Thursday, November 20, 2014

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1945 - November 21 2014

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1945 - November 21 2014

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1945 with a release
date of November 21st 2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST.  Malaysia shows its support of ham
radio emergency communications; an unidentified German ham
takes on Russian military communications; Japan announces a
deep space satellite mission; some new DMR experiments take
place down - under and some space junk turns out to be a new
Russian satellite.  Find out the details are on Amateur
Radio Newsline report number 1945 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RESCUE RADIO:  MALAYSIA INCLUDES HAM RADIO IN FLOOD PLANNING

Malaysia is including ham radio in its emergency
preparedness for the upcoming monsoon season.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, has the details:
--

Malaysia's Ministry of Communications and Multimedia will
ensure that all communication towers including those used by
radio amateurs will be fully functioning even though they
are inundated during the flood season.

According to the Ministry, several communication towers that
were inundated during the flood season last year, especially
in the Kemaman area.  To prevent this happening again, many
had already been upgraded so that they were located on
higher ground and would not be submerged by the rising
waters.

A Ministry spokesperson noted that there are several areas
which could not receive normal communication coverage but
can be contacted using the amateur radio.  The ministry went
on to say that it would cooperate with several amateur radio
associations under the Malaysian Communication and
Multimedia Commission to assist in terms of information
sharing in any flood-affected areas.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in
New Orleans.

--

In its statement Malaysia's Ministry of Communications and
Multimedia indicated that amateur radio has the ability to
provide communications into and out of areas that no other
quick response radio service can.  (Benama Information
Agency)

**

INTERUDER WATCH:  ILLEGAL DEFENFDER TAKES ON RUSSIAN
MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS

An unidentified German amateur station has tried to disturb
military transmissions from Russia taking place in the 80
meter band.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB,
has what's known so far:

--

The action happened on 3 dot 733 MHz on October 22nd at 2000
hours UTC.  The Russian Frequency Shift or FSK transmission
is believed to have come from a transmitting site in
Kaliningrad.

A screenshot photograph taken by International Amateur Radio
Union Monitoring Service observer Wolfgang Hadel, DK2OM,
shows a station trying to insert Morse code dashes on the
space breaks of the Russian transmission.  It also shows the
interfering station putting out spurious emissions at least
2 kilohertz wide.

According to the Monitoring Service, the same unidentified
operator is believed responsible for similar transmissions
against Russian based communications in the 40 meter band
but this has yet to be proven.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB,
reporting.

--

At airtime, the source of the interfering signal has not yet
been identified.   (IARUMS)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  49.9 MHZ RADAR 16 KW WITH 64 ANTENNAS
IN ETHOPIA

A new back-scatter radar on 49.9 MHz is currently being
constructed in Ethiopia.  The Bahir Dar coherent backscatter
radar is being assembled by researchers from the University
of Oulu, Finland and Boston College, here in the United
States.

The new system will operate just below the 6 meter band
using a 16 kilowatt solid-state transmitter and 64 antennas.
The return sampling is based on a number of USRPX model 300
high-performance, modular software defined radios.  This is
a platform developed by Matt Ettus, N2MJI that combine two
extended-bandwidth daughterboard slots covering DC to 6 GHz
with up to 120 MHz bandwidth and multiple high-speed
interface options.  (Southgate)

**

PROPAGATION:  OLD SUNSPOT RETURNS:  QUIET WITH A CHANCE OF
FLARES:

Old sunspot AR 2192 now renamed AR 2209 has returned to the
side of the Sun facing Earth.  As this report is being
prepared solar observers say that it still poses a threat
for strong flares because the sunspot's magnetic field is
unstable and harbors the energy required for X-class
eruptions.  If such flare were to occur NOAA estimates a 25%
chance it will be likely have a direct effect on High
Frequency communications because AR 2209 is almost directly
facing Earth.  You can keep an eye on AR 2207 and other
solar happenings by simply taking your web browser to
spaceweather.com.  (Spaceweather)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  JAPAN ANNOUNCES DEEP SPACE HAM RADIO
SATELLITE

A Japanese news report says the asteroid mission Hayabusa 2,
planned to launch before years end on will also carry an
amateur radio satellite named Shin'en 2.  The bird will have
an elliptic orbit around the Sun and travel to a deep space
orbit between Venus and Mars.

Shin'en 2' inclination will be almost zero, which means that
it will stay in the Earth's equatorial plane. The distance
from the Sun will be between 0.7 and 1.3 Astronomical Units.
An Astronomical Unit is described as 149,597,871 kilometers.

Shin'en 2 already has a set of IARU coordinated frequencies.
These are 437.505 MHz for its CW beacon and 437.385 MHz to
be used for WSJT telemetry.  It will also carry a Mode J
inverting SSB and Morse transponder operating with a Lower
Sideband uplink between 145.940 to 145.960 MHz and a UHF
downlink from 435.280 to 435.260 MHz on Upper Sideband.

Shin'en 2 is a deep space satellite built by students at
Kagoshima University in Japan.  Its primary mission is to
establish communication technologies with a long range as
far as moon.   (AMSAT, SkyRocket.de), others)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  REALTIME BAND CONDITIONS WEBSITE

bandconditions.com is a newly created website that supplies
real time band condition information to operators wanting to
get this up to the minute information.  The data provided is
based on what the developers call a new Ionospheric Sounding
method called "H F Ionospheric Interferometry" which
operates very similarly to the PolSAR system used by NASA.

Reports are generated and uploaded to the web server
every 30 seconds.  Header information includes a Date, Time
in GMT and a report number in sequential order. A web
browser refresh command is also sent so the user does not
have to hit the refresh button for the latest report. The
web browser does it automatically for them.

The display shows the Meter Band in red and the Band Quality
Index as blue colored number at the bottom of the band
scale.  To sample it for yourself go to bandconditions.com
and take a look.  (bandconditions.com)

**

DX UP FRONT:  ARNO ISLAND NOV 26 TO DEC 3

In DX up-front, NL8F says that he will be active
as V73TM from Arno Island rather than Majuro Island between
November 26th and December 3rd.  The reason for the change
is the hotel next to the airport on Majuro now belongs to
the Education Ministry and hence the move of the operation
to Arno.  During his stay, he plans to operate on 80 through
10 meters using CW, SSB with the possibility of some digital
operation.  QSL's go via K8NA as shown on see QRZ.com.
(OPDX)

**

DX UP FRONT:  AUSTRAL ISLANDS IN JANUARY 2015

Also word that KK6BT will be operational as TX5W from
Raivavae Island in the Austral Island group between January
5th through the 11th 2015.  Activity will be on 40 through
10 meters including the 17 and 12 meter bands operating
exclusively SSB.  His primary objective is to work as many
amateurs in Central and Northern Europe as possible during
his stay.  QSL direct only.  (OPDX)


DX UP FRONT:  BOUVET IN LATE 2015

And the one many have been waiting to hear.  This with the
announcement that a team of 12 operators, lead by UN7PCZ
will be active from Bouvet Island as 3Y0F sometime between
December 2015 and January 2016.  The group plans to be on
the island for 2 weeks with 6 stations on the air.  More
details and a Web page are forthcoming.  (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 WA4FAT audio server in Birmingham, Alabama.

(5 sec pause here)


**

HAM RADIO ON THE SMALL SCREEN:  NBC MAY BRING FREQUENCY TO
THE SAMALL SCREEN

Will the early 2000's motion picture Frequency show up on
NBC as a weekly series?  That could happen if the Peacock
Network proceeds with plans to bring the big screen thriller
to the home screen on a weekly basis.  Bill Pasternak,
WA6ITF, who used to work in Hollywood has some insight:

--

For those who have never seen it, the movie Frequency is
centered on the character John Sullivan played by James
Caviezel, a New York City police officer in his mid-30s who
is still haunted by the tragic death of his firefighter dad
Frank portrayed by Dennis Quaid.  The elder Sullivan had
died three decades earlier and that experience has haunted
the younger Sullivan's life ever since.

One night, John locates an old ham radio transceiver that
belonged to his father, and begins transmitting.  To his
shock, John soon gets a response from his deceased father,
thirty years in the past.  The scientific explanation for
this is explained that the aurora borealis is taking place
overhead has somehow allowed the two men to communicate
across time.

John Sullivan uses the contact to warn his father Frank of
his impending death and gives him the information on how to
survive.  But changing what happens with time always has its
consequences and John Sullivan's changing of past events
inadvertently causes consequences with the potential to be
worse for all involved.

Now the industry trade publication the Hollywood Reporter
says that NBC is looking to create a television series based
on the New Line Cinema thriller.  It says that the Peacock
Network has already issued a 'script plus penalty'
commitment for the series.  The term a script plus penalty
means that even if a show is not produced that those
involved in its initial creation are still paid a fee, but
does not guarantee that a movie or television show actually
be brought to production.

And talking about the development of the Frequency into a
television series, its reported that Jeremy Carver is
writing the script for Warner Brothers Television and would
also be the Executive Producer of the series.   Toby
Emmerich who wrote the original movie will be a co-producer.

As with any show in early development, there are a lot of
rumors floating around.  For example, another industry trade
on-line newsletter says that there's no word yet on if any
of the film's original cast members will return if the
Frequency TV series gets a go ahead.  But it also adds that
while unlikely that it may not be outside the realm of
possibility.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF,
for the Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

It also notes that the show is in its earliest of
development stages and there is no planned premiere date.
(nevadahamradio.com, N7UR, Hollywood Reporter,
ScreenRant.com, others)


**

RESCUE RADIO:  MORE CERT TRAINING COMING TO CHULA VISTA CA

If you live in and around Chula Vista, California and are
interested in public service then listen up.  The next
Community Emergency Response Team or CERT academy will be
offered in May or June 2015.

There are a number of classes that include orientation, an
introduction to disaster preparedness, fire safety and
utility controls.  Participants will also learn about
disaster medical operations, complete exercises and witness
demonstrations, be part of light search and rescue
operations as well as learn about disaster psychology and
terrorism.

Participants must be 18 years old or if a minor have the
signature of a parent or legal guardian is required.  (San
Diego Union-Tribune, other published reports)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  UK 4X4 RESCUE TEAM GETS HAM RADIO TRAINING

A team in the United Kingdom that provides a valuable off-
road service during natural disasters and searches for
missing people has received training in amateur radio.  This
with word that members of the Wessex 4X4 Response Team have
completed their Amateur Radio Foundation License course.

