Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1641 - January 23 2009

The following is a closed circuit advisory. With word on Amateur Radio
Newsline's finances, here's our Support Fund Administrator Andy Jarema N6TCQ:

--

The great thing about Amateur Radio is that your level of involvement can
be anything you choose- you can be an avid DX'er or just a casual repeater
user. Run your fingers to the bone on packet or RTTY, be heavily involved
with emergency work, or not even get on the air for a while. The hobby will
still be there.

That's why we, the volunteer staff at Amateur Radio Newsline, love what we
do- it's ever changing, ever evolving. Unfortunately, the realities of
bringing you these weekly newscasts don't change that much.

We've done our best to try to shave down the fixed expenses- what it costs
for internet service, how we can best use a combination of land- and
wireless-based phone services, to hold these to a minimum. We've even done
away with tape in our newsgathering and editing- everything's software and
solid-state.

My backup solution to try would be to instruct our Producer, Bill
Pasternak, WA6ITF, to only report on the news that automatically comes into
our news bureau, as other news services do. But that defeats why it is that
so many of you tell us that you love our service- that we bring you the
voices of the newsmakers, and those special stories that just don't get
reported. That's what makes us unique in Amateur Radio reporting.

Please help us keep these newscasts on the air, doing what we do best. You
can contribute via PayPal on our website, arnewsline.org, or at our Arcadia
California address given at the end of the newscast. We thank you for your
support.

I'm Andy Jarema, N6TCQ, and now on to the news.

--

Thank you Andy. Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1641 with a
release date of Friday, January 23rd, 2009 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Turkey prepares to launch its first ham-sat, a
threat to 24 Gigahertz ham radio operations across Europe, ZS8T calls in
from isolated Marion Island to say he's on the air as often as time
permits, and there won't be any cellphone jamming behind Washington D.C
prison bars. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number
1641 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: TURKEY TO LAUNCH MICROSAT

Turkey is joining the microsat revolution. This, with word that the
nations first tiny bird named ITUpSAT1 will go into orbit shortly. Burt
Hicks, WB6MQV, has the details:

--

ITUpSAT1 is described as a micro sized university sponsored satellite
designed and manufactured as a part of the ongoing CubeSat project. Its
being constructed as a joint project between Turkish universities in
collaboration of Stanford Research Institute and California Polytechnic
University in the United States.

Mission payloads include a low resolution camera along with a series of
scientific sensors including an accelerometer and magnetometer that will
radio data back to Earth. The primary objective of this project is to
train an experienced staff on satellite systems in Turkey.

At airtime no frequencies or modes of operation for ITUpSAT1have been
announced.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Burt Hicks, WB6MQV, in Los Angeles

--

More information on the project is at
http://usl.itu.edu.tr/index.html (Southgate, ITUpSAT1)

**

RADIO RULES: A NEW THREAT TO 24 GHZ IN EUROPE

A potentially a new threat to amateur and amateur satellite operations in
the 24 Gigahertz band in Europe. The European Commission has put out a
call for public input and comment to prepare for a fundamental review of a
decision made in 2005. This, for harmonization of the 24 Gigahertz radio
spectrum for the time-limited use by automotive short-range radar
equipment. In other words, unlicensed devices such as Short Range Radar
and the like. Hams in Europe see this as an opportunity for commercial
interests to extend, possibly indefinitely, what they see as the
inappropriate use of 24 Gigahertz for these applications and are organizing
their opposition to this use of the band. (EU Radio Spectrum Policy,
Southgate)

**

BREAKING DX NEWS: ZS8T SAYS OPERATIONS WILL BE LIMITED

ZS8T is on the air from Marion Island, but only as times allows. In an
interview with the SARL's Amateur Radio Mirror International, station
operator, Petrus Kritzinger, said that his work schedule has not permitted
him much time to operate.

--

ZS8T: "A lot of the radio things will be dependent on my working schedule
and (so far) this year it has been quite hectic."

--

Were sorry about the poor audio quality but the satellite telephone
connection to Marion Island was not the greatest. None the less,
Kritzinger was able to tell Amateur Radio Mirror International that he also
experienced antenna problems due to high winds and generally poor weather
conditions.

--

ZS8T: "In December I put up the Spider-Beam. I actually put it up three
times and within two days the wind folds it like a an upside-down umbrella."

