Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1546 - March 30, 2007

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1546 with a release
date of Friday, March 30th, 2007 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. The ARRL kind of changes its
mind on Regulation by Bandwidth, European hams get
interference protection from ultra wideband operations,
Scouts world-wide plan to celebrate 50 years of their
Jubilee On The Air and our annual April 1st report from
roving reporter Pierre Pullinmyleg. All this and more on
Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1546 coming your way
right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

REGULATION BY BANDWIDTH: THE ARRL VS THE BLOGGERS

The ARRL has partially changed its mind on Regulation by
Bandwidth. It now suggests confining these changes to 10
meters and above. But even this has not placated the
detractors of both the League and the proposed rules
change. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark Abramovich, NT3V.
reports:

--

The ARRL says in the wake of the recent changes to the Part
97 Amateur Radio rules, it has revised its regulation by
bandwidth proposals to the FCC.

The League says this is being done to avoid some unintended
consequences and temper some of the controversy the
original petition had aroused.

But bloggers on QRZ dot com and elsewhere in cyberspace
seem to consider the revision nothing more than a smoke-
screen.

Some look at it as a sellout by the national organization
to the proponents of digital communications to the
detriment of all others in the hobby.

The bloggers also say that almost any form of digital ham
radio will disrupt most or all of the current
communications on all bands and therefore must remain
segregated into subbands of its own.

By way of review, back in November 2005 the ARRL filed a
Petition for Rule Making dealing with the concept of
Regulation by Bandwidth.

RM-11306 requested the FCC replace the current segregation
of modes by subbands with a regulatory scheme that would
segment bands by necessary bandwidths ranging from 200 Hz
to 100 kHz rather than by emission mode.

This proposal immediately brought the wrath of the high-
frequency ham radio community.

Through filings to the FCC and by numerous cyberspace web
postings, the ham radio community told the ARRL and the FCC
that regulation by bandwidth was simply not wanted.

Now the ARRL appears to be capitulating.

At least to the extent where the high frequency bands below
28 Mhz are concerned.

In a statement published in the ARRL Letter, League
Executive Vice President Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, said that:

Regulation by bandwidth rather than by mode of emission
remains controversial below 28 MHz because of its perceived
potential impact on established operating patterns, so
these proposals were removed from the list with one narrow
exception.

The ARRL now is urging the FCC to adopt what it terms a
"subset" of the rules contained in its original petition
that largely affects only the amateur bands at 28 MHz and
above.

If the FCC adopts the League's revised proposals, the 10, 6
and 2 meter amateur bands would be segmented into subbands
allowing maximum emission bandwidths of 200 Hz, 500 Hz, 3.0
kHz 16 kHz or 100 kHz.

The only exception would be for double-sideband, full-
carrier AM phone.

This modified proposal is already drawing fire from several
factions in ham radio.

First are the proponents of weak signal communications on 6
meters and above.

They fear that the introduction of any form of wideband
modes close by weak signal segments will spell disaster.

They contend it will raise the ambient noise floor of the
bands, rendering it impossible to detect the minute traces
of RF that they are searching for.

As one post on QRZ put it: "Digital 100 khz wide signals
thousands of them 100 kHz wide only 175 kHz from the 6
meter calling frequency and 100 kHz from 2 meters and the
noise floor will go through the roof."

Also not happy are the operators of FM repeaters on 2
meters.

They point to the already overcrowded conditions in both of
the repeater subbands.

They also ask the rhetorical question of how and where can
numerous 100 kHz wide digital modes be shoehorned in
without degrading the performance of existing analog FM
communication?

Most believe that wideband digital and 2 meters simply do
not mix. Others do not want them on any band below 1 point
2 Gigahertz.

On the other side are the proponents of digital on the High
Frequency bands.

They believe that the ARRL is caving in to pressure brought
by current H-F spectrum users.

Some involved in rescue radio operations have already
warned that in the near future emergency communications
systems used by the agencies that they serve will go to
wideband data-based communications systems.

They warn that for ham radio to continue to serve its
emergency communications clients, the rules must be changed
so that Amateur Radio is fully compatible with that
technology.

Another bone of contention is why the ARRL continues to
pursue any form of bandwidth-based regulation in the face
of across-the-board opposition from the ham community.

Dave Sumner seems to address this in his comments in the
ARRL Letter:

Regulation by bandwidth provides a better regulatory
framework, not only for the introduction of future digital
emissions but for the protection of traditional narrowband
modes as well.