The training was arranged as part of the joint working
program between the voluntary agencies within Dorset, with
the course being arranged by members of RAYNET.  The e
Christchurch Amateur Radio Society served as the host
organization.
.
The course was funded using part of a grant from Dorset
County Council to Wessex group in order to support an
increase in the group's communication capability in the
event of an incident.  Earlier this year the team provided
support to emergency services during floods in and around
Dorset.  (Dorset Echo)

**


WORLDBEAT:  DMR EXPERIMENTS TAKING PLACE DOWN-UNDER

Hams down under are doing some interesting experimentation
using the Digital Mobile Radio or DMR voice mode.  Amateur
Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details:

--

On September 7th at 12:45pm local time here in New
Zealand, Steve Jepson, ZL2KG, who was situated at the
Stratford Plateau car park on the slopes of Mt. Taranaki
worked John Yaldwyn, ZL4JY at his home in Waikanae over a
distance of over 191.7 km.  This, using the nations 70
Centimeter Digital Mobile Radio simplex frequency on
432.7625 MHz.  A Connect Systems CS700 handheld connected to
a dual-band mobile antenna was used at Mt. Taranaki and
a Motorola MOTOTRBO XPR 5550 mobile tied to an 8-element
Yagi was used in Waikanae for contact with perfect signals
in both direction

To test the usable range for DMR relay operation, ZL1KG also
tried working through the ZL2DMR repeater, which is located
on Colonial Knob at a distance of 213 km from his location
on Mt. Taranaki.  What was found was that ZL2KG could
receive without any problem, however he could not transmit
through the machine.  While the repeater was triggered,
however a voice QSO could not be made through it. By moving
closer to the repeater to the top of Waitotara Hill, which
is located 149 km from the ZL2DMR repeater, voice contact
was possible and a two-way QSO made.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Jim Meachen. ZL2BHF, in
Nelson, New Zealand.

--

While not trying to set a record the distances of these
contacts is quite impressive.  It also shows the ongoing
interest in DMR by the experimenters within the ham radio
community.  More information on DMR is at VA3XPR.net.
(DMR)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  VK5ZAI TAKING A WELL DESERVED ARISS
BREAK

Some names in the news.  Tony Hutchison VK5ZAI, a
communications relay mainstay of Amateur Radio on the Space
Station or the ARISS program, is taking a well-earned break.
His involvement so far spans 21 years and includes being the
ARISS Coordinator for the Asia Pacific Region.  His
immediate plan is to move to a new location and retire from
daily business.  While taking a break in arranging school
contacts with International Space Station astronauts, he
will continue as a well-equipped telebridge station, when at
home.  (VK3PC)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  KC5LK TO REPLACE N5FG AS CQ WAZ AWARD
MANAGER

John Bergman, KC5LK, of Brandon, Mississippi, has been named
the new CQ Worked all Zones Award Manager, effective January
1, 2015.

KC5LK has been licensed since 1978 and holds an Advanced
Class license.  He has been heavily involved in DX and DXing
for over 20 years, is a charter member of the 599 DX
Association


Bergman will succeed fellow Mississippian Floyd Gerald,
N5FG, who has served the DXing community in this position
for the past 11 years.  (CQ)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: RSGB YOUTH COMMITTEE CHAIR NAMED

Still in the UK, the RSGB has appointed 17-year-old Mike
Jones, 2E0MLJ, as Chair of its Youth Committee.  Jones was
originally licensed as M6TMJ and is currently studying
Forensic Science and Criminal Psychology at City College in
Plymouth England.  He is a member of the QRZ.com staff
helping on the database forum and is also Youngsters on the
Air Month Coordinator for the UK.  (GB2RS, Southgate)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  RILEY IS BACK - KIND OF

Back here in the USA, retired FCC Special Council Riley
Hollingsworth, K4ZDH, gave what is being called an
inspirational talk at the Forsyth Amateur Radio Club in
Winston-Salem, North Carolina on November 10th.

Addressing the group, Hollingsworth explained that while it
may seem like there is less enforcement activity in Amateur
Radio under current Special Council Laura Smith than when he
was doing the job, that's not the case. New FCC privacy
rules mean that Smith can only release information after an
enforcement action has been completed, not when one was
initiated as Hollingsworth did.

The talk was recorded and appears as Episode 174 of the
online Amateur Radio television series HamRadioNow. You can
catch it on the web at hamradionow.tv and click on the link
to episode number 174.   (KN4AQ)

**

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)

**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: MAGNESIUM-ION MAY SOON REPLACE LITHIUM-
ION BATTERIES

Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are the mobile power
sources of choice today, used in everything from laptop
computers to hand held transceivers and even automobiles.
For years, though, it has been known that they can overheat
and even catch fire.  Now there may be a new battery
material that overcomes this problem as we hear from Amateur
Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD:

--

The overheating problem is much less likely to happen
with batteries made with magnesium.  And magnesium ions in
the battery electrolytes can carry a double positive charge,
increasing the device's energy density, or the amount of
electricity the battery can store.

Still, no one's been able to make a commercially viable
magnesium-ion battery, mostly because of magnesium's high
reactivity with other materials in such a cell which would
interfere with the movement of the ions through the
electrolyte.  Now, researchers Liwen Wan and David
Prendergast of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in
California have conducted computer simulations that show
this reactivity actually isn't a problem.

In the October issue of the Journal of the American Chemical
Society, they write that the interference is much lower than
had been thought, and therefore that a magnesium-ion battery
would be more efficient than expected.  On that basis,
researchers at the National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan
improved the stability of the magnesium-ion battery.  Fei-Yi
Hung, one of the three leaders of the team, told the online
publication Energy Trends that they accomplished this in
part by turning to a new technology that uses electrodes
made of magnesium membranes and magnesium powder.

The idea of a magnesium-ion battery has long been attractive
not only because it's less likely to overheat, Hung said,
but also has up to 12 times the energy density of a lithium-
ion battery and its charge-discharge efficiency is five
times greater.

So when can we expect to see Magnesium Ion batteries hit the
consumer market?  According to the research teams it will be
a while as there are still other technical hurdles to
overcome.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD,
reporting..

--

More on this story can be found on the web at
tinyurl.com/magnesium-batteries.  (Journal of the American
Chemical Society)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  FOUR NEW JAPAN MICROSATS LAUNCHED

Four new microsats developed in Japan are now on-orbit.
Carried aloft on Thursday November 6th on board a Russian
Dnepr rocket were ChubuSat-1; Tsubame; Hodoyoshi-1 and QSAT-
EOS.

ChubuSat has a CW and AX.35 downlink on 437.485 MHz with its
digipeter uplink on 145.980.  TSUBAME transmits CW on
437.250 and AX.25 data on 437.505 MHz.  Signals from
Hodoyoshi-1 should be found on 467.674 MHz while QSAT-EOS
carries an AX.25 G-M-S-K payload but its exact transmit
frequency is unknown.

Kosmotras launch controllers reported all spacecraft were
inserted into their target orbits.  (Southgate)

**

ON THE AIR:  COMMEMORATING THOSE LOST IN 1907 W. VA MINE
DIASTER

On the air, Nathan Banks, KC9HYY, has announced a
commemorative operation to honor the memory of the miners
who lost their lives on December 6th of 1907.  On that date
an explosion at the Monongah Mine in West Virginia killed
362 workers and stands as the worst in the history of mining
of the United States.

In memory of those who lost their lives on that date KC9HYY
will be using his call stroke M-M-D From December 5th to
December 14th.   Operations will be on 40 through 10 meters
using SSB and PSK 31.  QSL via KC9HYY as listed on QRZ.com.
(KC9HYY)

**

DX

In DX, SM6JBC and SM6GOR will be on the air from Mauritius
as 3B8JB and 3B8HB until November 26th.  Operations are on
the High Frequency bands, using SSB, PSK31 and PSK63. QSL
via their home callsigns, either direct or via the bureau.

G3VPW will be active from Falkland Islands through December
12th operating as VP8KF. He will be active on 80 through 10
meters.  He also plans to use the special call VP8KF stroke
100. QSL via his home call or electronically using Logbook
of the world.

Members of Lufthansa Amateur Radio Club of Frankfurt will be
active as 4S7DLG from Sri Lanka until November 27th.
Operators mentioned are DK7TF, DH6ICE and DH0RAK. Operations
should be on all HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via DK8ZZ.

JJ2RCJ will be active stroke AH2 from KH2JU's rental shack
on Guam between December 27th to the 30th. Activity will be
focused on 30, 17 and 12 meters mainly using RTTY. QSL via
direct to JJ2RCJ or electronically using Logbook of the
World.

DJ8VW will be operational as 5P8VW from Romo Island between
December 6th and the 21st.  Activity will be on 160 through
6 meters, including the 30, 17 and 12m bands, using CW and
SSB. QSL via DJ8VW direct only or electronically using
Logbook of the world or eQSL.

Lastly, and subject to weather conditions in the area,
JI3DST will be active stroke 6 from Tokara Island between
0600 UTC on December 27th through 0000 UTC on January 4th.
Operations will be on 160 through 10 meters using CW, SSB,
FM and some of the digital modes. QSL to  JI3DST/6 via the
bureau or by ClubLog's Oh QRS.

(This weeks DX report courtesy of OPDX and the Facebook DX
Page)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  SPACE JUNK TURNS OUT TO BE RUSSIAN
SATELLITE

And finally, its well known that there is a lot of junk in
Earth orbit as a result of over a half decade, but once in a
while a piece of space debris is not what everyone thinks it
to be as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Hal Rodgers,
K8CMD:

--

What was first thought to be a piece of debris left over
from the launch of three Russian military communication
satellites has turned out to be a fourth bird that is
actually on-orbit and capable of maneuvers.

The three satellites were designated Kosmos 2496, 2497 and
2498 were launched this past May.  An analysis of orbital
elements from a United States space radar showed that a
ghost spacecraft that had been thought to be debris from the
launch had made a definite controlled maneuver between May
29th and May 31st.

On June 24, the mysterious spacecraft started maneuvering
again, lowering its perigee by four kilometers and lifting
its apogee by 3.5 kilometers.  The object continued its
maneuvers in July and its perigee was lowered sharply,
bringing it close to the launch vehicles upper stage which
had originally delivered all four payloads into orbit.

This is the second time a Russian piece of orbital junk has
suddenly started maneuvering while on-orbit.  The first time
was in early 2014 after a December 2013 launch.  At that
time the Russians admitted five months later that the
supposed junk was itself actually another satellite.

I'm Hal Rogers, K8CMD.

--

Whatever else may be circling the Earth from space launches
of years and decades past is likely only known to those
nations that put it on-orbit.  (G7VFY, Southgate,
russianspaceweb.com)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the
FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, 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 NewslineT.  Our e-mail address is
newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) 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, 28197 Robin Avenue,
Santa Clarita California, 91350..

