Friday, August 30, 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1881 - August 30 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1881 with a release
date of August 30 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.  The NTIA to lead a two year pilot
study of all spectrum in the United States, hams respond to
Colorado Flooding and the western states wildfires; hams in
Ridgecrest California get some good news concerning tower
installations and a Virginia radio club begins a computer
loan out program to help needy high schoolers.  All thiis
and more on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1881
coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RADIO LAW:  NTIA TO INITIATE PILOT SPECTRUM MONITORING
PROGRAM

The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration or NTIA is planning a two year pilot program
to determine the benefits of an automated spectrum
measurement and data collection system.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Norm Seeley, has the details:

--

The National Telecommunications and Information
Administration or NTIA has filed a budget request to
Congress for fiscal year 2014 seeks an initial $7.5 million
for a research and development investment.  This, for a two-
year pilot program to determine the benefits of an automated
spectrum measurement and data collection system to better
analyze actual spectrum usage.
  
In addition, the NTIA has issued a Notice of Inquiry to seek
public comment on this proposed spectrum monitoring pilot
program that, if funded, would develop and deploy a
prototype system to monitor spectrum usage in up to ten
metropolitan areas throughout the United States.

The Notice of Inquiry requests input from all interested
stakeholders on the measurement system's design, its
features, deployment options, operational parameters,
expected utility, potential benefits, and other issues.
  
Subject to the availability of funds, NTIA will design,
develop, validate, and field this prototype system and
evaluate whether a more comprehensive monitoring program
would create additional opportunities for more efficient
spectrum access through, for example, increased and more
dynamic sharing. NTIA intends to use the input received in
response to the Notice of Inquiry to help design and
implement such a spectrum monitoring program.
  
If this project goes forward it means that the ham bands
from the lowest to the highest in frequency, along with that
assigned to all other current users will come under the
scrutiny of such a program.  So to coin a phrase made
popular by 73 Magazines Publisher Wayne Green, W2NSD, back
in the 1980's, when it comes to our bandspace we had better
use it or we might just loose it.
  
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in
Scottsdfale, Arizona.

--

In his June 2013 Executive Memorandum on Expanding America's
Leadership in Wireless Innovation, President Obama directed
the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration to design and conduct such a pilot spectrum
monitoring program.  More on this is in the Federal Register
at tinyurl.com/ntia-spectrum-monitor.  (Southgate,
rrmediagroup.com, FCW.com, Federal Register)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS ASSIST IN WAKE OF COLORADO FLOODING

The ARRL Letter reports that on August 9th that Pikes Peak
ARES  volunteers provided communication support to several
organizations during the Waldo Canyon flood in Manitou
Springs, Colorado.  Hams assisted at the El Paso County
Emergency Operations Center, the Colorado Springs Emergency
Operations Center, the National Weather Service Pueblo
SKYWARN, the Pikes Peak Chapter of the American Red Cross
and one Red Cross shelter.

Some two dozen operators checked in with reports on rainfall
rates, creek and roadway water levels, traffic and shelter
populations. Pikes Peak ARES activated again on August 12
and 14 to support the EOCs and the National Weather Service
in Pueblo, Colorado by providing rainfall rates, street
flooding information, creek levels, and hail occurrences.
ARES also supported the flow of information from Red Cross
evacuation shelters to the main Red Cross chapter, to help
facilitate the flow of supplies, emergency needs, and
shelter utilization.

More on this story is on line at tinyurl.com/arrl-Colorado-
floods

(ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS RESPOND TO WESTERN WILDFIRE

Ham radio operators have been called out to assist in
communications efforts associated with a massive wildfire in
the Western United States.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with what's known so
far:

--

Its called the Rim Fire and the situation surrounding its
containment is so fluid that it literally changes from
minute to minute.

As we go to air the statistics are literally staggering.
Currently the burned area stands at close to 200,000 acres.
This is about equal to the size of the city of New York.  It
has already destroyed 111 structures and was last reported
to be threatening 5,500 more.  According to the California
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection 90 percent of
these residences.

USA Today reports that ham radio was first called upon when
communications assistance was required when the towns of
Tuolumne and Mi-Wuk Village and several smaller communities
between them were placed under voluntary evacuation alert.
Operators associated with the Amateur Radio Emergency
Service were providing information in Sonora, California
where evacuees were being housed and fed.

Carol Logue, KG6SGL, is with the Tuolumne County Amateur
Radio Electronics Society.  She told USA Today that the
smell of the fire was all around and that one can get on the
hilltops around here and see the fires.  Other reports say
that Officials in Tuolumne County soon asked that ARES and
RACES volunteers to help fill a communication void in areas
that could not otherwise be reached by two-way radio.

In another USA Today interview Larry Brown, KJ6WHR, of
Sonora, California, said that ham radio operator with the
Tuolumne County Amateur Radio Electronics Society are
manning phones at the Sonora community information line for
those affected by the fire.

Another source of news on ham radio involvement came from
Sabrina Ambler who is a reporter for MML news.  She
interviewed Phil Fish, WB6GGY, who is the Tuolumne County
RACES Radio Officer.  Fish told Ambler that radio amateurs
volunteer to assist the county in any way they are needed.
He noted that hams have the ability to provide radio
coverage over a large area much more reliably than cell
phones and that amateur radio has the ability to fill in
communications dead spots.  For this reason alone ham radio
could be involved in the fire-fighting effort, as needed,
for some time to come.

This is not the only blaze that the Western United States is
facing.  There are dozens of smaller fires burning the
largest of which being the Beaver Creek Fire in Idaho, which
has scorched 111,387 acres.  Thankfully this one is now over
90% contained, according to a federal fire tracking website.

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

--

More on this in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (USA
Today, MNL News, Southgate, other published news reports)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW HAM VIDEO GEAR IS ON THE ISS

The ARISS Ham Video transmitter is now on board the
International Space Station and located in the in the
Columbus Module.  The transmitter was delivered by Japanese
cargo spacecraft which launched in early August.
Installation will be done by astronaut ham Michael Hopkins,
KF5LJG, who has been trained for the commissioning of the
ARISS Ham Video equipment.  This could take place as early
as sometime in October.  When the new S-Band transmitter
becomes operational, it will be used mainly for ARISS
educational school contacts. Video will be for downlink
only.  Uplink will continue to be VHF FM audio and we will
have more ham radio and space related news later on in this
weeks newscast.  (ARISS, ON4WF)

**

BREAK 1

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur
Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the W5HTK and WA5QYE Linked repeater system
serving Enid Oklahoma.

(5 sec pause here)

**

RADIO LAW:  FIRST STEP ACHIEVED IN HIGHER TOWERS FOR
RIDGECREST CA HAMS

Some good news for hams in the city of Ridgecrest,
California.  By a 4 to 0 vote preliminary approval of an
ordinance has signaled a small step forward for amateur
radio operators in that community.  This in the area of
installing towers and antennas that exceed the current city
limit.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB,
reports:

--

At a City Council meeting on Wednesday's August 21st
Ridgecrest California City Planner Matthew Alexander
presented a request by the city staff to amend municipal
code.  This, to allow towers higher than 35 feet to be built
in residential parts of the city on a conditional basis.

Alexander provided background to the council, indicating
that in late 2012 that Steven Rainey, N6MVX, had requested
to build a 55-foot tower, with an additional 15-foot antenna
attached.  Under the current municipal code, residents
cannot install structures larger than 35 feet in residential
areas.

Alexander said the zoning changes will apply to single-
family residential areas, estate-zoned areas and the city's
agriculture-zoned areas.  He added that the language should
be modified to include just the word tower, instead of
signaling out any other particular type of structure.  He
also said that it has been suggested the council consider a
lower fee for the permit process to reflect actual costs
based on the time it takes to review, research and process
applications.  Currently the coat is $1200.

In his presentation, Alexander conceded that the structure
that Rainey proposed would tower over most single-story
homes in Ridgecrest.  However, Alexander added that ham
radio operators provided a great service to the community,
especially during emergencies.  He went on to say that the
city does not don't want to discourage them and if newer
towers are higher, we want to be able to let them to move
forward and allow them to be built.

Vice Mayor Chip Holloway appeared supportive of the idea of
waiving or reducing fees.  He noted that he would actually
want to encourage more ham radio operator in Ridgecrest
after experiencing Hurricane Katrina, and knowing how
effective and prevalent such towers are in the South where
he grew up.  Holloway added that knowing the city's
isolation, the state we live in and the lack of resources we
already have, if we get into trouble we are going to need
ham operators to be available.

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

--

Currently the way Ridgecrest handles such structures is with
the issuance of a conditional use permit.  Alexander
explained that this process requires applicants to notify
neighbors within 300 feet of the residence, to pay for costs
of mailers and of a public notice in the newspapers in
addition to the $1200 conditional use application fee.  You
can read more on this story at tinyurl.com/ridgecrest-ham-
towers.
(ridgecrestca.com)

**

RADIOSPORTS:  WRTC-14 TEAM LEADER APPLICATIONS DUE BY
SEPTEMBER 13

Organizers of the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship or
W-R-T-C competition are accepting applications for team
leaders.  There will be 54 two person teams in the contest,
scheduled to be held next July in New England.

Team leaders will be selected from the top qualifiers in 29
regions around the world, based on applications and a
qualification formula that considers 12 scores selected from
55 qualifying events between October 2010 and March 2013.

The team leader application is online at tinyurl.com/wrtc-
leader. The deasdline for filing the completed application
filing is September 13th.
(CQ)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC CITES TEXAS CB STORE FOR UNCERTIFIED
AMPLIFIER

The FCC appears to be hot on the trail of anyone who is
selling uncertified gear capable of operation on the 11
meter Class D Citizens Radio band.  Amateur Radio Newsline's
Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has more:

--

As we reported last week, the FCC already had cited DNJ
Radio for selling uncertified equipment capable of 11 meter
operation.  Now comes word of a citation having been issued
to the Radio Master CB Shop for similar violations.

According to the Citation and Order to Radio Master, this
past February 14th agents from the FCC's Dallas office
inspected the Radio Master CB Shop at a TravelCenters of
America truck stop in Rockwall, Texas.  At that time they
observed a used Palomar model 250 external RF amplifier
offered for sale.  The agents noted that the unit did not
have an FCC identification number to confirm that the
particular amplifier had been granted an FCC certification.

In its Citation released on Friday, August 20th, the FCC
says that under its rules, any external RF power amplifiers
capable of operating in that spectrum may not be offered for
sale unless they have first been authorized in accordance
with the agency's rules.  The unit in question was not so
authorized.

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

--

As in the case of DNJ Radio, Radio Master CB Shop was
ordered to immediately stop selling the uncertified
equipment.  The FCC also gave the company thirty days to
provide in writing certain information concerning Radio
Masters online store.  (FCC)

**

ON THE AIR:  COLLINS RADIO 80TH ANNIVERSARY SEPT 21-23 AND
28-30

Four club stations honoring the famed Rockwell Collins
collaboration will be celebrating the 80th anniversary of
the Collins Radio Company with a special event operation the
last two weekends of September.

Stations W0CXX and N0CXX Cedar Rapids, Iowa; W5ROK
Richardson, Texas; W4CRC Melbourne, Florida and  W6CXX
Tustin, California will be on the air September 21st to the
23rd and again on September 28th to the 30th to take part in
the event.  Operation is from 9AM to midnight local time for
each station based on operator availability.

A special QSL card for the overall event will be available
to all making contact with any of the stations.  A
commemorative certificate will be obtainable for those
working 3 or more club stations on any combination of bands
and modes.  More information on the operation and QSL
instructions is on the web at www.w0cxx.org.  (Collins ARC)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  EMCOMM EAST CONFERENCE SEPT 29 IN PITTSFORD
NY

Registration is now open for the EmComm East emergency
communications conference slated for Sunday, September 29th
near Rochester, New York.  This is an action packed one-day
meeting where amateur operators involved in disaster
response and emergency communications can attend training
sessions, interact with those from served agencies, and
exchange information with  other operators from the area.

