Friday, October 12, 2012

Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1835 - October 12 2012







Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1835 with a release
date of October 12 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T.  The FCC released a Notice of
Proposed Rulemaking aimed at changing the Amateur Radio
licensing rules and lots more; the R-S-G-B replies to UK
telecommunications regulator Ofcom on the future of 143 to
156 MHz; hams in Sweden effectively loose access to the 2300
MHz band and a ham radio operators success in gaining
approval for a 65 foot tower leaves neighbors very unhappy.
Find out the details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report
number 1835 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RESTRUCTURING:  FCC PROPOSES MULTIPLE CHANGES INN THE PART
97 AMATEUR  SERVICE RULES

The FCC has put forth a series of suggested Part 97 rules
changes which when taken as a whole literally redefine many
aspects of the United States Amateur Radio Service.  Amateur
Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, takes a look at what
the regulatory agency sees in ham radio's future:

--

It's not a done deal by any stretch, but the FCC has put a
few proposals out there for public comment and it's
interested in hearing from you.

The Notice of Proposed Rule Making or NPRM can be divided
into a few basic categories - exam credit for expired
licenses and grace periods for expired licenses, a change in
the number of volunteer examiners needed for a valid testing
session, and emissions and experimentation by amateurs.

Rich Moseson, W2VU, is editor of CQ Magazine, and Amateur
Radio Newsline called upon him for his take on the
proposals.

Let's begin with one that could have the biggest impact, the
proposal to give examination credits for anyone who held a
license that expired, thereby eliminating the need for re-
testing for someone who has an expired license.

Moseson says he wholeheartedly endorses the idea of being
able to recover a license a ham once held.  He says right
now, the current FCC rules are scattered on this....

"If you held a particular type of license at a particular
time then there's no limit on being able to get it back
without re-testing," Moseson explains. "But if you held a
higher class license or a lower class license or the same
license at a different time and it's expired and beyond the
grace period, then you can't get it back without re-testing.

"So, the current rules make no sense."

Moseson says he's uncertain how many hams are out there who
let their licenses lapse years ago, but he suggests the FCC
recognizes they should be allowed to get back in without
putting an undue burden on them.

Controversial?  Maybe, for some. But Moseson says he
believes it's a win-win for the hobby...

"I don't think that we've been greatly damaged from having
the ability to re-gain licenses once held without additional
testing on the license classes that are permitted," Moseson
says. "And, I don't think there will be any great hazard to
the hobby. In fact, I think there will be benefit to the
hobby of letting people whose licenses have expired return
if their interest has returned as well."


If that doesn't quite sit well with you, Moseson suggests
considering this:

"There's really very little difference between this and what
goes on if you maintain your license," Moseson says. "There
are no activity requirements. So, as long as you renew your
license every 10 years now, you can be licensed continually
without taking a test even if you haven't been on the air in
30 years.

"And, if you want to come back on the air - as long as
you've maintained your license - then you just turn on the
radio. Well, if you've let your license lapse, there's
really not much difference.
"So, if you've passed the test for a license, if you've held
that license before, and you want to get back into ham
radio, let's welcome you back with open arms and not make
you have to take your test again when other people don't
have to take that test again."

Now, on to the proposal to have only two volunteer examiners
at a testing session.

Moseson says he feels a little uncomfortable with that idea,
although the FCC suggests it will open up more exam
opportunities and make it easier for people to get a ham
license....

"I think that a minimum of three people is important at
first glance," Moseson says. "I would be open to looking at
the comments from other people. But from my personal
experience, I think it's good to have a minimum of three
people because it just reduces the possibility of any kind
of shenanigans to a much lower level.

"And, that was the reason for putting in the three-examiner
requirement to begin with and I think that's still valid."

There's also the idea of remote testing sessions - that is
using the technology for VEs to observe an exam session. The
FCC's rationale is colleges and businesses use
teleconferencing and maybe it's time to explore that option.
Moseson says timing might be right...

"Yes, the technology needs to be acknowledged," Moseson say.
"I don't think we should necessarily just jump right into
it. I would suggest a pilot program first to see how well it
works out and then take it from there."

Moseson says he's encouraged by the proposal looking at the
modes for amateur radio transmissions. He says there are too
many restrictions and limitations on hams which can stifle
rather than encourage experimentation.