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk,
I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW,  saying 73 from Charleston, West
Virginia, and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014.  All rights
reserved.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1895 - December 6 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1895 with a release
date of December 6 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST.  Four youngsters get their names in
space thanks to ham radio; the ARRL files erratum to its
"symbol rate" rule making petition; The Department of
Homeland will be giving emergency communications training at
Hamvention 2014; VHF Communications magazine ceases
publication after 45 years and its Youngsters on the Air
Operating month in IARU Region One.  Find out the details
are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1895 coming
your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NAMES OF FOUR PRE-TEENS NOW ON-ORBIT

The names of four pre-teens from the town of North Pole,
Alaska, have been sent into space, and its all thanks to ham
radio.  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with the
story of how it came about:

--

North Pole, Alaska is just outside of the city of Fairbanks
and its where Daniel Perry, age 10, Derik Perry, 9, Riley
Perry, 9, and Kailey Perry, 5 all live.  But these four
youngsters now have something very special in their lives
because their names are orbiting some 400 miles above the
Earth on a microsat and its all because of friendship
between to ham radio operators.

The honor comes courtesy of their grandfather, Mike Perry,
AL7F, who became caretaker to some satellite-monitoring
equipment about a year and a half ago.  This happened after
he became close friends with Mark Kanawati, N4TPY of Space
Quest Ltd, which is a technology company based in Fairfax,
Virginia.  AL7F says it all came about because of a note to
the local ham radio club:

--

AL7F:  "The way this all got started was that Mark, the
owner of Space Quest, being a ham radio operator got in
touch with the Arctic Amateur Radio Club here in Fairbanks
and had a letter posted to our membership site looking for
someone who had some property or knew of somebody who had
some property that would be a good location for him to
install a satellite tracking station.  I own some property
right off the side of the highway that's sub-divided into
lots and I offered to let him put his tracking station on
one of the lots."

--

This lead to a close friendship developing between AL7F and
N4TPY and in turn to Kanawati offering to fly the names of
Perry's grandkids on a satellite that was to be launched
this past November.

--

AL7F:  "I was more than happy to have my grandkids names put
into the satellite.  It just launched on the 21st of
November on a Russian ICBM from Kazakhstan and there were
quite a few ham radio cube-sat satellites along with his and
several different university cube-sats that went up also."

--

But the Perry kids are not the only people whose names have
flown in space.  Putting names or initials on vehicles bound
for the final frontier is believed to be something of an
unwritten tradition in the space launch industry.  One
apparently dating back to its earliest days.  But according
to newsminer.com at SpaceQuest, the practice has reached a
new level. It says that photos and names are commonly tucked
inside the company's micro-satellites and N4TPY personally
speaks to school classes about space.  He says that putting
children's names on-orbit is one way to spark their
interest.

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

--

According to AL7F, the youngsters don't quite realize how
rare it is to be part of an orbiting satellite.  But he adds
that will likely appreciate it a lot more as they get older.

(ARNewsline, Newsminer.com)

**

BREAKING NEWS:  REWRITE OF THE COMMUNICATIONS ACT ANNOUNCED

Some breaking news out of the nation's capital.  This with
word that House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman
Michigan Representative Fred Upton and Technology
Subcommittee Chairman Oregon Representative Greg Walden,
W7EQI, plan to update the Communications Act.

Making the announcement on Google Hangout the committee
leaders and former FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell outlined
the need to adapt the law to today's marketplace.  Upton
termed the project a multi-year effort that will be focused
on updating the communication laws to fit the Internet age.

Meantime Walden noted that the Communications Act is now
painfully out of date.  He said that when the Act was last
revised nearly 18 years ago, the 56 kilobits-per-second via
dial-up modem was state of the art.

The actual revision will involve a series of white papers
asking questions about what to do to improve the laws
governing the communications marketplace.  These will also
seek to learn the best way to a robust conversation using
digital media platforms.

To make it easier for the public to participate in this re-
write, you can follow the event on Twitter using the hashtag
#CommActUpdate.  (RW)

**

RADIO RULES:  ARRL FILES ERRATUM TO "SYMBOL RATE" PETITION
FOR RULE MAKING

The ARRL has filed an Erratum or modification of its request
with the FCC.  This to correct an error in its "symbol rate"
Petition for Rule Making filed November 15 and put on public
notice for comment as RM-11708 a few days later.

The League's petition asks the FCC to delete the symbol rate
limit in part 97.307(f) of its Amateur Service rules and
replace it with a maximum bandwidth for data emissions of
2.8 kHz on amateur frequencies below 29.7 MHz.

The Erratum, filed November 26, removes an erroneous
reference in the appendix at 97.307(f)(3) to "unspecified
digital codes" and includes a corrected appendix.  The
revised proposed 97.307(f)(3) will read: "Only a RTTY or
data emission using a specified digital code listed in
97.309(a) of this part may be transmitted.  The authorized
bandwidth is 2.8 kHz."  (ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  DHS TO PROVIDE EMCOMM TRAINING WITH
HAMVENTION 2014

The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Emergency
Communications will be on hand at Hamvention 2014 to conduct
its nationally recognized emergency communications training
course.  The purpose of this program is to educate qualified
amateur radio operators so they may assist their local,
county and state governments with backup communications if
requested to do so.

The training will be held in the Dayton area on May 13th to
the 15th.  These are the three days prior to the start of
Hamvention 2014.  Registration will begin on February 1st.
More information is on the front page of the Dayton
Hamvention website at hamvention.org.  (Dayton Hamvention)

**

WORLDBEAT:  SOUTH AFRICA ONE YEAR HAM LICENSE RENEWALS DUE

South Africa's telecommunications regulator ICASA has
advised the South African Radio League that hams who hold
one-year amateur radio license should re-apply for renewal
before 31 December 31st.

ICASA notes that South Africa Telecommunications Regulation
9 stipulates that radio amateurs must reapply annually for a
license renewal unless they have opted for a multi-year
license.  In that case they only need to reapply when their
license is about to expire.

According to the regulatory agency, to date over 300 have
already submitted their applications.  (SARL)

**

DXCC UP FRONT:  DXCC 2013 DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 31

In DX up-front, Bill Moore, NC1L, who is the ARRL Awards
Branch Manager wants to remind to all DXCC program
participants that the deadline for the 2013 calendar year
ends on Tuesday December 31st.  Moore says that in order to
appear in the Annual Listing published in the electronic
version of the DXCC Yearbook, you must have your submission
postmarked no later than that date.  Since the DXCC workload
usually peaks around this time each year, Moore recommends
that applicants not wait until the last minute to get their
submissions in.  Complete details are posted on the web at
arrl.org/dxcc-blog.  And we will have more DX news later on
in this week's newscast.  (ARRL DXCC)

**

BREAK 1

Time for you to identify your station.  We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the Golden Empire Amateur Radio Club's W6RHC
repeater serving Chino California.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT:  ILLINOIS MAN CHARGED WITH RACIAL SLURS OVER
POLICE RADIO

A Waukegan, Illinois man who may be a former ham was
arrested on Tuesday, November 26th.  This after authorities
allege that he breached security on a Lake County Sheriff's
Office radio communications system and transmitted racially
offensive language.

according to Sara Balmes of the sheriff's office,  24 year
old Raymond J. Kelly was charged with two counts of
tampering with jail communications.  HE also faces one count
of harassment through electronic communications,

According to news reports, officers allegedly heard Kelly
repeatedly using a racial epithet over the communications
system overnight on the previous Saturday and Sunday.
Officials said that during a search of Kelly's residence,
authorities seized radio and other electronic equipment.

While several news reports referred to Kelly as a ham radio
operator a check of the Universal Licensing System shows
that he is not licensed by the Federal Communications
Commission at this time.  However there are indications that
at one time he did hold an amateur radio ticket.
(Published news reports)

**

RADIO LAW:  BROADCASTERS SUED OVER USE OF HD RADIO STANDARD

Yet another patent infringement lawsuit is in the offering.
This one aimed at broadcasters who use what commonly known
as HD radio.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff Clark, K8JAC,
has the details:

--

In a major lawsuit a large number of radio broadcast groups
have been sued alleging patent infringement for using its
technology for their H-D Radio broadcasts.  The filing by
Wyncomm LLC and Delaware Radio Technologies claims the
broadcasters are using In-Band On-Channel or IBOC technology
and therefore infringing on U.S. patent no. 5,506,866 or
simply 866 as well as several other associated patents.

The '866 patent is titled "Side-Channel Communications in
Simultaneous Voice and Data Transmission."  It was applied
for in 1993 and granted in 1996 and originally assigned to
AT&T by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  The
patent specifically describes radio transmission techniques
used in the In Band On-Channel standard adopted by the
National Radio Systems Committee in 2005.

The litigation lists Delaware Radio Technologies as the
exclusive licensee for the technology.  HD Radio developer
iBiquity Digital is not named nor identified in any of the
lawsuits.  That company licenses the HD Radio technology
used by the radio broadcasters.

This is Jeff Clark. K8JAC, reporting.

--

How the broadcast community will respond to this latest
patent infringement claim is not known as we go to air.
(RW)

**

LAW:  ANTI-PATENT TROLL MEASURE PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE AS
ASSERTION COMPANIES READY TO FIGHT BACK

A law against patent trolling is making headway in Congress,
but the trolls appear organizing to fight back.  Amateur
Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has more in this
report:

--

The House Judiciary Committee passed a bill to curb patent
abuse by so-called patent trolls, officially known as Patent
Assertion Companies that buy patents, not to make anything,
but to sue end-users.

The committee sent to the full House a measure titled the
Innovation Act of 2013. Sponsored by Committee Chair
Virginia Republican Bob Goodlatte, the bill seeks to curb
vague demand letters trolls send to end-users that place the
burden on users to prove they're not infringing on a patent,
rather than on the sender to prove they are.

Among other things, the bill requires lawsuit plaintiffs to
specify which patents are at issue and what products
allegedly infringe. The Innovation Act also allows a court
to require the loser in a patent case to pay the winners
costs if the case was not reasonably justified.

But the so-called patent trolls are not sitting idly by
waiting for the end to come.  With millions if not billions
of dollars in future income at stake may have are reported
to be taking on a new role.  This, by doubling as government
lobbyists for their patent-assertion companies.

The newsletter Politico reports that one of America's
largest patent-assertion entities, is investing in lobbying
help to protect its interests on Capitol Hill by pushing
back against legislation designed to curb patent trolls
ability to extract rents from other companies.  Unnamed
sources also told Politico that several patent-assertion
entities are even trying to create their own advocacy group
to give them a larger voice in Washington.  The prospects of
this actually happening are at this point in time unclear.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm, Stephen Kinford, N8WB,
in Wadsworth, Ohio.

--

"Patent Trolls" is an informal term for firms whose only
business is acquiring patents and using them as a basis to
sue other companies even though they don't actually produce
any products based on the patented technology.  And if
congress passes laws to restrict these patent assertion
companies, it's very likely that they will challenge such
regulations all of the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court.
(RW, Politico, BGR)

**

RADIO BUSINESS:  VHF COMMUNICATIONS MAGAZINE CLOSES

The famed United Kingdom publication VHF
Communications magazine is closing after 45 years of
continuous publication.  A message on the magazine website
says that by the end of 2013 the number of subscribers was
not sufficient to support the magazine.  Also the supply of
articles had become difficult because a lot of good articles
are published direct to the Internet.