This years keynote speaker will be ARRL Chief Operating
Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B.  Kramer was one of the ham
radio volunteers working at the finish line of the Boston
Marathon when the terrorist bombings took place.  As such he
will likely have a very gripping story to tell.

EmComm East will be held at St. John Fisher College is
located six miles southeast of Rochester, NY, in the suburb
of Pittsford.  More information is on the web at
www.emcommeast.org  (Emcommeast)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  FORMER ASTRONAUT STEVE NAGEL N5RAW, TO
SPEAK AT ARRL MIDWEST CONVENTION

Former NASA Astronaut Steve Nagel, N5RAW, will be speaking
to students and the public at the ARRL Midwest Division
Convention on Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9, 2013 in
Lebanon, Missouri.

Highlights of Astronaut Nagel's visit will include a special
event for science and technology students from public
schools on Friday November 8th.  It will be hosted by Nagel
along with Carole Perry, WB2MGP, who is a former Dayton Ham
of the Year and ARRL Instructor of the Year.  The two will
also host a 2 hour Youth Forum at 2 pm on Saturday, November
9th.

The target audience and programs focus is on youth and are
open free of charge to all young people.  The event will be
held at the Cowan Civic Center with other guest that include
ARRL Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, Ham Nation
hosts Bob Heil, K9EID, and Gordon West, WB6NOA and Newsline
producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.


More about this event is on the web at
arrlmidwestconvention.org or by e-mail to k4sx (at)
centurytel (dot) net.  (ARRL Midwest Convention)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: DAYTON RTTY CONTESTING DINNER TO RETURN IN
2014

After a 10 year interruption, the Dayton RTTY Contesting
Dinner will be back next year.  Fred Dennin, WW4LL, of
Sharpsburg, Georgia, plans to host the dinner.  He says that
it will be held Thursday evening, May 15, 2014, at
the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Dayton, Ohio.  He adds
that is in the process of locating a featured guest speaker
and additional door prize donors.  Any individual,
organization or merchandiser wishing to contribute is
invited to contact him by e-mail to fdennin (at) numail
(dot) org.  (OPDX, Southgate)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  9M6DXX TO DEPART MALAYSIA NOV 1

Steve Telenius-Lowe, 9M6DXX, says that after more than eight
years in Malaysia, that he and his wife Eva, 9M6EVA, have
decided to move on to another part of the world.  They will
depart Malaysia on November 1st so 9M6DXX will go QRT some
time in October.  Lowe notes that they are moving to the
Caribbean island of Bonaire, and hope to be active with PJ4
prefix callsigns before the end of the year.  (9M6DXX)

**

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)

**

RADIO FROM SPACE: NASA TO RETIRE KEPLER TELESCOPE FROM
PLANET-HUNTING

NASA's Kepler space telescope has had to give up its prime
mission of searching the universe for new habitable planets.
This after mission engineers failed to find a fix for its
pointing system after the observatory lost the second of its
four reaction wheels.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl
Lasek, K9BIK, reports:

--

The $600 million dollar Kepler space observatory was
launched in March 2009.  Its primary mission was to try to
locate planets orbiting their home stars in the so-called
habitable zone and then radio its findings back to Earth.
The habitable zone is the region where, given the right
conditions that water might exist on in a liquid state.
These planets are considered as having the best chance of
supporting some form of life.

Kepler's method of planet detection involved looking for the
tiny dips in light as a planets passes in front of its star.
Because of this the space observatory must be held
absolutely motionless during these observations which is
something that requires a minimum of three operating
reaction wheels to achieve.

The space observatory was launched with four operating
reaction wheels, and experienced its first failure in the
hardware set in July 2012. A second wheel failed last May.

Kepler had so far confirmed 135 planets beyond our Solar
System but still had over 3,500 more in its database that
have yet to be fully investigated. The observatory had
already identified a number of worlds slightly bigger than
Earth in several stars habitable zones and researchers were
confident they will soon be able to confirm the existence of
more planets that enjoy Earth-like conditions.

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

--

More on this story can be found at several websites covering
space science including tinyurl.com/kepler-to-retire.
(Published news reports)

**

WORLDBEAT:  VOICE OF RUSSIA TO CEASE SHORTWAVE RADIO SERVICE
TO GO QRT

It appears the Voice of Russia will cease shortwave radio
service on January 1st, 2014. According to this article on a
major S-W-L website, the shortwave service is closing due to
government mandated funding cuts.  The Voice of Russia was
known as Radio Moscow in the Cold War era but actually first
took to the shortwave bands back in 1922 with a single
transmitter located in Moscow.  (swling.com)

**

WORLDBEAT:  RSGB TO FUND RF NOISE FLOOR STUDY

A proposal for funding to support the long term
understanding of the RF noise floor has recently been
approved by the Radio Society of Great Britain's Legacy
Trustees managing the legacy provided by the late Ken
Rowell, G5RL.

The funding provides for web support for the Noise
Measurement Campaign, announced in the July 2012 edition of
the RSGB's publication Radio Communications Magazine, and
data collection for one or more such projects at the
University of Leicester. The combined projects are expected
to be run in conjunction with assistance from a small number
of amateurs in suitable locations.

Further information is on the Notices section of the RSGB
website at www.rsgb.org.uk  (GB2RS)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  NEW DIGITAL 2 METER BEACON ON THE AIR
FROM EUROPE

The new generation digital and analog 2 meter beacon in grid
square IN87KW near Bubry, France, became operational on
Sunday evening, August 25th.  Signing the call F5ZRB, the
new propagation alert device operates on 144.405 MHz and
transmits both analog telegraphy and digital JT65B with its
sequences of emissions are controlled by the Global
Positioning System.  To decode the JT65B data your receiver
must show 144.4035 MHz Upper Sideband.  More about this new
propagation alert is on the web at tinyurl.com/F5ZRB-Beacon.
(F6ETI)

**

ON THE AIR:  CYCLING EVENT STATION IN SPAIN

On the air, keep a lookout for EG5VCE will be operational
through September 15th.  This, while the annual Vuelta
cycling race is under way in Spain.  Operation is all bands
using various modes.  QSL EA7HBC via the bureau.  More
information can be found on the world wide web at
www.europeanrosclub.com  (Euro ROS)

**

ON THE AIR:  GERMAN SPECIAL EVENT STATION

DL600WW is a special event German station run by amateurs
from the town Willingen to celebrate their city's jubilee.
More is on the web in the German language at
tinyurl.com/osam587. QSL's go via the bureau.  (DL News)

**

DX

In DX, CE0ZOL is active from Juan Fernandez Island.  He will
be on there for about six months in the role of manager of
the local airport.  Activity will take place mainly on
weekends.  QSL as directed on the air.

HB9IQB is reported to have begun his Palestine as E44PM on
August the 18th .  He is using 100 watts and vertical
antennas.  QSL to HB9IQB using Logbook to the World.

R100RQA continues to celebrate the beginnings of
professional radio operations 100 years ago in the region
Arkhangelsk, Russia.   He will be on through November 15th.
QSL via RN1ON direct or electronically using Logbook to the
World.

PA1FJ will be active from Chios Island through September  9
operating portable SV8.  He will operate 40 through 6 meters
using QRP level SSB.  QSL via his  home call.

JJ8DEN will be operational from Reao Atoll from September
18th to the 25th signing  F Oh slash K-H-Zero-P-R.  Listen
out for him using CW, SSB, PSK31 and JT65A on 80 through 10
meters and QSL via JJ8DEN

E78A  is now active as JY9FC from Amman, Jordan.  As during
his activity will be during his free time, mostly on CW with
some SSB and Digital operations.  QSL via E73Y.

Lastly, the ARRL DXCC Desk has approved the 2013 operation
of D2CT in Angola and TX5K DXpedition to Clipperton Island
for DXCC credit.  If a previous request credit for theses
operations has been rejected contact ARRL Awards Branch
Manager Bill Moore, NC1L, to get placed on the list for an
update to your record.  Please include the submission date
and/or reference number of your application in order to
expedite the search for any rejected contacts.  His e-mail
is bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  VA AMATEUR RADIO CLUB CREATES LAPTOP
LOANER PROGRAMS TO NEEDY STUDENTS

And finally this week, the Floyd Amateur Radio Society of
Floyd, Virginia, has created a new program to supply loaner
laptop computers to high school aged students.   The club
purchased surplus laptops, installed Windows 7 on most of
them along with Open Office.  It then provides these
computers to those students who show a need.

Dee Wallace, KG4MVI, is part of the committee that handles
the computer loan out program.  She says that the
application process is fairly simple:

--

KG4MVI:  ".Basically its just an affirmation by the students
and their families that they are eligible according to the
program and that they do agree to receive the computer on-
loan and that they will use them for the proper uses and
take advantage of what computers offer related to their home
and school studies."

--

The program also applies to home schoolers as well as those
in public education.  The only stipulation is that the loan
out computers go to those who can provide a need for them
and that they do not show up for resale on Ebay or any other
auction site.  Rather, they are to be treated as text books
and returned at to the organization at the end of the school
year.

The club has provided a video describing the program and
posted it to YouTube.  It can be seen at tinyurl.com/ham-
computer-loan.  More about the Floyd Amateur Radio Society
is at www.floydamateurradiosociety.com. (KG4MAV)

**

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, in Charleston, West Virginia, saying
73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights
reserved.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1880 - August 23 2013

Please note that this is an extended Amateur Radio Newsline report
and contains three breaks.

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1880 with a release date of
August 23 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.  A trans-Pacific emergency
communications demonstration will involve United States MARS; FCC
and Industry Canada reach spectrum sharing agreement; the ARRL
says no to TCB expansion; Brockton, Massachusetts, takes an
unlicensed broadcaster off the air; DX Magazine's most wanted DX
entity list is open for voting and a young ham is honored at the
Huntsville Hamfest. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio
Newsline report number 1880 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RESCUE RADIO:  US MARS MEMBERS AND HAMS IN ASIA TO TEST DISASTER
RESPONSE

A trans-Pacific link up to test ham radio emergency communications
is about to take place.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley,
KI7UP, has the details:

--

Members of the Military Auxiliary Radio System or MARS here in the
United States will link up with amateur radio operators on the
Asian continent on Monday, August 26th.  This in a unique test of
ham radios ability to provide communications assistance in the
event of a major transpacific natural disaster.

In the exercise scenario, volunteer MARS operators will establish
a communication path with civilian hams in the fictitious nation
of Pacifica.  This connection will be used to gather information
for any needed emergency relief operations halfway around the
world.

Traffic will then be sent on to the United States Pacific Command
and then to the Pentagons Chief of Information office via an open
blog operated by the Department of Defense for international
messaging.  Information collected will be used to develop possible
humanitarian assistance and disaster response procedures to assist
Pacifica following the catastrophic scenario.

The Military Auxiliary Radio System is a Department of Defense
sponsored program, established as a separately managed and
operated program by the United States Army, Navy, and Air Force.
It is a civilian auxiliary consisting primarily of United States
amateur radio operators who are interested in assisting the
military with communications on a local, national, and
international basis.  This as an adjunct to normal lines if
military communications.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, on this
side of the Pacific, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

--

For those who might be wondering where make believe nation
Pacifica might really be located. We suggest that you might want
to think of Nepal.  (Southgate, others)

**

RADIO LAW:  US AND CANADA AGREE ON NEW BORDER SPECTRUM SHARING
MEASURE

The United States Federal Communications Commission and
telecommunications regulator Industry Canada have agreed on three
interim spectrum-sharing arrangements covering three types of
wireless communications operations along the U.S.-Canada border.
The arrangements govern various bands involving air-to-ground
communications, fixed operations and specialized mobile radio
services.

In the way of fixed services, the FCC, the U.S. National
Telecommunications and Information Administration and Industry
Canada struck a sharing agreement governing 71 to 76, 81to 86 and
94.1 to 95 GHz.  This is intended to facilitate deployment of
fixed services within the border area. Such services include
backhaul for mobile broadband networks, high-speed wireless local
area networks and broadband Internet access over high bandwidth
point-to-point links.