He says the FCC is wise to look at the issue, especially
considering the area of TDMA or Time Division Multiple
Access technology for amateur radio.

"I think that the more that we can do with them as hams, in
addition to what the commercial world is doing, the better
off we'll all be because that competition is a fact of
life," Moseson says. "You know, you look at our microwave
bands which are really where a lot of the future is going to
be - 2.4 Ghz, 5.8 Ghz - these bands are already shared.

"And if we can make better use of that sharing so that we
can do what we want to do without bothering the other people
and without having them bother us then that's great we can
all get by very well."

Moseson says he still hasn't had a chance to go through the
entire NPRM. He intends to study it and encourages hams to
take the initiative and digest it before commenting...

"Well, I would encourage people to download the NPRM from
the FCC website and read the whole thing, particularly
before sending in comments to the FCC on it," Moseson says.
"I've seen too many people in other situations send in
comments on an NPRM based on a summary and they haven't read
the whole thing and they come off looking uninformed."

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V in
Philadelphia.

--

WT Docket No. 12-121 is expected to draw a lot of discussion
in ham radio circles and we will have more on it in upcoming
Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (FCC)

**

RESTRUCTURING: RSGB, BATC AND AMSAT-UK REPLY TO OFCOM ON HF
SPECTRUM

Meantime, across the Atlantic, the Radio Society of Great
Britain in concert with the British Amateur Radio Club and
AMSAT-UK, has submitted a response to telecommunications
regulastor Ofcom's Consultation or Notice of Inquiry on the
future use of VHF spectrum from 143 to 156 MHz.  This being
the bandspace that was formally used by the British Home
Office.

According to the R-S-G-B, the unique nature of this
spectrum, and the fact that it surrounds the existing 2
meter amateur radio band, suggested a creative response.
One the R-S-G-B stated that would need to be competitive
with the likely responses from Business Radio users.  No
details of the actual text of the response are known as we
go to air.

(RSGB)

**

RESTRUCTURING:  SWEDEN HAM COMMUNITY LOOSES 2300 MHZ BAND

Swedish radio amateurs have basically lost the 2300 MHz band
although they have gained some spectrum at 1.8 MHz.

The Swedish Amateur Radio Society, the S-S-A, reports the
loss of the 2300 MHz band with effect from October 1st.  And
while 2400 to 2450 MHz is still allocated for amateur radio
operation the power there is limited to just 100 milliwatts
at the antenna.

However there is good news down lower in frequency.  Sweden
used to have "Top Band" allocations of 1810 to 1850 kHz at
max 1 kW and 1930 to 2000 kHz with a maximum of 10 Watts
out.  As of October 1st this changed to 1810 to 1850 kHz at
1 kW and 1850 to 2000 kHz with a maximum of 10 watts.  Power
output is measured at the antenna.

(SSA)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  FOUR CUBESATS DEPLOYED FROM ISS

Radio amateurs around the world have been listening for
signals from the four new amateur radio CubeSats that were
deployed from the International Space Station on Thursday,
October 4th.

FITSat-1 has a CW beacon on 437.250MHz, 1200 bps AX.25
packet radio on 437.445MHz and a high-speed data transmitter
on 5840.0MHz.

F-1 has the callsign is XV1VN and the communications
subsystem is built around two Yaesu VX-3R amateur radio
handheld transceivers. One will transmit 1200 bps packet
radio every 30 seconds on 145.980MHz while in darkness. The
other will operate only in sunlight sending a 20 second FM
transmission of a CW tone on 437.485MHz followed by a 60
second gap.

TechEdSat carries a 1200 bps packet radio transmitter on
437.465MHz.

WE-WISH transmits CW and 1200 bps packet radio on
437.505MHz. Due to the effects of Doppler shift the 70cm
downlink frequencies will vary by +/- 10 kHz during an 8
minute pass.

Each could have a life-time of 4 or 5 months before they
burn-up on reentry into the Earth's atmosphere.

(AMSAT, GB2RS)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the W-Zero-B-Zed-N repeater of the Newton Amateur
Radio Club serving Newton, Kansas.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT:  FCC REFUSES TO RECONSIDER $10000 NAL

The operator of an unlicensed radio station in Florida will
have to pay a $10,000 fine.  This after the FCC turns down
his petition for reconsideration where he failed to prove he
could not afford to pay.  We have more in this report:

--

The FCC has refused to reconsider a $10,000 fine issued to
Neal Davis of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  In its September
28th release the regulatory agency stated that Davis appeal
of the forfeiture order did not meet the criteria set out by
the agency in regard to providing proof that such a fine
would prove to be a financial hardship.