Unfortunately for the ARRL, not everyone agrees.

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

--

K1ZZ has expressed the hope that the subset of RM-11306
modifications offers an alternative that will make it
easier for the FCC to move at least part of the way in that
direction. Even so, the analog ham radio world appears to
be gearing up for a fight to maintain the status quo.
(ARNewsline(tm) with input from numerous sources including
ARRL Letter, QRZ.com, eHam.net, VHF Reflector, others.)

**

REGULATION BY BANDWIDTH: AN ARNEWSLINE ON-LINE POLE

So what's your thought about the idea of converting from
the current subband system to regulation by bandwidth? To
get an idea we have set up a pole on our website at
www.arnewsline.org. Just go there, scroll down and watch
for the word "Polls" on the left hand side of the page.
Then click on the box that is closest to your view.

The nice part about the software we use is that the results
are instant. As soon as you cast your vote you will see
the result.

And before we get a horde of e-mails from those who need to
point out the flaws of electronic polling, we freely admit
that this poll is not very scientific. In fact it is
easily subject to multiple voting from those with a
personal ax to grind for or against regulation by
bandwidth.

That said, after a few weeks the cumulative results will at
least give the ham radio community an idea on the way the
majority feels on this subject. One that can and likely
will affect the day to day operation of every radio
amateurs across the United States. (ARNewsline(tm))

**

THE BPL FIGHT: SUPPORT NEEDED FOR HR-462

Supporters of congressional measure HR 462 are fearful that
the recently announced the IEEE Broadband Over Powerline
Standards Project announced last week could hamper efforts
to get the measure enacted.

HR-462 is better known as the Emergency Amateur Radio
Interference Protection Act of 2007. If passed, it would
require a study by the Federal Communications Commission on
interference caused by broadband internet transmission over
power lines.

The measure is currently before the House Energy and
Commerce Committee. Proponents say that the IEEE project
seems to give the aura of respectability to BPL which they
feel is not deserved. They believe only legislative
pressure can force BPL providers to use non-interfering
technology. They also urge all hams to write their
political leaders in support of HR-462.

The March issue of QST Magazine has the full background on
this bill. (K2IVX)

**

RADIO RULES: EUROPEN HAMS TO BE PROTECTED FROM UWB
INTERFERENCE

The European Commission has decided to impose more
stringent rules on the use of ultra wide band equipment on
frequencies below 6GHz. In essence that protects hams from
interference the mode might cause. Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, is
in Nottingham in the UK with mo

--

The decision is a victory for a host of amateur radio
groups which have been fighting for greater regulation of
ultra wide band.

Amateur radio organizations including the Radio Society of
Great Britain, the UK Microwave Group, AMSAT-UK, BATC and
the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society have put in a lot of
work over the last two years making the case for protection
of the amateur bands from ultra wide band devices. The
European Commission appears to have listened.

In an official statement published on the web, the
Commission said: "The conditions in the 4.2 to 4.8GHz band
for ultra-wideband technology should be time limited and be
replaced by more restrictive conditions beyond December
2010."

The statement went on to say that in the long term ultra
wide band equipment should be restricted to operating above
6GHz.

Jeramy boot, G4NJH

--

A link to the statement can be found on the RSGB website.
Its in cyberspace at www.rsgb.org (GB2RS)

**

RESTRUCTURING: THAI HAMS GET CONTEST ONLY PRIVELEGES

E21EIC and others report that the Radio Amateur Society of
Thailand has received authorization from that nations
telecommunications regulator for Thai operators to operate
on 80 and 160 meters during 2007 contest periods. During
those periods Thai operators may operate their stations on
CW and SSB from 1.800 to 1.825 MHz and 3.500 to 3.536 MHz.
Split operation has also been authorized.

Stations in Thailand currently can only operate on 40, 20,
15 and10 meters. They are barred from 30, 17, 12 and 6
meters, however, activity on the WARC bands and 6 meters is
sometimes granted with special permission. (OPDX, others)

**

Break 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world
including the VE6YTV repeater serving Langdon, Alberta
Canada

(5 sec pause here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: CLUB EXPANDS SKYWARN IN INDIANA WITH CLASS

Amateur radio operators in Monroe County, Indiana have been
turning the annual National Weather Service's severe
weather spotter training program into a public outreach
event. Jack Parker W8ISH has this report.

