Amateur Radio Newslineâ„¢ Report 1366 ÂÂ* October 17 2003


Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1366 with a release date of
Friday, October 17th 2003 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. A chance for pro-code to speak out to the
FCC and a warning to firefighting officials about the hazard of
BPL. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline report number
1366 coming your way right now.



(Billboard Cart Here)



**


RESTRUCTURING: MORSE CODE AND THE FCC - ROUND II


Well we told you it was going to happen and it has. We are talking
about the next round of rule making requests to the FCC on the topic
of what to do about Morse code testing. Most of this group want to
keep some form of CW test. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant,
K6PZW, takes a look at what the FCC wants you to read and comment on:


--


If you were not happy with the first round of Morse code rule making
requests, maybe you will find something more to your liking in this
latest batch of seven that the FCC has released for public comment.


We have already covered the most prominent of them. That being the
one from FISTS -- the international Morse code preservation society.
FISTS wants the code retained and all aspects of the ham radio exam
process made allot tougher. And in this area, FISTS is not alone.


In is petition, Frank Napurano, K2OKA, calls Morse the purest, most
accurate, efficient, reliable and economical form of radio
communications ever devised. He tells the FCC that its essential to
keep at least the current 5 word per minute CW test in the interest
of public safety, the preservation of a radio art and as a tribute of
support for a prized and respected avocation.


Also in favor of keeping some form of Morse exam is the Puerto Rico
Amateur Radio League. While it wants the FCC to do away with the
current 5 word per minute test for General class it says to keep it
for those going for an Extra ticket.


James Roux, W4YA, wants the FCC to eliminate the 5 word per minute
code test for a General class license, but like the Puerto Rico
Amateur Radio League would require Extra class applicants prove they
can do Morse at 15 words per minute. Roux also wants to cut the
number of licenses to only two. Under his proposal nobody would
loose current privileges but only the General and Extra class would
continue to be issued.


Meantime, Robert Rightsell, AE4FA and Harry Kholer, NZ0PU also want 5
word per minute Morse testing continued but would institute a points
score system for passing a ham radio exam. Under the Rightsell /
Kholer plan, an applicant could earn up to 24 points on Morse
testing.


And Joseph Speroni, AH0A, has a novel idea. Only test hams in Morse
who want to use the mode. Speroni would have the FCC delete the CW
exam for those who want to operate only phone. If a ham wants to
operate High Frequency Morse, Speroni says they should pass the
current 5 word per minute exam.


Last but by no means least comes Charles Young Jr, AG4YO. He is
asking the FCC to delete the 5 word per minute Morse exam for the
Technician Plus license, but keep it as a requirement for General and
Amateur Extra exams. And like the other petitioners, Young has some
specific ideas regarding other aspects of ham radio licensing as well.


These seven petitions have been designated as RM 10805 through
10811. Commentary cutoff on all of them is Friday, November 7th.


For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting.


--


You can comment on one or all of these rule making petitions by
taking your browser to the FCC Electronic Comment Filing System. Its
in cyberspace at www.fcc.gov/cgb/ecfs. (ARNewslineâ„¢ from FCC website)


**


RESTRUCTURING: QRZ SAYS KEEP THE DISCUSSION ON TRACK


In a related story, the operators of the QRZ.com website have drawn a
proverbial line in the sand. They say that any attempts to take a
Forum discussion that is not directly related to the code versus no
code debate and turn it into such will result in those posting being
removed. The operators of the website say that this is not a stance
by QRZ.com either for or against Morse code. Rather it is a their
way to keep a given subject being discussed on track. The QRZed
website is in cyberspace at www.qrz.com. (QRZ)


**


RESTRUCTURING: PNG GOES CODE-FREE


I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, with breaking news out of the South
Pacific. Dateline Papua New Guinea where that nations
Telecommunications Administration, PANGTEL, has declared Papua New
Guinea to be the latest nation to become code free. This as it
orders the deletion of Morse Code from the qualifications necessary
for its amateurs to have access to the High Frequency bands.


According to Rick Warnett, P29KFS, the decision to drop Morse was
actually made back on June 10 th but not widely publicized until
now. June 10 th was before the 2003 World Radiocommunications
Conference that decided Morse testing was no longer mandatory world
wide and retaining it would be the decision of each individual
administration.


