The following is a QST. Ham radio relief efforts continue in the Philippines; the long awaited United Kingdom FUNcube One ham satellite is now on-orbit; a new 76 Gigahertz record is set in Great Britain; lots of FCC enforcement action and the Consumer Electronics Association issues its Annual Trends to Watch. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1894 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO CONTINUES TO ASSIST IN THE PHILIPPINES Even though it's been more than three weeks since Typhoon Haiyan laid waste to many parts of the Philippines, much of that nations telecommunications infrastructure is still not operational. As such, ham radio operators continue to be a primary information conduit into and out of those areas stricken by the storm. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the latest: -- The Philippine-based Ham Emergency Radio Operation or HERO stations are still at work providing help and communications after deadly Typhoon Haiyan, also known as Typhoon Yolanda wreaked its destruction in the central Philippines. The current official death toll of 5,200 puts the Category-5 storm that landed on November the 8th as the worst typhoon in the archipelago, with its 314-km/h winds generating storm surges in coastal villages and devastating main cities. As previously reported, in anticipation of the arrival of the super storm the Philippines Amateur Radio Association or PARA activated its HERO network. This after having already faced many storms this year and an earthquake in October. PARA's Vice Chief Operating Officer is Ramon Anquilan, DU1UGZ. He reports that in some areas mobile phone service is now available, but is patchy and unreliable. The same is true with electric mains power. DU1UGZ says that he knew that amateur radio emergency communications was effective, and the results saw many tearful moments when local people were able to get their message through to loved ones elsewhere. Meantime, HERO stations have worked with the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the National Telecommunications Commission, communities and non- government organizations. The frequency of 7 dot 095 MHz and several others are still in use and PARA thanks the world's ham radio community for keeping them clear for emergency traffic. As we go to air, PARA continues to work closely with authorities and hopefully obtain increased recognition of the HERO network. A very good job continues to be done by a group of truly dedicated ham radio volunteers. With much of the information in this report provided by Jim Linton VK3PC, who is the Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reporting from the South Island in Nelson, New Zealand for the Amateur Radio Newsline. -- It appears as if ham radio assistance in the aftermath of this killer typhoon will be ongoing for some time to come. (VK3PC) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: UK FUNCUBE 1 HAMSAT NOW IN SPACE When the FUNcube-1 satellite was first reached orbit its beacon transmitting just 30 milliwatts. And in a time compressed recording, it sounded like this: -- Actual FUNcube-1 audio (time compressed) -- That was recorded on Fun Cube-1's very first pass over Croatia by Adam Alicajic, 9A4QV and posted to YouTube not long after the United Kingdom built ham radio satellite was declared to be on-orbit. We removed the long pauses between telemetry tones and did some noise reduction so you can get an idea as to what those first signals sounded like. For its first two orbits FUNcube-1 was in this Safe Mode with the beacon transmitting low power just of only 30 milliwatts. The satellite was then commanded into Educational Mode which increased the power to 300 milliwatts. This enabled it to be copied on a SSB handheld with just a whip antenna. By way of background, a Russian Dnepr launch vehicle carried FUNcube-1 and 18 other ham radio payloads successfully to orbit at 07:10 UTC on Thursday, November 21st. Approximately 8 minutes later, FUNcube-1 was deployed into orbit. Soon after the first telemetry was successfully received, decoded, and uploaded to the FUNcube Data Warehouse by ZS1LS and ZS6BMN in South Africa. Needless to say that there was a huge cheer and the FUNcube-1 Project team toasted the successful launch. Soon afterward the new bird was given the official designation of AMSAT-OSCAR-73 but it's expected to be known as FUNcube-1 by the ham radio public. FUNcube-1's telemetry downlink is on 145.935 MHz running in the BPSK mode. The control team is encouraging all stations who may receive the telemetry to record it and upload it to the Data Warehouse at tinyurl.com/funcube-data. More about the overall Funcube -1 mission and its objectives can be found on the web at funcube.org.uk. The full length unedited audio clip is at tinyurl.com/fun-cube-sound (FUNcube-1, Southgate, YouTube) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: WREN NOT HEARD SINCE LAUNCH Meantime another new hamsat has not been as lucky. The WREN microsat team reports that it has had no confirmed reception of the signal from its Slow Scan TV Pocket Qube satellite which was launched on November 21st. The tiny bird is supposed to be transmitting on 437.405 MHz +/- 10 kHz for Doppler shift. The length of the beacon is 1.6 seconds and it is AFSK modulated. The team says that it needs help from every amateur radio operator and ground station operator it can get. More is at tinyurl.com/wren-in-space and at www.facebook.com/StaDoKo. (Southgate) ** RADIO RECORDS: UK RADIO AMATEURS EXTEND 76 GHZ DISTANCE RECORD Another new United Kingdom distance record of 80 miles has been achieved on 76 GHz. This on Saturday November 23rd with contacts between Brown Clee Hill in Shropshire and Winter Hill, Lancashire Operating on three separate millimeter bands of 24, 47 and 76 GHz, were Ian Lamb, G8KQW, and John Hazell, G8ACE, at Brown Clee Hill. At the other end of the path at Winter Hill were Roger Ray,G8CUB, with John Wood G4EAT who was operating the 76GHz station. Contacts on all three bands were made using narrow-band FM. Signals on 76GHz were exchanged for one hour with some QSB. This likely due to changes in atmospheric conditions along the path. This success follows closely on the heels of the previous distance record that was set by Lamb and Hazell on September 14th with a contact over a 63 point 3 mile path. (Southgate) ** BREAK 1 Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the Twin City Amateur Radio Club net serving Champaign and Urbanna Illinois. (5 sec pause here) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC ORDERS KANSAS HAM TO PAY $4000 FINE FOR OPERATING AN UNLICENSED RADIO STATION The FCC has ordered a ham to pay a $4000 monetary forfeiture but not for violating any of the Part 97 Amateur Service rules. Rather the FCC says that Glen Rubash, KC0GPV, operated the unlicensed radio transmitter on 88.3 MHz in the city of Manhattan, Kansas and Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, is here with the details: -- According to the FCC, on December 5, 2012, the Enforcement Bureau's Kansas City Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability to Monetary Forfeiture in the amount of $15,000 to Glen Rubash, KC0GPV. As reflected in the order there was no mention of any Part 97 violation. Rather, on September 26 and 27, 2012, agents from the Kansas City Office determined that an unlicensed radio station was operating from a detached garage in Manhattan, Kansas. The agents determined that Rubash had secured space and operated the unlicensed radio station. On September 27, 2012, the FCC says that Rubash admitted over the telephone to its agents that he installed and owned the station's radio transmitting equipment. He also demonstrated control over the station by stating that he would refuse to surrender the equipment to the agents from the Kansas City Office if required to do so. In his subsequent written response, the regulatory agency says that Rubash requested cancellation or reduction of the proposed forfeiture. The FCC said that even though Rubash admitted via telephone interview to making the admissions, he later asserted that his statements were based on incorrect information. More specifically, in his written response he stated that he owned and installed a low power FM radio transmitter but that it operated within Part 15 unlicensed limits. He also claimed that it was only able to reach 300 feet beyond the garage housing the station. Also that its purpose was to teach a small group of college and high school students how to operate a community radio station. Rubash want on to say that he attached his transmitter to a home-built antenna supplied by one of the students. He claims no knowledge of the radio transmitter that was in place when the agents inspected the station on September 27, 2012, because he was absent from the station from late July until September 29, 2012, due to illness. He went on to assert that someone must have replaced the transmitter while he was recuperating and claims that he should not be held responsible for unlawful actions which occurred during his absence. Finally, as an alternative, Rubash claimed that he is unable to pay the original forfeiture and requests a reduction. But in denying most of Rubash's requests the FCC said that it affirmed the Notice of Apparent Liability finding that he violated Section 301 of the Communications Act by using equipment without the required Commission authorization. However based on the financial documents provided by Mr. Rubash, the FCC said it found sufficient basis to reduce the forfeiture to $4,000 and that's the amount that he has been ordered to pay. For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, reporting. -- As is usual in these matters, Rubash was given the customary thirty days from the November 21si affirmation of the fine to pay in full or make arrangements with the FCC to pay on an installment plan. If he fails to do one or the other the matter will be turned over to the Department of Justice for enforcement of the forfeiture. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: OKLAHOMA CB OPERATOR FINED $15000 FOR USING LINEAR AMP The FCC has issued a $15,000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture to Carlton Lewis, of Enid, Oklahoma. This for his alleged operation of a Citizens Band radio operator with an external power amplifier in violation of the Commissions Part 95 rules. Back this past May 14th an agent from the Enforcement Bureau's Dallas Office T-hunted down a strong signal on 27.1850 MHz which is CB Channel 19. He found it was coming from Lewis' residence in Enid. The agent observed an antenna mounted on the roof of the home and traced a coaxial cable from the antenna into the residence. The agent knocked on the door of the residence but no one answered the door for over 30 minutes. A person eventually answered the door and claimed that Mr. Lewis was not at home. However a few minutes later Carlton Lewis appeared and showed the agent his CB transmitter, which was warm to the touch. The agent observed that no coaxial cables were connected to the CB transmitter but also noted the coaxial cable coming into the residence and traced it to a linear amplifier hidden behind a sofa. The linear amplifier was also warm to the touch. Lewis did not respond when asked whether he had used the linear amplifier. Now in making its determination to issue the $15,000 proposed fine the FCC notes that prior to its May 14, 2013 inspection Lewis CB station that he had been issued two written warnings from the Dallas Office. Both advised him that using a linear amplifier with his CB transmitter voided his authority to operate. Also that it violated the Communications Act and the FCC's Part 95 Rules. The FCC says that the fact that Mr. Lewis operated overpower and used a linear amplifier despite being twice warned in writing that such actions violated the Act and Rules demonstrates a deliberate disregard for the Commission's requirements and authority. As such a proposed fine of $15,000 is warranted in this case. Lewis was given the customary 30 days from the November 26th issuance of the Notice of Apparent Liability to pay or to file an appeal. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC UPHOLDS $14000 FINE FOR SELLING NON CERTIFIED GEAR A California company has been dinged $14,000 by the FCC for making and selling unauthorized radio gear. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details: -- The FCC has issued a monetary forfeiture in the amount of fourteen thousand dollars to Custom Interface Technologies, a Division of Thornstar Corporation, in Joshua Tree, California. This for willfully and repeatedly violating rules against manufacturing and marketing of unauthorized radio frequency devices in the United States. Back on November 17, 2011, the Enforcement Bureau's Los Angeles Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture for fourteen thousand dollars to Custom Interface Technologies for manufacturing and marketing uncertified video assist transmitters. In response to the proposed fine Custom Interface Technologies, did not deny the violations, but requested cancellation of the forfeiture based on its inability to pay. However in affirming the forfeiture amount the FCC says while Custom Interface Technologies did provide the Commission with three years of tax returns and a bank statement to support its claim of an inability to pay, after reviewing of these financial documents that the FCC says that it declines to reduce the forfeiture amount and that the $14,000 fine is warranted. