Friday, October 5, 2012

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1833 - September 28 2012







Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1833 with a release
date of September 28 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST.  Dedicated Cubesat downlinks to be
discussed at WRC 2018; Ofcom lifts spectrum restrictions
imposed because of London Summer Olympics; Kosovo takes to
the ham radio airwaves and the results of the World Radio
Direction Finding competition.  Find out the details are on
Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1833 coming your way
right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  DEDICATED CUBESAT DOWNLINKS FOR
DISCUSSION AT WRC-18

IARU Secretary Rod Stafford, W6ROD, reports that the
International Amateur Radio Union's Administrative Council
will meet in the next 45 days to address the agenda items
for the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference.  Planning
for the dedicated spectrum for university research cubesats
will begin at that gathering, but the actual allocation of
frequencies may not occur until the 2018 World
Radiocommunication Conference.

In an article posted on the ARRL web, Stafford noted, "A lot
of radio amateurs are aware of the increasing use of amateur
spectrum by small satellites, mainly by universities.  It is
becoming an increasingly difficult situation to accommodate
the number of small, non-commercial satellites within the
amateur bands.  These education-based satellites do not
really fit within the definition of the Amateur Radio
Service, but have been accommodated there.

According to W6ROD, these small birds are categorized as
nano-satellites weighing between 1 to 10 kilogram and pico-
satellites weighing less than 1 kilogram.  The International
Telecommunications Union is trying to deal with this issue
in an orderly manner and a `preliminary' WRC-18 agenda item
is to consider whether these satellite operations can be
accommodated in an already crowded radio spectrum is being
researched.

Stafford concludes by noting that as these issues develop,
the IARU will keep its Member-Societies, such as the ARRL,
aware of developments with an eye to building the best
strategy to deal with those agenda items in a way that is
most favorable to the Amateur Radio Service.

You can read the full article, including many other IARU
agenda items at tinyurl.com/looking-at-tinysats.  (ANS,
ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  UK PARISHES ABANDONING EMCOMM SYSTEM FOR
CELLPHONES AND RAYNET

An emergency radio system that has provided a lifeline to
Heathfield in the United Kingdom for 25 years is to be
scrapped and to be replaced by cellular telephones.  But
users of the ageing service have criticized the decision to
rely on patchy mobile phone service in an emergency.  Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details:

--

That's right Jim.  It is supposed to go away and here's why.

The radio system was created back in 1987 after what has
been called the Great Storm.  Six parishes still have the
gear in service to use emergency situations.

But the district council now wants to abolish them because
they are too expensive to maintain.  The council pays 3,600
British Pounds a year to maintain the radio gear and a
repeater that they are used through.

Parish councilor Bob Wood who has one of the old radios.  He
says that while thee gear my be old and possibly inadequate
for what they want, that doing away with them is silly.  He
notes that mobile phone networks can only hold a certain
number of calls at a time if an emergency happens.

But according to Jim van den Bos, of the District Council,
the Wealden emergency radio network radio equipment is now
old, less reliable and more difficult to repair.  He says
that last year a survey of parishes was conducted asking
which had been active in the network over the past three
years.  Out of the 15 who took part, only seven were in
favor of continuing.

So what will happen when the old emergency radio system
falls silent?  According to van den Bos it will likely be
ham radio that will be used to augment the cellular network.
In a statement he said that the council supports local
members of a network of amateur radio users called RAYNET
who are willing to respond in an emergency.

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

--

RAYNET in the UK would be quite similar to a combined RACES
and ARES here in the United States.  (Sussix Courier,
Northcliff Media, Southgate)

**

RADIO LAW:  OFCOM LIFTS TEMPORARY SPECTRUM RESTRICTIONS ON
UHF AND SHF BANDS USED FOR OLYMPICS

UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom has announced that as
of midnight on September 23rd, temporary operating
restrictions on parts of the 70 centimeter and several
microwave bands have come to an end.  The restrictions on
spectrum usage by British radio amateurs had been put in
place to permit use of several spectral parcels in relation
to the now conceded 2012 London Summer Olympic and
Paralympic Games.  (RSGB)

**

BREAKING DX NEWS:  KOSOVO NOW OFFICIALLY ON THE AIR

The Republic of Kosovo is now officially on the air. Station
Z-60-K near Pristina commenced amateur radio operation
shortly after 1700 UTC on September 17th.  The call had been
issued to the club station of the Amateur Radio Association
of Kosovo.  For this operation QSL via G3TXF or using
ClubLog.