--

He has managed to erect the Stepp-IR vertical antenna and has made some
test contacts with stations in South Africa and Russia.

Kritzinger hopes to be active as work schedules allow. He will be mainly
on 20 meters. The complete interview with ZS8T can be found at the URL in
this week's printed Newsline report. And we will have more DX-related
stories later on in this week's newscast.

(Amateur Radio Mirror International)

**

RESCUE RADIO: EMCOMM EVENT CANCELED DUE TO WORLD ECONOMY

A joint ham radio emergency communications expo, co-sponsored by American
and Canadian groups, has been canceled due to lack of money. This, with
word that Canada has pulled most of its funding out of a joint Radio
Amateurs of Canada and ARRL sponsored event slated for Myrtle Beach, South
Carolina in mid-March.

Preparations for the event were halted when Canadian government monetary
support was suddenly reduced in early January. The withdrawal of funds was
blamed on the current world economic climate. This would have been only
the second cross-border event of its type ever held. (VE3BDB)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KB9VSE repeater
system serving the great dairyland state of Wisconsin.

(5 sec pause here)


**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC TO FINE CABLECASTERS FOR FAILURE TO PROVIDE DIGITAL TIER
TRANSFERS

The Federal Communications Commission has issued Notices of Apparent
Liability for Monetary Forfeiture to nine cable TV operators. This, for
what the FCC says was their effort to thwart its investigation of a
practice in which analog channels were transferred to a more costly digital
tier and thereby leaving some customers without access.

The proposed fines range from $7,500 to $25,000. Also, some companies were
told to issue refunds within 90 days for failing to give a 30-day notice
about changes that were not related to the national switch to digital
format broadcasting.

In a letter to Congressional leaders on January 19th, outgoing FCC
Chairman Kevin Martin said operators had shown contempt for the
commission. This, by not providing full information about their practices
as ordered last October.

All of the cited cable television suppliers are expected to appeal the
FCC's forfeiture orders through the FCC Administrative Procedures process
and possibly into the Federal courts. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT : EUROPEAN UNION MAY BAN PLASMA TV'S DUE TO QRM

If you are suffering interference from a neighbor's plasma television
receiver and live in Europe, then a solution may soon be at hand. The
United Kingdom press reports that plasma screen TV's could be banned under
new European Union rules now making their way through the legislative
system.

The Daily Telegraph recently carried a story that plasma screen TVs have
had a bad reputation among users of the Short Wave radio spectrum. This,
because of the high level of RF interference they can generate and many
radio users will be pleased to see them go. And as a result of mounting
complaints, the European Union is now considering the anti-plasma screen
regulations. (WIA News)

**

RADIO BUSINESS: INAUGURAL ISSUE OF WORLDRADIO ONLINE IS ON LINE

The inaugural issue of WorldRadio Online was posted on the World Wide Web
on Inauguration Day, Tuesday, October 20th. The February issue features
articles on a ham station aboard a still-sailing Victory Ship, as well as a
very handy primer on basic knots. Also, most familiar columnists are there
as well, including "Krusty" Aerials columnist Kurt N. Sterba.

The issue is in a downloadable PDF file. It may be accessed without charge
by going to the CQ magazine home page at www.cq-amateur-radio.com and
clicking on the "WorldRadio Online" link. WorldRadio Online is published
monthly by CQ Communications, Inc. which purchased the magazine late last
year. (CQ)

**

RADIO BUSINESS: NEW SUPPLIER OF HEATHKIT MANUALS AND EVEN SOME PARTS

A new source for high quality reprints of Heathkit manuals along with some
upgrades and service parts has come to the World-Wide-Web. This, with word
that Data Professionals of Pleasanton, California, has purchased the
copyrights and existing inventory of all legacy Heathkit product
documentation from Heath Company of Benton Harbor Michigan. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has mo

--

If you are old enough to remember when Heathkits reigned supreme among
electronic builders then you will be happy to know that there is a new
source of manuals and even some parts to keep them alive and well
today. And we are not just talking ham radio gear either.

Data Professionals is a new company headed up by Don Peterson. He tells
Newsline that last year Heathkit contacted him and indicated that it wanted
to stop supporting the manual requests that they were still receiving. Its
preference was for him to take it over since he had already shown an
interest in supporting Heathkit products.

