Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1870 with a release date of June 14 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. The International amateur Radio Union gets ready for WRC 2015; a busy agenda for GAREC in Zurich; more and more over the horizon radar invades the upper High Frequency bands; a petition to extend Technician class privileges on 10 meters is filed with the FCC and some strange communications from the insect world. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1870 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RADIO LAW: IARU STUDY IN PREPARATION FOR WRC 2015 The International Amateur Radio Union, also known as the IARU is setting its sights on the upcoming 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference. In a recent teleconference, the IARU Administrative Council authorized the distribution of a paper which sets forth a number of agenda items that will be considered during the gathering. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has more: -- There are a number of agenda items that impact amateur radio and amateur-satellite services. These include Agenda Item 1.1 which is to consider additional spectrum allocations to the mobile service on a primary basis and identification of additional frequency bands for International Mobile Telecommunications and related regulatory provisions. This is to facilitate the development of terrestrial mobile broadband applications, in accordance with Resolution 233 passed at WRC 12. Agenda Item 1.4 is to consider possible new allocation to the amateur service on a secondary basis within the band 5250 to 5450 Kilohertz. Agenda Item 1.6.1 will look at possible additional primary allocations to the fixed- satellite service of 250 MHz in the range between 10 GHz and 17 GHz in ITU Region 1. Item 1.18 will consider a primary allocation to the radiolocation service for automotive applications in the 77.5 to 78.0 Gigahertz GHz frequency band. Lastly, Agenda Item 9.1.8 will consider the regulatory aspects for nano-satellites and Pico-satellites as required by Resolution 757 passed at WRC 12. This calls for the results of studies of the procedures for notifying space networks that presently apply such tiny birds to be reported to WRC 15. Because of the possible implications of these studies for the amateur radio and amateur-satellite services, the IARU is following their progress very attentively. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick, Pennsylvania. -- All IARU member societies are being encouraged to meet with their respective telecommunication authorities to discuss the WRC 15 Agenda Items and to gain support for the IARU positions. (RAC, VE3YV, VE2MBS/VE2QQ) ** RESCUE RADIO: BUSY AGENDA AT GAREC 2013 IN ZURICH The delegates and guests at the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communication or GAREC 2013 Conference will have a busy agenda later this month. This as they share ideas and learn the approach being taken in different parts of the world. GAREC 2013 will discuss the true objectives, dissemination of disaster information at an international level, how to have hams prepared, trained and involved, and convince authorities about amateur radio emergency communication. Stefan Streif HB9TTQ is an organizer of GAREC 2013. He advises that one topic on the agenda is whether amateur radio has an emergency communications role in Europe. This is because the authorities believe their infrastructure is so good and its technical level so high, that a disaster could not affect communications over a wide area. This years Global Amateur Radio Emergency Communication Conference will be held June 25th to the 27th in Zurich, Switzerland. More information can be found at www.garec2013.ch. (VK3PC) ** RADIO LAW: SOUTH AFRICA FIVE-YEAR LICENSE STILL LEAVES QUESTIONS The South African Radio League says that it is still receiving questions about the five year license issue with telecommunications regulator the Independent Communications Authroity of South Africa also known as ICASA. The South African Radio League says that a detailed explanation of the new rule was received from ICASA. According to that regulatory body if a South African radio amateur paid for 5 years and has advised ICASA accordingly, the problem will be sorted out. This even if a ham in that nation has received a license for only this year. ICASA says that the process may take several more weeks and it is not necessary to call or contact them at this time. Meantime the South African Radio League has placed the matter on the Agenda of the next liaison meeting with the telecommunications regulator. That conclave is scheduled for mid-June. (SARL) ** INTRUDER WATCH: LOTS OF OTH RADAR ON THE UPPER HF BANDS| The latest Amateur Radio Union Monitoring System Region 1 newsletter reports a United Kingdom military station identified as STANAG 4285 station has been heard on the 20 meter band. Reports are that the station which is believed to be in Norwich, England has