It has to be noted that as Kosovo is not yet a member of the
United Nations nor does it have an assigned callsign block
allocated by the International Telecommunications Union, it
does not meet the established requirements of the ARRL's
DXCC program at this time.   However CQ has recognized
Kosovo as a separate entity for its award and contest
programs since 2007.  More is on line at www.art-ks.org
(DXNL, CQ Newsroom)

**

DX SPECIAL:  AZORES 9 ISLANDS HUNT SEPT 29 - 30

While short notice, all nine of the Azores islands will be
operational from 12:00 UTC on Saturday, September 29th
through 12:00 UTC on Sunday September 30th.  This a part of
the Azores 9 Islands Hunt operating event.

Callsigns to be used are CU1ARM from Santa Maria; CU2ARA
from San Miguel; CU3URA on Terceira; CU4ARG from Graciosa;
CU5AM on Sao Jorge; CU6GRP on Pico; CU7CRA from Faial;
CU8ARF on Flores and CU9AC operating on Corvo.

Operations on CW will be from 7.000 to 7.015, 14.050 to
14.065 and 18.080 to 18.090 MHz.  SSB phone operations will
be found on 7.175 to 7.195, 14.250 to 14. 275 and 18.120
through 18.135 MHz.

But that's not all.  Those holding a QSO with at least 5
different islands will have a corresponding number of
tickets placed into a lottery for a free trip to the Azores.
Additionally, the first 25 operators making QSOs with all 9
islands will be eligible for a second lottery.

All QSOs will be confirmed through the bureau network with
special full-color cards. Direct QSL requests via CU2CE.
More information on this activation and trip give-away is on-
line at azores-islands-hunt.com. And we will have more DX
related news at the end of this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline
report.  (OH2BH)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the Dirty Dozen Club Net in Des Moines Iowa.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT:  YET ANOTHER FLORIDA UNLICENSED BROADCASTER
BUSTED BY THE FCC

From the seemingly never ending Florida unlicensed radio
station scene comes word that the FCC's Miami Office has
issued yet another Notice of Apparent Liability to Monetary
Forfeiture.  This time the recipient of a proposed $10,000
fine is Burt Byng of Miami who the regulatory agency claims
operating an unlicensed radio transmitter on the frequency
107.1 MHz.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW,
reports:

--

By way of background, this past February 9th agents from the
Enforcement Bureau's Miami Office T-hunted the source of a
signal on the 107.1 MHz to a transmitting antenna mounted on
the roof of a commercial property in Miami.  The agents
determined that the signals on 107.1 MHz exceeded the limits
for operation under Part 15 of the Commission's rules and
therefore required a license.  While monitoring the
transmission, the agents also heard the station identify
itself on the air as "WEROC Radio."  Commission records
showed that no authorization was issued to Burt Byng or to
anyone else for operation of an FM broadcast station at or
near this address.

On the same date, agents from the Miami Office, accompanied
by the property owner, inspected the unlicensed station's
antenna and transmitter located on the rooftop of the
commercial building.  According to information provided by
the property owner, a company called J & B Enterprise US,
Inc. was the tenant of the particular area where the
transmitting equipment was located.

The property owner provided a copy of Burt Byng's driver's
license and identified him as the individual who rented the
rooftop space.   According to Florida records, Byng is the
President of an inactive business named "J & B Enterprises
US, Inc."

While researching the matter the agents also discovered that
Mr. Byng registered the domain name, ww.werocradio.com, a
webpage for "WEROC Radio."  The agents also noticed that the
phone number listed in the domain registration was the same
phone number listed on in the information provided by the
property owner.

In issuing the $10,000 NAL the FCC says that it finds that
the record evidence in this case is sufficient to establish
that Burt Byng violated Section 301 of the Act by operating
radio transmission equipment without the required Commission
authorization.   As such he is liable for the proposed fine.

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

--.