In his Petition, Davis did not deny that he operated an
unlicensed radio station and therefore violated Section 301
of the Communications Act.  Rather, he urged the
cancellation of the forfeiture based on an inability to pay
claim. Specifically he asserted that he is currently
unemployed and has no income but Davis did not provide any
financial or other form of documentation to corroborate his
asserted financial status.

In the absence of any supporting financial or other reliable
documentation, the FCC says it has no basis by which to
evaluate Davis's inability to pay claim and are constrained
by the limited record before it.  As such the FCC has denied
the Petition and affirmed the Forfeiture Order.

--

Davis was given the customary 30 days to pay the fine.  If
he fails to do so the matter could be turned over to the
Department of Justice for further action. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT:  WIRELESS CAMERA IN PALM TREE INTERFERES WITH
FAA RADAR

The FCC has issued a Notice of Violation to the Redondo
Beach Marina in Redondo Beach, California.  This, for
operating an unlicensed wireless video surveillance camera
that was found to be causing interference to an FAA Radar
system.

After receiving a complaint from the Federal Aviation
Administration concerning interference to their 1240 to 1300
MHz band radar in San Pedro, California the Los Angeles FCC
Office dispatched agents to investigate the matter.  The
agents used direction finding to locate a radio signal on
1282 MHz emanating from a wireless camera mounted on a Palm
tree in the parking lot of Redondo Beach Marina.  When AC
power to the camera was disconnected, the interference
ceased.

Based on this finding, a cease and desist notice was issued
telling the Marina that use of the wireless camera must stop
immediately.  And in its September 20th letter to the
Redondo Beach Marina it was warned that operation of radio
transmitting equipment without a valid radio station
authorization constitutes a violation of the Federal laws
and could subject the operator of this illegal operation to
severe penalties.  (FCC)

**

HELPING YOUTH:  AMATEUR RADIO SUPPLIES ANNOUNCES YOUTH
GIVEAWAY

Amateur Radio Supplies of Haverhill, Massachusetts, has
announced a new biannual giveaway.  This to promote youth in
amateur radio DXing and contesting.

Beginning January 1st of 2013, the company says that it will
give a complete high frequency station to the selected
applicant.  The gear to be presented will include Alinco DX-
SR8T/E 160 through 6 meter all mode transceiver with a 30
amp power supply, an L-D-G antenna tuner, a choice of an all
band G5RV or HyGain DX-77A Vertical plus just about all the
accessories to put it all on the air.

Applicants from any country under the age of 21 are invited
to provide brief answers to the following three questions.
These are how often are you able to operate on the HF bands?
Where do you typically operate from and how do you intend to
use the equipment provided in the give-away.

Send your answers along with your name, callsign, and
license class using the form at
www.amateurradiosupplies.com/youth-s/222.htm.  Nominations
will also be accepted.

For more information please e-mail Randy Rowe at randy (at)
amateurradiosupplies (dot) com.  Amateur Radio Supplies is a
new company that provides a full line of gear, including
antennas, transceivers, coax, antenna wires and countless
station accessories.

(Michelle Garrett - Project Manager - Amateur Radio
Supplies)

**

SWL NEWS:  MORE TV WATCHERS OPTING OR FREE OVER THE AIR
PROGRMMING

As cable bills rise and the United States economy remains
weak, more Americans are watching television using good old
fashioned antennas.

According to the research firm GfK Media, nearly 18 percent
of all US households with television sets are watching
broadcasts delivered for free over the air.  This is up from
15 percent of homes last year according to research the
firm.  Translated into numbers, that means 20.7 million
homes, or roughly 54 million consumers, now get channels
over the air instead of paying a monthly cable or satellite
bill.

According to the study, 6 percent of TV households, or 6.9
million homes, canceled their cable service at some point in
the past and now rely on free broadcasts.  GfK's report also
found that 16 percent of households downgraded TV service in
the business year through March, while only 11 percent of TV
households said they had increased service.