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles. -- Custom Interface Technologies was given the customary 30 days from the November 13th release date of its order affirming the fine to pay the amount in full. If it fails to do so the case may be referred to the U.S. Department of Justice for enforcement of the forfeiture pursuant to Section 504(a) of the Communications Act. (FCC) ** RESTRUCTURING: BROADCASTERS AND DOD AGREE ON NEW SHARING OF 1755 TO 1780 MHZ House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden, W7EQI, say that they welcome the National Telecommunications and Information Administration's endorsement of an important agreement. This between the Department of Defense and the National Association of Broadcasters on the relocation of a parcel of government spectrum to shared use. The agreement was reached after bipartisan committee leadership worked with the Department of Defense, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission. It paves the way for the Department of Defense to move systems out of the 1755 to 1780 MHz band by creating a sharing arrangement between it and the broadcast community in the shared use of the Broadcast Auxiliary Service. This spectrum is used by news organizations to originate material such as breaking news stories from outside of studio facilities. More is on the web at tinyurl.com/DOD-BROADCAST-SHARING. (House Energy & Commerce Committee release) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: FCC CHAIRMAN ADDS FOUR TO HIS SENIOR STAFF Some names in the news. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has announced four new members to his Senior Staff. Those named are Shannon Gilson, who comes on board as Communications Director and Head of the Office of Media Relations; Jonathan Chambers as Chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis; Gary Epstein, as Special Advisor to the Chairman on Incentive Auctions and John Leibovitz who will serve as a Special Advisor to the Chairman for Spectrum Policy. (FCC) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE3PU AND VE6NM INDUCTED TO THE CANADIAN AMATEUR RADIO HALL OF FAME The Board of Trustees of the Canadian Amateur Radio Hall of Fame has announced the induction of the late Ken Pulfer, VE3PU, and the late Earle Smith, VE6NM, to the Hall of Fame for 2013 year. The families of the two inductees will be receiving this award in their loved ones honor in early 2014. A summary of their contributions to amateur radio will be published in an upcoming issue of "The Canadian Amateur" magazine. (VE7EF) ** BREAK 2 With you every week, 52 weeks a year since 1977, we are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur: (5 sec pause here) ** D-STAR NEWS: HF TESTING CONTINUES FROM NORTH AMERICA Kent Hufford, KQ4KK, reports that the International D-STAR HF Testing Net is continuing in North America with its just issued winter schedule. Net sponsors say that they routinely have two way communications coast to coast, north to south, and have had two way contacts to Europe and Japan. The net is on each band only for 5 minutes and will spend less time if a given band is dead. The net also may need to move early or if the frequency is busy. It's also wise for D-STAR operators to monitor reflector REF030C to coordinate. Also, please keep an eye on hf.dstar-relay.net for the latest information. A video demonstration of how all this comes together is on YouTube at tinyurl.com/DSTAR-ON-HF. (KQ4KK, VHF Reflector) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: CALL FOR PAPERS AT THE 2014 SOUTH AFRICA RTA SYMPOSIUM The South African Radio League has put out a call for papers to be presented at the Radio Technology in Action symposium or to be included in the symposium CD. The event is slated for July of 2014 and if you have a subject that you would like to present at the Radio Technology in Action please send a synopsis by not later than December 15th to rta (at)sarl.org.za. Be sure to include your e-mail and other contact details. (SARL) ** RADIO IN SPACE: MAVEN MISSION TO EXPLORE MARS PAST A NASA spacecraft is headed toward Mars where its study of the upper atmosphere of the Red Planet. This in the hope of finding out how what was ione believed to be a warm planet became what it is today. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff Clark, K8JAC, has the details: -- The multi million dollar Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution or Maven mission began its 10-month voyage on Monday, November 18th atop an Atlas Five launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station with the mission spacecraft deploying 53 minutes after liftoff. After separating from the launch rocket, the mission spacecraft successfully set out its solar arrays with radio telemetry showing that all systems were reportedly functioning well early in into the flight. Maven is expected to arrive at Mars on September 22, 2014 after which it is expected to drop into an elliptical orbit around the Red Planet flying between 78 miles and 3,900 miles above the planets surface. Previous missions have found evidence that water once flowed on the surface of Mars indicating conditions that would have required a warmer, denser atmosphere than exists today. Mars now is a cold, dry desert with a very thin atmosphere. These are conditions under which liquid water would freeze or evaporate. Scientists want to know where the water and gasses from Mars' early, thicker atmosphere went and they hope that data radioed back from the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution mission will provide an answer. As an aside, maven is a Yiddish term meaning a trusted expert in a particular field, who seeks to pass knowledge on to others. It was derived from the Hebrew language where it related to one who understands, based on an accumulation of knowledge. Kind of very apropos name for this mission into Mars past. I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC. -- More is on the web at tinyurl.com/maven-to-mars. (NASA, Wikipedia) ** ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF SIR JAGADEESH CHANDRA BOSE On the air, keep an ear open for special event station AU2JCB to be active through December 10th. This is to celebrate the 155th anniversary of the birth of Sir Jagadeesh Chandra Bose. Activity for this event will be on 80 through 6 meters SSB, SSTV, PSK and FM. If higher frequency bands are open, operations will be on those as well. The operator will be VU2DSI. QSL direct with 2 International Reply Coupons to VU2DSI at his callbook address. And as a historical note, Sir Jagadeesh Chandra Bose is considered to be India's greatest scientist and inventor. He is also considered to be India's "Father of Wireless Communication." More about his life and his work in communications and other sciences can be found on Wikipedia.com. (Via e-mail) ** DX In DX two more operations have been approved by the ARRL Awards desk for DXCC credit. These are the current 2013 through May 2014 operations of ZS8C and ZS8Z from Prince Edward and Marion Islands. If your request for DXCC credit for these operations has been rejected in an earlier filing, please contact Bill Moore, NC1L, at ARRL headquarters to be placed on the list for an update to your record. His e-mail is bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org. And less we forget to mention, Bill notes that two student hams are expected to join this operation upon completion of their licensing, which will make it four operators. NC1L says that he will update this approval when he has more information. SM6JBC and SM6GOR are on the air from Mauritius Island signing as 3B8JB and 3B8 stroke SM6GOR, respectively. They will be there until December 16th. Activity is on 20 through 10 meters operating CW, SSB, PSK31 and PSK63. QSL via their home callsigns. F5AHO is operating stroke FR Reunion Island through December 4th. Activity is on 20, 17, 15 and 10 meters using SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via F5AHO, either direct or via the bureau. F6ICX is active as 5R8IC from Saint Marie Island and will be there until December 15th. Operations are holiday style using CW, RTTY, and PSK63. QSL via his home callsign. VK3XPT is operating from Raratonga and neighborinh islands as E51XPT. Hes on the air holiday style running only five watts on 40, 20, and 10 meters. QSL only via his home call. Lastly, OH6EI, will again show up from Aland Islands a OH0Z on all bands. No exact dates or operational times were given. QSL via W0MM. (Above from various DX news sources) ** THAT FINAL ITEM: CES FIVE TECHNOLOGY TRENDS TO WATCH And finally this week a look into this future. This as the Consumer Electronics Association releases the 2014 edition of "Five Technology Trends to Watch." This is an annual publication that examines five prominent technology movements that will influence the consumer electronics industry in the years ahead. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, takes a look at what lies ahead: -- According to a press release, this year's "Five Technology Trends to Watch" examines key developments from the Internet to things like driverless cars, digital health care, robotics to the future of video distribution and consumption. Geared toward industry professionals, the publication provides in-depth analysis and outlines related issues and market forecasts for the coming year. Each section also explores consumer perspectives, partnerships, key players and public policy issues. For example, a chapter titled "A Hundred Billion Nodes" looks at how the Internet is using the Web to "learn" consumer habits and needs. The Consumer Electronics Association Senior Manager of Business Intelligence is Jack Cutts. He looks at where the major auto makers are in testing and refining their driverless vehicles. He also expounds on the legal and social implications of ceding the open road to science in "On the Road to Driverless Cars." For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Norm Seeley, KI7UP, watching emerging technology from Scottsdale, Arizona. -- The publication was released during a panel discussion at Consumer Electronics Association Industry Forum in Los Angeles in October. (RW) ** NEWSCAST CLOSE With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio NewslineT. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline'sT only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio NewslineT, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350 For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving holiday from the Amateur Radio Newsline. And as always, 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1894 - November 29 2013
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Friday, November 22, 2013
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1893 - November 22 2013
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1893 with a release date of November 22 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio emergency communications efforts continue in the Philippines; Amateur Radio responds to mid-west tornado outbreak; the ARRL files symbol rate petition with the FCC; the International Space Station celebrates 15 years on-orbit; Wake Island commemorative operation ends with over 100,000 contacts and a mega launch puts 29 new satellites on-orbit. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1893 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RESCUE RADIO FOLLOW-UP: ITU DEPLOYS TO THE PHILIPPINES Post typhoon rescue radio efforts continue in the Philippines. We get the latest from Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF: -- One of the most powerful storms ever recorded hit the central Philippines on November 8 with 314-km/ hour winds that killed about 4,000 people, swept away coastal villages and devastated main cities. The Philippines Amateur Radio Association (PARA) and its Ham Emergency Radio Operation (HERO) network continue to provide emergency communications, although some communications and limited power have recently been restored in many disaster areas. HERO stations have worked with authorities including the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, the National Telecommunications Commission, local communities and non-government organizations. Ramon Anquilan DU1UGZ, Vice Chief Operating Officer of PARA, reports that many are active throughout the archipelago including in most typhoon disaster areas. The news media has taken interest with Ramon DU1UGZ being interviewed, including twice on the BBC and also a US network. Nathan DU5AOK in Tacloban and Ramon have also been on radio station DZBB interviewed by the program anchor Kiko Flores. In one interview Ramon DU1UGZ told how people queued up at a HERO station to get their health and welfare messages out. He knew that amateur radio emergency communications were effective, and the results saw many "tearful moments" when the messages got through. Ramon DU1UGZ said that a group from Don Bosco Technical College Manila including a radio amateur Rey DV1DWJ has reached Borongan and the HERO station of Lester DV5PO. With them was fuel for a generator and he assisted them to set up an HF station. On the Cebu side, Paul Kelly who is a retired US Colnel with the call DU7/N1PK is assisting the Don Bosco effort. PARA Chief Financial Officer, Jojo DU1VHY is a Don Bosco alumni and coordinating its involvement. In other reports another group, FARE-8 of Dipolog City with Roy Garbonera DV8BQI is on a relief mission in Cebu. Roy has roots there and will be on HF. In coming days the CARL club relief effort headed by Sidney