At 454.6625 to 454.9875 MHz and 459.6625 to 459.9875 MHz a
Statement of Intent allows for creation of a nationwide digital
system covering the sharing and coordination of spectrum for
general aviation air-to-ground services.  It provides for sharing
of spectrum when operations are located within distances ranging
from roughly 300 to 360 miles of the common border.

With regard to specialized mobile radio services at 896 to 901 and
935 to 940 MHz, the new arrangement governs the sharing and
coordination of within roughly 60 miles of the common border and
simplifies the criteria for permitting secondary users in the
band. This is intended to enable more efficient use of the
spectrum while protecting primary users.  This particular
agreement called Arrangement U may become part of a larger treaty
or replacement agreement governing services operating above 30
MHz.  The operational provisions of this arrangement will be
applied on an interim basis pending further review.  (RW, FCC,
Industry Canada)

**

RADIO LAW:  ARRL TO FCC - SAY NO TO TCB EXPANSION

The ARRL has told the FCC to not act with hast to delegate greater
authority to private Telecommunication Certification Bodies also
known as TCB's.  This in the area of granting certification to
electronic gear regulated by the agency.  Amateur radio Newsline's
Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the Newsroom with more:

--

In reply comments filed July 31 on an ET Docket 13-44 which is an
FCC proposal to alter its Part 2 equipment certification process,
the ARRL says that it agrees with the National Association of
Broadcasters which has expressed concern about the current level
of Telecommunication Certification Bodies in regard to their
performance record.  As such it advised against outsourcing all
equipment authorization functions to these TCB's.

The ARRL went on to say that it knows that this is not a docket or
proceeding that directly affects the Amateur Service.  However, it
notes that the track record for TCB certification of RF devices in
terms of errors and ill-advised grants of certification is
abysmal.   The ARRL notes that the FCC lab staff constantly has to
review and set aside TCB grants of RF equipment.

In closing, the ARRL says that it is concerned that the
reliability of Telecommunication Certification Bodies exhibited so
far is not sufficiently high to justify the proposed extensive
delegation of the evaluation of more complex types of equipment
authorizations.  This, where interference potential is significant
or where RF exposure is an issue.

The FCC's equipment authorization program exists in part to ensure
that RF devices imported, marketed and used in the United States
comply with the agency's rules and that they not cause harmful
interference.

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

--

At present, the FCC still conducts evaluations for initial
approval of devices requiring certification.  It also approves
certain exempt equipment, including devices that operate in UHF
bands on which Amateur Radio has a secondary allocation.  (ARRL)

**

BREAKING DX NEWS:   PRESIDENT OF THE ROYAL ASSOCIATION OF RADIO
AMATEURS OF MOROCCO FORCES CANCELLATION OF 5C0CE DXPEDITION

The Council of Europe Radio Amateur Club says that the long
planned 5C0CE operation from Morocco has been shut down before it
even got started.  This because of what appears to be either a
policy decision or some form of bureaucratic red tape.

Francis Kremer, F6FQK, is a founder and member of the Council of
Europe Radio Amateur Club charged with Public Relations.  In an e-
mail to Amateur Radio Newsline and other ham radio information
outlets on Sunday night August 18th, Kremer said that the
operation sponsored by the Council and slated for August 20th and
21st had been cancelled only 16 hours before the team was depart
to Morocco.  This due to what he termed as a last minute blockage
by the President of the Royal Association of Radio Amateurs of
Morocco.

Kremer's e-mail went on to state that the DXpedition team had
received their Moroccan licences several months ago.  Also that
hams in Morocco have been preparing to assist with this operation
since last year.

F6FQK's e-mail said that the notice from the Moroccan national
society leader gave no reason for the decision to block the
operation from taking place.  He notes that each member of the
Council's DXpedition team had paid his own expenses and when news
came of the forced cancellation it was to late to recover those
monies.

Kremer called the incident very damaging to the ham radio
community.  (CERAC)

**

REGULATORY:  VANITY LICENSE FEE GOES TO $16.10 AUGUST 23

The new FCC regulatory fee of $16.10 to apply for an Amateur Radio
vanity call sign went into effect today, Friday, August 23.
Earlier this year the FCC had proposed upping the vanity fee from
its current $15 to $15.20, but in the Report and Order in MD
Docket 13-140, released August 12, the Commission offered no
explanation for the even higher $16.10 fee.  Also starting in
Fiscal Year 2014, the FCC will require that all regulatory fee
payments be made electronically. (ARRL)

**

BREAK 1

Serving you 52 weeks a year, every year since 1977, we are the
Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the
world including the K8TIW repeater serving Paw Paw Michigan.

(5 sec pause here)


**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  ACTOR AND HAM RADIO SUPPORTER DICK VAN DYKE
ESCAPES BURNING CAR

Famed actor and comedian Dick Van Dyke, who, over the years has
supported ham radio, escaped injury when he was pulled from a
burning car on Los Angeles area Freeway.

It happened on Monday afternoon, August 19th.  Van Dyke was
driving on the 101 freeway at approximately 2 in the afternoon
when his Jaguar caught fire near Parkway Calabasas.  That's about
25 or so miles West of downtown Los Angeles.  Smoke from the
burning vehicle caused the brief closure of two lanes on the
freeway.  Van Dyke was reportedly unhurt and did not require any
medical help.

Starting way back in the 1970's the now 87 year-old entertainer
appeared in a number of amateur radio Public Service
announcements.

--

Van Dyke PSA:  "Don't worry; it's only the radio.  This is Dick
Van Dyke and frankly I get scared when I think of earthquakes,
fire, flood or hurricanes.  We almost always loose our normal
means of communication.  But who is there ready to help?  The
radio hams.  If you would like free information about the amateur
radio service write The American Radio Relay League, Newington,
Connecticut, 06111.  Over"

--

He also was seen in the opening scene of the 1979 ARRL promotional
film titled The World of Amateur Radio produced by Dave Bell,
W6AQ. And for those living in the Los Angeles area, for many years
he's been the voice of the identifier of a local 2 meter repeater.

Apparently Van Dyke never lost his sense of humor even though the
car was an apparent total loss.  Later in the day he reportedly
tweeted a post on Twitter which simply said: "Used Jag for sale
REAL CHEAP!!"
(ARNewslineT audio archive, published news reports.)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FIRE DEPARTMENT LOCATES UNLICENSED BROADCASTER IN
BROCTON MASSACHUSETTS

Brockton, Massachusetts did its own investigating after it started
hearing music over its alert system.  In the end it was not the
FCC that came to the rescue but rather a police officer and a
political leader from the city.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan
Kinford, N8WB has this very interesting story:

--

The incident took place on Wednesday, August 14th when
firefighters began hearing music coming from the speakers in the
firehouse that are used to alert a callout.

Kevin Galligan is the city's Deputy Fire Chief.  He called for the
assistance Officer Scott Uhlman, who is the Brockton Police
Department's two-way radio specialist.  Ulman is listed in the FCC
database as holding the call sign KC1AGW.

Also responding to help was Brockton City Councilor Dennis
DeNapoli.  The two arrived equipped with radio direction finding
gear and used it to locate the source of the interfering signal as
coming a rooftop antenna of a one-story building directly across
the street from Fire Station.  Measurements proved it was the
source of the unlicensed signal on 88.9 MHz.

Uhlman said they approached a group of men behind building and
asked who owned the radio equipment.  The men were at first
evasive but when Uhlman climbed on the roof with a pair of wire
cutters, they quickly located the owner.  The station was
immediately shut down.  The next day the antenna and radio
equipment were gone.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kuinford, N8WB, this
week portable 2 in New York

--

It appears that unlicensed radio stations have in recent times
proliferated in Brockton.  Both DeNapoli and Uhlman said they are
aware of several currently operating in the city.  (Brockton
Enterprise)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC ORDERS CALIFORNIA COMPANY TO STOP SELLING COMBO
10 AND 11 METER AMPS

The FCC has issued a Citation and Order to a Fremont, California
company known as DNJ Radio.  This for its alleged violation of the
agency's rules by marketing non-certified amplifiers and kits via
its website under the trade-name RM Italy.

The agency's San Francisco office was assigned to investigate the
matter.  It says that it found that that DNJ Radio was offering R
M Italy brand linear amplifiers and amplifier kits that were
capable of operation on both 11 and 10 meters that had not been
certified for sale in the United States.  It also said that a
disclaimer posted on DNJ Radio's website that the devices were
only for industrial, scientific, medical, or export use was not
acceptable because using them on 11 meters would violate FCC
rules.

The FCC ordered DNJ Radio to immediately discontinue marketing
these unauthorized devices and gave the company 30 days to provide
a list of amplifiers imported or marketed under the name RM Italy.
It also told DNJ Radio that any future violations could result in
sanctions of up to $16,000 for each future violation.  (FCC)

**

RADIO LAW:  LIGHTSQUARED BACKERS SUE GPS INDUSTRY

Just when we thought it was all over, once again LightSquared is
back in the news.  Or more accurately the money people behind
LightSquared who - well - want their investment back and are suing
those who opposed the LightSquared project to try to get it back.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, has the details:

--

Backers of the failed attempt by LightSquared to establish a
nationwide satellite based high speed broadband network are suing
those who successfully opposed the plan.  This with word that
Harbinger Capital Partners and several other entities associated
with the failed LightSquared 4G broadband network have filed a
lawsuit against Deere & Co., Garmin, Trimble Navigation,
The U.S. GPS Industry Council and The Coalition to Save Our GPS.

On February 14, 2012, the Federal Communications
Commission refused to give final approval to LightSquared's
planned national broadband network.  This after it was informed by
the National Telecommunications and Information Administration or
NTIA that there is no practical way to mitigate potential
interference at that time.  The NTIA is the federal agency that
coordinates spectrum uses for the military and other government
entities.

The newly filed litigation by Harbinger Capital claims that the
defendants failed to disclose information about G-P-S interference
problems caused by an adjacent frequency spectrum that
LightSquared was allocated to use.  The plaintiffs are seeking
$1.9 billion in damages.  More about this court action is on the
web at tinyurl.com/gps-lawsuit

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Skeeter Nash, N5ASH

--

A spokesman for defendant Trimble Navigation says that the law
suit is without merit and that responsibility for Harbinger's
losses rests squarely with Harbinger.  He adds that the action
will be vigorously defended.  (VHF Reflector, aionline.com,
silobreaker.com)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE:  HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA OCTOBER 19 - 20

Hams are needed to provide communications for the Head of the
Charles Regatta in Cambridge, Massachusetts on October 19th and
20th.  If you are in the area and have some free time on either of
those days, please take your web browser to tinyurl.com/regatta-
volunteer-2013, create an account and in the comment section,
please note what your current certifications are.  If you have any
questions about volunteering please contact David Wolfe, KG1H via
e-mail to dkwolfe (at) comcast (dot) net.  (KG1H)

**

RADIO HAPPENINGS:  THE NAB SHOW CALL FOR SPEAKERS IS OPEN

The National Association of Broadcasters has put out a call for
speakers for its 2014 NAB Show to be held next April in Las Vegas,
Nevada.   While the gathering encourages all types of submissions,
technical papers are offered exclusively within the Broadcast
Engineering Conference program.