The report also found that people using Web-connected TV
increased to 34 million households, or 29 percent.  That's
almost double the previous year's 16 percent.  More is on-
line at tinyurl.com/9z4ffj5

(Published News Reports)

**

SWL NEWS:  CANADIAN AM STATIONS LEAVING THE AIR

More AM stations are leaving the medium wave AM broadcast
band in Canada than are coming on the air,  This is
according to the trade publication Radio World that says
since 2009, some sixteen Canadian AM broadcasters have gone
off the air as several have moved to the FM band and
companies closed the least profitable stations.

But in this case more seems better from a profit standpoint.
According to the research firm Statistics Canada, the moves
have allowed AM operating revenues to grow by 1.1% in 2011,
to 311 million Canadian dollars.

A quick search of the Canadian Radio-Television and
Telecommunications Commission site shows 727 commercial
licensed radio stations, not broken down by service.  That
compares to 4,754 commercial licensed AM and 6,568 FM
broadcast entities in the United States according to FCC
figures for the most recent quarter.  (RW)

**

NAMES IN THE NEW:  CHANGES AT CQ AVERTISING DEPARMENT

Some names in the news.  CQ Communications has announced the
appointments of Charlie Payne, ex- WN2AKC, and Jon Kummer,
WA2OJK, to the company's advertising department.  Payne and
Kummer succeed Chip Margelli, K7JA, who has reportedly
resigned to pursue other opportunities in the amateur radio
industry.

According to a press release from CQ, the company's parting
with K7JA was completely amicable, and Margelli still is
ironing out details of his next adventure in the amateur
radio industry.  Meantime, for those in need of contact
information, Charlie Payne may be reached by e-mail
at Charlie (at) cqcomm (dot) com.  Jon Kummer's e-mail is
jon (at) cqcomm (dot) com.  (CQ)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  PETER LAKE ZL2AZ NAMED IARU R3 CHAIRMAN

Peter Lake, ZL2AZ, of Wellington, New Zealand, has been
elected as the Chairman of IARU Region 3.  He replaces
Michael Owen, VK3KI, who passed away unexpectedly last
month.  Owen, who was also President of the Wireless
Institute of Australia, had served as Region 3 Chairman
since 2006. (IARU-R3)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS:  RADIO AMATEUR FILES SDR PATENT

And Software Defined Radio is coming of age in the world of
amateur radio.  This with word that Tao Wang, KB3KSR, has
filed a patent for a General-purpose software defined radio
platform.

The patent disclosure describes Wang's invention as a
flexible, compact size, low power consumption, low cost,
high performance software defined radio platform.  One that
can be used in different areas, including industrial
applications, amateur radio, and academic research.

In its present form, Wang's unit is a processing platform
that packs a complete computer inside a pocket size
enclosure.  The invention makes use of a graphic user
interface and touch screen LCD display for interaction with
those who are utilizing it. (Southgate)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS:  HAM-JAM 2012 LWRENCEVILLE GA NOVEMBER 10

On the social scene, HamJam 2012 will take place on
Saturday, November 10th at the Georgia Gwinnett College
Student Center, in Lawrenceville, Georgia.  The event is
open to all radio amateurs and admission is free.  Gerald
Youngblood, K5SDR the C-E-O and President of FlexRadio
Systems, will speak on the future of amateur radio while
Doug Grant, K1DG will do a presentation on Contesting Ethics
and the World Radio Team Championships.  More information on
the web at www.hamjam.info
(SEDXC)

**

HAM HPPENINGS:  FREE CQ WW UPDATE WEBINAR WITH K5ZD

The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation will be sponsoring
an open Webinar on Sunday, October 21st at 19:00 UTC titled
CQ World Wide Update 2012.  Hosted by Randy Thompson, K5ZD,
the on-line gathering will provide an update on the status
of the contest including new rules for 2012, log entry tips,
fair play, and various other topics of interest. Questions
will be taken following the presentation.  Registration for
this free event is on-line at tinyurl.com/cq-ww-webinar.
(WWROF)

**

BREAK 2

This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur.  From the
United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline
with links to the world from our only official website at
www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer
services of the following radio amateur:

(5 sec pause here)