been on 14.236.8 Megahertz. What action taken to get it to move is unknown Also in the newsletter DGZ0JBJ reported during May no less than 11 Over The Horizon or OTH radar systems have been heard on 20 meters, with 30 on 10 meters and an almost unbelievable 65 of these radar devices heard and logged on the 15 meter band. The newsletter says that these figures do not include the numerous frequency jumping Iranian Over The Horizon radars in that nation. You can read the entire monitoring service intruder report on the web at tinyurl.com/hamband-intruder-alert. It's a real eye opener for those who are new to HF and not quite certain of the source of the noise that may be causing harmful interference to a QSO. (IARUMS-R1) ** RESCUE RADIO: KEEPING HURRICANE NET FREQUENCIES CLEAR The Atlantic hurricane season officially started on 1st June and many predictions indicate an above average number of storms this year. And as amateur radio continues to play a significant role in the gathering and distribution of information for the weather and emergency services each year hams in other IARU Regions are being reminded that the same frequencies may be in use by nets in North and Central America to track and deal with the consequences of these severe weather events. As such, it is possible for Region 1 or Region 3 amateur stations to cause unintentional QRM to these nets. Because of this, hams world-wide are being asked to please listen carefully if operating near these frequencies. A full list of which nets are operating on various frequencies can be found on line at www.iaru-r1.org (IARU) ** RESCUE RADIO: ARES RESPONDS TO COLORADO WILDFIRES The Amateur Radio Emergency Service in Colorado is providing communication support for personnel on the Black Forest and the Royal Gorge Fires currently burning in the Southern part of that state. Operators have been assigned to shelters, Emergency Operations Centers's, and other locations as needed. The Automatic Packet Reporting System or APRS is being used and constantly updated with current data showing the locations of the fires, shelters, evacuation zones, and road closures. You can find the APRS data on APRS.fi and OPENAPRS.net. More in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports. (Colorado ARES via Facebook) ** BREAK 1 From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the Woodchuck Amateur Radio Club repeater serving Cleveland Ohio. (5 sec pause here) ** RESTRUCTURING: TOLEDO MOBILE RADIO ASSN SEEKS FM PRIVILEGES FOR TECHS ON 10 METERS The Toledo Mobile Radio Association has filed a Petition for Rule Making with the FCC asking for increased voice privileges for Technician Class license holders in the 10 meter band. In its request the group is asking that Technician class privileges to include 29.520 MHz to 29.700 MHz which covers the gentlemen's agreement repeater subband on 10 meters. Tony Everhardt, N8WAC, is with the clubs Technical Committee. He tells Amateur Radio Newsliine that the petition was the result of the club considering the installation of a 10 meter repeater: -- N8WAC: "During the talks of a 10 meter repeater I suggested that if we put up a 10 meter repeater just the General class and higher can use that which doesn't benefit the Technicians. This was a few months ago and the more I thought about it the less it made sense that they (Technicians) do not have FM privileges. They can talk world wide from 28.300 to 28.500 MHz but they are not able to use the FM portion of the band." -- So Everhardt brought the matter up to the clubs Technical Committee and the concept of Tech's on 10 meter FM was warmly received: -- N8WAC: "I brought up to the Technical Committee the suggestion of filing a Petition and the Technical Committee was all for it. So the Committee brought it up to the membership at the monthly meeting and it was a unanimous decision to file the petition." -- In its rule making request the Toledo Mobile Radio Association argues that the current FCC rule that limits both Novice and Technician Class operators to 28.000 MHz to 28.500 MHz is not in keeping with the reality of today. It notes that with linking of various repeaters, the Internet Radio Linking Project and Echolink it feels that Section 97.301 (e) which allows the Technician class license privileges on the 10 meter band only from 28.000 MHz to 28.500 MHz is outdated. The bottom line of the Toledo Mobile Radio Association rule making request is that its time to bring Technician voice privileges on 10 meters up to date. Also to bring them in line with the technology and the reality of ham radio in the 21st century. (Toledo Mobile Radio Association) ** LAW: HAM MURDERED IN CALIFORNIA SHOOTING SPREE A ham has been killed in what authorities are calling a homicide spree by a Los Angeles area resident. The incident began with a report of shots fired at Santa Monica home shortly before noon on June 7th. Officers arrived to find the house on fire and two people later identified as the shooter's father and brother