Proposals are due no later than October 18th.  Those featuring
original content, research or rarely-seen yet highly regarded
speakers will receive favorable consideration.  More information
is on-line at tinyurl.com/nab-2014-speakers

More than 93,000 media and entertainment professionals from 156
countries attended the 2013 NAB Show.  (RW, NAB)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  OH2BH FRIEDRICHSHAFEN LECTURE NOW ONLINE

Some names in the news.  First up is well known DX'er Martti
Laine, OH2BH, was a speaker at the Friedrichshafen Ham Radio
exhibition this past June.  His keynote lecture titled Changing
Times in the DX Hunt is now available complete with slides and
audio at tinyuel.com/oh2bh-dx-talk.  (Southgate)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: ASTRONAUT HAM MIKE FOALE KA5UAC RETIRES

And after twenty-six year with the space agency, NASA
astronaut Michael Foale, KB5UAC has retired.  Starting back in
1997, Foale had spent a total of 375 days in space during six
space shuttle missions and later assignments aboard two space
stations.  This included 145 days on the Russian Mir space station
in 1997 and 194 days aboard the International Space Station as
commander of Expedition 8 from October 2003 to April 2004. He also
took part in four spacewalks also known as EVA's totaling almost
23 hours.  (NASA, other news reports)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  JE3HHT HAM RADIO SOFTWARE IS MADE OPEN SOURCE

Makoto Mori, JE3HHT, has made his popular MMTTY, MMSSTV and MMVARI
amateur radio software available as an open source enabling anyone
to experiment with the code.  These three software packages were
originally developed to support RTTY, Slow Scan Television, PSK,
and MFSK respectively.  As of August 1st all of these applications
are released to open source development under the L G P L license.
More information on these programs is on the web at mm-open.org.
(Southgate)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  2013 MOST WANTED DX SURVEY NOW OPEN

Carl Smith, N4AA, who is the editor of QRZ DX and The DX Magazine,
says that due to popular demand that many countries have been
added to this years Most Wanted DX entity survey.  To vote for
your favorites, simply fill out the survey form found at
tinyurl.com/2013-most-wanted-survey.  The deadline for entry is
October 15th with the results likely to be published in the
January/February 2014 issue of The DX Magazine.  (Southgate)

**

BREAK 2

This is communications 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:  NEW VK SUPER COMPUTER TO AID IN SEVERE WEATHER
RESEARCH UNVEILED

Hams involved in emergency communications take note.  Australia's
most powerful computer designed primarily for use by scientists
who calculate vast amounts of data to make forecasts and
pinpoint extreme weather has been unveiled.

The machine weighs in at 70 tones and has 57,000 processing cores.
That's the equivalent of about 15,000 state of the art laptop
computers.  It also carries 160 terabytes of memory which would
equal that of about 30,000 average modern laptops.

The Australian National University in Canberra has named the
supercomputer Raijin after the Japanese god of thunder, lightning
and storms.  More about it is on the web at tinyurl.com/vk-super-
calculator.  (The Australian, WAIA)

**

RADIO FROM SPACE:  VOYAGER ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM

The Voyager 1 inter-stellar probe may soon be gone from our
galaxy, but its certainly not been forgotten.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has the latest celestial
wanderer that's still in radio contact with Earth:

--

The latest data from the Voyager-1 spacecraft as reported in a
recent edition of Science journal, suggests it is surfing right on
the very edge of our Sun's domain.  It's currently some 18.5
billion kilometers from Earth and at a point in space where
particles streaming away from our star have reduced to a trickle.
Particles flying towards it from interstellar space, by contrast,
have jumped markedly in the past year.  It all points to an
imminent departure, which would make Voyager the first man-made
object to cross into the space between the stars.

In 2004, Voyager reached a turbulent region referred to as the
heliosheath, where particles bounced around in all directions.  It
was expected this would be the final stage before the leap to
interstellar space, but as has been the case throughout this 35-
year mission, Voyager had another surprise.

Last year, the probe detected what appears to be a discrete
boundary layer that its control team calls the heliosheath
depletion region.  This is described as a kind of magnetic highway
where particles on the inside our solar system can exit easily and
the galactic cosmic ray particles on the outside can enter.

The team is now watching the direction of these field lines very
carefully.  Currently, they are orientated east to west and wound
into a spiral by our ever rotating Sun.  But when Voyager finally
breaks through into interstellar space, they are expected to shift
dramatically, running north-south.  At that time the challenge of
exploring interstellar space will have begun.

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

--

Launched way back in 1977, the Voyager 1 probe has now traveled so
far from home that its radio data transmissions take some 17 hours
to arrive at the US space agency's receiving network here on
earth.
(Science OnLine)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NASA ANNOUNCES NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR CUBESAT
SPACE MISSIONS

NASA says that it is now accepting proposals for the CubeSat
Launch Initiative.  Developers whose proposals are selected may
have the opportunity to see their design launched as an auxiliary
payload on a mission between 2014 and 2017.

CubeSat investigations should be consistent with NASA's strategic
plan and educational vision and goals.  As such the research
mission of the mini-satellites should address specific aspects of
science, exploration, technology development, education or
operations.

NASA will not provide funding for the development of the small
satellites and selection does not guarantee a launch opportunity.
Proposals must be submitted electronically no later than 4:30 p.m.
Eastern Standard Time on November 26th.  From the submissions,
NASA will select the best proposals by February 7, 2014.

From the first four rounds of the NASA CubeSat Launch Initiative,
89 payloads from 25 U.S. states made the short list for launch
opportunities in 2011 through 2016. Of the selected CubeSats, 12
satellites have already launched. Twenty-one Cubesats are
scheduled for launch later this year.

For additional information on NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative
program please take your web browser to go.nasa.gov/13VCBmz
(NASA)

**

WORLDBEAT:  SOUTH YORKS RG IS UK FIRST TO IMPLEMENT ICOM SYSTEM

The United Kingdom's South Yorkshire Repeater Group says that
GB7YD port A of its 23cm Digital Data System has been granted a
Notice of Variation from regulator Ofcom.  This to permit it to
become the first amateur radio group in the UK to implement the
complete Icom D-Star A, B, C and G2 system.  GB7YD port A is on
1241.075 MHz.  Details are on the web at www.syrg.net.  (GB2RS)

**

ON THE AIR:  KJ6KO BEACONS ON 2 METERS - 803 and 1296 BACK ON AIR

Greg Stahlman, KJ6KO, reports that his 2 meter, 903.293 and
1296.262 MHz beacons located in California Grid Square CM 88 WS
are back up and running.  For now, the 432 MHz unit is down for
repair as is the 222 MHz unit.  More information as it is made
available.  (VHF Reflector)

**

ON THE AIR:  NEW 70 MHZ BEACON ON THE AIR FROM ITALY

A new propagation beacon is on the air from Italy.
The IW9GDC/B beacon in located Grid Square JM78SD near the city of
Messina and operating on 70.091 MHz using 10 watts out to a Big
Wheel omni directional horizontal antenna.  The beacon is
frequency and time locked to the Global Positioning System and
transmits its callsign call and grid locator in Morse at regular
intervals.  QSN reports are welcome.   (IW9GDC, VHF Reflector)

**

DX

In DX, VK6DXI will be active as 9M8DX/2 fom Kuala Lumpur between
through September 3rd.  His operation will be limited since this
is a business trip, but he will operate some CW during his local
evening hours. QSL via SP5UAF.

E78A is currently operational from Jordan as JY9FC.   He is
reported to be active on all of the High Frequency bands.  QSL to
E73Y.

DL1AL who is now active as 5A1AL near Tripoli has told the Ohio
Penn DX Newsletter that his stay in Libya will depend on a holiday
and his business.  He's recently been heard on 40, 30, 20 and 6
meters CW and 20 meters using SSB. QSL via DL1AL.

G7COD is operating stroke EA8 from Gran Canaria until August 31st.
He is active on all bands from 6 to 30 meters.  QSL as directed by
the operator.

N6TJ will be on the air from Ascension Island in September
operating with the call sign ZD8Z.  He will be active on High
frequency bands though no specific modes have been mentioned.  If
you work him please QSL via AI4U

An international team will be active as C82DX from Mozambique
between October 15th to the 22nd.  Their operation will be on 160
through 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.  QSL and other
information is on the web at c82dx.com

Lastly, WB9FMC tells Newsline that he will be in Minnesota from
August 25th to the 31st and will attempt to qualify a United
States island for the US Islands on the Air award.  His two
possible choices are Cedar Island in grid square MN012 and
possibly Star Island in grid MN014. This operation requires 25
contacts, 2 of which must be different DXCC entities.  Listen out
for him on the 40 and 20 meter CW QRP frequencies.  He says that
more about the United States Islands on the Air program can be
found at usislands.org

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

BREAK 3

Time for you to identify your station.  This is the Amateur Radio
Newsline  and we will be back in just 5 seconds.


(5 second pause here)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  2013 YHOTY AWARD PRESENTED TO PADRAIG LYSANDROU
KC9UUS

And finally this week, Saturday, August 17th was likely a very
special day in the life of 16 year old Padraig Lysandrou. KC9UUS.
Because on that day he was at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama
where he was presented the 2013 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham
of the Year Award.  Our own Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, was the host and
emcee:

--

AE5DW:  "What Padraig Lysandrou. KC9UUS, has accomplished in his
brief time as a radio amateur makes him a roll model for others no
matter what their age to follow and is the reason he has been
chosen as the 2013 Young Ham of the Year Award recipient.

"Without any further adieu, let me present Mr. Lysandrou with this
plaque that reads:

" `Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year awarded to Padraig
Lysandrou. KC9UUS, in recognition to his dedication to the Amateur
Radio service presented jointly by Amateur Radio Newsline, Yaesu
USA Corporation and CQ Magazine on Saturday, August 17th 2013.'

"Padraig, this is for you.  Ladies and gentlemen I present to you
Padraig Lysandrou. KC9UUS."
--

In his short acceptance speech, KC9UUS, took the time to thank
those who were his mentors and brought him to the world of amateur
radio:

--

KC9UUS:  "It's a real honor to receive this award, but I obviously
didn't do it alone.  I have to thank Neil Rapp, WB9VPG, Scott
Wright, K0MD, the ARRL Education Fund and the Radio Club of
America.  Without then I really couldn't have gotten this far."

--

2012 winner Erin King, AK4JG, wanted to be on hand to congratulate
Pagrig in person, but due to other commitments she could not make
it.  So she sent her congratulations in an e-mail that Don read:

--

AE5DW:  "Holding the title for the past year has been an honor and
a wonderful experience and I am very excited to pass the torch on
to the 2013 Young Ham of the Year.  Knowing the appreciation of
the ham radio community is a reward in itself and I am proud to
pass that on to you.

"I sincerely wish I could have attended your ceremony in person to
hand off the award and I am sorry that I was unable to make it.
Huntsville is my favorite hamfest so I am sure that you will have
an awesome weekend with the awesome hams there.

"Congratulations (signed) Erin King, AK4JG."

--

Next up was Rich Moseson, W2VU, of CQ Magazine.  CQ is one of the
major corporate underwriters of the award and he had some words of
encouragement for all in the hobby and praise for all of the
younger members of ham radio society:

--

W2VU:  "I've said this on this stage many times before but I
continue to say it because I continue to be impressed with the
quality of the nominees.

"People who are concerned about the future of our hobby need not
be concerned because we have great young like Pad who are coming
up through the ranks who will be our next generation of leaders,
and I am sure that the hobby will be in very good hands as we move
on through the years."

--

Rich then presented Padraig with a gift at a week at Spacecamp
Huntsville he can use at some future date.  W2VU was followed by
Dennis Motschenbacher, K7BV, of Yaesu who had a here and now gift
for KC9UUS:

--

K7BV:  "Believe it or not, he does have time for ham radio, but
hes going to have less as he starts going into college and doing
more and more travel.  At Yaesu we would like to you to be able to
take ham radio with you and to do that we are going to present you
with our FT-817ND which is a 5-watt radio that's all modes and it
goes from 160 meters all the way up to 440 MHz, and that should
take care of just about anything you will run into.

"So often we see young people become very, very active in Amateur
Radio and then they go off to school and they just can't take it
with them.  This will allow hom to take it with him and we would
like to give it to you with best wishes and congratulations from
Yaesu."

--

There is a lot more to tell you but not enough time in a half hour
newscast.  So for those of you who would like to hear the entire
2013 Young Ham of the Year Ceremony, we are posting it all on our
website in MP3 format.  Just go to www.arnewsline.org and click on
the "EXTRA" tab to download the full 20 minute file.