Tan, DW7EEE, will join ham club RECON MACE in the Municipality of Daanbantayan, at the northern part of Cebu Island. RECON MACE is assisting a French medical mission at Santa Fe Bantayan Island. A French ham operator Denis Ramelet F5PXF has asked PARA to monitor and assist medical teams, on Santa Fe Island in Bantayan. Ramon DU1UGZ said the relief operators for Tacloban have arrived and backed up Nathan DU5AOK who had been the HERO signal in the town. With thanks to Jim Linton, VK3PC for the information in this report I'm Jim Meachen, in Nelson, New Zealand for the Amateur Radio Newsline. -- The International Telecommunications Union headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, has sent assistance in the form of satellite communications equipment to the areas ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan. Also, some hams have asked how to directly aid their counterparts in the Philippines. You can find that information on the web para.org.ph (VK3PC, PARA, GB2RS) ** RESCUE RADIO: HAMS RESPOND TO MIDWEST TORNADOES At least eight people are dead after a particularly dangerous tornado situation unfolded across the Midwest Sunday, November 17th. The late-season, outbreak of tornadoes and high winds killed six people in Illinois, two in Michigan and injured hundreds of others. Amateur Radio Newsline welcomes our newest reporter Hal Rogers, K8CMD, who has this report: -- According to the ARRL Peoria County ARES Emergency Coordinator Fritz Bock, WD9FMB, ham radio responded with a team of volunteers to a Central Illinois Division Red Cross. This after receiving a request for emergency communication support between various locations in Washington, Illinois. Washington is a town of approximately 11,000 people and news reports say that it is among the hardest hit by the storms with many injuries having taken place there. Communication support was provided between the American Red Cross offices in Peoria, a Methodist Church and the Tazewell County Emergency Operations Center. To the credit of the hams that installed and maintain them, VHF and UHF FM systems remained operational for all of the required communications paths. Even the broadcast media was affected by the severe weather outbreak. A tornado tearing through East Peoria put two anchors for WEEK off the air after the twister hit part of the station's property. At the time the stations Meteorologists were giving viewers on-air updates about an approaching tornado when they said they heard something. They scrambled for shelter at about11:00 a.m., leaving the anchor desk while the station went to a break. It was later reported that the facility suffered some slight roof damage and some power hits that took it off air for a few minutes. Illinois Governor Pat Quinn told reporters today that the storms destroyed or badly damaged upward of 400 homes in Washington, Illinois. The storms also affected Michigan, Indiana, Missouri and Wisconsin. Seven Illinois counties, including Peoria and Tazewell, have been declared disaster areas. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Hal Rogers, K8CMD, in Prama, Ohio. -- In Indiana it was a similar situation as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jack Parker, W8ISH: -- As the multiple storm cells left Illinois they began to pick up strength from afternoon heating. At last count 24 confirmed tornadoes raced across the Indiana landscape leaving massive damage in it's wake. Vincinnes, Indiana experienced an EF2 tornado that was a hundred yards wide and traveled more than 19 miles. Amateur Radio storm spotters from Evansville to the southwest up through Marion, Indiana to the northeast reported funnel clouds and strong winds along the way. EF2 torndoes caused damage in Lafayette, Lebanon, Bedford and numerous Indiana cities. An EF3 tornado devastated Dayton, Indiana just west of Kokomo. The National Weather Service says the Sunday November 17th, outbreak is the third largest such outbreak in one day, in state history. Local, county and state officials credited the National Weather Service and Amateur Radio weather spotters for the advanced warnings as the storms raced across the state at 45 miles per hour. At last report no Amateur Radio Operators were involved with emergency communications following the storms. Thanks to their efforts and the National Weather Service there were no deaths reported in Indiana. Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack Parker W8ISH. -- The storm system eventually moved off shore into the Atlantic, but part of the East Coast experienced heavy winds and rain from its remnants. (W8ISH, ARRL, RW, WEEK-TV, others) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ISS CELEBRATES ITS 15th BIRTHDAY The International Space Station celebrated its 15th birthday on Wednesday, November 20th. This marking the day in 1998 when a rocket lifted to orbit the first piece of what is now the largest man made structure ever built in space. The International Space Station began construction with the arrival on-orbit of the Russian built Zarya Module. This lead to the ongoing international mission to build the orbital outpost one piece at a time. Today, the I-S-S is about the size of a football field with roughly the same amount of livable space as a six-bedroom house. Amateur Radio became a part of the Space Station two weeks after the first two licensed ham radio operators took up residence in it on Expedition One. Since then hams have taken part in all 38 expeditions to this point. Five different space agencies representing fifteen countries have contributed to construction of the $100 billion orbital outpost. (ARNewsline from published news reports) ** BREAK 1 Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WA0FYA Zero Beaters Amateur Radio Club net serving Dutzow and Washington, Missouri. (5 sec pause here) ** FCC NEWS: MAJOR CHANGE COMING TO FCC LEADERSHIP A major leadership change is coming to Homeland Security at the FCC. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with the details: -- FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has announced a major change in leadership at the commission. Wheeler intends to name Rear Admiral David Simpson as Chief of the FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, which oversees emergency alerting. According to the FCC, Admiral Simpson has more than 20 years of information and communications technology experience supporting the Department of Defense. He has also worked closely with other agencies to provide secure communication services and improve cyber defense readiness. Most recently he served as the vice director of the Defense Information Systems Agency. He was also a senior delegate to the 2012 World Radio Telecommunications Conference. From 2009 through 2010 Admiral Simpson was the Director for Communications and Information Services for U.S. Forces Iraq in Baghdad. There he synchronized strategic and operational- level communications for U.S. forces and helped the Iraq government build capacity for the information and communications technology sector. David Turetsky, who had been leading the bureau, will now take on a new role as coordinator of the agency's informal task force on the FCC response to international disasters such as Typhoon Haiyan. In this new capacity he will be drawing from his experience handling domestic United States disaster response. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles. -- As we go to air, the effective date for this change has not been announced. (FCC, RW) ** RADIO RULES: ARRL FILES SYMBOL RATE PETITION WITH FCC The ARRL has asked the FCC for a rules change to delete the current symbol rate limit in part 97.307(f) of the Amateur Service rules. In its place the League wants the regulatory agency to replace it with a maximum bandwidth for data emissions of 2.8 kHz on amateur frequencies below 29.7 MHz. According to the League's petition, the changes proposed would relieve the United States Amateur service of what ARRL terms as outdated, 1980s era restrictions that presently hamper or preclude experimentation with modern high frequency and other data transmission protocols. The proposed rule changes would also permit greater flexibility in the choice of data emissions. Current FCC rules limit digital data emissions below 28 MHz to 300 baud, and between 28 and 28.3 MHz to 1200 baud. The petition notes that transmission protocols are available and in active use in other radio services in which the symbol rate exceeds the present limitations in part 97 but the necessary bandwidths of those protocols are within the bandwidth of a typical High Frequency 3 KHz single sideband transmission. Symbol rate represents the number of times per second that a change of state occurs, and should not be confused with data or bit rate. The two are separate and distinct entities. The ARRL petition was filed November 15th. The FCC has not yet assigned an Rule Making number nor has it put the petition on public notice. As such, at this point there is no way for the ham radio community to file comments until that happens. (ARRL) ** HAM HISTORY: WAKE ISLAND K9W OPERATION CONCLUDES WITH OVER 100,000 CONTACTS The long awaited K9W Wake Atoll Commemorative DXpedition is now a part of ham radio history. The operators went QRT on Friday, November 15th, local Wake Island Time. During their operation the operators put over 100,000 QSOs from 186 discrete DXCC entities in their logbook. The K9W operators say that they are grateful for the opportunity to have honored the Forgotten 98 during our DXpedition. For more details on this historic operation along with QSL routing and any further updates please visit the K9W Web page at www.wake2013.org. (WAKE 2013) ** ENFORCEMENT: ANOTHER FLORIDA UNLICENSED STATION HAS BEEN TAKEN OFF THE AIR The Pinellas Park Police Department Community Redevelopment Area Policing Unit teamed with investigators from the FCC has busted an unlicensed broadcaster. One that was within the city limits of the city of Pinellas Park, Florida. On November 15th investigators determined that Joseph Kervenson of Kenneth City was listed as the Chief Executive Officer of the unlicensed radio station using the call letters of WKMJ. The unlicensed station was operating on 102.1 MHz in the FM broadcast band. During the investigation officers seized the stations transmitter and antenna. Kervenson was charged with unauthorized transmissions to, or interference with, a public or commercial radio station licensed by the FCC. This is 3rd degree felony under Florida state law FSS 877.27. He was booked into the Pinellas County Jail with bail set at $5,000. He has since been released on bond. (KB5TJI, tbnweekly.com) ** COMMUNITY SERVICE: HAMS NEEDED FOR SUTTON MA CHAIN OF LIGHTS Ham radio communicators are being sought for the Massachusetts Sutton Chain of lights festival. This event takes place each year the 1st weekend of December, which this year is the 7th. The festival uses Trolleys to transport people from one site to another. There will be about 9 such Trolleys, which means that at least 10 operators, to run this event. If you live in the Boston area or are planning to be there on December 7th and want to volunteer your services, please e-mail ka1otq (at) arrl (dot) net. More information about the event is on-line at tinyurl.com/sutton-lights-2013 (KA1OTQ) ** EDUCATION: QCWA BOARD APPROVES 14 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS FOR 2014 The Quarter Centaury Wireless Association's Board of Directors has announced the approval of 14 scholarship awards in the amount of $20,000 to be issued in 2014. The QCWA Scholarship Program is administered by Foundation for Amateur Radio, and all applications for scholarship awards must be sent to them at FAR Scholarships, P. O. Box 911, Columbia, Maryland, 21044. Since 1978, some 397 recipients have received over $396,850 in scholarship awards through the QCWA Scholarship Award Program. More information can be found on the Foundation for Amateur Radio website at www.farweb.org/2013-scholarship- application. (VE6AFO, QCWA) ** ON THE WEB: DECEMBER 2013 K9YA TELEGRAPH NOW AVAILABLE The December 2013 issue of the K9YA Telegraph now available. This is a free, general interest monthly amateur radio electronic magazine delivered as a full-color PDF file. This latest issue contains a number of interesting items including Part 2 of an article on International Law and Ham Radio authored by Philip Cala-Lazar, K9PL. To check out sample issues, subscribe or write an article, visit the K9YA Telegraph Web site at www.k9ya.org. (K9YA.org) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: K4AC ELECTED NEW ARRL SOUTHEASTERN DIRECTOR The ARRL Southeastern Division will have a new director come next January 1st. This after ballots counted on November 18th showed that challenger Doug Rehman, K4AC, of Mt Dora, Florida, narrowly defeated incumbent Director Greg Sarratt, W4OZK, of Huntsville, Alabama. This, by a vote of 961 to 949. Rehman was among challengers who ran against Sarratt in 2010. W4OZK has served as a Director since 2007. There will be no change in the Southeastern Division Vice Director position. There, incumbent Jim Millsap, WB4NWS, handily outpolled challenger George Hawrysko, K4AWA by a vote of 1429 to 467 votes. Millsap, of Acworth, Georgia, was appointed in 2012 to complete the term of Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, who resigned when she moved out of the Southeastern Division. (ARRL Bulletin) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: N8SY NAMED NEW OHIO SM EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1 2014 Scott Yonally, N8SY, of Mansfield, Ohio has been named to replace Frank Piper, KI8GW, as Ohio Section Manager effective on January 1st. Yonally holds appointments as an Official Relay Station. He is also an Official Emergency Station and previously served as Public Information Coordinator and District Emergency Coordinator within the Ohio Field Organization. Piper, who has served as the Ohio Section Manager since 2009 cited increased job and family commitments as his reason to stand down. (ARRL) ** BREAK 2 This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur: (5 sec pause here) ** WORKDBEAT: DUTCH TELECOM SAYS BIG INSTANT FINES FOR FM PIRATES The telecommunications regulator in Holland has said its going to get tough with pirate radio broadcast and will be hitting them hard where it hurts the most. In their wallets. Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the details: -- The Netherlands telecommunications regulator Agentschap Telecom says it will no longer simply warn those involved in illegal radio broadcasts but will immediately issue heavy monetary fines. The penalty applies to all illegal FM broadcasts and can cost wrongdoers as much as 60,000 U-S dollars. Up to now, owners of land or buildings where an antenna system is located have received an initial warning letter asking them to stop the illegal broadcasts. A fine was imposed only if it appeared that the station was still in operation after that warning letter was received. Under the agency's new policy offenders will get an instant fine. This applies to all involved including the property owner or tenant where the transmitter is situated, as well as the broadcast operators themselves. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting. -- This action comes after the Dutch Telecommunications Agency revealed that it receives about 1200 complaints each year of interference caused by pirate radio operations. (RW via Radio NL/Novum) ** RADIO LAW: WORKSHOP HELD IN THE SOUTH SUDAN An IARU Region 1 sponsored Radio Spectrum and Regulatory Workshop held with the South Sudan administration on November 15th. Its purpose is to assist the administration with the implementation of amateur radio in that nation. The workshop took place on the compound of the European Union in Juba the capital of South Sudan. Most of the 21 participants work for the South Sudanese Radio Communications Agency, while others represented the Ministry of the Interior. The objectives of this workshop were, among other things, to educate regulators on the creation of their own amateur and amateur-satellite services; to assist the administration on creation of amateur-radio regulations and the related national frequency allocation table and to discuss the amateur radio's benefits for the nations society. South Sudan became an independent country in 2011. Currently amateur radio is allowed only on a provisional basis. There are two resident foreign amateurs who received full amateur privileges. Since 2011 only one DXpedition was active from South Sudan. The workshop was part of a goodwill project in cooperation with Radio Arcala, DX University, the YASME Foundation, Rock City Investments Co, Yaesu Musen Co. Ltd of Japan and the European DX Foundation. You can read more at tinyurl.com/south-sudan-ham-radio-meeting. (Southgate, IARU- R1) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: MEGA SATELLITE LAUNCH PUTS 29 NEW BIRDS ON ORBIT A large number of CubeSats carrying amateur radio payloads were launched from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. The launch occurred at 01:15 UTC on November 19th using an Orbital Sciences Minotaur One that carried among its payloads a high school student-built satellite. Designated as JT3sat it was designed, constructed and tested by students at the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. This is the first time ever that a satellite designed and built by high school students has been launched into Earth orbit. In all, there were twenty-nine satellites were on the launch vehicle of which a dozen operate on Amateur Satellite Service frequencies. Radio amateurs from around the world have reported receiving signals from many of the satellites. For the latest news on all the new birds check the DK3WN satellite blog www.dk3wn.info. (Southgate, Space.com, Yahoo News, other published reports.) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FUNCUBE ON ORBIT Another ham radio bird now on-orbit is the United Kingdom's FUNcube, This is an educational project with the goal of getting young people interested in radio, space, physics and electronics. Its launch was to take place on November 21st at 07.10 GMT. (RSGB) ** ON THE AIR On the air, keep an ear open for special event station DB50FIRAC. It will be active between January 1st and December 31st of 2014. Its purpose is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Federation Internationale des Radio Amateurs Cheminots. QSL via the bureau or electronically using Logbook to the World or eQSL. (Via e-mail) ** DX DC0KK will be on the air from Sri Lanka as 4S7KKG between through April 15th, 2014. His activity will be mainly on CW and the Digital modes. QSL via DC0KK direct, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook to the World on request. All paper QSLs for will be sent via the bureau. F6ICX is reportedly active as 5R8IC from Saint Marie Island until December 15th. His operation is holiday style operating CW, RTTY, and PSK63 on for 20 through 10 meters. QSL via his home callsign as listed on QRZ.com. EA5FL, EA5DY, EA5GVZ and EC5JC will activate special event station EG5MM on December 11th. This in celebration of International Mountain Day. QSL via EA5FL. PU5IKE will be operational as ZW5AAA from Remedios Island between December 7th and 8th. This will be a 10 meters SSB only operation. QSL via PU5IKE direct with a self addressed stamped envelope, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook of the World or eQSL. QSLs from SWLs are also welcome. DL3DXX will be active from Namibia December 24 through January 8, 2014 signing stroke V5. He will be operational on most of the High Frequency bands though modes and times were not announced. QSL via DJ2HD Lastly, F5TLN, who is currently operational stroke OD5 from Lebanon reports that he will be there until April 2014. His activity has been mainly on 15 meter SSB. QSL direct only via his home callsign. (Above from various DX news sources) ** THAT FINAL ITEM: ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER TO BE U.S. TALLEST BUILDING And finally this week, a decision has been made that will give New York City the honor of hosting the tallest building in the United States. This after it was decided that it's very top is not just an antenna support. Amateur Radio Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, reports: -- We don't know if there will ever be a ham radio repeater located at the still under construction One World Trade Center in New York City, but it will be the nation's tallest building when it opens next year. This according to a decision by the Chicago based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat which said that its decision hinged on whether the tower's mast was a spire, which counts in height measurements, or an antenna, which doesn't. Anthony Wood is the executive director of the architectural evaluation group. In issuing the decision he said that even though the cladding was taken off the new buildings spire, one can still see that it is an architectural element and not just a plain steel mast from which to hang antenna or satellite dishes. Currently Chicago's Willis Tower, which used to be known as the Sears Tower is considered as the tallest building in the United States. Completed in 1974 it was once the world's tallest building at 1,451 feet tall. That was eclipsed when Dubai opened its Burj Khalifa which stands at 2,717 feet tall. One World Trade Center is height locked in at a symbolic 1,776 feet high. While its management of One World Trade Center hopes to lure many of the broadcasters that moved back to other sites after the 9/11 al-Quida terror attack that felled the original World Trade Center twin towers, so far no major entity has made up its mind on such a move. Each site has its own advantages and disadvantages so it is not simply a technical, business or operational choice but a combination of the three. Add to that the long-term leases at current broadcast sites such as the Empire State Building, the costs involved in such a move along with uncertainty over the FCC's repacking of the television band and it's easy to understand why many are reticent to commit to such a transmitter relocation. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois. -- One World Trade Center was initially developed by Silverstein Properties and taken over by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey in April 2006. The 104 story building will feature a grand lobby an observation deck with views of the entire metro-area and the spire that's capable of being used as an antenna structure for those who so desire. (Published News Reports) ** NEWSCAST CLOSE With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio NewslineT. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline'sT only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio NewslineT, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350 For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
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Friday, November 8, 2013
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1891 - November 8 2013
Please note that this is an extended Amateur Radio Newsline and includes three breaks. Thank you. Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1891 with a release date of November 8th 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. The following is a QST. AMSAT North America celebrates 30 years of manned ham radio in space; all hams in New Zealand will soon have access to 6 meters; Oregon's Office of Emergency Management says it needs more ham radio volunteers and the FCC acts to stop abuse of EAS alert tones. All this and more on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1891 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF MANNED HAM RADIO IN SPACE The weekend of November 1st to the 3rd was very special for AMSAT North America. Not only was it the organizations 31st Space Symposium and Annual Meeting, but also a very special celebration of a giant step by ham radio as it crossed into the final frontier. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the rest of the story: -- The weekend gathering in Houston, Texas, marked AMSAT's celebration of the 30th anniversary of amateur radio involvement in human space flight. It also told the story of its evolution into a successful program on board the International Space Station which is known as today as ARISS. But to tell the story we must step back three decades. It was in November of 1982 when then Astronaut Owen Garriott, W5LFL became the first ham radio operator to use amateur radio to communicate from a spacecraft in Earth orbit. It was also the first time that anyone on mother Earth who held a ham radio license got to speak with an astronaut on-orbit. As such it was an event that changed the face of ham radio forever. If you weren't there, this is what that first QSO from space sounded like: -- Actual 1st QSO between W5LFL on the space shuttle Columbia and WA1JFN in Frenchtown, Montana from the video "Amateur Radio's Newest Frontier." (Note QSO was time compressed.) -- That was shuttle flight STS-9. From that initial contact evolved the Shuttle Amateur Radio Experiment or SAREX program with its 25 space to schoolroom contacts. That later grew into today's ARISS: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. And in an interview on NASA television, AMSAT's Vice President for Human Spaceflight Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, told NASA Public Affairs Officer Kelly Humphries just how far the program has come since the ARISS ham station took to the air: -- KA3HDO: "In 1996 we started the ARISS program; Amateur Radio on the International Space Station and that program has been going very well on the space station. We turned on the radio system two weeks after Bill McArthur and Sergi Krikalev got into the module on Space Station and we have been operating since on all 37 expeditions at this point." -- According to Bauer, using ARISS as a way to educate is very important to everyone involved: -- KA3HDO: "It's all about education. It's to get students interested in STEM careers; science, technology, engineering and math. We go beyond just inspiring into engaging the students and educating the students. Ultimately that's our goals and objectives of the program." -- These days there are about 100 ARISS school contacts made world-wide every year. There are also the experiments with Packet Radio, Fast Scan and Slow Scan television plus the casual operations from orbit by some licensed crew members. When added together you come away with a ham radio in space program that cannot be duplicated by any other all volunteer radio service. And now at age 30, manned ham radio in space is not only alive and vital, but through ARISS, it's going strong. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom in Los Angeles. -- Another part of the celebration was a panel presentation hosted by KA3HDO and included discussions with retired NASA Astronaut's Owen Garriott, W5LFL, and Bill McArthur, KC5ACR. And less we forget, you can see and hear the complete interview with Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and NASA's Kelly Humphries on the web. It's at tinyurl.com/thirty-years-in- space. (ARNewsline archive, NASA, AMSAT-NA, ANS) ** RADIO IN SPACE: INDIA LAUNCHES ITS FIRST MARS PROBE India's first-ever mission to Mars launched into space on Tuesday, November 5th. India's Mars Orbiter Mission rocketed into space at 09:08 GMT from the Indian Space Research Organization's Space Centre. If all goes as planned it will arrive at the red planet on September 24, 2014, making India the fourth country to successfully deliver a spacecraft to orbit Mars. (Space) ** RESTRUCTURING: CLOSING OF CHANNEL 1 TV BRINGS 6 METERS TO ALL NEW ZEALAND HAMS With the imminent departure of television transmission from New Zealand TV channel 1, hams throughout that nation will have access to the lower Megahertz of 6 meters as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF: -- The last Channel 1 Television transmitter in New Zealand is due to close down at the end of November. And now telecommunications regulator Radio Spectrum Management has announced that as of December 6th that hams throughout the nation will have access from 50 to 51 MHz without needing to apply for a permit. The actual allocation which is called a management right under which the channel 1 television transmitters operated does not expire until August 2015. Therefore 50 to 51 MHz can not appear on the Amateur General User Radio License until after this date. To get around this, Radio Spectrum Management is putting in place a footnote called license No 4122. It simply says that those who hold a New Zealand General Amateur Operators Certificate of Competency and a callsign issued pursuant to the Radiocommunications Regulations of 2001 may operate an amateur radio station under this new grant. The power limit will be 1 kilowatt to bring it into line with the power on the nations General User Radio License for Amateur Operators. When the actual Management Right expires on August 30th of 2015, 50 to 51 MHz will be added to the New Zealand General User Radio License for Amateur Operators. For the Amateur Radio Newsline I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, down- under in Nelson, New Zealand. -- This long sought after change comes just in time for the annual New Zealand VHF/UHF and Super High Frequency Field Day Contest slated for December 7th and 8th, local time. (NZART) ** RESCUE RADIO: OREGON OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SEEKING MORE AMATEUR RADIO OPERATORS A recent simulated emergency test in Oregon has pointed out a need for more ham radio communications volunteers in that state. The scenario of the event centered around the simulated hacking on the electric power grid that in turn cut off both telephone and internet access. As such the test planners had identified amateur radio as the fallback method of communication. While the exercise was considered a success, it also pointed out one of the current vulnerabilities. That being a lack of qualified amateur radio operators east of the Cascade Mountain range. While the state has about 700 licensed volunteer ham radio operators to help run the emergency communications system, most are in Western Oregon. Morrow, Grant and Jefferson counties have no volunteers. Other counties have as few as 1. So the bottom line is that more emergency communications trained amateur radio volunteers are needed in the eastern part of the state. More on this story is at tinyurl.com/oregon-needs-emcomm- hams. (OPB) ** DX UP FRONT: MYANMAR NOVEMBER 15 TO THE 26 Some breaking DX news. Word that JH1AJT and an international group of 10 other operators will be on air from Myanmar from November 15th to the 26th. This will be the third and final operation for 2013 from X-Z land. As we go to air the proposed call sign is X-Zed-1-J and plans are to set up three to four stations, running 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 160 through 10 meters. Modes will likely be CW, SSB and RTTY with QSL's preferably going via OQRS. (XZ1J Team) ** DX UP FRONT: YEMEN AND AFGHANISTAN OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT And word from ARRL Awards Branch Manager Bill Moore NC1L, that several operations have been approved for DXCC credit. These are Yemen 2013 using the call 7-Oh-2-A and the 2012 and 2013 operations from Afghanistan as T-6-M-H. Also approved has been the current T-6-S-M Afghanistan operation that began on August 14, 2012. If anyone had this contact rejected in a recent submission, please send an e-mail to bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org to be placed on the list for an update to your record. Please be sure to note the submission date to help expedite the search for any given QSO. And we will have more DX news for you near the end of this weeks newscast. (ARRL, OPDX) ** BREAK 1 Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W0ILO repeater serving Fargo, North Dakota. (5 sec pause here) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC SAYS FLUORESCENT LIGHTING JAMMING CELLPHONE SITE The FCC has issued a violation notice to a Texas business because it's new lighting is interfering with a cellular telephone site. Skeeter Nash is near Houston with more: -- It doesn't happen very often but the FCC has issued an official Citation and Order for violation of Section 15.5(b) of the Commission's regulations governing what are called Incidental Radiators. In this case the recipient is Ronald Bethany doing business as Perfect Cuts Salon in San Antonio, Texas, who is being cited for operating incidental radiators and causing harmful interference to a cellular telephone system. This past July 24th the FCC's Houston Office used direction finding techniques to locate the source of an unknown transmissions on 705 MHz to the Perfect Cuts Salon. The agent confirmed that the interfering signal was coming from the overhead fluorescent lighting in the salon. The agent then interviewed Bethany who is the owner of the salon. He reportedly stated that representatives of AT&T had conducted on and off testing of the lighting in the salon and confirmed that the interior fluorescent fixtures were the source of interference to a cell site located next door. Bethany further stated that he had unsuccessfully asked General Electric, the manufacturer of the fluorescent lighting, to replace the lighting. The FCC says that Bethany would not cooperate, so the agent from the Houston Office was unable to conduct his own on/off testing of the lighting in the salon. The agent verbally warned Bethany that he must repair or replace the lighting fixtures to resolve the interference. On July 31, the agent spoke by telephone with Bethany, who stated that the lighting was not causing him any problems and that he saw no reason to repair or replace them unless he was paid to do so. The agent reiterated to Bethany that he must resolve the interference or be in violation of the FCC's rules. As of the October 25th release date of the Citation AT&T continues to report receiving interference at its cell site next door to Mr. Bethany's salon. Now, based on the evidence it has on hand the FCC has found that Ronald Bethany is in violation Of Section 15.5(b) of its Rules by operating incidental radiators and causing harmful interference. It has directed him to cease operation of the incidental radiators immediately. Or in simpler terms, it basically told him to turn off the lights until the interference can be resolved. From near Houstron Texas, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH. -- Bethany and Perfect Cuts were given the normal time to respond and take corrective measures or face further enforcement action. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC ACTS TO STOP USE OF FALSE EMERGENCY ALERT SOUNDS Responding to a growing number of consumer complaints that TV and radio commercials are misusing the Emergency Alert System or E-A-S sounds the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has taken action to stop the practice immediately. This is according to Robert H. Ratcliffe who is the Acting Chief of the FCC's Enforcement Bureau. In a press statement, Ratcliffe said that it is inexcusable to trivialize the sounds specifically used to notify viewers of the dangers of an incoming tornado or to alert them to be on the lookout for a kidnapped child, merely to advertise a talk show or a clothing store. This activity not only undermines the very purpose of a unique set of emergency alert signals, but is a clear violation of the law. Caught by FCC Enforcement is Turner Broadcasting. It has been issued a $25,000 Notice of Apparent Liability for using simulated E-A-S tones to promote its Conan O'Brian Show. The FCC also reached a resolution with MMK License LLC which owns WNKY - DT in Bowling Green, Kentucky. In that case the complaint alleged misuse of a simulated EAS Attention Signal in an advertisement for "The Fan Wear and More Store." Settling that case cost MMK a $39,000 voluntary contribution to the U.S. Treasury in the form of a Consent Decree. The Enforcement Bureau has also issued an advisory to address growing concern about the misuse of these sounds to capture audience attention during advertisements and at other times when there is no emergency or scheduled E-A-S test. The warning reemphasizes the wide-ranging and long- standing ban on such abuses and the potential for sanctions in the case of violations. More on this E-A-S enforcement action is on the web in PDF format at tinyurl.com/dont- misuse-eas-tones. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: ALASKA CB OPERATOR FINED $500 FOR USING LINEAR AMP The FCC has fined Glenn S. Yamada, of Kenai, Alaska, $500 for what the agency terms as his willful and repeated operation of a non certificated Class D CB transmitter and a linear amplifier. This in direct violation of its Part 95 Citizens Radio Service rules. On July 18, 2012, the Enforcement Bureau's Anchorage Resident Agent Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $12,500 to Yamada for operating a non- certificated CB transmitter with a radio frequency linear amplifier which voided his authority to operate his CB station. In response to that notice, Yamada did not deny the violations, but stated that he had not intend to violate the Communications Act or the FCC Rules and that he is unable to pay that high an amount. He also provided the necessary documentation to prove his claim. In issuing its final ruling on October 30th, the FCC said that based on financial documents Yamada provided that it found there is sufficient basis to reduce the fine to $500. And as is customary, it gave Yamada 30 days to pay the amount in full or to arrange making full payment over time under an installment plan. If he fails to do one or the other the case can be turned over to the Department of Justice for further enforcement action. The complete text of the Forfeiture Order is on the web in P-D-F format at tinyurl.com/alaska-cb-fine (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC UPHOLDS FINE AGAINST CONSUMER TRANSMITTER MANUFACTURER The FCC affirmed an earlier decision to fine Hong Kong based Richfield Electronics $18,000 for marketing wireless radio gear in the United States that does not comply with its technical and labeling requirements. Richfield received FCC certification for its 106.7 to 107.9 Whole House FM Transmitter in 2002, but later modified it to improve sound quality. The modification made it noncompliant with the FCC's rules. The Enforcement Bureau originally proposed the penalty in 2009. In its response to the proposed fine, Richfield told the FCC it didn't know exactly how many of the noncompliant devices the company had shipped to the United States, but conceded it had shipped at least 2,500 transmitters that had the modified antenna. The FCC believes the number of noncompliant devices made and sold was significantly higher than Richfield acknowledges. Richfield asked for the fine to be cancelled, alleging that TAW asked Richfield to make the devices based on that company's designs and therefore TAW and not Richfield was responsible for violating the FCC's rules. However the commission says Richfield did manufacturer and market unauthorized FM transmitters in the U.S. Richfield also asked for the fine to be cancelled because it was unfamiliar with the FCC's labeling requirements. The FCC says lack of knowledge of its rules does not let a company off the hook and the agency upheld the fine. (FCC) ** RADIO LAW: FCC RELEASES AM REVITALIZATION PROPOSAL The FCC has released its AM revitalization proposal as a Notice of Proposed Rule Making in MB Docket 13-249. Its contents include an exclusive FM translator filing window for AM stations, changes in community of license coverage standards, the end of the so called AM "ratchet rule," wider implementation of modulation-dependent carrier level control standards, and changes in AM antenna efficiency standards. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details: -- The FCC revitalization plan has many facets. The proposed translator filing window would allow AM stations one chance at a single FM translator within the stations AM daytime signal coverage contour. It would be permanently linked to the AM so that it may only be sold or transferred with the underlying AM license and not by itself. The change in community of license coverage would reduce the requirement from 100% daytime and 80% nightime to 50% daytime and night coverage within the 60 dBu contour. This is the same as it is for noncommercial educational FM stations. The proposal would also do away with the so-called "ratchet rule." This is the nighttime skywave protection requirement that result in new stations or those moving their transmitter sites having to reduce power or go directional and thereby reducing their nighttime coverage. It would also alter the minimum efficiency standard for AM antennas by reducing the existing minimum effective field strength values. The notice also opens the door for new proposals to help AM stations that include the use of modulation dependent carrier level control. This is a system similar to the old controlled carrier AM techniques used by hams back in the 1950's and 1960's. It's a system where carrier level increases with modulation level, but now on a far more technically advanced level than was available in the old days of ham radio. Experiments have shown a significant reduction in energy costs with no loss in intelligibility or area of coverage using this modulation technique. The bottom line appears to be that the FCC wants AM radio to grow and prosper. The only question is whether these proposed changes are enough to make that happen, For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles. -- Comments on MB Docket 13-249 are due 60 days after publication in the Federal Register, with replies due 90 days after publication. You can read the entire proposal on- line at tinyurl.com/fcc-am-redo (FCC, RW, others) ** 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) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: NEW FCC CHAIR WHEELER NAMES HIS STAFF Newly confirmed FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has announced several staff and other appointments. Ruth Milkman will be his chief of staff. She is currently Chief of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and has worked as special counsel to the chairman for innovation in government. She's former deputy chief of the International and Common Carrier Bureaus and was senior legal advisor to Chairman Reed Hundt. Philip Verveer has been named senior counselor to the Chairman. He is former United States coordinator for international communications and information policy at the State Department, and practiced communications and antitrust law for 35 years. At the FCC he was chief of the Cable Television Bureau, the Broadcast Bureau and the Common Carrier Bureau. Gigi B. Sohn joins as Wheeler's special counsel for external affairs. Since 2001 she has been president and CEO of Public Knowledge, an "open Internet" advocacy organization. More recently co-chair of the board of directors of the Broadband Internet Technical Advisory Group. Diane Cornell was named the chairman's special counsel. She was Vice President for government affairs at Inmarsat and also the Vice President of regulatory policy at CTIA, The Wireless Association. Her FCC background includes working as a legal advisor to three commissioners, chief of staff of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and division chief in the International and Common Carrier Bureaus. Others include Daniel Alvarezwho was named a legal advisor to the chairman, Deborah Ridley who was named confidential assistant to the chairman, and Sagar Doshi as special assistant. Also named to the commission staff are Jon Sallet will serve as interim director of the Technology Transitions Policy Task Force and will become acting general counsel when General Counsel Sean Lev departs in the near future. Jon Wilkins was named acting managing director and advisor to the chairman for management with Roger Sherman becomes acting chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau. It is the latter that oversees matters affecting Amateur Radio at the FCC. (FCC Press release) ** HAMES IN THE NEWS: W3BE FILLS QCWA DIRECTOR VACANCY The Quarter Century Wireless Association's Board of Directors has announced the appointment of John Johnston, W3BE, to fill the Director vacancy of Val Erwin, W5PUT. Johnston has been licensed for 59 years and resides in Derwood, Maryland He is a Life Member of the QCWA, and a member of QCWA Chapters 20, 91, 45 and 222. Johnston is a past QCWA Director, Vice-President and President. He is also the contributing editor of 'The Rules & Regs Digest' for the QCWA Journal. In his professional career, W3BE served for 26 years with the Federal Communications Commission carrying out regulatory duties with the Office of Engineering and with the series of bureaus administering the private radio services. Some of the positions he held included Deputy Chief of the Spectrum Management Task Force and Chief of the Amateur and Citizens Division. Johnston also authors the Rules and Regs column for Worldradio Online magazine. (QCWA) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: ART BELL DEPARTS FROM SIRIUS/XM RADIO Art Bell, W6OBB, who only recently returned to broadcasting, has departed from Sirius/XM Satellite radio after only about a month and a half on the air. According to a posting on his website credited to siriusbuzz.com, his reasons for leaving boiled down to three main items: First is a claim that the SiriusXM's web player is notoriously unreliable, causing a loss of subscribers and a degraded listening experience for those who remain listening online. Second is that for a "caller driven" show, the caller pool is just too small and lastly that international listeners have no legitimate way to hear the show. According to siriusbuzz.com, Bell will continue his show on the web. As of late on November 6th he was already testing at http://live.artbell.com:8303/stream. For more information simply go to artbell.com/art-leaves- siriusxm. At the very end of the posting is a link to the siriusbuzz.com news article. (artbell.com, siriusbuzz.com, Huffington Post) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SSTV FROM THE ISS UB4UAD reports that the Slow Scan Television experiment on the International Space Station was active on 145.8 MHz FM on October 28th and 29th. He also says that on October 31st that SSTV images were to be transmitted from the ISS showing photographs of the life and work of the first Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. SSTV pictures received by Pete Sipple, M0PSX can be seen at tinyurl.com/iss-oct-2013-sstv (UB4AUD, Southgate) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: INTERFERENCE TO THE AMATEUR-SATELLITE SERVICE IN THAILAND E22ICQ has posted a video on YouTube that shows the problem of interference to the Amateur Satellite Service allocations taking place in Thailand. Terrestrial users are making signals from the ham radio satellites into tiny heterodynes or signals that are totally inaudible. Take a listen: -- Actual terrestrial signals interfering with weak satellite signals. -- The video shows that terrestrial usage of frequencies reserved for the Amateur Satellite communications such as 145.800 to 146.000 MHz can result in the satellite transmissions being totally blocked and rendered useless. You can see and hear the E-22-I-C-Q recording and spectrum display photos of the interference at tinyurl.com/sat-qrm-in- thailand. (Southgate) ** BREAK 3 Serving you 52 weeks a year, every year since the mid 1970's, we are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and we will be right back. (5 sec pause here) ** EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW TINY PACEMAKER DEVELOPED THAT REQUIRES NO WIRING A miniaturized wireless pacemaker that can be inserted into the body without invasive surgery has been given approval for use in the European Union. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reports: -- Developed in the United States by the company Nanostim, the tiny device is less than 10% of the size of a conventional pacemaker, uses a built-in battery and is designed to be implanted intravenously directly in the heart. Conventional pacemakers require a patient be subject to a surgical procedure so that a pocket can be created in the body to house the pacemaker and associated wiring. Such wires are regarded as the component of pacemakers most likely to fail. By contrast the Nanostim pacemaker is inserted via a catheter inserted through a vein leading to the heart. It has a built-in battery that is expected to last between nine and thirteen years. Eliminating the need for wires lowers the risk of infection or malfunction and means that patients are not restricted in the amount of activity they do, the firm behind the device claims. Currently more than four million people around the world have some sort of cardiac rhythm device with an additional 700,000 people getting one each year. The new pacemaker design has yet to receive full United States Food and Drug Administration approval. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm, Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick, Pennsylvania. -- More on this story is on the web at tinyurl.com/wireless- pacemaker. (BBC) ** EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: INTEL GALILEO BOARD SOON AVAILABLE Intel's Galileo open-source computer can now be ordered and is scheduled to ship at the end of November. Online retailer Mouser Electronics is the first to take orders for the board. The Galileo computer is an unenclosed circuit board that's a little larger than a credit card, and uses Intel's extremely low-power Quark processor. Though higher priced, the Intel board is being called a competitor to the popular Raspberry Pi open-source PC. Both are targeted at the community of makers and hackers who design computing devices ranging from robots and health monitors to home media centers and PC's. Galileo is also expected to become a welcome addition in ham radio development circles as well. (Southgate) ** ON THE AIR: ARECIBO OBSERVATORY ON-THE-AIR THIS SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10. If you are hearing this before Sunday, November 10th, then listen out on 20 meters for station KP4AO. This as part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The operation will be on the air from 1300 until 2000 UTC around 14.250 Mhz. A commemorative certificate will be available for those who make contacts with KP4AO. QSL to Arecibo Observatory Radio Club, HC03, PO Box 53995, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, 00612. The special event is sponsored by the Caribbean Amateur Radio Group and the Arecibo Observatory Radio Club. (WP3GW) ** DX In DX, JF1OCQ will be active as 5W7X from Apia, which is the capital of Samoa, between November 7th and the 14th. Operations will be on 160 through 6 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via JF1OCQ, either direct or by the bureau. E-mail requests for Bureau QSLs can be sent to jf1ocq (at) arrl (dot) net F4FET will be active stroke as 3A from Monaco on November 11th and 12th. His operation will be on 40through 10 meters using SSB. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via the bureau. IK7JWX has informed the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter that his DXpedition to the Island of Zanzibar scheduled for April of 2014 is has been cancelled. The reasons given are technical and logistical constraints. members of the DX Friends will be on the air from an Andres Island as 5J0R until November 10th. Activity was slated for 160 through 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via EA5RM direct. More is on the web at dxfriends dot com/SanAndres2013 EA4ATI says that he will be in Kenya for a couple more years and will be active stroke 5Z4. He is using a Cobwebb antenna with a small amplifier and is active on 30/20/17/15/10 meters. His QSL Manager is EA4YK. JA8BMK will be operational as 9N7BM from Kathmandu and Nagalkot in Nepal between November 8th and the 28th. Activity will be holiday style on all HF bands and he says that he will try to work the United States on 160 and 80 meters if vertical antennas can be put up. QSL via JA8BMK, direct or via the bureau. Lastly, 8P9IU, 8P9TA and 8P9BJ will be on the air from Barbados between December 9th and the 16th. Their main activity will be the ARRL 10 meter Contest on December 14th and 15th using the call 8P8T. Prior to the contest, operators will be using their own callsigns. QSL via KI1U. (Above from various DX news sources) ** THAT FINAL ITEM: IN FLIGHT BAN ON USE OF HAM GEAR TO CONTINUE And finally this week, in the not to distant future airline passengers may not have to turn off all electronic devices prior to takeoff and landing in a commercial jetliner, but anything that has the capability of radiating any RF power will still fall under the current ban. That includes any form of ham radio gear as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephen Kinford, N8WB: -- Under a new set of new FAA guidelines passengers on domestic U.S. flights will be permitted to read, work and listen to music from gate to gate. But they still will not be permitted to talk on their cellphones, directly browse the Internet or use any form of two-way radio through the flight. Internet connectivity will only be permitted on aircraft equipped to provide such a service, usually at a fee. For ham radio operators it means the ban on the use of a hand-helds or other gear operating on any band will continue just as the rules are now. Currently airline passengers are required to turn off their smartphones, laptops, and other devices once a plane's door closes. They're not supposed to use them again until the planes reach 10,000 feet and the captain gives the go-ahead. Passengers are then supposed to turn their devices off again as the plane descends through 10,000 feet to land and not restart them until it is on the ground or at the arrival gate. Under the new guidelines, airlines whose planes are properly shielded from electronic interference may allow passengers to use the devices during takeoffs, landings and taxiing. The FAA says that most new airliners and other planes that have been modified so that passengers can use airline supplied WiFi at higher altitudes are expected to meet the criteria. However to use electronics that normally radiate an RF signal, that feature must be disabled unless instructed otherwise on aircraft with airline supplied WiFi connectivity. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth, Ohio. -- The bottom line is that while most passengers with certain devices will be able to enjoy some relaxation in the rules regarding their use, ham radio operators and users of any other two way radio gear will continue to face a complete ban from operating such devices from boarding a flight to disembarking from it. (Published news reports) ** NEWSCAST CLOSE With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the Southgate News, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio NewslineT. Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline'sT only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio NewslineT, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350 For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in Southern Mississippi, saying 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