After agreeing on a price Peterson says that he paid the cost to have 2.5
tons of documents shipped from Michigan to his office in California. He
says that the new company will make high quality copies of the original
legacy manuals available to the marketplace via its web site and through
eBay and PayPal.

As to Internet rumors that he forced websites that have supplied manuals to
stop doing that, Peterson says that in part, that is the case. He says
that during the time he was negotiating the purchase, Heathkit had again
taken an interest in trying to suppress various unauthorized manual
suppliers. Once he made the purchase he realized that if he was now the
copyright holder, that it fell to him to protect the copyrights of the
manuals. So he contacted the various manual suppliers and requested that
they stop.

Peterson says that he also realized that Boat Anchor Manual Archive, known
better as BAMA was one of the most used sources of free manuals on the
web. He says that it was his intent to continue to support BAMA, but with
some compromises. His offer was for BAMA to be able to offer electronic
copies of the schematics while just removing the other pages of the manuals
from their website. He even offered to provide good quality .PDF files for
the schematics but he believes that was simply too much of a bother for the
BAMA webmaster who has removed the Heath manuals completely.

So what will Peterson be doing with the manuals? Obviously selling copies,
but at prices below that of others on the web. As Don Peterson says, what
he will charge will cover the cost of duplication plus a little margin to
keep the doors open. He also says that he and W7FG have agreed to a royalty
deal so he can continue to sell the Heathkit manuals as well. He does,
however, say that he will continue to try and shut down any site that is
providing free copies of entire manuals or is selling electronic copies on
eBay on CD ROM's.

As to any profits from the sale of manuals? Peterson says that will be
used to continue development of new upgrades and after-market modules so as
to continue to support the entire Heathkit product line. His company has
already designed some replacement temperature sensor modules for the
weather stations and a replacement board for the old Mostek CPU for the
ID-4001 Weather Station. He is currently in development of a replacement
CPU board in the GC-1000 'Most Accurate Clock' that is still very popular
and in service a lot of places these days. He tells Newsline that this
module will be a 'plug-in' replacement board that will plug into the socket
of the Mostek CPU. Peterson says that without the cash flow from the
manuals, this would not be possible.

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

--

Complete information on obtaining manuals for Heath gear along with the
updated modules and other parts is on line at Don Peterson's website. It's
in cyberspace at www.d8apro.com. (ARNewsline(tm))

**

HELP WANTED: THE FCC MAY HAVE A JOB FOR YOU

Meantime, if you are looking for a job, how about working for the FCC? If
you do then we have word that the regulatory agency is looking for a Chief
for its Spectrum Coordination Branch, as well as a few other good
engineers. All positions are based in Washington. Job descriptions and
how to apply are at
https://jobs1.quickhire.com/scripts/...veusedbefore=5
(CGC, RW)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: ROCHESTER HAMFEST TURF WAR

A turf war has developed over who will be sponsoring this year's Rochester
Hamfest in upstate New York and the venue where it will be held. This,
after the Rochester Amateur Radio Club breaks ranks with the longtime host.

According to Lee Badman, KI2K, who is a columnist for the Syracuse Post
Standard, the Web site www. Rochesthamfest.org claims that the fest will be
at the traditional site, and that any rumors to the contrary should be
disregarded. Telephone and e-mail contact information is provided for more
information, and a read-over of the site makes you inclined to believe
you've found all you need to know about the event.

But that's just a part of the story. Here's the other: The Rochester
Amateur Radio Association also claims that it will host the official event.
Also, that it will move it to a new venue at the Barnard Carnival Grounds.
RARA's information is at www.rochesterham.org. (Syracuse Post Standard,
eHam.net)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: CHAIRMAN KEVIN MARTIN RESIGNS

Some names in the news. First is now former Federal Communications
Commission Chairman, Kevin Martin, who resigned from the agency effective
this past Tuesday, January 20th. Martin will joined the Aspen Institute in
Washington as a senior fellow for the institute's Communications and
Society Program.

Martin, the FCC chairman since 2005, was a repeated critic of high cable
rates and advocated more stringent decency standards on cable and broadcast
television. He also supported a wireless technology that would make the
Internet more widely available to Americans.

