promising will be selected, one slot per group,
corresponding to about eight observation slots available. Proposals to make use of these slots must include the desired
observation target, a brief note about why it's interesting and a description of the intended project that will fully
exploit the images. Those with strong educational value and representing a cohesive team effort will have the best
chances of being accepted. If selected, E-S-A expects that groups that are awarded a slot will use its image set in a
scientific or artistic project that makes full, imaginative use of the visual information they contain.
The V-M-C image sets will be downloaded on May 28th and then delivered to participating groups electronically. Projects
should be completed by the end of the current academic year or July 31st, whichever comes first and will be later
published in the V-M-C blog. The call for proposals runs through March 27th. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm
Heather Embee KB3TZD, in Berwick, Pennsylvania. ? [ANCHOR] Full details on the V-M-C Imaging Campaign timeline,
eligibility and technical information is on the web at tinyurl.com/image-the-red-planet. The on-line registration form
can be found at tinyurl.com/you-can-image- mars.
(European Space Agency)
** SOLAR ACTIVITY: FIRST X-CLASS SOLAR FLARE OF 2015 CAUSES SHORT HF RADIO BLACKOUT
The sun unleashed its first super powerful flare of 2015 on Wednesday March 11th with the intense eruption aimed
directly at Earth.
According to Space.com, the X-class flare, which is the strongest category possible, peaked at 16:22 GMT originating
from a sunspot known as Active Region 12297. It registered as an X 2.2 sun storm on the scale. Scientists classify
strong solar flares into three categories. These are C, M and X, with X flares bring 10 times more powerful than M
flares. X2 and X3 flares are twice and three times as powerful as X1 flares.
Active Region 12297 had previously fired off a number of medium-strength flares over the preceding few days. The event
on March 11th caused at least an hour-long blackout in high-frequency radio communications over wide areas, according to
scientists with the U.S. Space Weather Prediction Center in Boulder, Colorado.
NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured stunning video of this X-class solar flare as it erupted. More details
including links to the space.com video and photos are on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/ARNewsline
(space.com, ARNewsline)
**
RADIO POLITICS: AMATEUR RADIO PARITY ACT OF 2015 INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS
The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2015 known as H.R.1301 has been introduced in the US House of Representatives. The
measure would direct the FCC to extend its rules relating to reasonable accommodation of Amateur Service communications
to private land use restrictions.
U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois introduced the bill on March 4 with 12 original co-sponsors from both
sides of the aisle. Kinzinger also sponsored The Amateur Radio Parity Act of 2014, which died at the end of the 113th
Congress. H.R. 1301 is an essentially identical piece of legislation.
(ARRL)
**
RESTRUCTURING: COMMENTARY DEADLINE LOOMS IN POSSIBLE 76 TO 81 GHZ SPECTRUM REALLOCATION PROPOSAL
The comments deadline is coming up on an FCC proceeding that could lead to expanded spectrum for various applications in
a band that amateur radio shares with other services. Skeeter Nash N5ASH explains.
[SKEETER:] The band 77.5 to 78 GHz is allocated to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services on a primary basis, and to
the Radio Astronomy and Space Research services on a secondary basis. The FCC released a detailed Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking and Reconsideration Order in ET Docket 15-26 on February 5th. The suggestions in the Docket include possible
allocation changes as well as provisions to ensure that new and incumbent operations can share the available frequencies
in the band.
The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Reconsideration Order was in response to a 2012 Petition for Rulemaking in RM-
11666 from Robert Bosch LLC. Bosch's petition sought to modify the FCC's Part 15 rules to expand the operation of
unlicensed vehicular radar systems from 76 to 77 GHz to the 76 to 81 GHz band to develop short-range radar applications.
ET Docket 15-26 also addresses two petitions for reconsideration of the Commission's 2012 Report and Order concerning
vehicular radar systems in the 76 to 77 GHz band by incorporating these earlier proceedings.
Among many issues, the Commission seeks comment on the possibility of reallocating the Amateur Radio and Amateur
Satellite services from 76 to 81 GHz, and it asks for suggestions on alternative spectrum that it might make available
in this general region.
Noting that it has previously recognized evidence of potential interference conflicts between amateur radio and
vehicular radar systems in the 76 to 77 GHz spectrum the FCC said it believes the potential for similar compatibility
issues could exist above 77 GHz.