Meantime, some thank you's are in order.  First to our major
corporate underwriters Yaesu USA, CQ Publishing and Heil Sound.
Also to our new prize donator Emmett Hohensee, W0QH, of Radio
Wavez Antennas.

And our sincere thanks to Dave Bell, W6AQ, who underwrites the
Young Ham of the Tear Award plaque.  To Tom Medlin, W5KUB, who
provided a live video and audio stream of the presentation and to
our great friends of the past two decades at the Huntsville
Hamfest and its leader Charlie Emerson, N4OKL.

Last but by no means least to our Young Ham of the Year Judging
Committee headed up by Mark Abramowicz, NT3V.  All of you are part
of the family that makes the Young Ham of the Year Award a
reality, year after year and we hope to see you again in
Huntsville in 2014.  (ARNewslineT)

**

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.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1879 - August 16 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1879 with a release
date of August 16 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.  Three Somali pirates will spend
the rest of their lives in prison for killing four Americans
three of whom were radio amateurs; Philippine hams respond
to yet another killer cyclone; three Balkin nations sign a
Memorandum of Understanding to assist one another in times
of crisis; Australian hams to loose their temporary high
power privileges and bringing ham radio to primetime network
television.  Find out the details are on Amateur Radio
NewslineT report number 1879 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

ENFORCEMENT: JURY RECOMMENDS LIFE FOR SOMALI PIRATES THAT
MURDERED US HAMS

A US jury has recommended that three Somali pirates be
sentenced to life in prison for the 2011 killing of four
Americans off the coast of East Africa.  Three of those
murdered were ham radio operators.  Amateur Radio Newsline's
Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the details:

--

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty for Ahmed Muse
Salad, Abukar Osman Beyle and Shani Nurani Shiekh Abrar, who
were convicted in July.  They were among nineteen men who
hijacked the Americans' yacht hoping to ransom them for
millions of dollars.  The three men allegedly served as an
armed guard over the Americans and shot and killed them as
the US Navy closed in.

Those murdered by the pirates were Scott Adam, K9ESO, his
wife Jean, KF6RVB, Bob Riggle, KE7IIV, and Phylis Macay.
They had been on board the yacht S/V Quest when the pirates
boarded their vessel and took them hostage in February of
2011.

At their trial all three Somali's were found guilty of the
26 counts against them.  These included piracy, Kidnapping
and murder.  Federal Judge Rebecca Beach Smith will formally
sentence the men in November in the courtroom in Norfolk,
Virginia.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB,
reporting this week from New Jersey.

--

The victims were the first US citizens killed in a wave of
pirate attacks that plagued the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean in recent years.  (Published news reports)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  PHILIPPINE HAMS RESPOND TO YET ANOTHER
PACIFIC CYCLONE

Ham radio was again called out as another fierce Pacific
cyclone made landfall in the Philippines.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reports on what's known so
far:

--

At least one person died and 44 others were declared missing
as typhoon Labuyo hit the northern part of the Philippines
early on Monday, August 12th local time.  When it made
landfall news reports said that the storm was carrying
maximum sustained winds of 165 kilometers per hour with guts
upward of 200 kilometers an hour.  Intense rainfall of one
half to one in per hour was experienced in areas within the
typhoon's 600 kilometer or 375 mile wide diameter.

The RAYNET H F website reports the Philippines emergency
communications operations were set in motion well in advance
of the arrival of Typhoon Labuyo.  As of 7:00 a.m. local
time on Sunday, August 11th,  the Philippines Amateur Radio
Association had activated its HERO A-R-E-S net centered on
7.095 MHz.  It also advised radio clubs across that nation
to start local nets on 2 meters at 144.740 MHz.  An urgent
request was made for the cooperation of neighboring
countries in the IARU Region 3 to keep clear from the
emergency frequency during and immediately after the storm.

According to Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and
Astronomical Services Administration, after Typhoon Labuyo
made a landfall in Aurora province, it weakened its strength
and left the country in the afternoon.  Some 8,927
passengers were been stranded in various ports in the Bicol
and Visayas areas as the authorities suspended sea travel
due to the typhoon.

At least 244 families from Central Luzon and Southern
Tagalog were affected by the typhoon. They are reportedly
staying at evacuation centers as this newscast is being
prepared.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF,
reporting from down-under in Nelson, New Zealand.

--

After passing through the Philippines, Typhoon Labuyo was is
expected to move out to sea towards the general direction of
southeast China and northern Vietnam.  If ham radio is again
called out, there could be more about this typhoon in
upcoming Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (PARA,
PhilStar.com, DU1UGZ)

**

WORLDBEAT:  THREE BALKAN NATION AMATEUR RADIO SOCIETIES SIGN
MOU

The national Amateur Radio organizations of the Balkan
nations of Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding.  This, to assist one another in
times of emergency communications need.

The three nations have a long history of natural disasters
like earthquakes, fires, floods and other natural disasters
where ham radio has been a vital communications link, but
the agreement does not end there.

The Memorandum of Understanding not only supports the
communications needs in times of emergencies.  It also
supports other events which promote and strengthen amateur
radio, friendship and co-operation between peoples.  These
include Field Day, support of local and worldwide sporting
events, contact between schools with the International Space
Station, Scouting Jamborees and other similar happenings.
(IARU Region 1, LZ1US)

**

RADIO LAW:  VK HAMS TO LOOSE TEMPORARY HIGH POWER PERMISSION
AT THE END OF AUGUST

Hams in Australia have learned that their temporary high
power authorization will end on Sunday August 31st and for
now will not be renewed.  The Australia Communications and
Media Authority says that this is because the hams in that
nation are not properly aware of RF exposure requirements.
Phil Wait, VK2ASD, is the President of the Wireless
Institute of Australia:

--

At a meeting between the WIA and the ACMA on Monday 5th
August, the ACMA told the Institute that the arrangements
put in place to authorize the use of higher power will not
be made permanent.

The ACMA revealed that its decision was reached after
reviewing data it obtained during an assessment process that
began back in March this year.

According to the ACMA, the trial demonstrated a lack of
awareness by some Advanced Licensees of their license
conditions.

Of particular concern to the ACMA were issues related to
compliance with electromagnetic energy requirements and that
this lack of awareness is not confined to the use of higher
power than the 400 watts already permitted.

The ACMA said that the results of the trial demonstrate
there is a need to raise awareness among licensees of their
license conditions, and that this should not be confined to
Advanced Licensees, adding that the ACMA looks forward to
working with the WIA to achieve that objective.

It is important to realize that radio amateurs are not being
singled out here. Compliance with electromagnetic energy
requirements applies to all apparatus licensees, including
broadcasting, maritime services and others. The ACMA also
remarked on the lack of awareness of electromagnetic energy
compliance generally among other licensees.

To address this issue, and to prepare for another approach
to the ACMA next year, the Institute has begun implementing
plans to promote widespread awareness of the necessary
compliance with electromagnetic energy requirements for
amateur stations.

This is Phil Waite, VK2ASD, for the WIA.

--

According to the Wireless Institute of Australia, all is not
lost.  It says that following lengthy discussion, the ACMA
agreed to re-visit the matter, which could happen as early
as next year.  (WIA News)

**

RADIO LAW:  FCC PROPOSES NEW RF EXPOSURE STANDARDS THAT WILL
ELIMINATE HAM RADIO EXEMPTION

Amateur radio operators in the United States who live in
developments where they want to keep their anonymity may
soon find it hard if not impossible to do so.  This is
because of proposed new rules on RF exposure from the FCC
that would remove the blanket exemption that currently keeps
hams from having to conduct RF radiation studies.

Under the proposed new regulations, households where amateur
stations operate should be considered to operate under
occupational exposure standards.  According to the FCC, this
could eventually require education for household members and
the posting of signs warning of the possibility of exposure
to RF.

While not the law yet, more about the plans by the FCC to
increase the scope of its overall RF exposure standards in
all areas of its oversight can be read in an article by
noted author Scott Fybush and published in the trade
publication Radio World.  You can find it on-line at
tinyurl.com/living-with-rf.  (RW)

**

BREAK 1

Serving you 52 weeks a year, every year since 1977, we are
the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations
around the world including the W4BS repeater serving
Memphis, Tennessee.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT:  GPS JAMMING BRINGS BIG PROPOSED FINE IN NJ

A New Jersey man faces a $32,000 fine after regulators say
he interfered with a satellite guidance system at one of the
nation's busiest airports.  This while allegedly attempting
to mask his whereabouts from his employer.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:

--

The Federal Communications Commission claims that Gary
Bojczak installed a Global Positioning System jamming device
in his company owned pickup truck in an apparent attempt to
keep his employer from knowing his whereabouts.  But what
Bojczak was not aware of was that the jammer was interfering
with a new GPS assisted navigation system used to aid
aircraft approaching and departing Newark Liberty
International Airport in New Jersey.

Federal agents eventually tracked the jamming signal to
Bojczak's vehicle.  Bojczak reportedly surrendered the
jamming device after his truck was stopped at the airport in
August 2012.

Now in its Notice of Apparent Liability the FCC described
Bojczak's alleged conduct as particularly troubling because
it interrupted the calibration of a critical air navigation
system.  At the time of the incident the system was
undergoing testing and was not put into full service until
September of last year.

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

--

Bojczak was given the customary 30 days from the issue date
of the NAL to pay or to file an appeal.  (KC5FM, CBS NY,
Bigstory.ap.com, others)

**


RADIO RULES:  VANITY CALL FEE TO RISE TO $16.19 IN MID
SEPTEMBER

The price of a Vanity Callsign will be going up in mid-
September.  This as the FCC announces that the new fee of
$16.10 will apply as soon as the new fee schedule appears in
the Federal Register.

In its Report and Order released August 12th in Docket 13-
140, the FCC ordered a sweeping schedule of new fees be
implemented without the normal 30 day period following
publication in the Federal Register.  This change is because
the next fiscal year for the government beginning on October
1st and there would not be enough time for the new fees to
become effective on that date if the waiting period were
kept in place.  (FCC)

**

RADIO LAW:  FCC MODIFIES AND STREAMLINES PART 15 RULES

The Federal Communications Commission has streamlined the
agency's Part 15 rules governing unlicensed communication
equipment in the 57 to 64 GHz band.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has more;

--

In announcing their decision, the FCC Commissioners said the
modification it is making to Part 15 of its rules will
enhance the use of unlicensed spectrum as a relatively
low-cost, high-capacity short-range backhaul alternative to
connect wireless broadband networks and for other wireless
applications.  The FCC notes that these changes could
provide wireless broadband network connectivity over
distances up to a mile at data rates of 7 Gigabytes Per
Second.  This, the commissioners say could potentially
relieve the need and expense of wiring facilities or using
existing facilities with less capability.

However the rules for equipment located indoors will remain
unchanged, providing certainty for emerging products that
can provide data rates of 7 Gigabytes Per Second.  This for
such applications as the wireless docking of digital devices
and distribution of uncompressed video to TV receivers and
video displays.

They FCC says that unlicensed spectrum technologies hold the
potential to encourage competition in the broadband market,
to promote efficient delivery of broadband services in
residences and businesses, and improve user experience with
consumer devices needing short-range but high data rate
communications.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in
Scottsdale, Arizona.

--

In the 1990s, the FCC put into place rules for unlicensed
operations in the 57 to 64 GHz band.  At the time the agency
said that this spectrum was desirable for high-capacity
uses, both in point-to-point fixed operations outdoors and
as networking equipment indoors based on its rather wide
bandwidth,  (FCC, RW)

**


RADIO LAW:  FCC TO HOLD WEBINARS ON HOW TO APPLY FOR LPFM
LICENSE

The FCC will be hosting two webinars for would-be low-power
FM station owners.  The aim is to answer questions on how to
apply for a new low-power FM station or LPFM broadcast
license once the agency opens an application window on
October 15th.