Warnett, who is the IARU representative for the Papua New Guinea
Amateur Radio Society says that the official announcement will take
place within the next few days. When it comes, Warnett says that
some 30 to 40 new Papua New Guinea full call hams will have
international communication available to them. (Q-News)


**

DX PROBLEMS: A FOLLOW-UP ON ANNOBON ISLAND - 3C0V


A little more information has surfaced on why a long awaited
Dxpedition suddenly left the air. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, has the
details:


--


The Spanish and German group that had been operating as 3C0V from
Annobon Island off the West Coast of Africa were forced to close down
early in the morning of last Saturday, the 4th of October. The
DXpedition was scheduled to have continued until the 10th of
October.


Gabriel 'Gaby' Mardiros, OD5NJ, the 'pilot' for the 3C0V DXpedition,
says that the group is "fine" but that they had received "a serious
warning not to use any of their radios". The reason for the enforced
closure was not yet known."


--


Some reports indicated that local authorities had given the
DXpeditioners less than 24 hours to pack up and get off the island.
More on this story as information is made available. (GB2RS)


**


Break 1


From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including Peoria Amateur
Radio Club net serving Peoria Illinois.


(5 sec pause here)



**


WRTC: 2006 GAMES IN BRAZIL


It has been announced that the next World Radiosport Team
Championship, or 'WRTC', will be held in Brazil in 2006. The last
WRTC event took place in Finland in July last year.


WRTC brings together the top HF contesters from all over the world to
compete on - as far as is possible - a 'level playing field'. WRTC
2006 will take place in Florianopolis, capital of Santa Catarina
State in southern Brazil. The event is open to everyone: competitors
and spectators alike.


I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham. (GB2RS)


**


RADIO RULES: WORLD'S BROADCASTERS JOIN ANTI-BPL CHORUS


A subcommittee of an International Telecommunication Union panel of
technical experts responsible for terrestrial broadcasting issues has
joined a growing chorus of concerned parties about the interference
potential of power line telecommunication. According to the ARRL
Letter, ITU Radiocommunication Sector Sub Working Group 6E1 has been
looking at BPL. Now it has expressed the view that interference
produced by systems employing powerline data transmission as well as
by Industrial, Scientific and Medical equipment and short-range
devices, will compromise broadcast reception. (ARRL, CGC)


**


RESCUE RADIO: BPL VS. FIRE RADIO COMMUNICATIONS


Meantime, hams who are also firefighters or have access to the local
fire Department should consider enlisting their help in fighting the
rollout of Broadband over Powerlines. This, due to the heavy use of
the 33 and 45 MHz radio bands by fire departments.


Writing to the QRZ.com super site, Jim Walsh, K3JIM, says that some
fire departments are not technically savvy and think that
interference is really blind spots in the radio coverage. Walsh, who
is a firefighter and truck engineer Red Lion, Pennsylvania, says that
broadband interference is not easily recognizable to fire personnel
as say an interfering DX station may be to the trained ear of a ham
radio operator. He says that the fire service is used to dead spots
and may not know why they exist.


Walsh cites one situation in the area where he lives and works. He
says that it is well known that when in the vicinity of certain gas
station convenience stores in his area that one cannot use the radio
for a few hundred meters. He says that in this case the problem is
the Point of Sale system that records the gas transactions and that
the lines running to the pumps are not shielded and radiate computer
hash like an antenna.


K3JIM has lots more to say about the problem BPL can be to low-band
fire radio systems. You can read it all on line at www.qrz.com
(K3JIM via qrz.com)


**


ENFORCEMENT: YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO OPERATE THERE


In regulatory news, two hams have been asked to explain why they have
been heard operating on law enforcement frequencies. The FC's Daryl
Duckworth, NN0W, has mo


--


Duckworth: "Tom Christman, KB2NAV, of Albany New York, has received
an inquirey as to operations on the Albany County Sheriff's
Department emergency frequencies without legitimate purpose last
December.


Along similar lines, Joseph Hutchins, KG4SXD, of Swannanoa, North
Carolina, is being asked about operations on police frequencies in
February of this year. That of the Black Mountain Police Department
in Black Mountain North Carolina."