More than 10 years ago the FCC suspended Amateur Radio and Amateur Satellite operation in the 76 to 77 GHz segment and
recently extended the suspension.
Commentary cutoff is April 6th with reply comments due no later than April 20th. Interested parties may file comments
in ET Docket 15-26 via the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System. For Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash N5ASH in Topeka, Kansas.
(ARRL, FCC)
**
LICENSING STATS: US HAM RADIO NUMBERS REACH ALL-TIME HIGH
Amateur radio growth in the United States continues unabated. At the end of 2014 the total number of radio amateurs in
the FCC's Universal Licensing System database reached an all-time high of 726,725. The trend has continued into the
first 2 months of 2015which saw the ham population rise to slightly more than 727,000.??Just under half of all U.S.
licensees hold the Technician class license. The Technician class-which was originally introduced in the 1950's for VHF
experimentation-today permits holders to operate 200 watts output on four High Frequency bands and up to 1500 watts
output on all VHF, UHF and Microwave bands.
(ARRL)
**
DX UP FRONT: E30FB FROM ERITREA THROUGH MARCH 17
In DX up front, members of the Foundation for Global Children is again operating from Eritrea as E-30-F-B and will be
there until March 17th. This as a part of thee "Eritrea Project 2015" which is conducting its DXpedition from the
capital of Asmara with a multi national team of nine operators and four transceivers. Antennas are beams on 20 through
10 meters and verticals for 160 through 30. They say that they will try to work every area as much as possible. QSL's
go via the their manager M-zero-U-R-X.
(OPDX)
**
BREAK 1
Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the including the WD6HFR repeater serving Palomar, California.
(5 SEC PAUSE)
**
RESCUE RADIO: LAWMAKERS SAY ACTIVATING FM CHIPS IN SMARTPHONES A MATTER OF PUBLIC SAFETY
A couple of members of Congress are lobbying the head of the FCC over cell phone broadcast reception, as we hear from
Stephen Kinford, N8WB.
[STEPHEN:] United States Representatives Bennie Thompson of Mississippi and Peter DeFazio of Oregon say that activating
the FM broadcast reception chips in many smartphones is a matter of public safety.
In a recent note to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, the two lawmakers urged him to take every possible action to ensure that
the public has every tool in the public alerts and warnings toolbox at its disposal. This should include access to FM
radio through activation of radio chips already built into almost all smart phones.
In their letter they noted that text based Wireless Emergency Alerts are limited to 90 characters, severely limiting
their usefulness. In fact, one of the pieces of advice often contained in those 90 characters is to tune into local
broadcasts for more information.
Concluding their argument, they wrote that radio is a proven lifeline in times of emergency, connecting consumers to the
information they need to stay safe. During times of emergency, it is critically important that Americans have access to
broadcast radio, which would provide instant emergency, lifesaving information on-the-go. They also pledged to work
with Wheeler to make it happen. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford N8WB in Wadsworth, Ohio.
(RBR-TVBR)
**
RADIO CRIME: QUICK AREST IN WASHINTON STATE TRNSMITTER BURGLARY
Authorities in Washington state recently arrested a 30-year- old transient man after he was caught with several thousand
dollars in alleged stolen radio equipment. The Grant County Sheriff said the equipment was taken from an FM-radio
transmitter tower north of the town of Quincy.
Cherry Creek Radio had called the local electric company because the station's transmitter was out of service, possibly
due to a power outage at the Monument Hill tower site. When lineman arrived they saw a man in a white Subaru
apparently stealing radio equipment. They said the car fled southbound but Sheriff's deputies caught up with the
vehicle and stopped it. In it they found about $10,000 in electronic components belonging to Cherry Creek Radio. ?A
suspect was taken to the Grant County Jail on suspicion of second-degree burglary, and first-degree possession of a
controlled substance. The latter charge came about after correction officers also found methamphetamine on him while he
was being booked.
(Published news reports)
**
HAM SCOLARSHIPS: FOUNDATION FOR AMATEUR RADIO ANNOUNCES NEW CUTOFF DATE FOR SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS
The Foundation for Amateur Radio has moved to April 15th the deadline to apply for the 2015 to 2016 academic year
scholarships that it administers. Applicants must hold a valid Amateur Radio license and be enrolled or accepted for
enrollment at an accredited university, college, or technical school.