--

Severe weather spotter training in Monroe county, Indiana
has been taken to the next level. Through radio,
newspapers and the internet the Bloomington Amateur Radio
Club has expanded training to include emergency
professionals and the general public. This years Severe
Weather Training had over one hundred and thirty people in
attendance.

Each year Monroe county hams schedule the class on the
first Friday in March. That coincides with the start of
Severe Weather Prepardness Week in Indiana.

History has shown Bloomington and Monroe county to be a
prime target for tornadoes. Getting the general public,
government officials and first responders trained can only
add to the number of eyes and ears needed to warn the
public of a severe weather outbreak.

This years class was followed up with a series of radio
interviews on WHCC radio in Bloomington. Radio
personality and self proclaimed "weather junky" Rick
Evans, invited amateur radio storm spotters to talk about
their chasing experiences during Severe Weather Week. The
interviews aired live during the morning commute. The
early bird reports included severe weather safety tips and
background on the role amateur radio plays in emergency and
public service events.

Reporting for Amateur Radio Newsline, this is Jack Parker
W8ISH

--

This years class included 2004 ARRL Educator of the Year
award winner Neil Rapp WB9VPG and Indiana State
Representative Matt Pierce N9VKU. (KB9WVI)


**

RESCUE RADIO: NPSTC AND ARRL SIGN MOA

The ARRL and the National Public Safety Telecommunications
Council have signed a Memorandum of Agreement. As
reported on the ARRL's website, under the pact the League's
Chief Technology Officer Paul Rinaldo, W4RI, will
participate in meetings and serve on committees and working
groups. The League also has agreed to provide other
expertise, advice and resources to further the goals of the
Memorandum of Agreement.

For its part, the National Public Safety Telecommunications
Council has agreed to provide a National Support Office.
Among other things, it will coordinate its outreach
activities and provide national level technical assistance
to the public safety telecommunications community.

The National Public Safety Telecommunications Council is a
federation of public safety organizations. It serves as a
forum for the exchange of ideas and information for
effective public safety telecommunications in the US and
abroad.

The ARRL is a National Public Safety Telecommunications
Council member. The Memorandum of Agreement culminates
efforts begun in 2003 to formalize the relationship between
the two organizations. The full story is on-line at
www.arrl.org (ARRL)

**

ENFORCEMENT: STAY OFF UNTIL YOU RENEW YOUR LICENSE

The FCC has written to a now former ham to tell him that
his license has expired and that he must go Q-R-T. That
February 28th note went to Thurland Bristol Jr. Of Orange,
Connecticut. In it the FCC says that Bristol's license and
K1ACD callsign expired back on July 5th of 2005 and that
operation without a valid license could bring with it some
severe penalties. As his ticket is within the Commission's
two year grace period all he needs to do is to renew it to
bring it current once again. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: TO MANY CALLSIGN CHANGES

The FCC wants to know why a Texas ham has filed over two
dozen applications that first request and then cancel four
specific callsigns. That's the question that they ask of
Barney Boone, NO5R in a letter to him dated February 28th.

The note to Boone asserts that May of 2000, he has filed 25
or more applications with the regulatory agency regarding
the calls W5JB, AI5L, KC5KJG and KJ5AE that either
requested or cancelled one of those calls. The FCC says
that 10 of those applications were filed in 2006.

The FCC says that once requested and cancelled, the calls
were made unavailable to anyone else for a period of two
years. The agency says that this appears to be an abuse of
the agency's application process and gave Boone 30 days
from receipt of its inquiry letter to respond and explain
his actions. He was also told to choose which one of the
call signs that he wanted to keep. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: KIT BUILT TRANSMITTERS BRING $7000 NAL

The FCC says that Richard Mann who does business as The
Antique Radio Collector in Toledo, Ohio is apparently
liable for a $7000 forfeiture. This for allegedly
marketing of uncertified AM radio transmitters in repeated
violation of the Communications Act and of the Commission's
Rules. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff Reinhart, AA6JR,
reports:

--

On November 15, 2006, the FCC's Spectrum Enforcement
Division issued a Letter of Inquiry to Richard Mann and The
Antique Radio Collector. This, in response to a complaint
alleging that the was marketing fully-assembled S S TRAN
model AMT3000 AM transmitters.

In a reply dated November 25, The Antique Radio Collector
indicated that it was not aware of a certification
authorizing a fully assembled AMT3000 transmitter. The
response indicated that Mann had purchased the transmitters
in kit form from a third party and assembled the them in
his residence. Mr. Mann advertised the assembled
transmitters for sale online at www.oldtimeradio.com and
had sold a number of completed units to end users since
December 2003.