dead of gunshot wounds inside. One of those murdered was Samir Zawahri, N6KXL. The shooter, who police say was wearing what appeared to be a ballistic jacket, then shot a woman passing by in a car and carjacked another woman at gunpoint. He directed her to drive to the college campus, having her stop so he could shoot along the way. He fired on a city bus where three women were left with minor injuries. Authorities say that the gunman also fired on police cars, bystanders and pedestrians. From there, he demanded to be taken to Santa Monica College. In a faculty parking lot he fired on two people in a red Ford Explorer that crashed through a block wall. Police say that the driver was killed and a passenger was in critical condition after undergoing surgery UCLA Medical Center. He then shot a woman outside the college library before entering and attempting to shoot students there. Police said the rampage lasted about 10 minutes and ended when the shooter, who had been firing a semiautomatic rifle, was shot and killed on the campus. Authorities have not officially named the gunman but law enforcement sources in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles have since identified him as 23 year old John Zawahri, the son of Samir Zawahri, N6KXL. (AC6C, KG6FBM, K6FCC, published news reports) ** RADIO LAW: ELECTRONIC FRONTIER FOUNDATION VS. PERSONAL AUDIO LLC A follow-up to last weeks story regarding Patent Trolls. Here's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW: -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation has also decided to do something about Patent Trolls that are making life miserable for some Podcasters. This in a campaign being called Help Save Podcasting. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is soliciting donations and searching for prior proof of patent rights also known as prior art that would derail the lawsuit brought by a group called Personal Audio LLC. The Foundation says that the groups attorneys claim they own certain patents that govern podcasts and they want money for use of podcasting technology. They have filed lawsuits against some podcasters and now have moved against larger broadcasting corporations, CBS and NBC. The Electronic Frontier Foundation says that it is also partnering with the Cyberlaw Clinic at Harvard to investigate legal avenues. More is on-line at tinyurl.com/save-podcasting-campaign. I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. -- The Electronic Frontier Foundation is an international non- profit digital rights group based here in the United States. Among other things it provides funds for legal defense in court and defends individuals and new technologies from what it considers baseless or misdirected legal threats. You can read more about the Electronic Frontier Foundation at www.eff.org. (EFF, RW) ** ENFORCEMENT: OMAHA NB. CITATION FOR SALES OF UNAUTHORIZED DEVICES According to the ARRL, the FCC has cited an Omaha, Nebraska based online retailer for marketing unauthorized RF devices. These include 10 and 12 meter amplifiers capable of several thousand watts output in violation of FCC rules. An FCC Citation dated June 6 orders the Enterprise Group Inc., doing business as ePowerAmps, to immediately stop advertising, marketing and selling all unauthorized radio frequency devices. These include modified CB radios and non- certified external radio frequency amplifiers for use in the 10 to 12 meter bands. The FCC warned the Enterprise Group Inc. that continuing to engage in such conduct could subject the retailer to substantial fines and seizure of equipment. You can read more on-line at tinyurl.com/Omaha-amp-citation. (FCC, ARRL) ** BROADCAST BUSINESS: DIALECTRIC CLOSING LEAVES VA STATIONS WITHOUT A PRIMARY ANTENNA The decision by SPX Communication Technology to close its Dielectric broadcast, TV, radio and wireless operation on June 29th is already having an impact on television viewers in one city. The Richmond Virginia Daily Progress reports that the antenna array that serves public station WCVW and commercial stations WRIC and WRLH suffered weather-related damage this past winter. Dialectric was supposed to do the final repair this summer but with SPX decision to close its Dialectric operations at the end of tthis month it appears as if the company will not be around to do the job. Workers did put up a temporary antenna as a result of damage that happened to on March 6th. Because the temporary installation has a shorter range than the original one, some viewers of the three stations have been unable to receive over-the-air broadcasts since the weather-caused damage occurred. (RW, Daily Progress) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: CROWD FUNDING SAVES TESLA MUSEUM Some good news for those working to maintain the history of communications. This with word that the famed Tesla Laboratory on New York's Long Island has been saved and is now in the hands of the non-profit organization that has been trying to purchase it for the