From 1969 to 2013, VHF Communications was one of the
foremost construction oriented publication for radio
amateurs and professional RF communications engineers. A DVD
containing the complete collection of magazines is
available.  More is on the web at www.vhfcomm.co.uk
(Southgate)

**

RADIO READING:  ONE FREE ARTICLE FROM QST PER MONTH TO HELP
WITH OUTREACH

The ARRL has a deal that you can't refuse.  This according
to the League's Contact public relations newsletter that
notes that one QST article a month will be made available
free of charge to non League members and the general public.

Traditionally, content from QST has been available only to
members, who have access to the print and digital editions
of the ARRL membership journal.  According to the Contact
article, this has hampered the ARRL's ability to send
articles to the non-amateur community, and consequently,
impacting on other efforts.

Beginning with the December 2013 issue, one QST article per
month from each issue will be made available in PDF format
on the "This Month In QST" page of the ARRL web site.  The
December 2013 article will be on the Colorado flooding of
2013 and Amateur Radio's role in the disaster.  You will
find it at www.arrl.org/this-month-in-QST.  (ARRL)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE:  HAM RADIO VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR 2014 BOSTON
MARATHON

Registration to be a 2014 Boston Marathon ham radio
communications volunteer is now open.  If you'd like to help
out as a radio operator at the Marathon on Monday April 21st
or the smaller races on Saturday April 19th, you can
register at marc.mmra.org.

One note.  Due to security issues, volunteer signup will end
in early March and organizers will not be able to accept
volunteers up to the last minute as has been the case in
years past.  So if you wish to volunteer, please do so as
soon as possible.

Again that URL to volunteer is marc.mmra.org.  (K1IW)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  W5KUB LIVE WEBCAST FROM R & L CUSTOMER
APPRECIATION DAY

W5KUB.COM will be webcasting live the R and L Electronics
Customer Appreciation Day from Hamilton, Ohio on Saturday,
December 14th.   In addition to the actual event, Tom will
also stream forums on D-Star and another by ham radio's Mr.
Audio Bob Heil, K9EID.

The Netcast will begin on Friday December 13th where you can
follow Tom and his crew on their 500 mile trip from Memphis,
Tennessee, to Hamilton, Ohio.  During their airtime from R
and L, there will be a number of special guests.  Those
tuning in and joining the chat room will be eligible for
prizes.  It will all be on-line at w5kub.com.
(W5KUB)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  FCC CHAIR APPOINTED DEFENSE COMMISSIONER

Some names in the news.  FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has yet
another duty as he is appointed as the Commission's Defense
Commissioner. This position is purely procedural in nature
and pertains to internal organization and delegations of
authority within the structure of the FCC.  The Defense
Commissioner directs the homeland security, national
security and emergency preparedness, and defense activities
of the Commission.  (FCC)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  NATIONAL VOA MUSEUM OF BROADCASTING
NAMES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

John T. Dominic has been named executive director of
the National Voice of America Museum of Broadcasting in West
Chester, Ohio.  This, effective March 1, 2014.

Dominic is a 38-year broadcast veteran, serving as a station
manager at WCET and at Cincinnati Public Television, where
he was instrumental in the consolidation of WCET in
Cincinnati and ThinkTV in Dayton.  He will retire as WCET
executive vice president and station manager in February.

The exhibits at the museum feature the Voice of America at
the VOA-Bethany Ohio station, Media Heritage's Greater
Cincinnati Museum of Broadcast History, the Gray History of
Wireless Museum and the West Chester Amateur Radio
Association.  The museum is also implementing a docent
program and seeks volunteers to learn about the museums and
help lead tours.  (Press release)

**

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:  TOKYO'S FAMED "THE RADIO STORE" CLOSES AFTER 64
YEARS

One of the landmarks that helped to create Tokyo Japan's
famed Akihabara electronics district has closed its doors
for good.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD,
is here with the details:

--

On Saturday evening, November 30th local time the business
known as The Radio Store ceased operations after 64 years.

The Radio Store building opened on March 8, 1950.  It was
the first of Tokyo's electronics superstores, built by ten
of the prominent vendors at the time.

The building originally housed only those first ten stores
but it lead to the creation of business area that eventually
became home to hundreds of other electronics retailers and
gained recognition world-wide.  Its said that The Radio
Store was responsible for giving this area of Tokyo its
Electric Town nickname

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD,
in Berwick, Pennsylvania, here in the USA.

--

The complete story of The Radio Store's rise to fame and its
decision to close can be read at tinyurl.com/Tokyo-Radio-
Store-Closes.  (Southgate, others)

**

WORLDBEAT: CANADIAN NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE BLIND HAM
RADIO STUDY GUIDES

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind has recently
confirmed to Radio Amateurs of Canada that it still has
amateur radio study guides and other resources available in
various formats for those who are blind or vision impaired.
If you live in Canada and wish to avail yourself of these
services, please contact Radio Amateurs of Canada which will
assist you in contacting the Canadian National Institute for
the Blind to obtain the assistance that you desire.  (RAC,
VA3GX/ VE2HHH)

**

WORLDBEAT: INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS WEEKEND 2014 TO GO WORLD
WIDE

John O'Toole, M0HEM, reports that the 2014 International
Museums Weekends will take place on June 14th through the
15th and again on June 21st through the 22nd.

For well over a decade the International Museums Weekend has
been growing particularly in the United Kingdom, but with
only a few radio amateurs taking part from the rest of the
world.  So for 2014 the event administrators are hoping to
turn it into a truly international experience.  As such
stations can be set up from absolutely any type of location
which might be broadly classified as a museum.  This might
include air, railway, radio, agricultural and doll museums.
Even entities such as preserved jails and warships will
qualify.

O'Toole who is the Public Relations manager for the event
says that there is absolutely no cost involved for taking
part, nor is there any charge for any of the International
Museums Weekend Awards.  More details about the event, its
history and how to register can be found at tinyurl.com/imw-
2014.  (M0HEM, Southgate)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  LIVE ISS VIDEO STREAM VIA N2YO.COM

If life aboard the International Space Station interests
you, then listen up.  The N2YO satellite tracking website
also provides limited live video streaming from the
International Space Station.

The Ustream video is available only when the orbiting
complex is in contact with the ground through its high-speed
communications system via NASA's Tracking and Data Relay
Satellite or TDRS System.  During loss of signal periods,
you will see a blue screen.

Since the station orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes, it
sees a sunrise or a sunset every 45 minutes.   When the
station is in darkness and there is established contact, an
external camera video has the ability to provide spectacular
views of city lights below if any are in range.

The URL for live video stream from the ISS can be found at
www.n2yo.com/space-station.  (Southgate)

**

ON THE AIR:  CELEBRATING MONACO HAM RADIO SOCIETY AT 60

On the air, members of the Monaco Ham Radio Society will
celebrate the clubs 60th anniversary by signing 3A60ARM
through December 31st.  Activity is on all bands and modes.
A special QSL card to confirm all contacts will be sent
after March 2014 via bureau.  Sorry but there will be no
electronic QSLing available for this event.  (Press release)


**

ON THE AIR:  VX9MRC TO BE ON 472-479 KHZ DECEMBER 14 - 15

The Marconi Radio Club of Newfoundland's Experimental
station VX9MRC has been issued a two-day temporary authority
by Industry Canada.  This to transmit on 472 to 479 kHz on
December 14 and 15th.  The purpose of this special permit is
to call attention to the possible creation of a new amateur
service radio band in Canada while also highlighting the
role ham radio plays in emergency communications.  (RAC)

**

DX

In DX, W8YCM, is currently on his annual trip to Jamaica and
will be active as 6Y5/W8YCM until the new year.  His
operations are mostly on 17 meters using SSB. QSL via his
home callsign.

G0KOK, is currently active as 8P9CC from Barbados and will
be there through mid December.  He uses a FT897D into a
dipole antenna.  QSL via G0KOK.

8P9JB will be operational QRP from Barbados beginning at
1400 UTC on December 13th.  Radio gear consists of an Alinco
DX-70 at 5 to 10 watts out to verticals and wire antennas.
QSL as directed on the air.

F5MCC, will be active stroke FM from Martinique Island
through December 21st. Operations will be on 40 through 10
meters using CW and SSB.  Hewill also activate 4 lighthouses
on the island.  QSL via the bureau to his home callsign.

F5PLC, is currently operational stroke FR from  Reunion
Island. The length of his stay is not known. Activity will
be on the HF bands only QSL via his home callsign, direct or
by the REF Bureau.

K9EL will operate stroke FS from St. Martin between June 8th
to the 27th of 2014. Activity is usually on 160 through 10
meters using CW, SSB and possibly RTTY.  Daily uploads to
ClubLog and LoTW are planned.  QSL via his home callsign.


**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  DECEMBER IS IARU REGION HAM RADIO YOTA
MONTH

And finally this week, following on the heels of the success
of last summers European Youngsters on the Air operating
events comes Youngsters on the Air Operating month. This as
several nations in IARU Region one band together to get
stations on the air with youngsters operating throughout the
month of December and using the YOTA as a suffix in their
callsign.

Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, is the IARU Region 1 Youth
Coordinator.  She tells Amateur Radio Newsline that part of
the event is to break the ice for some already licensed
youngsters by simply getting them to take a microphone in
the hand:

--

PA2LS:  "Now that it's getting bigger, it gives them a
chance to speak with people of their own age"

--

According to Leenders, over the years she has seen both
youth in ham radio as well as the Youngsters on the Air
group growing with more young people participating in the
hobby.

--

PA2LS:  "The youngsters who already have their licenses are
getting more active on the bands and there are also more
youngsters getting ham licenses.  We are also seeing this
with YOTA getting more and more youngsters (taking part)
from all of the countries in Europe."

--

And if this growth keeps up, maybe one-day YOTA could become
a world-wide operating event.

--

PA2LS:  "We would like to grow bigger.  It's now in Europe
but we want to expand it into all of (IARU) Region 1 and
later to the U.S. and to the rest of the world."

--

A truly noble goal but for this year there are only some 17
stations from 14 countries with young operators active using
YOTA suffix calls.  If you hear any of them on the air
please take a moment and give them a QSO.  Remember that its
today's young hams from around the world that will be the
future developers of technologies of tomorrow.  They will
also be the ones carrying on the traditions of amateur radio
for decades to come.