As is usual, Byng was given the customary 30 days to pay the
$10,000 NAL or to file an appeal.  (FCC)

**

RADIO LAW:  FCC EXTENDS COMMENTARY DEADLINE ON MD DOCKET 12-
201

The public as well as concerned industries have been given
more time to tell the FCC what they think of the agency's
process for collecting regulatory fees as outlined in MD
Docket 12-201.  Originally, comments on commission proposals
to reform the way in which it evaluates the regulatory fees
for the industries it regulates were due by September 17th.
While that date has passed, the agency has announced that
the new commentary cutoff date is October 9th, with reply
comments due by October 23rd.

The FCC also says that it would also like to receive
comments on a recent report from the Government
Accountability Office.  That report is titled "The Federal
Communications Commission Regulatory Fee Process Needs to Be
Updated."  In that document the Accountability Office
observes, among other things, that the commission's
regulatory fee, Notice of Proposed Rulemaking proposes some
fundamental changes to FCC's regulatory fee program that
relate to many of the concerns raised in its report. (FCC,
RW)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  LAST MAN STANDING K6T SPECIAL EVENT
CANCELLED

The highly publicized Last Man Standing K6T operating event
will not take place.  This according to the television shows
Producer John Amodeo, NN6JA.

The thank you to the ham radio community had been slated to
happen on Sunday, October 28th.  According to Amodeo the
decision to cancel was based on concerns about a possible
violation of FCC Regulation 97.113(a)(3).

For those not aware, this rule bars any communications using
ham radio in which the station licensee or control operator
has a pecuniary interest.  It also precludes any
communications on behalf of an employer.

In making the announcement Amodeo notes that while everyone
involved with the planned operation are very disappointed
with the cancellation of what would have a fun, one of a
kind event, that as a licensed radio amateur and producer of
broadcast programs, compliance with FCC rules must take
precedence.

Special event station K6T would have worked hams from around
world on HF, VHF, UHF, D-STAR and IRLP.  While that's not
going to take place the good news is that the ham station
that is a part of the set of Last Man Standing will remain
and continue to be a part of the shows ongoing plot line.
(NN6JA)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE:  HAM RADIO AT THE USAF MARATHON

David Crawford, KF4KWW, reports that over fifty amateur
radio operators from all over the greater Dayton, Ohio. area
and coming from as far away as Detroit, Michigan, recently
converged on Wright Patterson Air Force Base.  This, support
the 2012 United States Air Force Marathon held on Saturday,
September 15th.

Ham radio operators provided emergency and logistic
communications between the race director and his staff.
They also assisted with communications to the hydration
stations positioned throughout the course.

The United States Air Force Marathon is described as a world
class event with over 15000 participants registered and
another estimated 15000 volunteers and spectators in
attendance.  Amateur radio operators were indispensable in
communicating information on runner's locations and status,
weather heat indexes settings, severe weather notifications
and logistic issues.

Robert Aguiar is the marathon Race Director.  He says that
the senior base leaders of the event have come rely on the
communication skills of the amateur radios operators and use
them a as a vital resource.  He adds that this race would be
extremely difficult if not impossible to accomplish without
their support and dedication.  More about this event is on-
line at www.usafmarathon.com.  (KF4KWW)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  AMATEUR RADIO TO ASSIST AT VK NATIONAL FUN
FLIGHT DAY 2012

Amateur Radio will once again be a part of Australia's
National Fun Flight Day this coming November 4th.  Amateur
Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details:

--

National Fun Flight Day is an event staged by Australian
flying clubs to provide pleasure flights for children and
families touched by adversity.  Amateur radio began its
association with this event back in 2011.  Thats when the
Victoria-based Midland Amateur Radio Club and its station
VK3CMZ were invited to participate in the National FunFlight
Day by the Bendigo Flying Club.  The Midland Club was more
than happy to oblige and an operating High Frequency, VHF
and UHF station was set up at the event site.  A handheld in
a plane also provided communication back to children on the
ground.

The operation was deemed a major success and the Midland
Committee saw it as a worthwhile national amateur radio
event.  So it then approached the FunFlight manager
regarding other amateur clubs' participation.  The result of
the meeting was very positive and contact information has
now been provided to participating flying clubs so that they
can contact their nearest amateur radio club.

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

--

More event information on this fun in the sky event down-
under is on-line at www.funflight.org.  (Midland Amateur
Radio Club)

**

WITH ARNEWSLINE:  ARNEWSLINE FACEBOOK PAGES BREAKS 1000
BARRIER

The Amateur Radio Newsline fan page on Facebook has just
passed the 1000 subscriber point.  In fact, as we go to air,
the number of members subscribed stands at 1004.