But the FCC says that buying a banned radio transmitter as
a kit and building it expressly to sell it for profit is
the sane as marketing a fully factory assembled unit. It
says that Section 302(b) of the Communications Act provides
that no person shall manufacture, import, sell, offer for
sale, or ship devices or home electronic equipment and
systems, or use devices, which fail to comply with the
agency's regulations. As such it would be Mann's
responsibility to obtain FCC certification before offering
any units for sale which he did not do.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR,
in Los Angeles.

--

Mann and The Antique Radio Collector were given the normal
30 days to pay the fine or to file an appeal. (FCC)

**

HAM RADIO AND SCOUTING: AROUND THE WORLD IN 50 HOURS

Around the World in 50 Hours will be the theme of this
years Scouting Jamboree On The Air. JOTA as it is better
known, is an annual event in which about 500,000 Scouts and
Scout Guides all over the world make contacts with each
other by means of Amateur Radio.

The idea of the 50 hour operating schedule is to honor the
golden-jubilee of the Jamboree by extending it two hours.
One hour for every year that it has existed. As a result,
this years 50th JOTA will run from October 19th at 22:00
hours to October 21st at 24:00 hours your local time.

An official start will be given by the World Scout Bureau
radio station in Geneva, Switzerland on October 19th at
21:00 h GMT with a transmission in the 20 and 80 meter
bands and on Echolink. (WIA, GB2RS, Southgate)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW DIGITAL HAM RADIO REMAILER FORMED

A new cyberspace remailer dedicated exclusively to the
emerging world of digital Amateur Radio communications has
been formed on Yahoogroups. This reflector will primarily
discuss the use of digital voice and data communication
techniques on the VHF and UHF bands. Technology to be
addressed will include D-STAR, APCO P25, packet radio
including APRS, High Speed Multi Media, Wi-Fi, P-S-K and
F-S-K. To join the group just take your web browser to
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/illinoisdigitalham/ and
follow the sign up instructions. (WB9QZB)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: PAPERS SOLOICITED FOR ARRL AND TAPR
DIGITAL CONFERENCE

Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 26th
Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to
be held September 28th to the 30th in Hartford, Connecticut.
These papers will also be published in the Conference
Proceedings.

Authors need not attend the conference to have their paper
included in the Proceedings. Papers will be published
exactly as submitted and authors will retain all rights.
The submission deadline is July 31, 2007. Please send
papers to Maty Weinberg , at the ARRL , 225 Main St ,
Newington, Connecticut, 06111. Submissions can also go by
e-mail to (ARRL)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: THE 12th ANNUAL IOTA DINNER IN APRIL

The 12th annual Islands On The Air or IOTA Dinner will be
held on Friday, April 27th, in the Birch Room of the
Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center in Visalia,
California. This, in conjunction with the 58th annual
Visalia International DX Convention.

Reservations for this event are not required and attendees
will pay as they enter at the door. Admission is free for
those wishing only to watch the programs without dining.
As usual, seating will be first come, first seated.

For additional information regarding this event, please
contact Jim Zimmerman, by e-mail to
(Press release)

**

SPECIAL EVENTS: HAMS CELEBRATE THE TITIANIC'S 95th
ANNIVERSARY

Ham radio will help to memorialize one of the greatest
tragedies ever to happen on the high seas. To commemorate
the 95th anniversary of the sinking of the luxury liner
Titanic, radio amateurs worldwide will be mounting an
operation originating from the Titanic Museum Attraction in
Branson, Missouri. That's where members of the Nixa
Amateur Radio Club will be making contacts world-wide using
the special event callsign W-Zero-S.

Three stations will operate simultaneously using SSB, and
CW. Trhere will also be operation using Echolink. All
stations will be manned by operators from a consortium of
clubs and non-club members from across Southwest Missouri,
as well as licensed visitors from outside the area.

Operations beginn at 8 a.m., Saturday, April 14th, and
concluding at 7p.m., Sunday, April 15th. The W-Zero-S call
being used which stands for White Star. White Star the
name of the company that built the Titanic.A U-K group is
also expected to be active during that same time as GB6MGY.
That reportedly was the actual call sign of the Titanic.
More information is on-line at www.nixahams.net (W7ZVD)

**

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)

**

A WORD OF THANKS FROM THE SUPPORT FUND WITH ANDY JAREMA
N6TCQ

Ladies and gentlemen, with a word of thanks to those who
contributed to the Newsline Support Fund in April of 2006,
here's Amateur Radio Newsline's Support Fund Administrator
Andy Jarema, N6TCQ.