--


Both hams were given 20 days to respond to the FCC's query. If the
agency finds that rules have been violated, each ham could face a
fine of $7,500 to $10,000, license suspension and revocation.


**


ENFORCEMENT: AMATEUR TOLD TO KEEP HAM GEAR OFF CB


The FCC has written to James Perryman, KC8KOU, of Toledo Ohio. This,
regarding continued complaints involving his alleged operation of
non type accepted radio gear on the 11 meter band. Again, the FCC's
Daryl Duckworth, NN0W:


--


Duckworth: "The letter went on to say that the operation of non-
certified equipment on CB frequencies, such as Amateur equipment and
linear amplifiers will result in a monetary forfeiture in the $7500
to $10,000 area, as well as the in-reim seizure of all non-certified
equipment in cooperation with the United States Attorney in his
jurisdiction."


--


The FCC also told Perryman that his station is subject to inspection
at any time by Commission personnel.


**


ENFORCEMENT: YOU CANNOT SAY THAT ON THE RADIO


Meantime, Federal regulators have announced plans to fine a Detroit
radio station $27,500. This, for an allegedly indecent broadcast on
a popular afterboon show back in January of 2002.

In a Notice of Apparent Liability to Monetary Forfeiture, the FCC
said a broadcast on Infinity Broadcasting's WKRK-FM included explicit
and graphic sexual and excretory references during separate
discussions with nine separate people. Such language is banned under
FCC rules.


Infinity was given 30 days to contest the notice. In earlier filings
with the FCC, the company argued that no penalty could be assessed.
This is because Infinity believes that the FCC's definition of
indecency is unconstitutional.


**


ENFORCEMENT: LA REPEATER OWNERS ORGANIZE AGAINST ALLEGED UNLICENSED
OPERATOR


Repeater owner operators in the Los Angeles Californias area are
taking action to keep transmissions allegedly coming from Jack
Gerritsen, the former KG6IRO, from being retransmitted. In are rare
show of cooperation, system owners and their control operators are
taking repeaters off of the air rather than permit the signals from a
station identifying with the call sign KG6IRO call sign from being
rebroadcast.


If the name Jack Gerritsen sounds familiar its because we have
reported on hin several times before. Gerritsen was licensed for a
very brief period back in 2001. His ham ticket was set aside by the
FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau after the agency learned
that Gerritsen had been convicted in 2000 on charges of interfering
with Los Angeles Police Department radio transmissions. Gerritsen
recieved a jail term for the interference conviction. He was paroled
but sent back to prison after allegations surfaced that he had been
operating a radio transmitter without a license. He was released
before serving his full sentence as the result of a Federal court
order dealing with overcrowding in California state prisons. His
application for a ham radio license remains in the FCC's pending file
and a hearing on the matter will be scheduled at some future date.


Be that as it may, Los Angeles area repeater owners are not waiting
for the FCC to move in the matter. They have taken matters into
their own hands and are acting to keep the signal claiming to be
KG6IRO from being repeated. (ARNewslineâ„¢)


**


HAM RADIO BUSINESS: 73 MAGAZINE FOLDS


73 Magazine is the latest casulty in the weak world-wide ham radio
business economy. On Monday, October 6th, founder Wayne Green,
W2NSD, e-mail several friends to tell them that 73 Magazine has
ceased publication after completing 43 years.


The reason for 73 going away? Green claims that the hobby is slowly
dying as a result of a lack of new hams. In turn the the industry
that supports Amateur Radio is fading away as well. Green says that
without sufficient advertising the magazine couldn't continue.


--


Green: "The book sales have kept 73 going for the last few years,
but book sales have dwindeled way, way down and there was no way to
keep 73 going. The ad sales are down and the reciepts from the ad
sales are down even weorse than the ads."


--


W2NSD says that it was an interesting 43 years and that he hopes to
write about it some time. In the meantime he plans to continuing his
essays on his website for those subscribers who mainly bought the
magazine to read them. Thats in cyberspace at www.waynegreen.com.


No word what will happen to those with outstanding subscriptions to
73, especially hams who bought lifetime subs at a bargain price when
the magazine first started up. Green always said it would last
through his lifetime or that of the purchaser, but it looks as if
W2NSD and a number of lifetime subscribers may have outlived 73. We
expected it of Green. His phonetics are W-2-Never-Say-Die.