The page is managed for Amateur Radio Newsline by James
Pastorfield, KB7TBT, who devotes a lot of time and energy to
it.  So as we pass the 1000 mark and hopefully head toward
2000 or more, we want to pause to thank KB7TBT for his
volunteerism in making the page possible and to all of you
who contribute to it.

If you are on Facebook but have not yet joined the Amateur
Radio Newsline family, you can find us there at by simply
typing Amateur Radio Newsline in the blue Facebook search
line.  We would love to have you there with us.
(ARNewslineT)

**


NAMES IN THE NEWS: BILL TYNAN W3XO TO RECEIVE RCA BARRY
GOLDWATER AWARD

The Radio Club of America has announced that former AMSAT
North America President Bill Tynan, W3XO, is to be the
recipient of its 2012 Barry Goldwater Amateur Radio Award.
The award recognizes Tynan's lifelong service to the public
through amateur radio.

The award will be presented to W3XO at the club's annual
awards banquet in New York on November 16th.  ARRL Chief
Executive Officer Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, will be the keynote
speaker at the event.  (RCA, W2RS)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur.  From the
United States of America, 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)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  WIA PRESIDENT MICHAEL OWEN,
VK3SI - S.K.

The changing of the guard in our service continues.  This,
with the sad news that Michael Owen, VK3KI, the Chairman of
Region III of the International Amateur Radio Union and
President of the Wireless Institute of Australia has became
a Silent Key.

Owen's sudden passing came after suffering what is only
being described as a medical condition at his home on
Saturday, September the 22nd.

During his many volunteer years, Owen, who was age 75 at the
time of his passing, participated in many IARU committees
and had been a member of the IARU Observer Team at a number
of World Radiocommunication Conferences.  He served as IARU
Vice President from 1989 to 1999 and is perhaps best
remembered for his work on a package of revisions to the
international Radio Regulations.  These were specific to the
Amateur Radio and Amateur Satellite services and presented
at the 2003 World Radiocommunications Conference.

Michael Owen, VK3KI, is survived by his wife Nan, and his
two daughters. His funeral was to be held on Friday,
September 28th at St Andrews Anglican Church in Brighton.
Australia.  Condolence messages can be sent via the Wireless
Institute of Australia by e-mail to condolences (at) WIA
(dot) org (dot) au or direct to the surviving family members
at PO Box 2042, Bayswater, Victoria 3153 Australia.
(WIA, VK6POP)

**
WORLDBEAT:  NEW FOCUS FOR RADIO NETHERLANDS WORLDWIDE

The Board of Supervisors of Radio Netherlands Worldwide has
appointed William Valkenburg as editor-in-chief.  This,
effective January 1st of  2013.

According to the announcement, Valkenburg will set out the
new course for the organization with the recently appointed
director general Robert Zaal.  The broadcaster will focus on
free speech in countries where press freedom is limited and
Valkenburg will take responsibility for journalism within
the organization.

As of 2013, Radio Netherlands Worldwide's main focus will be
on Africa, and the Arab World, as well as countries such as
China, Cuba and Venezuela. (RW)

**

WORLDBEAT:  FRENCH POLYNESIA GETS BROADBAND ACCESS

Another remote area of the world is now on-line.  Amateur
Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, has the details:

--

High speed Internet access has come to the islands of the
South Pacific.  This with word that OmniAccess has expanded
its network coverage in the remote French Polynesian
islands.

The news follows the company's investment into the opening
of a high-capacity network on the Intelsat 18 satellite that
first became operational in November 2011. This provides the
capacity to enable enhanced broadband internet coverage and
network services via Ku-band coverage platform to that
isolated part of the world.

As a result, for the first time private yachts, charter
yachts and commercial vessels cruising in the region can now
benefit from high quality uninterrupted broadband
connectivity via the new high speed service.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH,
reporting.