past eighteen years. It all came about because of the dedication of famed cartoonist Matthew Inman, who is the creator of "The Oatmeal." Inman was able to raise $1,370,461 by crowd- funding to set up a permanent museum honoring the great scientist. The purchase price of the former Nikola Tesla laboratory was $850,000. The remainder of the funds raised by the campaign will be used to clean up and to begin renovations of the property. Although the actual science center is going to take a lot more time to finance and build, in the interim those involved in the project are planning on having a celebration of sorts in Shoreham, New York, hopefully sometime this summer. That event will focus on science, technology, and innovation. You can read the entire story on-line at tinyurl.com/tesla-museum-saved. (Southgate, other published news reports) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: W9ZL TO CELEBRATE AIRVENTURE 2013 The Fox Cities Amateur Radio Club will once again be operating special a event station in celebration of this years EAA Airventure Convention and Fly-In gathering in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Listen out for W9ZL from July 31st through August 4th on 7.250, 14.250 and 50.150 MHz operating only SSB. If you work them, QSL with a large Self Addressed Stamped Envelope to the Fox Cities Amateur Radio Club AirVenture, PO Box 2346, Appleton Wisconsin 54912. More about the EAA Airventure gathering is on line at www.airventure.org. (AB9AH) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: DAYTON HAMVENTION REPORTS SLIGHT RISE IN ATTENDANCE According to an announcement posted to the Dayton Hamvention website, the official attendance figure for this years gathering was 24,542. This is a very modest increase of 59 attendees over last years 24,483, but is a major increase over 2007 when only 19,750 showed up. The all time high took place in 1994. That's when the Dayton Daily News reported that some 35,000 walked through the gates at the Hara Arena for that years Hamvention. (Dayton Hamvention, Dayton Daily News) ** 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) ** EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: STRANGE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE INSECT WORLD Now here's one for the books. It happened recently when a 75 year woman in a southwestern German town called police at 3 a.m.. Her complaint was that she couldn't sleep because her doorbell was always ringing. Police officers dispatched to investigate the cause quickly tracked down the culprit. It wasn't some form pf poltergeist or other strange phenomena. Rather ants had constructed a large nest next to the doorbell. In fact, the tiny creatures had built such a large home that the nest pressed the doorbells switching contacts together. That in turn kept ringing the bell. Officers silenced the intermittently ringing doorbell by removing the nest with a knife. Likely much to the dismay of the ants who had spent the time to build it there. (Published news reports) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: PASS PREDICTIONS LINK BACK AT AMSAT WEBSITE The AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Predictions webpage is back on AMSAT's website. This as the result of a team effort by N1DID, KB1LQC, KB1LQD and W2GPS. You can find it on-line at www dot amsat dot org under the Pass Predictions link. (K1MP) ** CONTEST CORNER: RULES CHANGES FOR THE 2013 CQ WORLD WIDE VHF CONTEST Some new rules are coming to the CQ World Wide VHF Contest. The 2013 rules reflect changes in the log submission deadline and the publication date that have been implemented by the magazine. In order to be considered for an award, your log must be received by the robot or postmarked no later than 23:59 UTC on August 4th. Logs received after that date will still be listed in the results but will not be eligible for an award. Extensions may be granted by the director for a valid reason if you contact that person before the deadline. The 2013 CQ World-Wide VHF Contest starts at 1800 UTC ob Saturday July 20th and concludes at 2100 UTC on Sunday July 21st, A detailed set of rules can be found beginning on page 56 of the June 2013 issue of CQ Magazine. (CQ) *** PROPAGATION: NEW 144 MHZ UK TO US BEACON TAKES TO THE AIR A new Trans-Atlantic propagation beacon has come on the air from the United Kingdom beaming West over the Atlantic Ocean. The GB3WGI Transatlantic 144 MHz amateur radio beacon went live at 1600 GMT on June 4th. This in time for the peak of the 2013 Sporadic E season. GB3WGI runs 100 Watts Effective Radiated Power using both CW and JT65b modes on 144.487 MHz. It is located in the West of Northern Ireland in grid square IO64bl and its primary mission is to provide an early warning of 144MHz Transatlantic propagation on the Europe to USA path. This as a way of complimenting the existing 144MHz Transatlantic beacon network in the United States that provides alerts when a USA to Europe path is open. Most current 144 