The preferred application method is to use the electronic form on the Foundation's website. Information entered on the
form goes directly into an encrypted PDF file that is available only to the review committee. Those who are unable or
unwilling to use the online application should contact Dave Prestel, W8AJR.
The Foundation for Amateur Radio scholarship program is one of the largest of its type for amateur radio licensees in
the United States. For the coming academic year it is administering 67 scholarships worth $125,500 in all. Individual
awards range from $500 to $5000. More information is on-line at farweb.org/2015-scholarship- information.
(FAR)
**
HAM PRODUCTS UPDATE: PYQSO V0.2 RELEASED
Version zero dot 2 of Py QSO was released on 7 March 2015. Py QSO is a simple contact logging tool that runs on Linux.
This new version contains a number of fixes and updates to the user interface, and additional features such as an insert
current date and time button and the option of specifying default values for the power and mode fields. More information
is in cyberspace at pyqso.readthedocs.org
(Southgate)
**
RADIO BUSINESS: ICOM ANNOUNCES NEW DIGITAL LAND MOBILE RADIOS AT IWCE 2015 ?Icom America is showcasing new land mobile
radio and some of its ham radio equipment at the 2015 International Wireless Communications Expo slated for the Las
Vegas Convention Center for March 16th to the 20th. During the event, the company will be showing new products
promoting 6.25 kHz Digital, P25 and IP radio solutions.
On the commercial radio side products on display will include the F1000D/F2000D and the F3200DEX/F4200DEX all of which
belong to the Icom Digital Advanced System known as I- D-A-S. The company will also be exhibiting its 50th anniversary,
limited edition IC-7850 High Frequency plus 6 meter amateur radio transceiver as well as the ID-5100A and ID-51A PLUS
D-STAR radios at Booth 621 during exhibit hall hours.
(PoliceOne.com)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: FIRST SYSTEM FUSION FORUM AT DAYTON HAMVENTION
?The first Yaesu System Fusion forum at the Dayton Hamvention has been scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on
Sunday morning, May17th in Forum Room 1. Planners will be working with Yaesu and hams active in the System Fusion
community to schedule the agenda by mid-March. In the meantime, you can learn more about System Fusion-and the forum
planning-by joining the System Fusion group at tinyurl.com/learn-system-fusion
(WB9QZB)
**
SHORTWAVE RADIO VIDEO: RADIO SWEDEN'S SW AND MW TRANSMITTERS
A 2006 documentary video that gives a look at the Radio Sweden shortwave transmitters at Horby and the Solvesborg AM
transmitter has been found on the web by Rob Wagner, VK3BVW.
According to VK3BVW what is interesting about this video is the detailed view of the inside of the shortwave and medium
wave transmitters. This as it offers some insight into the day-to-day work of an engineer for a large international
broadcaster.
The film produced by Kelly Lindman is 30 minutes long and is in memory of the late Hakan Widenstedt. Widenstedt was the
Chief Engineer for Radio Sweden who passed away in 2011.
While the audio track is in Swedish the video does have English subtitles. Its available for on-line viewing at
tinyurl.com/radio-sweden-transmitters.
(VK3BVW)
**
RADIO VIDEO: WIDEBAND HF TRANSMISSIONS AT HFIA SLIDE SHOWS AVAILABLE
A set of video slide presentations from the H F Industry Association Meeting held February 12th in San Diego,
California, are now available online. Among the papers presented was one from Randy Nelson of Rockwell Collins which
describes tests of full motion video in a 48 kHz bandwidth over a 900 mile path on a frequency of 14.965 MHz. Also, Alan
Pilecki from Harris RF described the company's RF- 7800H portable transceiver which covers 1.5 to 60 MHz and supports
data rates of up to 120 kilobits per second in a 24 kHz bandwidth. Also included are presentations from the Thales
Group, N-V-I-S Communications, Isode and Long Wave, Inc. You can download the individual slide shows from
tinyurl.com/hf-slides.