--

More on this new service can be found by going to
www.noonsite.com and using the search engine at that
website.  (noonsite.com via K4CPX)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  DARC AND GERMAN NSI COLLABORATE ON
FIELD STRENGTH ARTICLE

The National Standards Institute of Germany in cooperation
with the Deutscher Amateur Radio Club have jointly authored
an article on the calibration of field strength monitors
that has been published in the publication Advances in Radio
Science'.  The article covers a detailed description of a
possible calibration setup including uncertainty
calculations.  You can download an abstract and the full
article at tinyurl.com/field-strength-monitors.  (DARC)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  WESTERN STATES VHF/UHF WEAK SIGNAL NET ON
SUNDAYS

The Western States VHF/UHF Weak Signal 75m Net meets every
Sunday on 3.920 MHz at 17:30 Pacific Daylight Time.  This
net is a wide ranging discussion dealing with all aspects of
VHF to microwave building, contesting, and operating. More
about this weekly gathering is on-line at www.weaksig.net
(N8DEZ)

**

DX

In DX, G0VJG will be operational stroke 3A from Monaco
between October 1st and the 5th.  His activity will be on
the High Frequency bands using 100 watts on SSB only.  QSL
via G4DFI.

A multi-national team is on the air from Conway Reef in the
South Pacific Ocean.  They plan to be there through October
5th using the callsign will be 3D2C.  Their QSL manager is
YT1AD.

DL7VSN will be active from Tanzania through October 13th.
His operation will be from two locations using the 5H1HS
from Zanzibar Island and 5H1HS/3 from Lazy Lagoon Island.
Activity is expected on 160 through 10 meters using mainly
CW and RTTY.  QSL via his home callsign.  More about his
operation is on-line at Visit his Web page at
www.qsl.net/dl7vsn

Lastly word that DJ7RJ who was expected to be active stroke
FR from Reunion Island between September 26th and October
21st, has announced he had to cancel his trip. No reason for
the cancellation was given.
(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:

And finally this week, hidden transmitter hunters held their
world championships this month and hams from the USA came
home with more medals than ever.  Amateur Radio Newsline's
Joe Moell, K0OV, the details.

--

Every two years, on-foot hidden transmitter hunters get
together to see who is best in the world. The Sixteenth
World Championships of Amateur Radio Direction Finding, or
ARDF, took place at a ski resort in the mountains of central
Serbia. In these big forests, about 330 foxhunters from 33
countries searched for transmitters on two meters and 80
meters using direction finding gear, maps, and compasses,
but no GPS. USA was represented by nine men and four women
from six states. They ranged in age from 27 to 71.

In previous world championships, USA has won no more than
two medals, and no golds. But this year, the team members
packed thirteen medals into their suitcases, including four
golds.

Standing on the medal podium and hearing the Star-Spangled
Banner the most times was Bob Cooley KF6VSE of Pleasanton,
California. He won two golds in the division for men over
age 70 in the World Cup competition for individuals and
another gold for his two-meter run during the main ARDF
competitions. Also winning a playing of our national anthem
was Vadim Afonkin KB1RLI of Newton, Massachusetts, who was
this year's Team Captain. His gold medal was in the 80-meter
ARDF competition.

Other Team USA members on the podium included Jay Hennigan
WB6RDV of Goleta, California, who was a silver medalist on
80 meters. Winning bronze in their divisions on that band
were Alla Mezhevaya of Loves Park, Illinois, Ruth Bromer
WB4QZG of Raleigh, North Carolina and Karla Leach KC7BLA of
Bozeman, Montana.

Team USA members earned their right to go to Serbia by
medaling in the USA ARDF Championships this June at Mt.
Laguna, California and in earlier US championships.

You can read more about Team USA and the ARDF World
Championships at www.homingin.com. There are plenty of
photos, plus links to the complete results. That's homingin,
as one word, homingin.com.

From southern California, where ARDF activities take place
all year long, this is Joe Moell, K0OV, for the Amateur
Radio Newsline.

--

Again, more information is on-line at www.homingin.com.  And
"homingin" is spelled as one word.  (K0OV)

**

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.

And a reminder to those of you who still receive these
newscasts over our 661-296-2407 dial in line rater than
downloading the MP3 file from our website.  Of late we have
noticed a major decline in the number of those calling into
it and as such we are giving consideration to discontinuing
it by years end.  But before we do, we want to know how many
people are actually using it.  If you are one of those who
call in each week on the phone, please send us a note
telling us who you are and the reason you are using
telephone access rather than simply downloading the newscast
from the Internet.

Our address is the Amateur Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin
Avenue, Saugus California, 91350.  Or, as we said, you can e-
mail us at newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org.  We look
forward to hearing from you.

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

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2012.  All rights
reserved.

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