You can hear W2NSD talk about the demise of 73 on this weeks RAIN
Report. Its available on-line at www dot rainreport dot com or by
telephone at 847-827-7246. (ARNewslineâ„¢)


**


HAM RADIO BUSINESS: NEW KIDS HAM RADIO MAGAZINE TO BE PUBLISHED


If the ham business is as bad as Wayne Green says, you would not know
it by Larry Mahlberg AA0BY. As 73 sails into the sunset, Mahlberg
has announced his own new ham radio magazine targeting the younger
generation.


According to Mahlberg, he and his crew are putting together a brand
new monthly publication called "Hamtastic Kids" that will debuet on
November 15th and be available by subscription. To get it started,
AA0BY is asking your help by submitting material for publicatoon such
as Amateur Radfio poems, stories, puzzles and even ham radio
recipes. He is also looking for articles written by kids on such
topics as Morse code, DX'ing, ragchewing, fox hunting, contesting and
hamfests.


But thats not all. The Hamtastic Kids is offering a free years
subscription for best logo that a youngster submits for use in the
Magazine. Submissions of logos, articles and information requests go
to Hamtastic Kids, in care of Larry Mahlberg, AA0BY, P.O Box 1634
Eugene, Oregon, 97440 (W8HDU)


**


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)



**


RESCUE RADIO: APRS JOINS THE CHARLES REGATTA


Almost two decades after it was developed by an Amateur Radio
operator, Automatic Position Reporting System equipment is being used
for the first time by the hams on board the rescue launches at the
Head of the Charles Regatta. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley,
KI7UP, reports:


--
Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, is considered the father of the Automatic
Position Reporting System thats known in ham radio circles by the
acronym of four letters APRS. And from October 17th through the 19th
a team of up to 30 operators will be on the air using it and other
modes to operate a safety communications net for the annual Head of
the Charles Regatta.


According to Bruce Pigott, KC1US, the addition of APRS is very
significant because it allows automatic tracking of a ham radio
station by sending Global Positioning Satellite information along
with the voice or other data on the radio signal. This should permit
precise dispatch of land and river emergency units to rendezvous with
the launches.


KC1US says that communications coverage begins three hours before the
first race on Saturday and an hour before the first race on Sunday.
This, will allow medical and public safety communications coverage
of practice runs and gathering crowds of spectators.


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


--


This year's communications support covers all aspects of the
regatta. This includes preparations, practice and competition for
all three days of the event. (KC1US)


**


HAM RADIO CONFERENCES: SVHFS IN GEORGIA IN 2004


The 8th Annual Southeastern VHF Society Conference will be held in
Georgia on April 23 and 24, 2004. This, at the Holiday Inn Hotel &
Suites in Marietta on the outskirts of Atlanta. More information
will be posted the Society webpage. The u-r-l is www.svhfs.org.
Qustions go by e-mail to (SEVHFS)


**


HAM RADIO IN SPACE: VU-SAT LAUNCH DELAYED


Turning to ham radio in space, the expected launch of India's VU-Sat
has been delayed indefinitely. The AMSAT News Service quoting a
release from the launch agency says that during the thermo vacuum
test deviations in the performance of the ham radio payload were.
Because of the need to correct these abnormalities, the launch will
take place at some later date. VU-Sat was to be a passenger with a
remote sensing satellite being orbited onboard from Sriharikota
launch range later this month. (AMSAT)


**


HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY AO-40


AMSAT is sponsoring an AO40 Birthday Bash to celebrate the satellites
3rd Birthday. The party continues through November 17th. Email
Bruce Paige, KK5DO, for more details. His e-mail address
(AMSAT)


**


INTERNATIONAL - GERMANY: DL3KWF RESIGNS AS DARC VP


On the international scene, word from Germany that Hardy Zenker,
DL3KWF has resigned from his post as Deutscher Amateur Radio Club
vice president He has been replaced by Ingobert Dittrich, DK9MD,
who was elected to the post. Dittrich is well known as a former
representative of the broadcasters to numerous committees across
Europe. The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club which is Germany's
natioonal ham radio society holds elections every two years. (DARC)