The first webinar is slated for Aug. 20 at 1 p.m. Topics
include an overview of the low-power FM service,
instructions on creating an account in the commission's
electronic database and on how to fill out the application
Form 318 for a new LPFM station.  The second webinar will be
held in early October and the agency plans to announce those
details later.

The webinars will be streamed on-line at www.fcc.gov/live.
Participants can email questions during the webinars to lpfm
(at) fcc (dot) gov or submit questions using Twitter and the
hashtag #LPFMquestions.  (FCC)

**

HAM TECHNOLOGY:  THE RADIO DOCUMENTATION PROJECT MANUALS FOR
CHINA BUILT RADIO GEAR

If you own a China built hand-held and have questions that
the manual does not answer, there's now a new source of
information.  Calling itself the Radio Documentation
Project, this website plans to provide high quality and in-
depth open source documentation user manuals for mainland-
China built handheld two-way radios.

Its first completed work is a PDF file containing a well
documented manual for the popular Baofeng UV-5R dual bander.
The instructions are clear and distinct.  Best of all it is
available as a free download at tinyurl.com/new-uv5r-
booklet.  (Southgate)

**

HAM TECHNOLOGY: MULTISCAN 2B VER 1.8.2 FOR MC RELEASED

KD6CJI has announced the availability of MultiScan 3B
SSTV for Mac version 1.8.2.  This is an application for Ham
Radio Slow Scan TV Communications that will run on the Mac
OS X 10.6 or later versions and supports many popular SSTV
formats.  It can be downloaded at www.qsl.net/kd6cji
(Southgate)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  EMCOMM EAST SEPTEMBER 29 IN ROCHESTER NY

EmComm East, the east coast amateur radio emergency
communications conference takes place on Sunday, September
29th at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York.
This year's featured guest speaker will be the ARRL Chief
Operating Officer Harold Kramer, WJ1B.  More on the
convention including a list of forum speakers along with
registration information is on-line at www.emcommeast.org
(Emcommeast)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN FROM KN4AQ TO RECORD
2013 DCC

The video podcast HamRadioNow.tv has launched a KICKSTARTER
campaign to raise the money they need to record the 2013
ARRL and Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Digital Communications
Conference, which is coming up this September in Seattle,
Washington.  Producer Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, says the
KICKSTARTER goal is $10,000, and the campaign ends on Labor
Day, September 2nd.

The Digital Communications Conference is Tucson Amateur
Packet Radio's annual conference featuring about sixteen
individual technical presentations.  Each runs about 45
minutes and the conference itself covers every aspect
digital operation and experimentation in ham radio.

HamRadioNow plans on shooting all of it, and putting it on
the Internet for the amateur community worldwide to view
free of charge.  The Digital Communications Conference
won't be streamed live, but the programs should be available
for viewing within a few weeks of the conference.

To contribute to this project simply take your web browser
to tinyurl.com/dcc-video-2013, watch the short video and
then make your pledge.  KICKSTARTER is a crowdfunding
website that helps those wanting to subsidize a project to
do so with public support.  (KN4AQ, HamRadioNow)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  BRINGING HAM RADIO TO NETWORK TELEVISION

A very interesting talk given at this years Dayton
Hamvention about how an episode of the hit ABC situation
comedy Last Man Standing that featured ham radio came about
is now available on YouTube.  The presentation features the
show's producer John Amodeo, NN6JA, who not only explained
how ham radio gets featured on a TV show, but also some
background into the world of television production itself:

--

NN6JA:  "Network television is driven by advertising dollars
so it's probably not surprising that it's all about ratings
and demographics.

"Last Man Standing gets about 6 to 7 million viewers each
week and that makes us a successful show.  But by
comparison, CBS's `Big Bang Theory' gets about 15 million
viewers each week which makes it a hit show.

"But as important as the total number of the people watching
the networks pay particular attention to the age of the
viewers.  The thinking behind this is that older viewers
translate into older shoppers who are set in their ways and
hard to sell new products to.  Young people are considered
to be better shoppers with more spendable income.

"There are now about 750,000 licensed amateur radio
operators in the United States.  But because only a small
percentage of hams might potentially watch our show so it's
hard to get the writers to focus on radio as a topic.  As a
TV comedy, we have to be funny to our general audience.  We
cannot address any one group of people."

--

John Amodeo's presentation is titled Bringing Amateur Radio
to Primetime Network Television.  It was produced by Icom
America with video recorded at the Icom Hamventionc booth by
Julian Frost, N3JF.  It runs thirteen minutes and you can
watch it on-line at tinyurl.com/dayton-nn6ja-lms.  (Icom,
NN6JA)

**

BREAK 2

The news never stops and neither do we.  This is 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:  SARL VHF FORUM SUGGESTS AIRCRAFT SCATTER ON 50
MHz & 144 MHz

Mike Bosch, ZS2FM, reports that lately there has been a lot
of discussions and interest shown in Aircraft Scatter on the
South African Radio League's VHF Forum.  There are also many
reports of signals heard and some contacts made were via
reflections from aircraft.

The longest two-way contacts of 430 to 470 kilometers were
established on 2 meter SSB by Van Watt, ZS6LW, in Germiston
with John Fielding, ZS5JF, and Ben Smit, ZS5QM, in Natal.

Its also been reported that the ZS6JON beacon on 50.050 MHz
is often seen on the WSJT waterfall displays and heard in
Port Elizabeth when aircraft cross the area of the Orange
River.  These aircraft scatter signals last for a minute or
longer and operators in South Africa feel that they could
easily have sustained SSB contacts.

However, as pointed out to Newsline, one thing to take into
consideration is that many aircraft now utilize multiple
radio systems and not all their operating frequencies are
publicized.  This could lead to interference and safety
issues should someone aim a high power signal at an aircraft
in the hope of making a VHF, UHF or microwave DX contact by
reflecting signals off of it.  Therefore it might be wise to
error on the side of safety and not get involved in any form
of operation that carries with it the chance interfering
with sensitive avionics of any aircraft in flight.  (SARL.
others)

(Note: Additional information on aircraft radio systems is 
posted on our �EXTRA� page.)


**

WORLDBEAT:  ACMA LOOKING FOR ROGUE SIGNALS

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is trying
to locate the source of a signal or signals that have caused
motorists in the city of Sydney problems in locking and
unlocking their vehicles using radio remote key fobs.
According to Jim Linton, VK3PC, the problem only occurs
during normal business hours leading to the belief  that the
signals could be coming from a device such as a store entry
sensor or anything operated by wireless signals including
doorbells, fans and possibly even a weather station.  So far
the source of the interference has not been found.  (VK3PC)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  AMATEUR DATA INTERCHANGE FORMAT
STANDARD 3.0.4 RELEASED

The latest version of the Amateur Data Interchange Format or
ADIF Standard, 3.0.4, has been approved by its developer
group, and is available from adif.org/304.  ADIF is a
standard format used to exchange data between different
amateur radio programs and websites.  This new version
includes improvements to the way modes and awards are
represented. It also adds support for Summits On The Air and
uploading QSOs to Club Log, HRDLog.net and QRZ.COM.  For
more information about the ADIF Developer group, please
visit groups.yahoo.com/group/adifdev  (ADIF Development
Group)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  AMSAT SECOND CALL FOR SYMPOSIUM PAPERS

A second call has gone out to those who might wish to
present papers at the 2013 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space
Symposium.  Proposals for papers, symposium presentations
and poster presentations are invited on any topic of
interest to the amateur satellite community.

AMSAT says that it needs a tentative title of presentations
as soon as possible, with final copy to be submitted by
October 1st.  This is so that it can be included in the
gatherings printed proceedings.

Abstracts and papers should be sent to Dan Schultz at n8fgv
(at) amsat (dot) org.  The symposium to be held on the
weekend of November 1st to the 3rd at the Marriott Hobby
Airport Hotel, Houston, Texas.  (N8FGV)

**


DX

In DX, SQ9KWW will be active portable HL3 from South Korea
through September 2nd.  He plans to operate on the various
High Frequency bands during his stay.  QSL via his home call
direct or electronically using eQSL.

SP2EBG and five other SP prefix operators will be
operational as J88HL from Saint Vincent and Grenadines
between November 17th and the 29th.  Their activity will be
on 160 through 6 meters.  More information including QSL
routing should be available in the near future.

G7COD is on the air stroke EA8 from Playa Del Cura, on the
Island of Gran Canaria, through August 31st.  Operation is
on all bands including WARC frequencies and 6 meters using
SSB and CW.  Callers from QRP stations are particularly
encouraged.  Refer to QRZ.com for further activity details.

W7JVN will be working at a church mission in Ghana for the
next 16 months. He has been issued with the callsign 9G5AC
and will operate 100W to a dipole on 20 and 15 meter SSB
when time and conditions permit.  QSL as directed by the
operator.

DL2SBE is spending his holiday on Lolland which is the
fourth largest island of Denmark.  He will be there until
August 24th and is reported to be operating holiday style
signing stroke OZ.  Modes he's using are SSB, PSK, and RTTY.
QSL via DL2SBE both direct and via the bureau.

Lastly, DL2JRM and DO6XX will be operational stroke JW from
Svalbard Islands from September 20th to the 23rd.   They
will be active also in the SAC CW Contest.  If you work
them, please QSL via each stations home call.  (Above from
various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  A FASCINATING CONVENTION WEBSITE


And finally this week, while we usually do not do stories
about hamfest or convention websites, every once in a while
one comes along that deserves a bit of special attention.
And so it is with this years Pacificon show.  Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details:

--

If you have ever visited a hamfest website then you know
that most are very basic.  Usually it's a headline with the
name, date and location of the event and possibly a way to
register on-line.  But Pacificon, the ARRL Pacific
Division's annual conference held annually in California's
Silicon Valley has changed all this.  The cutting edge
website uses a professional conference management system
donated to the event by a startup called PointView.  David
Witkowski, W6DTW, is the Webmaster for Pacificon 2013:

--

W6DTW:  "The system is really exciting because, in addition
to the fully modernized website the public will see, there's
a set of back office tools the Pacificon team can use to
efficiently manage the event leading up to and on the day
of.  It handles everything from attendee and vendor
registrations, managing presentation submissions.  We can
dynamically adjust room and timeslot assignment to better
create an agenda that's going to be responsive to the users.
And if we need to change the time or location for a Forum
session, the website's event calendar gets automatically
updated with that information."

--

Pacificon 2013 is slated for October 11th to the 13th at the
Mariott Hotel in Santa Clara California.  Its new conference
system is so modern it even features support for smartphones
and social networking.

--

W6DTW:  "On the day of the event attendees can use the
PointView mobile app which runs on both iOS and Android
devices to manage their agenda, exchange contact information
with presenters and other attendees, and get live
announcements about the event.  The attendees can also link
their Pacificon account with social networking such as
Facebook and Twitter, and use the PointView app or the
Pacificon website to post comments and photos which will be
reflected to their social networking channels."

--

Bringing convention and hamfest websites into the 21st
century is what this story is really all about and right now
it appears as if Pacificon and its new website are the
leaders of the pack.

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

--

Attendee and vendor registration for Pacificon is now open
at pacificon.org.  There's also a Facebook page that you can
follow at facebook.com/pacificon.org.  Planners say that
they are looking forward to seeing you in October at
Pacificon 2013.  (W6DTW)


**

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 W-I-A 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, saying 73 from near Houston, Texas,
and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights
reserved.

Friday, August 9, 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1878 - August 9 2013

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1878 with a release
date of August 9 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST.  Scientists say that the Sun's
magnetic poles are about to reverse; hams in India again
respond as monsoon rains bring landslides; a Florida man is
electrocuted while installing an antenna; Louisiana adopts
the Alert FM public warning system and guess who is not
going to retire from ham radio teaching.  Find out the
answer on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1878 coming
your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

FUTURE PROPAGATION:  SUN MAGNETIC POLES READY TO REVERSE

According to measurements from NASA-supported observatories,
the sun's vast magnetic field is about to turn over.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has the
details:

--

The Sun's magnetic field changes polarity approximately
every 11 years.  It happens at the peak of each solar cycle
as our home star's inner magnetic field generator
reorganizes itself signaling the mid-point of a Solar Cycle.