More information about Europe's Youth on the Air program is
on the web at www.ham-yota.eu  (Southgate, PA2LS)

**


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, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio NewslineT.  Our e-mail address is newsline
(at) arnewsline (dot) 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 NewslineT, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa
Clarita California, 91350

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk,
I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH,, near Houston, Texas, saying 73 and
we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights
reserved.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1894 - November 29 2013


The following is a QST.  Ham radio relief efforts continue
in the Philippines; the long awaited United Kingdom FUNcube
One ham satellite is now on-orbit; a new 76 Gigahertz record
is set in Great Britain; lots of FCC enforcement action and
the Consumer Electronics Association issues its Annual
Trends to Watch.  Find out the details are on Amateur Radio
NewslineT report number 1894 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAM RADIO CONTINUES TO ASSIST IN THE
PHILIPPINES

Even though it's been more than three weeks since Typhoon
Haiyan laid waste to many parts of the Philippines, much of
that nations telecommunications infrastructure is still not
operational.  As such, ham radio operators continue to be a
primary information conduit into and out of those areas
stricken by the storm.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim
Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the latest:

--

The Philippine-based Ham Emergency Radio Operation or HERO
stations are still at work providing help and communications
after deadly Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda
wreaked its destruction in the central Philippines.

The current official death toll of 5,200 puts the Category-5
storm that landed on November the 8th as the worst typhoon
in the archipelago, with its 314-km/h winds generating storm
surges in coastal villages and devastating main cities.

As previously reported, in anticipation of the arrival of
the super storm the Philippines Amateur Radio Association or
PARA activated its HERO network.  This after having already
faced many storms this year and an earthquake in October.

PARA's Vice Chief Operating Officer is Ramon Anquilan,
DU1UGZ.  He reports that in some areas mobile phone service
is now available, but is patchy and unreliable. The same is
true with electric mains power.  DU1UGZ says that he knew
that amateur radio emergency communications was effective,
and the results saw many tearful moments when local people
were able to get their message through to loved ones
elsewhere.

Meantime, HERO stations have worked with the National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the National
Telecommunications Commission, communities and non-
government organizations.  The frequency of 7 dot 095 MHz
and several others are still in use and PARA thanks the
world's ham radio community for keeping them clear for
emergency traffic.

As we go to air, PARA continues to work closely with
authorities and hopefully obtain increased recognition of
the HERO network.  A very good job continues to be done by a
group of truly dedicated ham radio volunteers.

With much of the information in this report provided by Jim
Linton VK3PC, who is the Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster
Communications Committee, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reporting
from the South Island in Nelson, New Zealand for the Amateur
Radio Newsline.

--

It appears as if ham radio assistance in the aftermath of
this killer typhoon will be ongoing for some time to come.
(VK3PC)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: UK FUNCUBE 1 HAMSAT NOW IN SPACE

When the FUNcube-1 satellite was first reached orbit its
beacon transmitting just 30 milliwatts.  And in a time
compressed recording, it sounded like this:

--

Actual FUNcube-1 audio (time compressed)

--

That was recorded on Fun Cube-1's very first pass over
Croatia by Adam Alicajic, 9A4QV and posted to YouTube not
long after the United Kingdom built ham radio satellite was
declared to be on-orbit.  We removed the long pauses between
telemetry tones and did some noise reduction so you can get
an idea as to what those first signals sounded like.

For its first two orbits FUNcube-1 was in this Safe Mode
with the beacon transmitting low power just of only 30
milliwatts.  The satellite was then commanded into
Educational Mode which increased the power to 300
milliwatts.  This enabled it to be copied on a SSB handheld
with just a whip antenna.

By way of background, a Russian Dnepr launch vehicle carried
FUNcube-1 and 18 other ham radio payloads successfully to
orbit at 07:10 UTC on Thursday, November 21st.
Approximately 8 minutes later, FUNcube-1 was deployed into
orbit.  Soon after the first telemetry was successfully
received, decoded, and uploaded to the FUNcube Data
Warehouse by ZS1LS and ZS6BMN in South Africa.  Needless to
say that there was a huge cheer and the FUNcube-1 Project
team toasted the successful launch.  Soon afterward the new
bird was given the official designation of AMSAT-OSCAR-73
but it's expected to be known as FUNcube-1 by the ham radio
public.

FUNcube-1's telemetry downlink is on 145.935 MHz running in
the BPSK mode.  The control team is encouraging all stations
who may receive the telemetry to record it and upload it to
the Data Warehouse at tinyurl.com/funcube-data.  More about
the overall Funcube -1 mission and its objectives can be
found on the web at funcube.org.uk.  The full length
unedited audio clip is at tinyurl.com/fun-cube-sound
(FUNcube-1, Southgate, YouTube)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  WREN NOT HEARD SINCE LAUNCH

Meantime another new hamsat has not been as lucky.  The WREN
microsat team reports that it has had no confirmed reception
of the signal from its Slow Scan TV Pocket Qube satellite
which was launched on November 21st.  The tiny bird is
supposed to be transmitting on 437.405 MHz +/- 10 kHz for
Doppler shift. The length of the beacon is 1.6 seconds and
it is AFSK modulated. The team says that it needs help from
every amateur radio operator and ground station operator it
can get.  More is at tinyurl.com/wren-in-space and at
www.facebook.com/StaDoKo. (Southgate)

**

RADIO RECORDS:  UK RADIO AMATEURS EXTEND 76 GHZ DISTANCE
RECORD

Another new United Kingdom distance record of 80 miles has
been achieved on 76 GHz.   This on Saturday November 23rd
with contacts between Brown Clee Hill in Shropshire and
Winter Hill, Lancashire

Operating on three separate millimeter bands of 24, 47 and
76 GHz, were Ian Lamb, G8KQW, and John Hazell, G8ACE, at
Brown Clee Hill.  At the other end of the path at Winter
Hill were Roger Ray,G8CUB, with John Wood G4EAT who was
operating the 76GHz station.

Contacts on all three bands were made using narrow-band FM.
Signals on 76GHz were exchanged for one hour with some QSB.
This likely due to changes in atmospheric conditions along
the path.

This success follows closely on the heels of the previous
distance record that was set by Lamb and Hazell on September
14th with a contact over a 63 point 3 mile path.
(Southgate)

**

BREAK 1

Time for you to identify your station.  We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the Twin City Amateur Radio Club net serving
Champaign and Urbanna Illinois.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC ORDERS KANSAS HAM TO PAY $4000 FINE FOR
OPERATING AN UNLICENSED RADIO STATION

The FCC has ordered a ham to pay a $4000 monetary forfeiture
but not for violating any of the Part 97 Amateur Service
rules.  Rather the FCC  says that Glen Rubash, KC0GPV,
operated the unlicensed radio transmitter on 88.3 MHz in the
city of Manhattan, Kansas and Amateur Radio Newsline's Don
Wilbanks, AE5DW, is here with the details:

--

According to the FCC, on December 5, 2012, the Enforcement
Bureau's Kansas City Office issued a Notice of Apparent
Liability to Monetary Forfeiture in the amount of $15,000 to
Glen Rubash, KC0GPV.  As reflected in the order there was no
mention of any Part 97 violation.  Rather, on September 26
and 27, 2012, agents from the Kansas City Office determined
that an unlicensed radio station was operating from a
detached garage in Manhattan, Kansas.  The agents determined
that Rubash had secured space and operated the unlicensed
radio station.

On September 27, 2012, the FCC says that Rubash admitted
over the telephone to its agents that he installed and owned
the station's radio transmitting equipment.  He also
demonstrated control over the station by stating that he
would refuse to surrender the equipment to the agents from
the Kansas City Office if required to do so.

In his subsequent written response, the regulatory agency
says that Rubash requested cancellation or reduction of the
proposed forfeiture.   The FCC said that even though Rubash
admitted via telephone interview to making the admissions,
he later asserted that his statements were based on
incorrect information.   More specifically, in his written
response he stated that he owned and installed a low power
FM radio transmitter but that it operated within Part 15
unlicensed limits.  He also claimed that it was only able to
reach 300 feet beyond the garage housing the station.  Also
that its purpose was to teach a small group of college and
high school students how to operate a community radio
station.

Rubash want on to say that he attached his transmitter to a
home-built antenna supplied by one of the students.  He
claims no knowledge of the radio transmitter that was in
place when the agents inspected the station on September 27,
2012, because he was absent from the station from late July
until September 29, 2012, due to illness.  He went on to
assert that someone must have replaced the transmitter while
he was recuperating and claims that he should not be held
responsible for unlawful actions which occurred during his
absence.  Finally, as an alternative, Rubash claimed that he
is unable to pay the original forfeiture and requests a
reduction.

But in denying most of Rubash's requests the FCC said that
it affirmed the Notice of Apparent Liability finding that he
violated Section 301 of the Communications Act by using
equipment without the required Commission authorization.

However based on the financial documents provided by Mr.
Rubash, the FCC said it found sufficient basis to reduce the
forfeiture to $4,000 and that's the amount that he has been
ordered to pay.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW,
reporting.

--

As is usual in these matters, Rubash was given the customary
thirty days from the November 21si affirmation of the fine
to pay in full or make arrangements with the FCC to pay on
an installment plan.  If he fails to do one or the other the
matter will be turned over to the Department of Justice for
enforcement of the forfeiture.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  OKLAHOMA CB OPERATOR FINED $15000 FOR USING
LINEAR AMP

The FCC has issued a $15,000 Notice of Apparent Liability
for Forfeiture to Carlton Lewis, of Enid, Oklahoma.  This
for his alleged operation of a Citizens Band radio operator
with an external power amplifier in violation of the
Commissions Part 95 rules.

Back this past May 14th an agent from the Enforcement
Bureau's Dallas Office T-hunted down a strong signal on
27.1850 MHz which is CB Channel 19.  He found it was coming
from Lewis' residence in Enid.  The agent observed an
antenna mounted on the roof of the home and traced a coaxial
cable from the antenna into the residence.

The agent knocked on the door of the residence but no one
answered the door for over 30 minutes.  A person eventually
answered the door and claimed that Mr. Lewis was not at
home.  However a few minutes later Carlton Lewis appeared
and showed the agent his CB transmitter, which was warm to
the touch.

The agent observed that no coaxial cables were connected to
the CB transmitter but also noted the coaxial cable coming
into the residence and traced it to a linear amplifier
hidden behind a sofa.  The linear amplifier was also warm to
the touch.  Lewis did not respond when asked whether he had
used the linear amplifier.

Now in making its determination to issue the $15,000
proposed fine the FCC notes that prior to its May 14, 2013
inspection Lewis CB station that he had been issued two
written warnings from the Dallas Office.  Both advised him
that using a linear amplifier with his CB transmitter voided
his authority to operate.  Also that it violated the
Communications Act and the FCC's Part 95 Rules.

The FCC says that the fact that Mr. Lewis operated overpower
and used a linear amplifier despite being twice warned in
writing that such actions violated the Act and Rules
demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the Commission's
requirements and authority.  As such a proposed fine of
$15,000 is warranted in this case.