As reported last week, President Barack Obama has nominated Julius
Genachowski, a former FCC official during the Clinton administration, as
the new head of the regulatory agency. (Published reports)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: COY DAY, N5OK, RESIGNS FROM THE ARRL BOD

And after more than 12 years as a member of the ARRL Board of Directors
with 10 of them as West Gulf Division Director, Coy Day, N5OK, announced
that he is resigning from ARRL elected office, effective
January 20th..

Day was Chairman of the League's Ethics and Elections Committee when he
tendered his resignation. Per the ARRL Articles of Association, Vice
Director David Woolweaver, K5RAV, will take over as Director. In the near
future ARRL President Joel Harrison, W5ZN, will appoint a new Vice Director.

The next election for West Gulf Division Director and Vice Director will be
in 2010. (ARRL)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: W9XA NAMED NEW CHAIR OF ARRL VHF - UHF ADVISORY
COMMITTEE

Meantime, the ARRL has announced that Kermit Carlson, W9XA has been named
the new Chairman of the League's VHF/UHF Advisory Committee. In addition to
his being the Central Division's representative on the committee, he is
also a long time member of the Illinois Fox River Radio League and has held
many of the leadership positions in that organization.

Carlson replaces Lauren Libby, W0LD, of Colorado Springs, Colorado as the
committee chair. The League's Central Division Director, Dick Isely, W9GIG,
made the announcement during a break in the ARRL Board of Directors meeting
in Newington, CT.

The VHF/UHF Advisory Committee is not a traditional advisory committee. It
is mandated to consider only contest issues, and its term is limited to
five years duration. (N9CHA )

**

BREAK 2

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

(5 sec pause here)

**

RADIO COMPETITION: US HAMS WANTED FOR QRQ CW CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM

Contestants from the United States are being sought to take part in the 8th
annual IARU World High Speed Telegraphy Championship. The event is slated
for September 11th to the 15th in Obzor, Bulgaria. And Barry Kutner, W2UP,
says via eHam dot net that he is putting together a US team to compete.

According to Kutner, the classes of competitors are broken down by age and
gender. Currently, he is looking for both males and females under the age
of 40 to fill up several empty slots.

The rules for the competition can be found at www.hst2009.eu. If you are
interested in joining his team, please contact Barry Kutner, W2UP, at 207
Winding Lane, Newtown, Pennsylvania 18940 or by e-mail to W2UP at ARRL dot
net. (eHam.net)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW EFFICIENT LEDS

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed and
demonstrated a new type of light emitting diode (LED) with significantly
improved lighting performance and energy efficiency. The new
polarization-matched LEDs, developed in collaboration with Samsung
Electro-Mechanics, exhibits an 18 percent increase in light output and a 22
percent increase in wall-plug efficiency. This is essentially measures the
amount of electricity the LED converts into light. (ScienceDaily)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW FUEL CELL FOR PORTABLE DEVICES IN DEVELOPMENT

Scientists in the UK are attempting to master new technology to power cars,
portable computers, mobile phones and numerous other battery-dependent
devices. One that could also be of benefit to numerous mobile and portable
ham radio field operations.

Researchers at the University of Aberdeen have been given almost £300,000
to create a cheaper and lower temperature fuel cell. To make this happen,
the university's chemistry department is trying to develop what it calls
carbon-tolerant fuel cell devices. Like their larger brethren, these cells
convert fuel to electric power without the need for combustion. Unlike
older fuel cells, these will be better able to cope with the carbon
monoxide found in the fuel that it is converting into power.

The project leader is Dr Angela Kruth. She hopes that this new type fuel
cell can be introduced to the market in the near future. (Science Today)

**

WORLDBEAT: BERMUDA AT AGE 400

With 2009 being the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Bermuda by Sir
George Somers, the Radio Society of Bermuda has been issued a special call
sign by the telecommunications authority that can be used all year. It is
VP9400, plus a two-letter suffix of the operator's call sign. Special
pictorial cards will be used to QSL all contacts made using the VP9400
prefix.
(VP9LP, Secretary, Radio Society of Bermuda).

**

WORLDBEAT: T-HUNT FOR A LOST FALCON IN THE UK

T-Hunters in the UK have been asked to help find a lost falcon. The owner
of the bird says that he was flying her in the area of Swansea, on Tuesday,
January 13th, when she flew out of sight while chasing a crow.