MHz European transatlantic beacons are located much further to the South and/or East in locations like Cornwall in the U-K, in France and the Azores. By contrast, the GB3WGI beacon has a clear sea takeoff to the eastern seaboard of the United States giving it a distinct advantage of being heard when the 2 meter band is open across the great Atlantic pond. (G4BAO) ** PROPAGATION: 6 METER BEACON NOW COVERS ALL OF SOUTH AFRICA The ZS2X Six Meter VHF beacon now covering most of South Africa. This after its two-element Yagi was turned north by Tim Joubert, ZS2X. The 25 watt beacon transmits FSK modulation on 50.007 MHz near Port Elizabeth. This produces some very strong radio bursts on the daylight meteor shower Arietids that is currently active until July 2nd and is the most intense daylight meteor shower of the year. The beacon beacon can also indicate country-wide Tropospheric Ducting as well as Tropo Scatter propagation on 50 MHz in the early mornings as well as aircraft scatter along their flight paths. (SARL) ** PROPAGATION: C6AFP 6 METER BEACON TEMPORARILY OFF THE AIR Steve Rutledge, N4JQQ, reports via the VHF Reflector that the C6AFP six meter propagation beacon that operates on 50.040 from grid-square FL16 is temporarily off the air. Steve says that the beacon system which is located at Abaco, Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas, developed a significant chirp that his friend, C6AGN, could not pin down the source of the problem. So the beacon has been shipped to the United States for repair. N4JQQ notes that at the time of its temporary removal for repair that the beacon was still operating on the six meter Ringo that John Walker, WZ8D, took down there at least 20 years ago. Steve says that this antenna has been through many serious hurricanes, has not fallen over and still has no tuning issues. He calls that "certainly amazing." N4JQQ says that he hopes to get it fixed quickly and get it back as soon as possible. He adds that he will advise when the C6AFP beacon is back on the air or at least headed in that direction. (N4JQQ) ** DX In DX, word that ZS6RJ will be on a one man DXpedition to Botswana as A25RJ starting June 15th. Activity will focus on 80 through 10 meters, CW. QSL direct to his home address or electronically using Logbook of the World. There is no bureau service for Botswana. JH1NBN will be on the air from Bhutan as A52W through June 19th. Activity will be limited to his spare time because he is there once again on a business trip. He will operate SSB with 100 watts into wire antennas. QSL via JH1NBN direct. K9HZ is on the bands as J68HZ from his villa on St. Lucia operating 160 through 6 meters on CW, SSB and RTTY. He will be there until June 22nd with a special emphasis on 160 and 80 meters operations. QSL via his home callsign. EA4GBA, will be operational as C91GBA from Mozambique from June 27th through December 15th. Activity will be on all H F bands using SSB with 100 watts into a dipole. QSL direct via EA4GBA. QSL cards will be answered once he arrives back in Spain early 2014. IW2NEF will be operational as 5R8NE from Nosy-Be Island between July 16th to the 30th. Activity will be on 40 through 10 meters using SSB. QSL via IK2DUW. Lastly, five operators will be on the air from November 12th to the 27th using the callsign N8A from the southeast coast of Tutuila Island. Activity will be on 160 through 10 meters, with a significant effort on 160. QSL this one via ZL3CW. (Above from various DX news sources) ** THAT FINAL ITEM: A RATHER SPECIAL LIGHTHOUSE And finally this week, word that over 200 lighthouses and lightships will be taking part in this years International Lighthouse and Lightship weekend. Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, tells us that number 200 is very special: -- "The honor of being the 200th registrant for this years International Lighthouse and Lhtship weekend goes to the Whitby High Light in England. Built in 1858, the Whitby High Light helped ships avoid the Whitby Rock on the Noerh Yorkshire coast. Its well known as the place that Captain James Cook became a seaman before leading his epic voyages of discovery. "The special event call GB2WHL will be operated from the lighthouse by the Denby Dale Radio Club. A special QSL is available on request. "So far there are registrations from 29 countries. To read the guidelines for the International Lighthouse ans Lightship Weekend slated for August 17th and 18th; or to register a lighthouse, lightship or maritime beacon on line, please visit illw.net. "Im Skeeter Nash, N5ASH" -- This years International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend takes place on August 17th and 18th and is sponsored by the Ayr Amateur Radio Group in Scotland. Again the URL for more information or registration is simply illw.net. (ILLW, VK3PC) ** 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 Davis, W2JKD, saying 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
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