--

In the month of April we heard from Regular contributor
Benton Bonney, W4PE of Orlando , The Potomac Highlands ARC
of Moorefield, WV, The Cookville, TN Repeater Association,
W4HPL, monthly contributor Joseph Bartzi, Jr., KC8DKF of
Columbus, OH and monthly contributors William Walters,
WA2IBM, and Scott Hensley of the Area Communications Team,
both in San Jose, CA, and the South Orange Amateur Radio
Association

Via PayPal we heard from C Mark Burlingame, KB6TVD of
Northlake, IL and Stuart Cole, N5LBZ of Gulfport, MS.

Month in and month out Newsline takes an average of $1000
to put the latest news of Amateur Radio on the air- it
doesn't come to us- we have to go get it. With no
advertising, we depend on you- our loyal listeners. Our
website- arnewsline.org has all the info you need to
contribute, including a quick link to PayPal. Or there's
our address: Newsline Support Fund, PO Box 660937, Arcadia,
CA 91066. That address will be repeated at the end of the
newscast. Thanks for your help.

I'm Andy Jarema. N6TCQ.

--

Thank you Andy. (ARNewslineT)


**

RADIO OPPS: PETER THOMAS VE7PT IS NOT A SILENT KEY

If you happen to be a fan of the British comic group Monty
Python then the line "I'm not dead yet, I'm just resting"
will have a great deal of meaning. And it's also what may
be going through the minds of the editorial staff at The
Canadian Amateur magazine after it learned that it made a
big oops in reporting the departure from life of a Canadian
ham. Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, is here with the rest of the
story:

--

Well it happened this way. The March/April 2007 issue of
The Canadian Amateur carried a listing in the Silent Key
column saying that Peter Thomas, VE7PT, had passed on. Only
one problem about this for the magazine. It seems that
Peter was and is definitely not a Silent Key.

It was all explained in a March 19th special bulletin issued
by Radio Amateurs of Canada which publishes The Canadian
Amateur. It seems that the mix-up came about when an
obituary in local newspapers was spotted for a "Philip
Thomas" in which it was stated that his interests included
ham. It also listed his callsign as being VE7PT. And
dutifully, the information was re-reported by the Canadian
Amateur magazine but did not bother to check on the
accuracy of the initial report.

Well the good news is that the real VE7PT is very much
alive. In fact, the R-A-C release describes him as an
active 86 year-old living in British Columbia and a 25 year
retiree who still enjoys being active in the hobby. He is a
member of the Westcoast Amateur Radio Association, the
Victoria Area Packet Association, and he particularly
enjoys training new hams by having them visit his shack.
And although VE7PT is no longer sailing the high seas,
Peter is an honorary member of the Blue Water Cruising
Association. A very active radio amateur indeed.

Radio Amateurs of Canada has apologized to VE7PT and to his
many friends and family for the error.

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

--

Kind of reminds us of the words of Mark Twain who once sent
a telegram to the press all across the United States.
This, after an erroneous obituary about him had been
published. That cable simply said: "The reports of my
death are greatly exaggerated." (RAC, others)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: DONATIONS NEEDED FOR NEW ARISS STATION

The European Space Agency has agreed to an amateur radio
station being installed onboard the Columbus module, the
new space laboratory that will be attached to the
International Space Station at the end of the year. As
part of the station a series of antennas developed at
Poland's Wroclaw University of Technology will be attached
to the panels that protect Columbus's hull from meteorite
debris.

The cost of installing the antennas will amount to more
than 100,000 Euros which is in the area of $120,000 in U-S
dollars. ARISS-Europe is the amateur radio group which is
organizing the project. It is calling on radio amateurs
around the world with an interest in space communications
to provide financial support.

Although work is progressing well on the antennas, money is
still needed to build the amateur radio equipment onboard
Columbus. You can find out how to donate to the project on
the web at www.ariss-eu.org/donations.htm. (ARISS-EU)

**

DX

In DX that's on the air, word that Clive Penna, GM3POI, has
become the second ham to achieve 9 band DXCC using only
Logbook of The World electronic QSL confirmations. John
Sluymer, VE3EJ, in Ontario, Canada was the first.