**


INTERNATIONAL - HOLLAND: ARTIFICIAL BROADCAST ISLAND TO DISAPPEAR


A significant piece of Dutch broadcasting history may soon cease to
exist. Media Network reports that the Hollands Department of Public
Works has announced its decision to dismantle the artificial platform
in the North Sea known as R-E-M Island. The island was constructed
in 1964 at a cost of 9 million guilders by a team of entrepreneurs
who used it to broadcast radio and television programs to the
Netherlands under the name Radio Noordzee and TV Noordzee.
The full story is on-line at
http://www.rnw.nl/realradio/features...rem031009.html (Media
Network)


**


INTERNATIONAL - BRAZIL: CELEBRATING SCOUTING ON THE AIR


And Brazillian club station PY3ARD is on the air as ZW90S for the
renmainder 2003. This, to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the
Gerge Black Scout Group which happens to be the oldest Scout Group in
Brazil. According to the RSGB, the ZW90S call will be aired for the
first time during the upcoming CQ World Wide contest. If you work
it, QSL via PY3ARD. (G2RS)


**


ON THE AIR: W6AQ AND K6IPV TO RAROTONGA OCT. 21


Hollywood producer Dave Bell, W6AQ and his close friend Don Lisle,
K6IPV are headed to Rarotomga. This for a combined mini-D-Xpedition
and contest operation. The pair will arrive on the island at about
9:00 PM local time on October 20th. They hope to be on the air by
the afternoon of the 21st operating mostly SSB with some CW and
possibly RTTY and PSK-31.:


--


Bell: "They will hear us calling CQ on whatever the highest
frequency where there is propagation which is going to be during the
daytime perhapps 10 meters; 15 meters hopefully and 20 meters
certainly. Nighttime we will probably be dealing with 20 meters, 40
meters, 80 meters and perhapps even 160 meters. We will see if we
can talk to anybody on that band."


--


Bell will operate as ZK1AQT and Lisle will be on using ZK1IPV. Both
will be on as ZK1SSB for the CQ World Wide SSB Contest and will tear
everything down on the afternoon of October 28th. Their QSL Manager
is Norm Friedman W6ORD whose address is good in just about any
Callbook. (ARNewslineâ„¢)


**


DX


In D-X, TM9AF will be on the air through October 26th to celebrate
the 25rh anniversary of the Auxerre Ham-Expo. About 20 operators
will be on the air with the special callsign on 160 to 6 metres using
CW, SSB, PSK, RTTY, and Slow Scan TV. They will also operate 2
meters to 1.2GHz on CW, SSB FM, RTTY, and ATV. If you make contact,
Q-S-L as directed on the air. (GB2RS)


Stefano Frau, IS0WBT, says by way of e-mail that special event
station ISZ0A will be on air during the upcoming CQ World Wide SSB
contest. This on the on 25th and 26th of October. Stefano says that
the operation will take place from Mt. Cresia in grid square JM49QG.
Operation will be in the multi-multi catagory and the operators will
be looking to talk to all of you. QSL direct to IS0MYN. (GB2RS)



**


THAT FINAL ITEM: DUTCH STUDY SUGGESTS ISSUES ACCOMPANY 3G CELL
STATIONS


And finally, can cellular telephones make you more alert? Some
researchers in the Netherlands think so. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has
mo


--
A study by Dutch researchers has found some interesting side effects
from certain cellular telephone base station radiation. Initial
results show that electromagnetic energy transmitted by base
stations for the new third generation or 3 G wireless networks
caused subjects in double-blind test groups to experience tingling
sensations, get headaches and have feelings of nausea. On the other
hand, when the same subjects were exposed to signals from current
mobile networks, no negative impacts were found.


But here's the kicker. When the same people were exposed to both
types of fields -- that being 3 G plus current networks -- cognitive
functions including memory and response times showed measurable
improvement. Put simply, the subjects became more alert when exposed
to both fields. The report did not discuss the modulation schemes nor
the specific RF power densities that were involved in the study, and
obviously allot more research needs to be done before anything
conclusive can be known.


For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF


--


Now it has to be pointed out that these are early results. As such,
while they are interesting, are yet to be confirmed. You can read
more in cyberspace at www.msnbc.com/news/974005.asp (CGC)


**


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 and Australia's Q-News, that's all from the Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline @arnewsline.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 Ken
Butler, W1NNR, saying 73 and we thank you for listening." Amateur
Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2003. All rights reserved.