Lewis was given the customary 30 days from the November 26th
issuance of the Notice of Apparent Liability to pay or to
file an appeal.  (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC UPHOLDS $14000 FINE FOR SELLING NON
CERTIFIED GEAR

A California company has been dinged $14,000 by the FCC for
making and selling unauthorized radio gear.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details:

--

The FCC has issued a monetary forfeiture in the amount of
fourteen thousand dollars to Custom Interface Technologies,
a Division of Thornstar Corporation, in Joshua Tree,
California.  This for willfully and repeatedly violating
rules against manufacturing and marketing of unauthorized
radio frequency devices in the United States.

Back on November 17, 2011, the Enforcement Bureau's Los
Angeles Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture for fourteen thousand dollars to Custom Interface
Technologies for manufacturing and marketing uncertified
video assist transmitters.  In response to the proposed fine
Custom Interface Technologies, did not deny the violations,
but requested cancellation of the forfeiture based on its
inability to pay.

However in affirming the forfeiture amount the FCC says
while Custom Interface Technologies did provide the
Commission with three years of tax returns and a bank
statement to support its claim of an inability to pay, after
reviewing of these financial documents that the FCC says
that it declines to reduce the forfeiture amount and that
the $14,000 fine is warranted.

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

--

Custom Interface Technologies was given the customary 30
days from the November 13th release date of its order
affirming the fine to pay the amount in full.  If it fails
to do so the case may be referred to the U.S. Department of
Justice for enforcement of the forfeiture pursuant to
Section 504(a) of the Communications Act.  (FCC)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  BROADCASTERS AND DOD AGREE ON NEW SHARING OF
1755 TO 1780 MHZ

House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and
Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg
Walden, W7EQI, say that they welcome the National
Telecommunications and Information
Administration's endorsement of an important agreement.
This between the Department of Defense and the National
Association of Broadcasters on the relocation of a parcel of
government spectrum to shared use.

The agreement was reached after bipartisan committee
leadership worked with the Department of Defense, the
National Telecommunications and Information Administration
and the Federal Communications Commission.  It paves the way
for the Department of Defense to move systems out of the
1755 to 1780 MHz band by creating a sharing arrangement
between it and the broadcast community in the shared use of
the Broadcast Auxiliary Service. This spectrum is used by
news organizations to originate material such as breaking
news stories from outside of studio facilities.  More is on
the web at tinyurl.com/DOD-BROADCAST-SHARING.
(House Energy & Commerce Committee release)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  FCC CHAIRMAN ADDS FOUR TO HIS SENIOR
STAFF

Some names in the news. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has
announced four new members to his Senior Staff.  Those named
are Shannon Gilson, who comes on board as Communications
Director and Head of the Office of Media Relations; Jonathan
Chambers as Chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and
Policy Analysis; Gary Epstein, as Special Advisor to the
Chairman on Incentive Auctions and John Leibovitz who will
serve as a Special Advisor to the Chairman for Spectrum
Policy. (FCC)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  VE3PU AND VE6NM INDUCTED TO THE CANADIAN
AMATEUR RADIO HALL OF FAME

The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of
Fame has announced the induction of the late Ken Pulfer,
VE3PU, and the late Earle Smith, VE6NM, to the Hall of Fame
for 2013 year. The families of the two inductees will be
receiving this award in their loved ones honor in early
2014.  A summary of their contributions to amateur radio
will be published in an upcoming issue of "The Canadian
Amateur" magazine.  (VE7EF)

**

BREAK 2

With you every week, 52 weeks a year since 1977, 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)

**

D-STAR NEWS:  HF TESTING CONTINUES FROM NORTH AMERICA

Kent Hufford, KQ4KK, reports that the International D-STAR
HF Testing Net is continuing in North America with its just
issued winter schedule.  Net sponsors say that they
routinely have two way communications coast to coast, north
to south, and have had two way contacts to Europe and Japan.

The net is on each band only for 5 minutes and will spend
less time if a given band is dead.  The net also may need to
move early or if the frequency is busy.  It's also wise for
D-STAR operators to monitor reflector REF030C to coordinate.

Also, please keep an eye on hf.dstar-relay.net for the
latest information.  A video demonstration of how all this
comes together is on YouTube at tinyurl.com/DSTAR-ON-HF.
(KQ4KK, VHF Reflector)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  CALL FOR PAPERS AT THE 2014 SOUTH AFRICA
RTA SYMPOSIUM

The South African Radio League has put out a call for papers
to be presented at the Radio Technology in Action symposium
or to be included in the symposium CD.  The event is slated
for July of 2014 and if you have a subject that you would
like to present at the Radio Technology in Action please
send a synopsis by not later than December 15th to rta
(at)sarl.org.za.  Be sure to include your e-mail and other
contact details.  (SARL)

**

RADIO IN SPACE:  MAVEN MISSION TO EXPLORE MARS PAST

A NASA spacecraft is headed toward Mars where its study of
the upper atmosphere of the Red Planet.  This in the hope of
finding out how what was ione believed to be a warm planet
became what it is today.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff
Clark, K8JAC, has the details:

--

The multi million dollar Mars Atmosphere and Volatile
Evolution or Maven mission began its 10-month voyage on
Monday, November 18th atop an Atlas Five launch vehicle from
Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the mission spacecraft
deploying 53 minutes after liftoff.  After separating from
the launch rocket, the mission spacecraft successfully set
out its solar arrays with radio telemetry showing that all
systems were reportedly functioning well early in into the
flight.  Maven is expected to arrive at Mars on September
22, 2014 after which it is expected to drop into an
elliptical orbit around the Red Planet flying between 78
miles and 3,900 miles above the planets surface.

Previous missions have found evidence that water once flowed
on the surface of Mars indicating conditions that would have
required a warmer, denser atmosphere than exists today.
Mars now is a cold, dry desert with a very thin atmosphere.
These are conditions under which liquid water would freeze
or evaporate.  Scientists want to know where the water and
gasses from Mars' early, thicker atmosphere went and they
hope that data radioed back from the Mars Atmosphere and
Volatile Evolution mission will provide an answer.

As an aside, maven is a Yiddish term meaning a
trusted expert in a particular field, who seeks to pass
knowledge on to others. It was derived from the Hebrew
language where it related to one who understands, based on
an accumulation of knowledge.  Kind of very apropos name for
this mission into Mars past.

I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC.

--

More is on the web at tinyurl.com/maven-to-mars.  (NASA,
Wikipedia)

**

ON THE AIR:  CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF SIR JAGADEESH CHANDRA
BOSE

On the air, keep an ear open for special event station
AU2JCB to be active through December 10th.  This is to
celebrate the 155th anniversary of the birth of Sir
Jagadeesh Chandra Bose.

Activity for this event will be on 80 through 6 meters SSB,
SSTV, PSK and FM.  If higher frequency bands are open,
operations will be on those as well.  The operator will be
VU2DSI.  QSL direct with 2 International Reply Coupons to
VU2DSI at his callbook address.

And as a historical note, Sir Jagadeesh Chandra Bose is
considered to be India's greatest scientist and inventor.
He is also considered to be India's "Father of Wireless
Communication."  More about his life and his work in
communications and other sciences can be found on
Wikipedia.com.   (Via e-mail)

**

DX


In DX two more operations have been approved by the ARRL
Awards desk for DXCC credit. These are the current 2013
through May 2014 operations of ZS8C and ZS8Z from Prince
Edward and Marion Islands.  If your request for DXCC credit
for these operations has been rejected in an earlier filing,
please contact Bill Moore, NC1L, at ARRL headquarters to be
placed on the list for an update to your record.  His e-mail
is bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org.

And less we forget to mention, Bill notes that two student
hams are expected to join this operation upon completion of
their licensing, which will make it four operators.  NC1L
says that he will update this approval when he has more
information.

SM6JBC and SM6GOR are on the air from Mauritius Island
signing as 3B8JB and 3B8 stroke SM6GOR, respectively.  They
will be there until December 16th. Activity is on 20 through
10 meters operating CW, SSB, PSK31 and PSK63. QSL via their
home callsigns.

F5AHO is operating stroke FR Reunion Island through December
4th.  Activity is on 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters using SSB and
the Digital modes. QSL via F5AHO, either direct or via the
bureau.

F6ICX is active as 5R8IC from Saint Marie Island and will be
there until December 15th.  Operations are holiday style
using CW, RTTY, and PSK63. QSL via his home callsign.

VK3XPT is operating from Raratonga and neighborinh islands
as E51XPT.  Hes on the air holiday style running only five
watts on 40, 20, and 10 meters. QSL only via his home call.

Lastly, OH6EI, will again show up from Aland Islands a OH0Z
on all bands. No exact dates or operational times were
given.  QSL via W0MM.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  CES FIVE TECHNOLOGY TRENDS TO WATCH

And finally this week a look into this future.  This as the
Consumer Electronics Association releases the 2014 edition
of "Five Technology Trends to Watch." This is an annual
publication that examines five prominent technology
movements that will influence the consumer electronics
industry in the years ahead. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm
Seeley, KI7UP, takes a look at what lies ahead:

--

According to a press release, this year's "Five Technology
Trends to Watch" examines key developments from the Internet
to things like driverless cars, digital health care,
robotics to the future of video distribution and
consumption.

Geared toward industry professionals, the publication
provides in-depth analysis and outlines related issues and
market forecasts for the coming year.  Each section also
explores consumer perspectives, partnerships, key players
and public policy issues.  For example, a chapter titled "A
Hundred Billion Nodes" looks at how the Internet is using
the Web to "learn" consumer habits and needs.

The Consumer Electronics Association Senior Manager of
Business Intelligence is Jack Cutts.  He looks at where the
major auto makers are in testing and refining their
driverless vehicles.  He also expounds on the legal and
social implications of ceding the open road to science in
"On the Road to Driverless Cars."

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Norm Seeley, KI7UP,
watching emerging technology from Scottsdale, Arizona.

--

The publication was released during a panel discussion at
Consumer Electronics Association Industry Forum in Los
Angeles in October.  (RW)

**

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, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio NewslineT.  Our e-mail address is newsline
(at) arnewsline (dot) 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 NewslineT, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa
Clarita California, 91350

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk,
I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving
holiday from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  And as always, 73
and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights
reserved.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1893 - November 22 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1893 with a release
date of November 22 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.  Ham radio emergency
communications efforts continue in the Philippines; Amateur
Radio responds to mid-west tornado outbreak; the ARRL files
symbol rate petition with the FCC; the International Space
Station celebrates 15 years on-orbit; Wake Island
commemorative operation ends with over 100,000 contacts and
a mega launch puts 29 new satellites on-orbit.  Find out the
details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1893
coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RESCUE RADIO FOLLOW-UP: ITU DEPLOYS TO THE PHILIPPINES

Post typhoon rescue radio efforts continue in the
Philippines.  We get the latest from Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF:

--

One of the most powerful storms ever recorded hit the
central Philippines on November 8 with 314-km/ hour winds
that killed about 4,000 people, swept away coastal villages
and devastated main cities.

The Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA) and its Ham
Emergency Radio Operation (HERO) network continue to provide
emergency communications, although some communications and
limited power have recently been restored in many disaster
areas.

HERO stations have worked with authorities including the
National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the
National Telecommunications Commission, local communities
and non-government organizations.

Ramon Anquilan DU1UGZ, Vice Chief Operating Officer of PARA,
reports that many are active throughout the archipelago
including in most typhoon disaster areas.

The news media has taken interest with Ramon DU1UGZ being
interviewed, including twice on the BBC and also a US
network. Nathan DU5AOK in Tacloban and Ramon have also been
on radio station DZBB interviewed by the program anchor Kiko
Flores.

In one interview Ramon DU1UGZ told how people queued up at a
HERO station to get their health and welfare messages out.
He knew that amateur radio emergency communications were
effective, and the
results saw many "tearful moments" when the messages got
through.
Ramon DU1UGZ said that a group from Don Bosco Technical
College Manila including a radio amateur Rey DV1DWJ has
reached Borongan and the HERO station of Lester DV5PO.

With them was fuel for a generator and he assisted them to
set up an
HF station.

On the Cebu side, Paul Kelly who is a retired US Colnel with
the call DU7/N1PK is assisting the Don Bosco effort.

PARA Chief Financial Officer, Jojo DU1VHY is a Don Bosco
alumni and
coordinating its involvement.

In other reports another group, FARE-8 of Dipolog City with
Roy Garbonera DV8BQI is on a relief mission in Cebu. Roy has
roots there and will be on HF.

In coming days the CARL club relief effort headed by Sidney
Tan, DW7EEE, will join ham club RECON MACE in the
Municipality of Daanbantayan, at the northern part of Cebu
Island.

RECON MACE is assisting a French medical mission at Santa Fe
Bantayan Island. A French ham operator Denis Ramelet F5PXF
has asked PARA to monitor and assist medical teams, on Santa
Fe Island in Bantayan.

Ramon DU1UGZ said the relief operators for Tacloban have
arrived and backed up Nathan DU5AOK who had been the HERO
signal in the town.

With thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC for the information in this
report
I'm Jim Meachen, in Nelson, New Zealand for the Amateur
Radio Newsline.

--

The International Telecommunications Union headquartered in
Geneva, Switzerland, has sent assistance in the form of
satellite communications equipment to the areas ravaged by
Typhoon Haiyan.  Also, some hams have asked how to directly
aid their counterparts in the Philippines.  You can find
that information on the web para.org.ph  (VK3PC, PARA,
GB2RS)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS RESPOND TO MIDWEST TORNADOES

At least eight people are dead after a particularly
dangerous tornado situation unfolded across the Midwest
Sunday, November 17th.  The late-season, outbreak of
tornadoes and high winds killed six people in Illinois, two
in Michigan and injured hundreds of others.  Amateur Radio
Newsline welcomes our newest reporter Hal Rogers, K8CMD, who
has this report:

--

According to the ARRL Peoria County ARES Emergency
Coordinator Fritz Bock, WD9FMB, ham radio responded with a
team of volunteers to a Central Illinois Division Red Cross.
This after receiving a request for emergency communication
support between various locations in Washington, Illinois.
Washington is a town of approximately 11,000 people and news
reports say that it is among the hardest hit by the storms
with many  injuries having taken place there.

Communication support was provided between the American Red
Cross offices in Peoria, a Methodist Church and the Tazewell
County Emergency Operations Center.  To the credit of the
hams that installed and maintain them, VHF and UHF FM
systems remained operational for all of the required
communications paths.

Even the broadcast media was affected by the severe weather
outbreak.  A tornado tearing through East Peoria put two
anchors for WEEK off the air after the twister hit part of
the station's property.  At the time the stations
Meteorologists were giving viewers on-air updates about an
approaching tornado when they said they heard something.
They scrambled for shelter at about11:00 a.m., leaving the
anchor desk while the station went to a break.  It was later
reported that the facility suffered some slight roof damage
and some power hits that took it off air for a few minutes.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn told reporters today that the
storms destroyed or badly damaged upward of 400 homes in
Washington, Illinois.  The storms also affected Michigan,
Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin.  Seven Illinois counties,
including Peoria and Tazewell, have been declared disaster
areas.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Hal Rogers, K8CMD, in
Prama, Ohio.

--

In Indiana it was a similar situation as we hear from
Amateur Radio Newsline's Jack Parker, W8ISH:

--

As the multiple storm cells left Illinois they began to pick
up strength from afternoon heating. At last count 24
confirmed tornadoes raced across the Indiana landscape
leaving massive damage in it's wake. Vincinnes, Indiana
experienced an EF2 tornado that was a hundred yards wide and
traveled more than 19 miles.
Amateur Radio storm spotters from Evansville to the
southwest up through Marion, Indiana to the northeast
reported funnel clouds and strong winds along the way. EF2
torndoes caused damage in Lafayette, Lebanon, Bedford and
numerous Indiana cities. An EF3 tornado devastated Dayton,
Indiana just west of Kokomo.
The National Weather Service says the Sunday November 17th,
outbreak is the third largest such outbreak in one day, in
state history. Local, county and state officials credited
the National Weather Service and Amateur Radio weather
spotters for the advanced warnings as the storms raced
across the state at 45 miles per hour.
At last report no Amateur Radio Operators were involved with
emergency communications following the storms. Thanks to
their efforts and the National Weather Service there were no
deaths reported in Indiana.
Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack Parker
W8ISH.
--

The storm system eventually moved off shore into the
Atlantic, but part of the East Coast experienced heavy winds
and rain from its remnants.

(W8ISH, ARRL, RW, WEEK-TV, others)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  ISS CELEBRATES ITS 15th BIRTHDAY

The International Space Station celebrated its 15th birthday
on Wednesday, November 20th.  This marking the day in 1998
when a rocket lifted to orbit the first piece of what is now
the largest man made structure ever built in space.

The International Space Station began construction with the
arrival on-orbit of the Russian built Zarya Module.  This
lead to the ongoing international mission to build the
orbital outpost one piece at a time.

Today, the I-S-S is about the size of a football field with
roughly the same amount of livable space as a six-bedroom
house.  Amateur Radio became a part of the Space Station two
weeks after the first two licensed ham radio operators took
up residence in it on Expedition One.  Since then hams have
taken part in all 38 expeditions to this point.

Five different space agencies representing fifteen countries
have contributed to construction of the $100 billion orbital
outpost.
(ARNewsline from published news reports)

**

BREAK 1

Time for you to identify your station.  We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the WA0FYA Zero Beaters Amateur Radio Club net
serving Dutzow and Washington, Missouri.

(5 sec pause here)


**

FCC NEWS:  MAJOR CHANGE COMING TO FCC LEADERSHIP

A major leadership change is coming to Homeland Security at
the FCC.  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with
the details:

--

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has announced a major change in
leadership at the commission.  Wheeler intends to name Rear
Admiral David Simpson as Chief of the FCC's Public Safety
and Homeland Security Bureau, which oversees emergency
alerting.

According to the FCC, Admiral Simpson has more than 20 years
of information and communications technology experience
supporting the Department of Defense.  He has also worked
closely with other agencies to provide secure communication
services and improve cyber defense readiness.  Most recently
he served as the vice director of the Defense Information
Systems Agency.  He was also a senior delegate to the 2012
World Radio Telecommunications Conference.  From 2009
through 2010 Admiral Simpson was the Director for
Communications and Information Services for U.S. Forces Iraq
in Baghdad.  There he synchronized strategic and operational-
level communications for U.S. forces and helped the Iraq
government build capacity for the information and
communications technology sector.

David Turetsky, who had been leading the bureau, will now
take on a new role as coordinator of the agency's informal
task force on the FCC response to international disasters
such as Typhoon Haiyan.  In this new capacity he will be
drawing from his experience handling domestic United States
disaster response.

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

--

As we go to air, the effective date for this change has not
been announced.  (FCC, RW)

**

RADIO RULES:  ARRL FILES SYMBOL RATE PETITION WITH FCC

The ARRL has asked the FCC for a rules change to delete the
current symbol rate limit in part 97.307(f) of the Amateur
Service rules.  In its place the League wants the regulatory
agency to replace it with a maximum bandwidth for data
emissions of 2.8 kHz on amateur frequencies below 29.7 MHz.

According to the League's petition, the changes proposed
would relieve the United States Amateur service of what ARRL
terms as outdated, 1980s era restrictions that presently
hamper or preclude experimentation with modern high
frequency and other data transmission protocols.  The
proposed rule changes would also permit greater flexibility
in the choice of data emissions.

Current FCC rules limit digital data emissions below 28 MHz
to 300 baud, and between 28 and 28.3 MHz to 1200 baud.  The
petition notes that transmission protocols are available and
in active use in other radio services in which the symbol
rate exceeds the present limitations in part 97 but the
necessary bandwidths of those protocols are within the
bandwidth of a typical High Frequency 3 KHz single sideband
transmission.

Symbol rate represents the number of times per second that a
change of state occurs, and should not be confused with data
or bit rate.  The two are separate and distinct entities.

The ARRL petition was filed November 15th.  The FCC has not
yet assigned an Rule Making number nor has it put the
petition on public notice.  As such, at this point there is
no way for the ham radio community to file comments until
that happens.  (ARRL)

**

HAM HISTORY:  WAKE ISLAND K9W OPERATION CONCLUDES WITH OVER
100,000 CONTACTS

The long awaited K9W Wake Atoll Commemorative DXpedition is
now a part of ham radio history.  The operators went QRT on
Friday, November 15th, local Wake Island Time.  During their
operation the operators put over 100,000 QSOs from 186
discrete DXCC entities in their logbook.  The K9W operators
say that they are grateful for the opportunity to have
honored the Forgotten 98 during our DXpedition.  For more
details on this historic operation along with QSL routing
and any further updates please visit the K9W Web page at
www.wake2013.org.  (WAKE 2013)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  ANOTHER FLORIDA UNLICENSED STATION HAS BEEN
TAKEN OFF THE AIR

The Pinellas Park Police Department Community Redevelopment
Area Policing Unit teamed with investigators from the FCC
has busted an unlicensed broadcaster.  One that was within
the city limits of the city of Pinellas Park, Florida.

On November 15th investigators determined that Joseph
Kervenson of Kenneth City was listed as the Chief Executive
Officer of the unlicensed radio station using the call
letters of WKMJ.  The unlicensed station was operating on
102.1 MHz in the FM broadcast band.