Also, news that DL9MWG, will be active from Malta as
9H3RT. This, from April 28th through May 11th. Activity
will be on the High F requency bands mainly on C-W. Q-S-L
via DL9MWG.

PA5CW, will be active portable YB9 from Bali from April 25th
to May 10th. No other info provided at this time.

Lastly, keep an ear open for DL2GAC in the Solomon Islands
who is once again active as H-44-M-S. Bernhard is expected
to be there until April 25th. The "DX Newletter" reports
that he is collecting QSLs for his U.S. Counties
Award as well as 5 Band Worked All States from there. His
activity is mainly on 80, 40 and 20 meters. QSL direct or
via the bureau to DL2GAC.

(From various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: HAM RADIO AND FURSUITS - AN APRIL 1st
REPORT FROM THE ROAD

And finally this week, a question. What do ham radio, fur
and the YouTube website have in common? Well if you said
hidden transmitter hunting, you would be pretty much
correct. Here's our roving reporter Pierre Pullinmyleg
with his annual early April report:

--

Zee Hyena is zee very interesting anna-mil. Zay are
moderately large and are native to Africa and India. So,
it iz very rare zat you find one on zee streets of a town
in zee U-S-A much less one zat likes to go on zee
transmitter hunt. But if you go to zee YouTube dot com
website you just might run into a ham radio operator
dressed in zee Hyena costume who talks about finding zee
elusive hidden T: Ok, it is a human in a Hyena suit who is
also a ham:

--

KD8AYJ: "My name is Julie Fraedrich, I currently live in
Streetboro, Ohio, and my callsign is KD8AYJ."

--

Ah, you are surprized zat it's a young lady zat is wearing
zee Hyena costume? Well, if you get to talk with Miss
Julie, she will tell you zat zee video was fun to make:

--

KD8AYJ: "At the time, I had just gotten my brand-new new
Samsung Mini-DV camera and I just had to have an excuse to
play with it. I put on my Hyena costume because I saw
another video on YouTube of a group of people who are
actually fox-hunting in animal costumes. I said that this
is 'so cool' so I put on my animal costume and I decided to
talk about fox hunts."

--

Zats right. Zere really is a convention where hams go to
T-hunt dressed up as annna-mals. It is called Anthrocon
and Miss Julie sez zat zere are really similarities between
making zee annamal costume and being zee ham radio
operator. She says zat both are challengzes:

--

KD8AYJ: "Ham radio like animal costuming is a challenge in
itself. Some are in ham radio to get that optimal signal.
Sometimes you are in it just to see how you can operate ham
radio with the very basic or primitive tools in situations
such as Field Day."

"I think that I was drawn to animal costuming and to do
Amateur Radio in the animal costumes just from the
challenge of the two. If you were to look at it from an
event diagram perspective, both incorporate challenges.
Some people build their own Amateur Radio gear and some
people like to build their own animal costumes. I think
that people who like to do both -- you know -- fox hunts
and animal costumes -- like at Anthrocom, they just have
overlapping similarities."

--

And where can you wear ze anna-mal costume and mingle with
other radio amateurs?

--

KD8AYJ: "Anthrocon is a convention that features and bases
itself on people who come from all over the world to wear
their costumes for an (extended) 4 to 5 day weekend. And,
of coarse they do have fox-hunts there. They have a mobile
fox-hunt and a stationary fox-hunt where people wear their
costumes doing -- which is pretty neat and is one of the
things that drawed me to make my own animal costume in the
first place."

--

A very fun story, no? Yes? And remember zat zee Hyena
always has zee last laugh.

On zee road, I am Pierre Pullinmyleg, reporting for zee
Amateur Radio Newsline.

--

If you want to see Miss Julie and her Hyena costume that
she calls Jixser, just go to www.youtube.com and search for
"What happens when you combine fursuits and amateur radio?"

And if you want to hear more about how she got interested
in costuming and Amateur Radio, tune into this weeks RAIN
Report for part one of an in-depth two part interview with
her. Its on line now at www.therainreport.com and on the
phone at 773-249-0720.

And oh yes. Happy April 1st.

Story links:
KD8AYJ as Jixser - Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?vlPMQTQs9RM
KD8AYJ as Jixser - Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?vøMv6IEZfpM
KD8AYJ becomes Jixser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?vÿDVkonlpkY

(Story by Pierre Pullinmyleg for ARNewsline(tm))

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

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For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk,
I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for
listening. Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2007. All
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