(Southgate)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: DANISH ASTRONAUT LICENSED AS KG5GCZ
Some names in the news. First up is Danish astronaut Andreas Mogensen who passed his ham radio exam on February 25th
and has been licensed as KG5GCZ. ??Mogensen was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009 and completed basic space
training program at the European Astronaut Center in November 2010. Since then he has been certified as a private pilot
by the Lufthansa Flight School and is trained and qualified for spacewalks using both the American E-M-U and the Russian
Orlan spacesuits.
Mogensen will be the first astronaut of Danish nationality to go to space and will launch to the International Space
Station in September along with British songstress and space tourist Sarah Brightman on a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.
(ANS)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: YASME FOUNDATION ADDS TWO DIRECTORS
The Yasme Foundation has announced that it has elected Ken Claerbout, K4ZW, and Hans Blondeel Timmerman, PB2T, to the
board. This, effective with the forthcoming Annual Meeting to be held in Visalia, California in April.
Claerbout was first licensed in 1977 and is an active DXer and contester. Blondeel Timmerman got his license in 1980
and is President and Board Member of the European DX Foundation.
The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to conduct scientific and educational projects related to
amateur radio, including DXing and the introduction and promotion of amateur radio in developing countries. This
action brings the number of Yasme Foundation directors to nine.
(N0AX)
**
HAM RAIO NEAR SPACE: HABEX-10 TO LAUNCH APRIL 25
The HABEX-10 Mission is scheduled for launching on Saturday April 25th. HABEX is the acronym for High Altitude Balloon
Experiment. This flight is part of the Global Space Balloon Challenge for 2015. More information about HABEX and its
ties to amateur radio is on the web at www.habex.za.net
(SARL)
**
BREAK 2
This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our
only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur:
(5 sec pause here)
**
WORLDBEAT: FIRST ANALOG/DIGITAL DMR REPEATER COMES TO PORTUGAL
The first compatible analog FM and Digital Mobile Radio repeater has come to Portugal. The CQ0UCSC is a UHF repeater
recently put into service by the by the Associa?ao de Radioamadores da Linha de Cascais.
The new repeater is located near Lisbon and utilizes the Motorola Mototrbo system currently at 10 watts out. The
repeater listens on 431.125 MHz and transmits on 438.725 MHz. When in analog FM mode access requires a 74.4 Hertz sub
audible access tone. This allows its use both in conventional analog FM at 25 kHz or Mototrbo D-M-R.
Its sponsors do note that CQ0UCSC it is not compatible with either ICOM or any other form of D-STAR gear or the C4FM
System Fusion by Yaesu. Users require a Mototrbo compatible radio to make use of it for digital voice operation.
(CT1FBF
**
RADIO SCIENCE: VLF ENTHUSIASTS PLAN ECLIPSE EXPERIMENT
?Very Low Frequency or V-L-F enthusiasts, mainly those living in the United Kingdom and other Northern Hemisphere
regions are planning some experiments during a solar eclipse on March 20th. A number of these V-L-F observers will be
paying particular attention to received signal strengths during this period and comparing results afterwards, with the
aim of compiling an in depth report. Of particular interest will be the NRK signal on 7.5 kHz from Iceland. They are
also interested in any results from other V-L-F and Low Frequency stations.??For those planning to take part,
measurements should be prepared in a .CSV format and with accurate time stamps. The exact arrangements are still to be
finalized but will probably involve measurements for the same time period before and the day after the eclipse. If you
would like to participate in this study contact Paul Hyde via e-mail to g4csd (at) yahoo (dot) co (dot) u.
(Space Blogspot, GB2RS, others)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FOX-1A DELIVERY AND P-POD INTEGRATION SET FOR MARCH 25
Following the successful conclusion of vibration, thermal and vacuum testing the Fox-1 ham radio satellite now is stored
in a clean environment waiting for launch.
Fox-1 completed its Mission Readiness Review at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo California on February 24th before a review
board of Cal Poly and NASA representatives. Integration of the satellite to its P-POD is now scheduled to take place on
March 25th. P-Pod is a standard deployment system which helps in the effort to reduce the satellite development time
for the CubeSat program.
AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, N-zero-J-Y says several required reports are being reviewed by the
launch provider. Ongoing updates will be posted on the AMSAT web page, on the AMSAT North America Facebook page, in the
AMSAT Journal and here on Amateur Radio Newsline.