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Friday, November 1, 2013
Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1890 - November 1 2013
The following is a closed circuit advisory and not necessarily for air. With a report on Amateur Radio Newsline's current finances, here's our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF: -- Well, the last time I was on here with a financial report I told you that I thought we had enough in the bank to hopefully hold us over the summer months June, July and August, and that I would not be asking for any contributions unless the sky was falling. Sadly, the sky is falling this year. This is mainly because we did not get some of the larger donations that we have come to count on to keep us going over the lean summer months when people are away on vacation. Right now, we only have a couple of hundred dollars left in our bank account. Most of that will vanish as we pay off our financial obligation in regard to presenting this year's Young Ham of the Year Award and the outstanding bills which are quickly piling up. And unlike the years up through October 2009 when I retired from full time employment, I'm now living on fixed income and honestly cannot afford to underwrite the cost of bringing these newscasts to you. To be candid, I do not like to lead off a newscast with an appeal such as this, but we have no other method of getting the word out to you that we need your financial assistance to keep Amateur Radio Newsline on the air, and that we need it now. To all of us involved, each donation is looked upon as an ongoing vote of confidence in the quality of the news and information that we provide each week. And for this I add my personal thank you. Remember, Amateur Radio Newsline is a 501c3, not for profit corporation and your donations are tax deductible. The easiest way to donate is by going to our website at www.arnewsline.org and clicking on the Pay Pal button. Or you can mail a donation to the address you will hear at the end of this weeks newscast. Whichever method you choose, the all volunteer Amateur Radio Newsline team says thank you so much for caring. We promise to do all that we can to continue bringing you the news and information you want to hear about amateur radio and personal communications in the coming years. Thank you. I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, and now this week's newscast. -- Thanks Bill. Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1890 with a release date of November 1 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2- 1. The following is a QST. Australia's WICEN stands down as the brushfire menace eases; A new satellite subband is coming to 2 meters; Congress is asked to consider mandating regularly scheduled EAS tests and the South Sudan will be on the air in mid-November. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1890 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RESCUE RADIO: FOLLOW-UP - AUSTRALIAS WICEN STANDS DOWN AFTER FIRE EMERGENCY The work of ham radio operators in the wildfire response has come to an end down under. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has this follow-up report: -- Australia's WICEN has stood down from its assistance to fire- fighting efforts in the Australian state of New South Wales. This as more favorable weather conditions has lead toward containment of the blazes that threatened the outskirts of the city of Sidney as it raged through the Blue Mountains. WICEN had been activated by the Volunteer Rescue Association to provide manpower after a State of Emergency was declared. Several of its members were sent to Lithgow as part of a Volunteer Rescue Association team 24. The others had been held in reserve for later deployment as needed. With the worst of the emergency now over, WICEN New South Wales President Compton Allen VK2HDX has thanked the ham radio operators who made themselves available in New South Wales time of need. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Nelson, New Zealand. -- In all, the wildfires destroyed some 220 homes with an estimated insurance value into the millions of dollars. (VK3PC, published news reports) ** RESTRUCTURING: NEW REGION 2 BANDPLAN INCLUDES ADDED 2 METER SATELLITE SUBBAND More room on 2 meters for ham radio space operations is one of the outcomes of a recent IARU Region 2 meeting in Cancun, Mexico. The gathering whose minutes have now been published covered all Region 2 bandplans for all allocations from 137 kHz to 250 GHz. Included is a new allocation for the Amateur Satellite Service on 2 meters from 144.000 to 144.025 MHz. There is also a reference to Near Space Stations or NSS operations in the definitions section. This is believed to be the first mention of High Altitude Balloons in any amateur radio band plan. IARU Region 2 is the organization of the International Amateur Radio Union for the American continent. You can view the entire document containing this and bandplans for all other amateur radio spectrum on the web at tinyurl.com/ANS300-IARU-Region-2-bandplans. (ANS) ** RESCUE RADIO: CONGRESS ASKED TO CONSIDER REGULARLY SCHEDULED EAS TEST A bill recently introduced into the United States House of Representatives to reauthorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA includes a provision that would require national EAS tests at least once every three years. The measure is designated as H.R. 3300 and reauthorizes FEMA through Fiscal Year 2016 at $972 million each year. However about $12 million of the total would provide Congressional authorization for FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System or IPAWS, which uses several technologies to simultaneously send alerts through many different channels. This includes the EAS, along with wireless alerts, Internet services and NOAA. The measure would also establish system requirements and capabilities for IPAWS and gives certain stakeholders, including federal, state, local and private sector entities, input into its development. (RW) ** RESCUE RADIO: FEMA AND NPR TEAM FOR ALERTING DEAF TO EMERGENCIES The Department of Homeland Security has announced a pilot project in cooperation with NPR Labs, to demonstrate the delivery of the first-ever, real-time emergency alert messages to people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in five Gulf states. Twenty-five NPR affiliates in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas have agreed to participate in the venture to transmit emergency alert messages, such as weather alerts, to 475 individuals who are deaf or hard-of- hearing in the stations' listening areas. This to determine how effectively the messages are being sent and received. The public radio stations participating in the project will receive emergency alert messages from FEMA's Integrated Public Alert and Warning System. The stations will then broadcast the emergency alerts to specially designed FM Radio Data System receivers that alert the participants with a flashing indicator. The receivers can also show the content of the alert through the receiver's digital display. Participants can connect a strobe light or bed-shaker alerting device to the receiver to help ensure alerts are noticed both day and night. (RI) ** DX UP FRONT: WAKE ATOL OPERATION COMING ON THE AIR Up-front in DX, the Wake Atoll Commemorative K-9-W DXpedition team has been approved for entry onto Wake Atoll and should be operational by the time many of you hear this newscast. Their equipment is already on the atol and in safe storage awaiting arrival of the operators that was scheduled for November 2nd local time. They will then immediately set up antennas and the stations. As we go to air team leaders say that they plan to begin operations on November 3rd and continue until November 15th, once again local Wake Island time. There will be two CW and two SSB stations operational during this DXpedition. More information and updates will be on the web at wake2013.org (K9W Management Team) ** DX UP FRONT: SOUTH SUDAN TO BE ON NOVEMBER 14 - 28 An international group of hams, including CQ Magazine's DX Editor Wayne Mills, N7NG, is planning to operate from South Sudan as Z81X from November 14th to the 28th. This is the time period that includes the CW weekend of the 2013 CQ World Wide DX Contest. According to Mission Goodwill South Sudan spokesman Martti Laine, OH2BH, the group of ten hams is led by International Amateur Radio Union Region One President Hans Timmerman, PB2T, and includes two local operators. The operation is hosted by South Sudan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and will include a series of workshops aimed at developing a permanent amateur radio licensing and regulatory structure. On the operating side, the plan is to activate all HF bands with an emphasis on 80 and 160 meters. QSL via OH0XX and we will have more DX news for you later on in this weeks report. (CQ) ** BREAK 1 Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KF4ADM repeater serving Williamsburg Virginia. (5 sec pause here) ** RADIO POLITICS: SENATE CONFIRMS WHEELER TO FCC CHAIR The Senate confirmed Thomas Wheeler as the next chairman of the FCC and Michael P. O'Rielly to fill another vacancy at the agency. Wheeler's confirmation came after Senator Ted Cruz removed a hold on his nomination after meeting with Wheeler on Tuesday afternoon, October 29th and Wheeler was confirmed that evening. His nomination was partnered with that of O'Rielly, a Republican, to draw bipartisan support. Their confirmations came in a unanimous vote. (published News Reports) ** ENFORCEMENT: FCC ISSUES $15000 TO UNLICENSED BROADCASTER The FCC has issued a Notice of Apparent Liability in the amount of $15,000 to Florida resident Juan R. Nieves, Jr.. This for his alleged operation of an unlicensed radio transmitter on the frequency 97.7 MHz in the city of Summerfield. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details: -- According to the FCC, agents from the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa Office used direction-finding to locate the source of the transmissions on several occasions last May and June to an FM transmitting antenna located at a residence in Summerfield, Florida. On each of those days, the agents took field strength measurements of the station's signal and determined that it exceeded the limits for license free operation under Part 15 of the Commission's rules. On June 25th the agents inspected the unlicensed radio station and interviewed Juan R. Nieves, Jr.. He admitted renting the residence housing the station, owning the transmitter, and being the sole responsible party for the unlicensed operation. In fact, he claimed to have operated the station on 97.7 MHz for over a year. He also stated that he had been in the broadcast industry for many years, was a former officer of a low power station in Summerfield and knew he needed a license to operate. Now in proposing the $15,000 penalty the FCC says that it finds that the violations in this case warrant a proposed forfeiture above the base amount. The record evidence in this case shows that Nieves was an officer of a low power FM station, and was expected to be familiar with the Commission's licensing requirements. Nevertheless, he operated the unlicensed station for over a year, in deliberate disregard for the Communications Act and the Commission's rules. As such the FCC finds that an upward adjustment of $5,000 in the forfeiture amount is warranted. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona. -- Nieves was given the customary 30 days from the October 24th issuance date to pay the proposed $15,000 fine or to file an appeal. (FCC) ** ENFORCEMENT: FORMER MISSOURI HAM FINED $500 FOR UNLICENSED OPERATION The FCC has fined Jared A. Bruegman, the former KC0IQN, of Bolivar, Missouri, $500. This, for transmitting without a license in the Amateur Service 20 meter band. Last February, the FCC issued Bruegman a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $10,000 after its agents observed an unlicensed radio transmitter operating on 14.312 MHz from a residence in Bolivar in December 2012. Bruegman was the only person at home at the time and admitted to owning the radio transmitting equipment. In his response to the Notice of Apparent Liability Bruegman claimed that the $10,000 would be a financial hardship and requested that the FCC cancel the proposed fine. He also submitted the required financial records to back up his claim. Now in a Forfeiture Order released October 23, the FCC has reduced the fine to $500 stating that there is a sufficient basis for such a reduction but not to outright cancel the forfeiture. It gave him the customary 30 days from the date of it issuing the Forfeiture Order to pay or make arrangements to pay the fine. If he fails to do so the matter can be turned over to the Department of Justice for further enforcement action. (FCC) ** PUBLIC SERVICE: OREGON HAMS TEAM WITH FRS IN EMCOMM EXERCISE The Emergency Volunteer Corps of Nehalem Bay, Oregon recently held a training exercise where it activated its local Map Your Neighborhood captains' emergency communications operations. This, using the combined resources of citizens with FRS radios and local ham radio operators who were asked to set up a spontaneous net. According to news reports, the Map Your Neighborhood captains responded with professionalism and competency. Moreover the operation by the hams taking part in the exercise was described as simply being great. The article in the North Coast Citizen Journal stated that that everyone was proud of the community and its team of volunteers. 13 hams out of the 28 living in the area took part in the emergency preparedness exercise. (CitizenJournal.com, eHam.net) ** RADIO BUSINESS: ELK ANTENNAS AND DAYSAVER POWER SUSTEMS TO MERGE DaySaver Power Systems is merging with Elk Antennas. DaySaver products will continue to be offered by Elk, which says that that the transition from DaySaver Power Systems to Elk Antennas should be seamless, with no interruption in order fulfillment or warranties. Currently, the DaySaver.com website will continue to operate, but in the future the link will likely take you to the Elk Antennas site at ElkAntennas.com for an expanded array of products with the DaySaver name. According to Elk Antenna's Jim Siemons, AF6PU, the merger helps fulfill Elk's goal of expanding its product line for portable, remote and emergency communications. Both companies service the Amateur, Commercial, Military and Public Safety Radio Services. (Press Release) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: FIRST AND ONLY 2 METER DXCC IN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Some names in the news. Back in 2011 to Bob McQuarrie, ZL3TY was awarded the first 2 Meter DXCC ever issued in the southern hemisphere. This after he contacted and confirmed contacts with 102 countries. McQuarrie was also the first New Zealand amateur to achieve DXCC in mixed VHF 6 meters and 2 meters using digital technology combined with his CW skills and moonbounce. Now comes word that his name and call have been inducted in the New Zealand Hall of Fame. We say congratulations. (SARL) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE3RHF NEW RAC DIRECTOR FOR ONTARIO SOUTH Rod Hardman, VE3RHF has been recently elected as the Radio Amateurs of Canada Director for Ontario South. His term as Director will be for the two years starting January 1, 2014 and ending December 31, 2015. (RAC) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: MIKE CALLAGHAN, WA6KPD RETIRES And congratulations also to Mike Callaghan, WA6KPD, who recently announced that he plans to retire on November 1st after a long and distinguished career in broadcasting. Callaghan was the chief engineer for station KIIS-FM in Los Angeles. This is a position that he has held for only a few months shy of 40 years. You can read the story of his fascinating life in the broadcast engineering field at tinyurl.com/Mike-Callaghan-retires (RW) ** HAM HAPPENINGS: INSPIRING YOUTH AT THE ARRL MIDWEST CONVENTION Inspiring youth will be an important part of the upcoming ARRL Midwest Convention slated for Joplin, Missouri on November 8th and 9th. And to help meat this goal New York City educator Carole Perry, WB2MGP will join forces with former Astronaut, Colonel Steve Nagel, N5RAW, to bring the magic of two way radio and spaceflight to youngsters in a Joplin school: -- WB2MGP: "He and I are going together to a high school where we will be goin a presentation in front of an assembly of gifted science students and ohers who will be able to ask questions of astronaut Nagel." -- Then on convention Saturday, WB2MGP will be hosting a Youth Forum with Steve Nagel, N5RAW, taking part: -- WB2MGP: "Astronaut Nagel is going to be coming to my Youth Forum. I'm going to have a 9-year-old give a very exciting presentation. One of the Youth Advisors for the ARRL will be giving a small presentation and then we will be opening up for questions for astronaut Nagel from the audience which I hope as it is in Dayton contains a lot youngsters in it so that they can be inspired by the sheer presence of this incredible human being who has been in space." -- In addition to Steve Nagel and Carole Perry there will also be a Ham Radio in Space presentation featuring Eddy Paul, KYOF; Jeremy Widner, ACODX and Randy Schulze, KDOHKD. They will provide those attending their session with information how to successfully get on the FM ham radio satellites, in most cases with equipment they already own. More on the convention and its special ham in space youth events are on line at www.arrlmidwestconvention.com. (ARNewslineT, AMSAT, WB2MGP) ** BREAK 2 This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer services of the following radio amateur: (5 sec pause here) ** WORLDBEAT: INDIA'S FIRST MULTI-MODE RADIO SCOUTING REPEATER OPENED A new repeater dedicated for use by scouts has come to the airwaves in India. Hosted by the Malabar Amateur Radio Repeater Society the VU2MJJ system came to life on October 20th during the 2013 Scouting Jamboree on the air. The VU2MJJ repeater is located at the Malabar club station and reportedly has wide coverage in South India. It is also the first D-STAR capable repeater in India that can also relay other digital and analog modes including traditional FM. VU2MJJ operates on 145.450 Mhz with the standard minus offset shift. (Southgate) ** WORLDBEAT: FRIEDRICHSHAFEN LECTURES AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD Six of this years lectures presented at Germany's Ham Radio gathering are now available as PowerPoint slides with synchronized audio. Available programs include Tom Perera, W1TP's talk on the Enigma and other historic cipher machines; John Alexander, G7GCT's small cipher machines presentation and Chris Duckling, G3SVL's, 100 Years of the RSGB and its International Partners. If you are interested in finding out more, go to www.dokufunk.org/talk on the World-Wide-Web. (Southgate) ** RADIO IN SPACE: ESA DRIVES FORWARD WITH ALL-ELECTRIC TELECOM SATELLITES The European Space Agency is set to begin development of a new generation of satellites propelled by solar electric thrusters as it signs a contract with SES of Luxembourg for development of this project. This for the next phase of the Electra project. Electra is described as a partnership between European Space Agency and satellite operator SES to define, develop and validate in space an electric only propulsion platform for geostationary telecommunication satellites of around 3 tones. The first launch is expected by the end of 2018. (ESA) ** EXTRATERRESTRIAL COMMUNICATIONS: LASER SPEED DEMO IN SPACE NASA has used laser technology to transfer data over the 239,000 miles to and from the moon. This at a speed of 622 megabits per second. Badri Younes is NASA's deputy associate administrator for space communications and navigation. In a press release he said that his agency is encouraged by the results of the demonstration of the Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration to this point. As such NASA is confident that it is on the right path to introduce this new capability into operational service soon. The space agency's Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration is the first two-way space communication system to use a laser instead of radio. Younes calls it the first step on NASA's roadmap toward building the next generation of space communication capability. The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration is hosted on NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer or LADEE satellite. (NASA) ** WORLDBEAT: SOMALI BROADCAST STATION ATTACKED The National Union of Somali Journalists says that it is shocked by the latest violent attack on the media in Puntland, which involved a double bomb strike on a private radio station in Galkayo. According to the information received from the site of the attack, gunmen hurled two hand bombs at Radio Daljir, at around 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, October 15th. Eyewitness said that the attackers were riding in sedan with no plate number. No one was injured in the assault. More is on-line at tinyurl.com/somali-broadcaster-bombed (Published news reports) ** ON THE AIR: OQ4CLM CELEBRATES LIBERATION OF KNOKKE, HOLLAND On the air, special event station OQ4CLM is on the air through November 15th to commemorate the liberation of the town of Knokke, Holland by Canadian troops in 1944. This is the 32nd time the station has taken to the airwaves. More information is on the web at www.oq4clm.be (ON4RO) ** ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING 200 YEARS OF THE NETHERLANDS Fred Weidema, PA0FAW, of Arnhem Holland will be operating as PG200NL, between November 2nd and the 29th. This in celebration of 200 Years of The Netherlands. As of now, he will mainly be active on CW, but he hopes to also use SSB and some digital modes if locations become available. In his announcement, Fred notes that he is an International Short Wave League member and can be worked or listened to by I-S-W-L members for the organizations Monitor award. QSL go to PA0FAW either direct, via the bureau or electronically using eQSL. SWL reports are obviously also very welcome. (PA0FAW) ** DX In DX, YL2GM is currently reported on the air from Sao Vicente Island as D44TYL. Activity has been mainly 20 and 15 meters SSB. The length of his stay is unknown. QSL via YL2GM. HB9EYP will be on the air from Zanzibar between November 2nd and the 9th possibly using the call 5H3JJ. Activity will be QRP on 20 through 6 meters with 10 watts into a Windom antenna from a beachfront location. QSL via his home callsign either direct, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook to the World. Members of the DX Friends group will activate San Andres Island as 5J0R from November 1st to the 10th. Operations will be on 160 through 6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. Visit their Web page at dxfriends.com/SanAndres2013 for more information and QSL via EA5RM. DL7VOA will be active as 6V7D from Senegal between November 29th and December 7th. His operation will be mainly on CW, with some SSB, on 40 through 10 meters. QSL via DL7VOA. A group of operators from India will be operating from the Lakshadweep Islands from November 20th to the 10th of December as VU7AG and VU7KA. They will be active on 160 through10 meters using CW , SSB and RTTY. QSL via W4VKU Lastly, a team of 8 operators will be active from the rare Banda Besar Island between November 10th to the 15th. Callsigns have not been announced yet but operations will be on 40 through 10 meters using CW and SSB. Look for more details to be forthcoming at oc157.blogspot.co.uk. (Above from various DX news sources) ** THAT FINAL ITEM: POLICE SAY ALLEGEDLY INEBRIATED MAN CONFUSED $20 BILL WITH CELL PHONE And finally this week a story out of Minnesota that kind of speaks for itself. Here's Don Wilbanks, AE5DW: -- Call this one enforcement of a truly different kind as in trying to make a phone call without a phone. This as a Minnesota man is been charged with public intoxication after he allegedly tried to make a phone call using a $20 bill. Iowa City Police on foot patrol on the pedestrian mall recently noticed the man passed out on a bench at 2:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning. The officers said that the man smelled strongly of alcohol, had watery, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and poor balance. When officers requested identification, the man reportedly grabbed money from his wallet and handed to the officers instead. Police say officers then offered him the chance to call his friends from his cell phone but instead he placed a $20 bill to his ear and used it to try to make the call. But $20 bills don't have built in receivers or transmitters so for the police that was enough. They placed the unidentified man under arrest for his own safety. I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW. -- And so ends another strange moment in communications history. (Press-Citizen) ** 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 Before we sign off, a reminder that the Dayton Amateur Radio Association is soliciting nominations for next year's Hamvention awards. This includes the Amateur of the Year, Special Achievement, Technical Excellence and Club of the Year. Nominations must be received by January 17, 2014. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/hamvention-awards-2014. For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, near Houston, Texas, saying 73 and we thank you for listening. Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.
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