Todd Hoeksema is the Director of Stanford's Wilcox Solar
Observatory which is one of the few that monitor the sun's
polar magnetic fields.  He says that we are no more than 3
to 4 months away from a complete field reversal and that
this change will have ripple effects throughout the solar
system.  This is because of the fact that the domain of the
Sun's magnetic influence, also known as the Heliosphere,
extends billions of kilometers beyond the minor planet Pluto
and almost too interstellar space.

When solar physicists talk about solar field reversals they
are also referring to something known as the Sun's Current
Sheet.  This is a sprawling surface jutting outward from its
equator where it's slowly rotating magnetic field induces an
electrical current.  During field reversals, the current
sheet becomes very wavy.  As Earth orbits the sun, it dips
in and out of the current sheet. Transitions from one side
to another can stir up stormy space weather around our
planet which in turn can affect radio propagation to some
degree.

As the field reversal approaches, data from the Wilcox Solar
Observatory shows that the sun's two hemispheres are out of
synch.  According to Solar Physicist Phil Scherrer the Sun's
North Pole has already changed sign, while the South Pole is
racing to catch up.  Soon both poles will be reversed, and
the second or downhill half of Solar Max will be underway.
For ham radio it likely means that good DX openings
especially on the higher bands could be fewer and far in-
between.

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

--

You can read more about what is happening with "Old Sol" at
tinyurl.com/solar-max-midpoint-here.  Frequent updates are
also on the web at sciencedaily.com  (NASA)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS IN INDIA AGAIN RESPOND TO MONSOON
FLOODING

Hams in India are reportedly once again on the front lines.
This as another series of heavy rains on August 4th lead to
landslides hit in the high mountain range area of Idukki and
the adjoining districts of Kerala.

At airtime nine people have lost their lives and scores are
reported missing from the monsoon saturated areas.  Word is
that the ham radio response is centered on 7.080 MHz for
long distance communications with VHF being used within the
storm devastated region.

Idukki is described as an agricultural area where most
people operate small farms.  Reports say that the region has
suffered heavy crop and property loss due to the flooding.

More information on the current situation is on the web at
tinyurl.com/more-india-flooding.

(Southgate, IndiaToday.com, Times of India)

**

RADIO LAW:  UK GOVERNMENT MAY AMEND OFCOM'S STATUTORY DUTIES

A report by the United Kingdom Department for Culture Media
and Sport says that telecommunications regulator Ofcom's
duties should expanded to include the power to issue
monetary penalties for breach of Wireless Telegraphy Act
licenses.

The report is titled Connectivity, Content and Consumers -
Britain's digital platform for growth.  It covers a number
of issues related to the RF spectrum including such items as
spectrum management on and the already planned digital radio
switchover.  However of greater interest is the Spectrum
Management Impact Assessment document. It notes that the
Government's preferred option is to amend Ofcom's statutory
duties to make possible Dynamic Spectrum Access database
licensing, incentive auctions and to impose monetary
penalties for breach of Wireless Telegraphy Act licenses.

The report says that should a holder of spectrum is in
breach of the Wireless Telegraphy Act even in a minor way,
Ofcom can currently only prosecute licensees or revoke their
licenses.  Such measures are often disproportionate to the
offence.  The report also suggests that its time to
introduce a system of penalties which provide appropriate
incentives for compliance.  This would essentially be
similar to the authority that the FCC has here in the United
States.  (Published news reports)

**

FOLLOWUP:  RADIO CLUB WILL MOVE DIGIPETER AFTER ITS
RECOVERED FROM FALLEN TOWER

A follow-up to last weeks story on the destruction of the
Rocky Ridge radio tower east of San Francisco, California.
It's now been learned that the ham radio system on that
tower belonged to the Mt. Diablo Amateur Radio Club and was
its heavily trafficked 144.390 MHz Packet Radio and APRS
digipeater.

Jim Siemons, AF6PU, is a spokesman for the group.  He says
that the club's repeater committee has decided to move the
digipeater and the results were amazing:

--

AF6PU:  "This last Friday (Julu 2nd), Trevor Hall, WA6JAU,
was able to get into the vault at Rocky Ridge and retrieve
all of our Digipeter gear.  Early on Saturday morning (July
3rd) a group of us met to go up to the North peak of Mt.
Diablo to set up ATV gear.  And while we were up there
Trevor was able to install and get running the Digipeter.
The great news is that at its higher vantage point we are
now covering almost 150 miles all the way around."

--

According to AF6PU, the new site should offer packet and
APRS coverage to the majority of hams in Northern
California.

Meantime police are still asking the publics assistance in
finding the person or persons responsible for this act of
vandalism.  If you have any information that might help
please contact investigators at area code 510-881-1833.
(AF6PU, ARNewslineT)

**

BREAKING DX NEWS: SWAZILAND DXPEDITION NEEDS RTTY OPERATORS

Some interesting DX news.  Word that Roger Jones, ZS6RJ, and
a multi-national team of operators will be active as 3DA0ET
from Piggs Peak, Swaziland, between November 18th and the
27th.  They plan to have 4 stations on the air, covering 160
through 10 meters plus 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.
This operation will also include the CQ World Wide DX CW
Contest that takes place this year from November 23rd
through the 24th.

According to planner Charles "Frosty" Frost, K5LBU, the team
is still looking for operators, especially some skilled in
RTTY operators.  If you are interested in joining this
DXpedition, please  contact ZS6RJ at: roger.jones (at)
vodamail (dot) com or K5LBU to 3da0cf (at) gmail (dot) com.
More information on this upcoming operation is on-line at
www.swazidx.org  (OPDX)

**

THIS JUST IN:  DAYTON ARA TO HOST OPEN HOUSE AT RENOVATED
CLUBHOUSE

Some late breaking good news.  It comes in words of
congratulations to the Dayton Amateur Radio Association.
This on the grand re-opening of its clubhouse after some
extensive renovation and expansion.

On Friday, August 16th from 4 to 9 p.m. Eastern Daylight
time club members and the public are invited to preview the
facilities that include a lounge, a kitchenette, two new
classrooms and a Board Room which have been wired with the
latest video, audio and Smart Boards projection gear.

Current club President Reuben Meeks, W8GUC and Past
President Don DuBon, N6JRL, will be hosting a ribbon cutting
ceremony at 5 pm and again at 7 pm.  Refreshments will be
served.

The Dayton Amateur Radio Clubhouse is located at 6619
Bellfontaine Road in the Dayton suburb of Huber Heights,
Ohio,  For more information on this event please e-mail
WD8QAI (at) gmail (dot) com.  (DARA)

**

BREAK 1

With you 52 weeks a year, every year since 1977, we are the
Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around
the world including the WB9AER repeater serving Madison
Wisconsin.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RADIO ACCIDENTS:  FLORIDA MAN ELECTROCUTED PUTTING UP
ANTENNA FOR ALLEGED UNLICENSED RADIO STATION

An Oakland Park, Florida man was electrocuted on July 29th
while trying to install an antenna for an unlicensed radio
station antenna on the roof of a strip mall.  According to
the Broward Sheriff's Office forty-two year old Jean Roselet
Adelphonse was reportedly climbing a tree at about 10:40
p.m. when the 30-foot antenna that was supporting came into
contact a high voltage power line.  His friend, Clebert
Durand, who was helping him install the antenna, called 911.
Officials said Adelphonse was trying to start a Creole-
language pirate station and that they found
more broadcasting equipment in his vehicle.  (RW, Orlando
Sentinal)

**

RESCUE RADIO:  LOUISIANA ADOPTS ALERT FM STATE WIDE

A new public alert system is coming to the state of
Louisiana.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW,
has the details:

--

If there's ever another disaster like Hurricane Katrina,
Louisiana will be in a far better position to advise its
residents than back in August of 2005.  This with the
announcement by Louisiana's Office of Homeland Security and
Emergency Preparedness that it has adopted the Alert
FM system as a way of notifying the state's emergency
managers in 64 parishes and 42 institutions of higher
learning of an imminent threat to life or property.

According to the release, Louisiana's Senator Mary Landrieu
was an early supporter of the broadcast-based emergency
alert systems.  She is quoted as saying that with Alert FM,
Louisiana has implemented a reliable method of distributing
life-saving information to the citizens.  She added that the
dependability of broadcast transmissions can make the
difference between life and death during an emergency.

As previously reported here on Newsline, Alert FM is
an emergency notification system that delivers messages from
state, local, and private sector officials to citizens,
schools, businesses, and first responders using the Radio
Data System or R-D-S sub-carrier of local FM radio stations.
Messages are originated by designated officials and are then
transported from a secure web-based portal to the data sub-
carrier via GSS Net which is a secure satellite data
delivery system. These alerts and messages are then received
by FM stations and re-transmitted to Alert FM equipped
receivers or to cell phones that have both active FM chips
and properly installed software.

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

--

More about the Alert FM system is on line at alertfm.com.
(Radio Weekly)

**

ELECTRONIC SAFETY:  APPLE OFFERS FAKE FOR REAL CHARGER
EXCHANGE

Apple has begun a worldwide program to replace third-party
and counterfeit USB chargers for use with its iPhone, iPad,
and iPod products.  The after reports that a woman in China
was electrocuted by a non-Apple charger.

Apple said it would swap third-party chargers for an
official replacement on payment of $10 or the equivalent fee
in local currency.  The exchange program begins on August
16th and will run until October 18th.

In mid-July, Apple said it was investigating reports that Ma
Ailun was killed when she answered her iPhone 5 while it was
plugged into a wall charger.  Investigators later said that
her death was caused by a fake third party non-Apple
charger.

No mention was made of the woman's death in the announcement
of the trade-in program but Apple did say that the
initiative was prompted by safety issues.  Apple also said
that the third-party and fake chargers would be disposed of
in an environmentally friendly way.  You can read one of the
many detailed stories on this Apple initiated safety program
at tinyurl.com/apple-charger-exchange.  (BBC, iDigital
Times, Huffington Post, others)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC PROPOSES $8000 FINE AGAINST BROADCASTER
THAT MOVED TRANSMITTER WITHOUT AUTHORIZATION

The FCC has proposed an $8,000 fine to the religious
broadcaster Fellowshipworld Inc. which is the licensee of
WFWO - FM.  This for allegedly operating from a location
other than the one it was authorized for.  Stephan Kinford,
N8WB, reports:

--

According to the Commission, the noncommercial station was
authorized to transmit on 89.7 MHz in Knowelsville, New
York.  Responding to a complaint in October 2012, an agent
from the Enforcement Bureau's Philadelphia office traced the
signal back to the Fellowship Christian Center in Buffalo,
some 36 miles from Knowelsville.  The agent also took field
strength measurements to determine if WFWO's power levels
were low enough to operate under Part 15 of its rules.  The
FCC said in its decision that WFWO exceeded the maximum
permitted for non-licensed devices and, therefore, required
a license to operate.

In his response, Fellowship President John Young told the
commission the station stopped operating from its original
transmitter site so the property owner could remove some
trees around the antenna.  Young was admitted that the group
was operating a one-watt low-powered transmitter on 89.7MHz
in Buffalo.  The agent told Young to stop operating the 1
watt transmitter because it was over-powered for Part 15
operation and not at its authorized location. The FCC said
Young agreed and the agency followed up with a Notice of
Unlicensed Operation.  It warned the licensee of a violation
and that a fine could be imposed.

But in November of 2012 the director of engineering from a
licensed station told the FCC that WFWO was once again
transmitting again from the Buffalo location.  An FCC
Enforcement Bureau agent confirmed that it was on the air
and inspected the facility.  This time Young claimed he was
unaware the station was operational and alleged that his
children must have turned on the transmitter.