(ANS)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SPACE STATION SSTV AND PACKET RADIO VIA SUWS WEBSDR
Martin Ehrenfried, G8JNJ, reports excellent Slow Scan Television and Packet Radio signal reception from the
International Space Station using the online Southampton University Wireless Society or SUWS WebSDR receiving station.
The omni-direction helix antennas at the WebSDR were designed with high elevation satellites in mind. Comparisons with
other WebSDRs show the SUWS antennas provide a 6 to 10dB better signal to noise ratio on similar passes.
You can use the free online Southampton University Wireless Society Web Software Defined Radio from your PC or Laptop to
receive the ISS and the many amateur radio satellites transmitting in the 144 to146 MHz or 435 10 438 MHz bands. It also
provides reception of High Altitude Balloons in the 434 MHz band and coverage of the microwave 10368 to 10370 MHz
spectrum as well.
The Southampton University Wireless Society WebSDR is located at Farnham not far from London. You can listen to it at
http://websdr.suws.org.uk
(AMSAT-UK)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: GERMAN AMATEUR RADIO BASED GROUP RESCUES SHORTWAVE BROADCAST FREQUENCY
And finally this week, a group of hams in Germany have brought back to life part of an international shortwave station
and naming it Channel 292. Here is Bill Pasternak WA6ITF with the story.
[BILL:] When the station Deutsche Welle decided to close down one of its 500 Kilowatt shortwave broadcast transmitters
near Munich at the end of 2012, a group of radio amateurs applied for and were allocated the then- available short wave
frequency of 6070 KHz. That came about in 2013.
This group now has an operational 10 Kilowatt station on the frequency, using the driver stages from the old Deutsche
Welle transmitter. The rest of the transmitter was built and is run by Rainer Ebeling, DB8QC. The license allow
transmission 24 a day and 7 days a week, but Channel 292 currently it operates mainly on weekends.
Initially there will be two programs. One called DARC Radio that will contain DX related items DXpedition News, reports
and the like. That will be in German. The other is titled "English Amateur Radio News" which will be broadcasting the
GB2RS News from the Radio Society of Great Britain in English along with other ham radio information services.
Rainer Englert, DF2NU, is one of the group running the station and also the president of the Munich South section of the
Germany's national amateur radio society D-A-R-C, the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club. He hopes to be able to broadcast
more often once sufficient content is available.
However there is one sour note. The hams say that they are already seeing other broadcasters such as Radio China moving
onto the frequency in the evenings as those stations perceive 6070 KHz as a frequency free to use .
The stations program schedule is at tinyurl.com/channel-292- on-air and it welcomes reception reports from listeners
anywhere in the world. All will be answered with a QSL card sent via via the DARC QSL bureau. For the Amateur Radio
Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak WA6ITF in Los Angeles.
(DF2NU, DD5LP, WIA News)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Rain, the RSGB, the South
African Radio League, the Southgate News, TwiT-TV, Australia's WIA News and you our listeners, that's all from the
Amateur Radio Newsline. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) 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, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350.
Before we go, a reminder that Amateur Radio Newsline is seeking nominations for its 2015 Young Ham of the Year Award.
For consideration, a nominee must have used amateur radio in some way that has benefited his or her community or
encouraged technological development directly or indirectly related to communications.
Nominees must be 19 years or younger, and reside in the United States including Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and Puerto Rico
or any of the Canadian Provinces. The individual must also hold a currently valid United States or Canadian Amateur
Radio license.
This award is not a contest. The person selected as `Young Ham of the Year' is judged on his or her overall
accomplishments and contributions. Any prizes awarded are secondary in nature.
The deadline for submitting an application is May 30th 2015 and the decision of the judging committee is final. To
obtain an application, send a self addressed, stamped envelope to 2015 Young Ham of the Year Award, in care of Amateur
Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Ave. Santa Clarita, CA 91350. You can also download a form in Microsoft Word format at
www.arnewsline.org/yhoty, clicking on the word "here" and saving the file to print at a later time.
Presentation of the 2015 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award will take the weekend of August 15 and 16 at
the Huntsville Hamfest in Huntsville Alabama.
For now, with producers Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles and Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, in Topeka, plus our news team
world wide, I'm Hal Rogers KC8MD in Parma, Ohio, saying 73 and as always we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio
Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.
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