While the falcon was wearing a radio tag transmitter operating on 216.005
Mhz, unfortunately the bird's owner's receiver chose that precise moment to
die. As the falcon could by now be anywhere in the United Kingdom, the
falconer is asking U-K hams with the ability to listen on 216.005
MHz. Listen out for her either single or double-beep signal every 4
seconds. If you hear it, please contact MW0MXT at his Callbook address.

More on this story is at
www.junksale.co.uk/showthread.php?s
5b1749e0b88a21467ccb44a59bc5f6&threa
didX515
(Southgate)


**

SPECIAL EVENT: VI2BV90 CELEBRATES WAVERLEY ARC

A special call for a very special radio club. This, as the Australian
Communications and Media Authority assigns the special callsign VI2BV90 to
the Waverley Amateur Radio Society which at 90 years is the oldest amateur
radio club in that nation down-under.

The Waverley Amateur Radio Society was founded on January 27th, 1919. Its
first callsign N249 that was assigned to it on August 18, 1920. This was
later changed to 2BV; and then, VK2BV. So, in reality, the combination of
the two earlier calls as VI2BV90 will be the one used until February 1st,
to celebrate the 90th birthday of this club. More details about the
station can be found on the web at www.vk2bv.org (WIA)

**

DX

In DX, keep an ear open for DL2GAC, active as H44MS from Honiara, in the
Solomon Islands. He will be there until April 28th. His primary focus
will be on 80 and 40 meters. QSL as directed on the air.

OM2DX is in Hanoi, Vietnam and assigned the calls XV9DX and 3W1M. He will
be there through 2012 and active on all bands. QSL via OM3JW.

DL2EBR says that he will be in Thailand a bit longer than originally
anticipated. He is licensed as HS0ZEU and enjoys digital modes like PSK and
SSTV. QSL's go via the RAST QSL bureau.

P40PZ will be on the air from Aruba until the 28th of January. He's
operating 80 through to 6 meters using SSB and the digital modes only. QSL
via EA5GVH.

F8EN will be operational from Gabon until January 26th. He is reportedly
using the callsign TR8CR. QSL via F6AJA.

CT1BWW will use the call CS6BWW from Portugal in all major contests in
January, February and March. QSLs direct or via the bureau .

Lastly, F4EGS operating portable TU, is reportedly on from the Ivory Coast
city of Abidjan. He reportedly plans to concentrate on 40 through to 10
meters. Again QSL this operation as directed on the air.

(Above from various DX news sources)


**

THAT FINAL ITEM: NO CELL JAMMING DEMO AT DC PRISON

And finally this week, a rather strange story out of the nation's
capitol. This, with word that a company that wanted to show how its
cellular telephone jammers could be an effective crime fighting tool had
its demonstration canceled by a Washington DC area prison.

The company is called CellAntenna Corporation. It announced last week that
the FCC-authorized presentation has been called off at the last moment by
the District of Columbia Department of Corrections. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the rest of the details:

--

CellAntenna Corporation was supposed to demonstrate its cellular telephone
jamming technology on Thursday, January 8. While setting up its equipment,
a representative from District of Columbia Prisons notified the company
that the presentation was being canceled.

The Federal Communications Commission had earlier provided the District of
Columbia Prisons written authorization for the test, allowing CellAntenna
to perform the demonstration of jamming of cell phones. But at the last
minute the Cellular Telephone Industry Association filed a lengthy 85-page
challenge to the test. that was supposed to be heard in Federal Court at 4
PM on January 7th. Most believe that the CTIA court filing may have
swayed the prison authority into its decision to call off the demonstration.

CellAntenna says that it was disappointed that the prison authority had, in
the company's view, obviously buckled under the pressure of the Cellular
Telephone Industry Association demand that the test be canceled. It also
claims that cellular service providers are still selling services to
inmates despite the fact that it is illegal for them to use a cellular
telephone behind prison bars.

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

--

The FCC had prepared a brief in favor of the testing but the whole matter
became moot when the District of Columbia Prisons canceled the test.
(E-Tech)

**

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 and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline (at) arnewsline
(dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only
official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us
or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), P.O. Box 660937, Arcadia,
California 91066.

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Davis,
W2JKD, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.