**

CHANGING OF THE GUARD:  SID T. MAY ET3SID/AB3OZ/G4CTQ, SK

The changing of the guard in ham radio continues with word
of the passing of Sid T. May, who held the callsigns ET3SID,
AB3OZ and G4CTQ.  May was the chairman of the Ethiopian
Amateur Radio Society and credited with setting up the first
amateur radio club of Ethiopia in 1993.  He had also been
teaching amateur radio courses to Ethiopian students for
more than 15 years and was also a volunteer examiner who
administered both U-K and United States amateur exams in
Ethiopia.
(Southgate)

**

INTRUDER REPORT:  CHINESE OTH RADAR GAIN HRASSING 40 METERS

The IARU Monitoring System newsletter reports that Radio
Hargeisa is operating on 7.120 MHz and that Chinese
surveillance radar in the amateur radio 40 meter band is now
stronger than ever before

According to the report, the pesky Chinese Over the Horizon
Radar had left the 40 meter band for few weeks.  But now its
reported back with a very strong burst system.  One that is
at least 10 kHz wide and has an almost S9 signal, world-
wide.  IARU Regions 1 and 3 are reported to be severely
affected by it.

More about both of these situations is on-line at
tinyurl.com/china-radar-again.  (IRUMS)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  DISSOLVABLE BIO-MED ELECTRONICS

Ultra-thin electronics that dissolve inside the body have
been devised by scientists in the US and could be used for a
range of medical roles.

According to research published in the journal Science the
components are made of silicon and magnesium oxide and
placed in a protective layer of silk.  Once their job has
been completed these devices can simply melt away with the
speed of melting is controlled by silk.

The technology has already been used to heat a wound to keep
it free from infection by bacteria.  More is on-line at
tinyurl.com/melting-electronics.  (BBC)

**

WORLDBEAT:  UK AUTO MANUFACTURERS NOT SUPPORTING DIGITAL
RADIO BROADCASTING

The United Kingdom's government mandated switchover date for
digital radio may need to be extended several years.  This
following a new survey of car manufacturers that reveals at
least half are steering clear of the new entertainment
technology.

As part of its Digital Britain vision, the UK Department for
Culture, Media and Sport named 2015 as the deadline for
turning off its ageing but very popular analogue radio
network, in favor of one based on digital standards.  The
move would mean the majority of today's in-car tuners as
well as home radio sets would cease to function overnight.

But new findings from Auto Express Magazine suggest the
switchover could now be delayed until 2017 or later.  This
after a survey of 24 mainstream car manufacturers by the
publication has revealed that 50 percent do not offer any
digital radio units for their model range, even as an
optional extra.  Also, almost 60 per cent of new vehicles
registered this in the U.K. this year came with no option
for the installation of a digital radio receiver.  (Auto
Express, Southgate)

**

WORDBEAT:  BELEGIUM HAMS ASSIST IN NEW FREE WIFI SYSTM

The Belgian national society the U-B-A reports on the
involvement of radio amateurs in getting free WiFi in the
city of Geraardsbergen.  The UBA says that O6RY and ON3FDS
worked with the city officials to bring about the new WiFi
service and in the process generated some valuable public
relations for the amateur radio in that nation.  More about
this story is on-line at tinyurl.com/ham-radio-wifi
 (Southgate)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  EQUISAT HAM-SAT TO CARRY OPTICAL BEAON

Students at the Brown University are developing an amateur
radio satellite called EQUiSat that will carry an
interesting optical beacon.  The bird will use a Xenon Flash
Tube that should be visible to the unaided eye of observers
on Earth.  A radio beacon is planned to operate in the 435
to 438 MHz range.  Launch is hoped for in the 2015 time
frame into an orbit of about 300 kilometers.  That should
give the satellite a life-time of a couple of months.

(EQUiSat, Southgate)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  BUAA-SAT PLANNED FOTR 2014 LAUNCH

BUAA-SAT is a micro-satellite project developed by the
students of Beijing University carries an amateur radio 435
and 145 MHz FM voice transponder.  Plans call for it to be
launched into a 600 by 800 kilometer Sun Synchronous Orbit
in late 2014.  Its primary missions are to study the
application of components used in the onboard electronic
system, to demonstrate the coil-able mast deployment
mechanism and to carry out imaging using three CMOS cameras.
More is on-line at http://sat.buaa.edu.cn/

(AMSAT-UK)

**

ON THE AIR:  SAGA INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FESTIVAL

On the air, please listen out for special event callsign 8-J-
6-B-A-L to be aired on all bands and modes between through
November 5th in celebration of the 2012 Saga International
Balloon Fiesta.  This is an Asian maximum grade Hot Air
Balloon International Festival in Saga City, Japan.  More
information is on-line at www (dot) sibf (dot) jp slash e.
QSL via the JARL bureau.