During the investigation officers seized the stations
transmitter and antenna.  Kervenson was charged with
unauthorized transmissions to, or interference with, a
public or commercial radio station licensed by the FCC.
This is 3rd degree felony under Florida state law FSS
877.27.  He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail with
bail set at $5,000.  He has since been released on bond.
(KB5TJI, tbnweekly.com)

**

COMMUNITY SERVICE: HAMS NEEDED FOR SUTTON MA CHAIN OF LIGHTS

Ham radio communicators are being sought for the
Massachusetts Sutton Chain of lights festival.  This event
takes place each year the 1st weekend of December, which
this year is the 7th.  The festival uses Trolleys to
transport people from one site to another. There will be
about 9 such Trolleys, which means that at least 10
operators, to run this event.  If you live in the Boston
area or are planning to be there on December 7th and want to
volunteer your services, please e-mail ka1otq (at) arrl
(dot) net.  More information about the event is on-line at
tinyurl.com/sutton-lights-2013  (KA1OTQ)

**

EDUCATION:  QCWA BOARD APPROVES 14 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FOR
2014

The Quarter Centaury Wireless Association's Board of
Directors has announced the approval of 14 scholarship
awards in the amount of $20,000 to be issued in 2014.  The
QCWA Scholarship Program is administered by Foundation for
Amateur Radio, and all applications for scholarship awards
must be sent to them at FAR Scholarships, P. O. Box 911,
Columbia, Maryland, 21044.

Since 1978, some 397 recipients have received over $396,850
in scholarship awards through the QCWA Scholarship Award
Program.  More information can be found on the Foundation
for Amateur Radio website at www.farweb.org/2013-scholarship-
application. (VE6AFO, QCWA)

**

ON THE WEB:  DECEMBER 2013 K9YA TELEGRAPH NOW AVAILABLE

The December 2013 issue of the K9YA Telegraph now available.
This is a free, general interest monthly amateur radio
electronic magazine delivered as a full-color PDF file.
This latest issue contains a number of interesting items
including Part 2 of an article on International Law and Ham
Radio authored by Philip Cala-Lazar, K9PL.  To check out
sample issues, subscribe or write an article, visit the K9YA
Telegraph Web site at www.k9ya.org.  (K9YA.org)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  K4AC ELECTED NEW ARRL SOUTHEASTERN
DIRECTOR

The ARRL Southeastern Division will have a new director come
next January 1st.  This after ballots counted on November
18th showed that challenger Doug Rehman, K4AC, of Mt Dora,
Florida, narrowly defeated incumbent Director Greg Sarratt,
W4OZK, of Huntsville, Alabama.  This, by a vote of 961 to
949.  Rehman was among challengers who ran against Sarratt
in 2010.  W4OZK has served as a Director since 2007.

There will be no change in the Southeastern Division Vice
Director position.  There, incumbent Jim Millsap, WB4NWS,
handily outpolled challenger George Hawrysko, K4AWA by a
vote of 1429 to 467 votes.  Millsap, of Acworth, Georgia,
was appointed in 2012 to complete the term of Andrea
Hartlage, KG4IUM, who resigned when she moved out of the
Southeastern Division.  (ARRL Bulletin)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  N8SY NAMED NEW OHIO SM EFFECTIVE JANUARY
1 2014

Scott Yonally, N8SY, of Mansfield, Ohio has been named to
replace Frank Piper, KI8GW, as Ohio Section Manager
effective on January 1st.  Yonally holds appointments as an
Official Relay Station.  He is also an Official Emergency
Station and previously served as Public Information
Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator within the
Ohio Field Organization.  Piper, who has served as the Ohio
Section Manager since 2009 cited increased job and family
commitments as his reason to stand down.  (ARRL)

**

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)

**

WORKDBEAT:  DUTCH TELECOM SAYS BIG INSTANT FINES FOR FM
PIRATES

The telecommunications regulator in Holland has said its
going to get  tough with pirate radio broadcast and will be
hitting them hard where it hurts the most.  In their
wallets.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB,
has the details:

--

The Netherlands telecommunications regulator Agentschap
Telecom says it will no longer simply warn those involved in
illegal radio broadcasts but will immediately issue heavy
monetary fines.  The penalty applies to all illegal FM
broadcasts and can cost wrongdoers as much as 60,000 U-S
dollars.

Up to now, owners of land or buildings where an antenna
system is located have received an initial warning letter
asking them to stop the illegal broadcasts.  A fine was
imposed only if it appeared that the station was still in
operation after that warning letter was received.

Under the agency's new policy offenders will get an instant
fine.  This applies to all involved including the property
owner or tenant where the transmitter is situated, as well
as the broadcast operators themselves.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB,
reporting.

--

This action comes after the Dutch Telecommunications Agency
revealed that it receives about 1200 complaints each year of
interference caused by pirate radio operations.  (RW via
Radio NL/Novum)

**

RADIO LAW:  WORKSHOP HELD IN THE SOUTH SUDAN

An IARU Region 1 sponsored Radio Spectrum and Regulatory
Workshop held with the South Sudan administration on
November 15th.  Its purpose is to assist the administration
with the implementation of amateur radio in that nation.

The workshop took place on the compound of the European
Union in Juba the capital of South Sudan.  Most of the 21
participants work for the South Sudanese Radio
Communications Agency, while others represented the Ministry
of the Interior.

The objectives of this workshop were, among other things, to
educate regulators on the creation of their own amateur and
amateur-satellite services; to assist the administration on
creation of amateur-radio regulations and the related
national frequency allocation table and to discuss the
amateur radio's benefits for the nations society.

South Sudan became an independent country in 2011.
Currently amateur radio is allowed only on a provisional
basis.  There are two resident foreign amateurs who received
full amateur privileges.  Since 2011 only one DXpedition was
active from South Sudan.

The workshop was part of a goodwill project in cooperation
with Radio Arcala, DX University, the YASME Foundation, Rock
City Investments Co, Yaesu Musen Co. Ltd of Japan and the
European DX Foundation.  You can read more at
tinyurl.com/south-sudan-ham-radio-meeting.  (Southgate, IARU-
R1)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  MEGA SATELLITE LAUNCH PUTS 29 NEW BIRDS
ON ORBIT

A large number of CubeSats carrying amateur radio payloads
were launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in
Virginia.  The launch occurred at 01:15 UTC on November 19th
using an Orbital Sciences Minotaur One that carried among
its payloads a high school student-built satellite.

Designated as JT3sat it was designed, constructed and tested
by students at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science
and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. This is the first
time ever that a satellite designed and built by high school
students has been launched into Earth orbit.

In all, there were twenty-nine satellites were on the launch
vehicle of which a dozen operate on Amateur Satellite
Service frequencies.  Radio amateurs from around the world
have reported receiving signals from many of the satellites.
For the latest news on all the new birds check the DK3WN
satellite blog www.dk3wn.info.  (Southgate, Space.com, Yahoo
News, other published reports.)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  FUNCUBE ON ORBIT

Another ham radio bird now on-orbit is the United Kingdom's
FUNcube,  This is an educational project with the goal of
getting young people interested in radio, space, physics and
electronics.  Its launch was to take place on November 21st
at 07.10 GMT.  (RSGB)

**

ON THE AIR

On the air, keep an ear open for special event station
DB50FIRAC.  It will be active between January 1st and
December 31st of 2014.  Its purpose is to celebrate the 50th
anniversary of Federation Internationale des Radio Amateurs
Cheminots. QSL via the bureau or electronically using
Logbook to the World or eQSL.  (Via e-mail)


**

DX

DC0KK will be on the air from Sri Lanka as 4S7KKG between
through April 15th, 2014.   His activity will be mainly on
CW and the Digital modes.  QSL via DC0KK direct, via the
bureau or electronically using Logbook to the World on
request.  All paper QSLs for will be sent via the bureau.

F6ICX is reportedly active as 5R8IC from Saint Marie Island
until December 15th. His operation is holiday style
operating CW, RTTY, and PSK63 on for 20 through 10 meters.
QSL via his home callsign as listed on QRZ.com.

EA5FL, EA5DY, EA5GVZ and EC5JC will activate special event
station EG5MM on December 11th.  This in celebration of
International Mountain Day.  QSL via EA5FL.

PU5IKE will be operational as ZW5AAA from Remedios Island
between December 7th and 8th.  This will be a 10 meters SSB
only operation.  QSL via PU5IKE direct with a self addressed
stamped envelope, via the bureau or electronically using
Logbook of the World or eQSL.  QSLs from SWLs are also
welcome.

DL3DXX will be active from Namibia December 24 through
January 8, 2014 signing stroke V5. He will be operational on
most of the High Frequency bands though modes and times were
not announced.  QSL via DJ2HD

Lastly, F5TLN, who is currently operational stroke OD5 from
Lebanon reports that he will be there until April 2014.  His
activity has been mainly on 15 meter SSB.  QSL direct only
via his home callsign.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER TO BE U.S. TALLEST
BUILDING

And finally this week, a decision has been made that will
give New York City the honor of hosting the tallest building
in the United States.  This after it was decided that it's
very top is not just an antenna support.  Amateur Radio
Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, reports:

--

We don't know if there will ever be a ham radio repeater
located at the still under construction One World Trade
Center in New York City, but it will be the nation's tallest
building when it opens next year.  This according to a
decision by the Chicago based Council on Tall Buildings and
Urban Habitat which said that its decision hinged on whether
the tower's mast was a spire, which counts in height
measurements, or an antenna, which doesn't.

Anthony Wood is the executive director of the architectural
evaluation group.  In issuing the decision he said that even
though the cladding was taken off the new buildings spire,
one can still see that it is an architectural element and
not just a plain steel mast from which to hang antenna or
satellite dishes.

Currently Chicago's Willis Tower, which used to be known as
the Sears Tower is considered as the tallest building in the
United States.  Completed in 1974 it was once the world's
tallest building at 1,451 feet tall.  That was eclipsed when
Dubai opened its Burj Khalifa which stands at 2,717 feet
tall.  One World Trade Center is height locked in at a
symbolic 1,776 feet high.

While its management of One World Trade Center hopes to lure
many of the broadcasters that moved back to other sites
after the 9/11 al-Quida terror attack that felled the
original World Trade Center twin towers, so far no major
entity has made up its mind on such a move.  Each site has
its own advantages and disadvantages so it is not simply a
technical, business or operational choice but a combination
of the three.  Add to that the long-term leases at current
broadcast sites such as the Empire State Building, the costs
involved in such a move along with uncertainty over the
FCC's repacking of the television band and it's easy to
understand why many are reticent to commit to such a
transmitter relocation.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in
Zion, Illinois.

--

One World Trade Center was initially developed by
Silverstein Properties and taken over by the Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey in April 2006.  The 104 story
building will feature a grand lobby an observation deck with
views of the entire metro-area and the spire that's capable
of being used as an antenna structure for those who so
desire.  (Published News Reports)

**

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, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio NewslineT.  Our e-mail address is newsline
(at) arnewsline (dot) 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 NewslineT, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa
Clarita California, 91350

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk,
I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for
listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights
reserved.