But in its imposing the penalty the FCC said that while the
base fine for this type of violation is $4,000, that it
raised it to $8,000, saying the licensee's conduct in this
case is egregious.

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

--

Fellowshipworld Inc. was given the customary 30 days from
imposition of the proposed fine to pay or to file an appeal.
(FCC)

**

RADIO LAW:  NO FM TRANSLATOR FOR EMF IN LOS ANGELES

The FCC says that the Educational Media Foundation cannot
have an FM translator in Los Angeles, California.  In making
its decision the regulatory agency said that the broadcaster
had not proven that granting its application would not
preclude future Low Power FM licensing opportunities for it
in that market.

The Media Bureau had treated the Educational Media
Foundation situation as a request for a waiver and said in
its decision such waivers face a high hurdle.  Audio
Division Chief Peter Doyle noted that given the massive
number of pending translator applications, the agency isn't
going to conduct a case-by-case assessment of any one
request.  (FCC, RW)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  BOB GROVE EXPLAINS THE DEMISE OF
MONITORING TIMES

As reported last week, Bob Grove W8JHD, founder, editor and
publisher of Monitoring Times Magazine, has announced his
and the magazine's retirement.  Now in a one-on-one video
interview, Ham Radio Now's Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, finds out why
Bob's retirement also means an end to the magazine.   It's a
very interesting conversation that will give you a lot of
insight into Bob Grove's thinking and putting his popular
magazine to bed.  To find out, take your web browser to
tinyurl.com/monitoring-times-says-goodbye  (arvidnews.com)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  WHEELER ONE STEP CLOSER TO FCC CHAIR

President Obama's nominee for chairman of the Federal
Communications Commission is one step closer to that
position.  This with word that Thomas Wheeler has received
the approval of the Senate Commerce Committee for that
position.

Its now believed that a full Senate vote on Wheelers
nomination will take place shortly after Congress returns
from its August recess.  If approved, Wheeler will replace
former FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski who retired from the
position to join the Aspen Institute as a senior fellow.
(Published news reports)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: SENATE CONFIRMS THREE MEMBERS FOR
BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Before its recess the United States Senate confirmed three
new members to serve on the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Jeffrey Shell, Matthew C. Armstrong and Ambassador Ryan C.
Crocker were unanimously appointed to the bipartisan board.
Shell was also confirmed as chair.  The board had been below
quorum level for some time but with the swearing in of these
new members it will once again be at a fully operational
level.   (The Hill)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  ANTIQUE WIRELESS ASSOCIATION CONVENTION AUG
20 - 24

The 52nd Antique Wireless Association World Convention is
slated for August 20th to the 24th at the Rochester
Institute of Technology Inn and Conference Center.  The
event will celebrate the grand opening of the new Antique
Wireless Association Museum that takes place on August 20th.
For more information on this event please take your web
browser to antiquewireless.org/annual-convention  (AWA)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  WORLD DIGITAL ATV QSO PARTY AUGUST 20 TO 31

The next World Digital Amateur Television QSO Party is on
its way.  The event created by Peter Cossins, VK3BFG, in
2011, will begin on Friday the August 30th and conclude on
Saturday the 31st with scheduling all in Australian Eastern
Standard Time.

This QSO Party will be initiated through the VK3RTV
Melbourne-Geelong repeater in Australia linked with the
California W6ATN network in the United States. It will also
include an on-line seminar by Ken Konechy, W6HHC, of the
Orange County Amateur Radio Club with an update on the DATV
Express Project. This is a digital fast scan television
system being developed by United States and British hams.

European presenters are yet to be confirmed; however the QSO
party will be streamed on-line thanks to the British Amateur
Television Club.  If you are a ham interested in the world
of digital video, this is one event that you won't want to
miss.  (VK3PC)

**

BREAK 2

Serving all of hobby radio 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:  NEW ZEALAND RADIO STATION ORDERED TO APOLOGIZE

Some enforcement of a different kind.  This as a broadcaster
down-under is ordered to apologize for things said on the
air.  Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details:

--

A New Zealand radio station has been ordered to apologize on-
the-air for abusing and insulting local councilors, as well
as a rival radio broadcaster.  This after the nations
Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled that Cruise FM
Waikato must express regret for unfair comments made about
South Waikato District Council members, Classic Hits Radio
and its staff in two broadcasts late last year.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority found that while host
and owner Johnny Dryden and another councilor were broadly
discussing issues of public interest, their comments went
beyond what could be considered acceptable.  Also that they
had the potential to be very damaging to the individuals'
reputations.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority went on to note that
Dryden made comments that were not related to their public
or professional duties but were personally abusive and
insulting.

Cruise FM has been ordered to pay the Crown $2500 New
Zealand Dollars to cover its costs in the matter.  It must
also broadcast an apology for the unfair treatment within a
month.

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

--

Imagine if there was a board similar to the New Zealand
Broadcasting Standards Authority here in the United States.
It there were, its likely there would be very few edgy radio
talk shows and no shock jocks on the air.   (RW, NewsComAu,
Broadcast NZ)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  HAM TV HEADS TO THE ISS

A Japanese HTV-4 cargo vessel carrying the new Ham TV gear
was successfully launched to the International Space Station
on Saturday, August 3rd.  Once activated, the primary
mission of Ham TV is to perform contacts between the
astronauts on the ISS and school students by adding real
time video to the current voice only QSO's within the ARISS
program.

The European Space Agency's Columbus module on the ISS will
host the 2.4 GHz video transmitting station in addition to
the existing 2 meter FM amateur radio station.  The new
equipment can broadcast images from the ISS during the
school contacts or other downlink other pre-recorded video
images up to 24 hours a day.

The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel has
announced frequencies of 2422.0 MHz and 2437.0 MHz for use
by the Ham TV project.  It is currently planned to transmit
using the DVB-S signal format with 10 watts of power. More
about the project is on the web at tinyurl.com/iss-ham-tv
(ARISS)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SPACE CONTACT BIG SUCCESS AT SCOUTING
JAMBOREE

Christopher Friesen, VE4CWF, reports via the AMSAT News
Service that he heard and recorded the space to ground
portion of ham radio contact between NA1SS on board the
International Space station with operators at the Boy
Scout's of America 2013 Jamboree on July 20th.  Friesen, who
lives several hundred miles away in Steinbach, Canada says
that he copied astro-ham Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP, operating
as NA1SS making contact with Jamboree station K2BSA and
answering questions from the scouts.

VE4CWF added that at the time of the contact that space
station was making a relatively low 30 degree pass to the
south of his location.  He says that to copy the N-A-One-S-S
side of the contact that he had to climb to the peak of his
roof to get above the trees and other rooftops in the area.
He says that he used his Yaesu FT-60R handheld transceiver
and what he called his Slapshot antenna capture the contact.
You can read VE4CWF's entire report and hear the ISS to
ground portion of the QSO at tinyurl.com/ANS-216-B.  The
audio clip is near the bottom of the page.  (ANS)

**

WORLDBEAT:  ILLW REACHES 450 REGISTRATIONS WITH 17
LIGHTSHIPS

A new record for registrations for this years International
Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.  This as it's announced
that the milestone 400th registration went to Australia's
Carpentaria CLS-4 Lightship and there have been 49 more
since then.

The Carpentaria CLS-4 is a Scottish designed and Australian
built lightship.  It is moored at Australia's National
Maritime Museum in Sydney's Darling Harbor.  Word is that it
will be put on air by the Hornsby and Districts Amateur
Radio Club as station VK2MA for the International Lighthouse
and Lightship event.  It is also one of 17 such vessels
taking part in International Lighthouse and Lightship
Weekend that has so far attracted some 450 registered
entries from 42 countries around the world.

Now in its 16th year, International Lighthouse and Lightship
Weekend was created to increases public awareness of the old
form of maritime navigation, engender good will and promote
amateur radio.  This year's event takes place August 17th
and 18th.  More about it is on the web at www dot illw dot
org.  (VK3PC)

**

PROPAGATION:  NEW 6 METER BEACON ON GIBRALTER

A new six meter beacon has been set up at the on 50.012.5
Mhz operating from the Gibraltar Amateur Radio Society's
club house on that British Overseas Territory.  Located in
Grid Square IM-76-HD the beacon is signing the call ZB2SIX/B
and running 5 watts output into a temporary inverted V
dipole.  QSN reports go via the information found on
QRZ.com.  (ZB2B)

**

DX

In DX, YT7AW and YT4RA will be active stroke 4 Oh from
Montenegro through August 15th. Their operation will begin
in Durmitor National Park followed by a seaside stopover and
ending with a possible stop on Crna Gora. QSL's go via their
home callsigns as shown on QRZ.com.

Bill Moore, NC1L, at the ARRL Awards Desk reports that the
2013 T5TC operation from Somalia has been approved for DXCC
credit.  If you've had this rejected in a prior application,
send a note to bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org to be placed on
the list for an update to your record.

DL7VOA will be active stroke EA8 from the Canary Islands
through August 17th.  His is holiday style using CW and
mainly during his evening night. QSL to DL7VOA direct or by
the Bureau.

IK2OHG will be active as HC2IOH from Ecuador between August
10th and September 12th.  This operation will be holiday
style on 40 through 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL
via his home callsign, direct, via  the Bureau or
electronically using Logbook of the World.

Lastly, KF8UN is on the air from Tanzania as 5H3BB through
August 20th. He is there on a safari with his fife K8FUN.
Activity is possible on 40 through 15 meters, but mostly 20
meters using SSB with some CW.  QSL via his home callsign
direct.

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  GORDON WEST WB6NOA SAYS HE WILL TRAIN THE
TRAINERS

And finally this week the man who is possibly the worlds
best known ham radio instructor says that he is not going to
rehire after all.

--

WB6NOA:  "That's right; Gordo is not retiring from teaching
but rather Ill be teaching `Elmers' and instructors and
Scout Merit Badge leaders how to do ham radio classes
similar to the classes that I have done for the past 44
years."

--

Of coarse that's Gordon West, WB6NOA, who earlier this year
had hinted that a change was coming in his life that many
saw as a hint that he would be pulling the plug.  But West
says that he feels that it's time to take his years of
accumulated knowledge and pass it on to the next generation
of instructors who will be the people bringing new operators
into the hobby over the next several decades.  And from this
came the idea of rounding out his career by teaching the
teachers:

--

WB6NOA:  "Teaching the teachers was a decision that I made
when I saw that class sizes were continuing to remain strong
and I had other `Elmers' come over and monitor.  So I
thought `why not teach the teachers and get more classes
going throughout the local area here in Southern California
as well as well as when I travel throughout the country
going with some of the techniques I use.'  So beginning
officially now, I'm going to be training the trainers rather
than actually presenting classes for students."

--

West says that he plans to get this new educational project
underway in just a couple of weeks:

--

WB6NOA: "We are going to hold our first Instructors Class on
October 5th here in Orange County (California) and we
already have about 25 signed up.  And these are not
necessarily ham radio instructors but rather `Elmers'
wanting to representing their club and wanting to teach ham
radio classes like mine.

"Then Ill take this same technique and this same seminar,
make it shorter and present sessions at Pacificon coming up
in October, the Midwest Convention in November and other ham
shows throughout the country where Ill put on an hour or so
on training the trainers."

--

The exact location of this first "Train the Trainers"
session will be the Muth Interpretive Center, 2301
University Drive in Newport Beach California.  The class
will begin at 8 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Pacific Daylight
Time.  Each instructor will receive the forty
page INSTRUCTOR TEACHING GUIDE that gives step-by-step
directions on teaching the new Technician class materials.
Those planning to attend are encouraged to download this
free guide ahead of time at www.haminstructor.com.

Lastly, more information on Gordon West's plans to train the
next generation of ham radio educators can be found on his
website at www dot gordonwestradioschool dot com.  Just
click on the tab marked `Ham Instructors.'  (WB6NOA,
ARNewslineT)

**

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, on Florida's Treasure Coast saying 73
and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights
reserved.