(Southgate)

**

DX

In DX, word that ON4AFU will be on the air from Ko Butang
Island October 26th to November 4th as HS0ZJF stroke 9.  He
will be active on High Frequency bands on CW only.  QSL via
ON4AFU

7L4DXT and K1GI will be operational from Sint Maarten
Island from November 18th to the 24th as
PJ7XK and PJ7I respectively. They will be active on 160
through 10 meters on CW, SSB and some Digital modes.  QSL
PJ7XK via 7L4DXT and PJ7I via JG2BRI

KI5SF reports that he will be operational portable KH6 from
about 0100 UTC October 26th to 10:00 UTC October 27th.
Listen out for him on 160 through 6 meters except for 60
meters on SSB and CW.  QSL to KI5SF.

A group of operators from Switzerland will be active
from Aitutaki Island in the Cook Island chain from November
12th to the 30th using the call signs E51C, E51ABS, E51BZD
and E51CHX.  Listen out for them on 80 through 10 meters
using CW, SSB, and PSK.  QSL this operation via HB9BXU

JA7HMZ and JA7EPO will be active from Pohnpei Island from
November 23rd to the 28 as V63DX and V63EPO.  They also plan
to operate in CQ World Wide DX CW Contest on November 24th
and 25th as V6A.  QSL V63DX via JA7HMZ, V63EOP via
JA7EPO and V6A via JA7HMZ.

JH1EAQ will be active from Palau in CQ World Wide DX SSB
Contest On October 27th and 28th as T88EB.  QSL via home
call only.

Lastly, looking to the future comes word that G3SWH and
G3RTE will be active from Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon
Islands from February 18th to the 28th of 2013.  The
callsign to be used will be H44KW operating on 80 through 10
meters using CW only.  QSL via G3SWH direct or via the
bureau.

**

THAT FINAL ITEM:  BIG ANTENNA WIN DOWN-UNDER ANGERS
NEIGHNORS

And finally this week, a New Zealand ham has won a major
tower and antenna victory but his neighbors are far from
happy with the city council's decision.  This, even before
the antenna system is erected.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim
Meachen, Zed-L-2-B-H-F, reports from down-under:

--

Pyes Pa, New Zealand residents concerned about the proposed
installation of a 20 meter high radio antenna are
disappointed that the Tauranga City Council won't fight a
legal battle on their behalf.

Residents of Veda Glen have petitioned the city council to
appeal an Environment Court decision which allows amateur
radio enthusiasts to erect radio masts up to 20 meters or 65
feet high.  They say a radio antenna proposed by a neighbor
would be an eyesore, create wind noise and devalue their
properties.

While Councilors seemed to sympathize with the residents'
plight they also said that based on their legal advice, an
appeal to the High Court would be pointless.  The council
had previously tried to restrict private radio masts to a
maximum height of 9 meters or about 30 feet.  However an
appeal to the Environment Court by the Tauranga Emergency
Communications Group and the New Zealand Association of
Radio Transmitters saw the maximum height raised to the 20
meter maximum.

Council senior policy planner Campbell Larking told
councilors approximately $100,000 New Zealand dollars had
been spent fighting the case in the Environment Court, and
he estimated an appeal to the High Court would cost another
$50,000.  Also that a High Court ruling would not be binding
and the matter would simply be sent back to the same
Environment Court judge to re-consider.

A resolution proposed by Councilor Murray Guy, which sought
to launch an investigation into Environment Court and City
Plan processes in order to enhance community consultation
did not find enough support and failed.

The bottom line is that the unnamed ham can put up his 65
foot high mast along with the antenna that will sit on top
of it.  It's unknown when that installation will be
completed.

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

--

Outside the chambers, the residents said a legal challenge
was outside their reach and they were disappointed the
council had backed away from fighting the case on their
behalf.  (bayofplentytimes.co.nz)

**

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, near Houston Texas saying 73 and we
thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2012.  All rights

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