Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1595 - March 7, 2008 - Corrected Version
Note: apologies to all. Somehow I managed to send out an earlier version
of the script thanb I meant to. Some of the info in the open and the lead story was incorrect. This is the correct version. Our opps. de Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF ************************************************** ************************** ******************************* Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1595 - March 7, 2008 (REVISED) Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1595 with a release date of Friday, March 7th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1. A big win for a Maryland ham as the states Supreme Court turns away a neighbors appeal in a tower case; the FCC says that Morse testing will not return and a ham who wants to retire has his business foe sale on eBay. Why eBay you ask? Find out on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1595 coming your way right now. (Billboard Cart Here) ** RADIO LAW: SUPREME COURT TURNS AWAY TOWER CASE - BIG WIN FOR HAM The Supreme Court has declined to hear the case involving a set of ham radio towers on in the town of Poolesville. That's good news for the ham who has been fighting to keep them. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, explains: -- The Supreme Court has decided against being involved in the case where neighbors of John Evans, N3HBX, had sued after he obtained a permit and installed several 100 foot and higher radio towers as part of a contest station. The neighbors claimed the installation would devalue their property and that the installation was an eyesore. The case began back on August 30th, 2004 when neighbors of Evans antenna farm went to the Board of Appeals on Aug. 30, 2004, less than a month after construction began on the towers. The Board dismissed the neighbors' complaint that the tower permit was issued in error in November 2004. It said that the 30 day window of opportunity to appeal the permit had passed. The permit had been issued June 23rd, but the neighbors claim they first learned of the project when construction equipment arrived on August 5th . Two neighbors of Evans 44 acre property, Thomas Burruss and Alan Gaunoux, filed the lawsuit in August 2004. The case eventually wound up in the Maryland Court of Appeals, which upheld the Board's original finding that the neighbors were too late to contest the permit. It did instruct the appeals board to decide if not notifying the neighbors had denied them of their due process property rights. The board found that the neighbors did not have any due process rights to Evans' land. This is the decision the neighbors ultimately took to the Supreme Court. According to the lower court findings, Evans, who said he has spent $160,000 in legal fees, was within his rights to build the towers and followed the proper procedures. The county permitted the towers as an allowable accessory use, much like a swimming pool, detached garage or shed, according to county Board of Appeals documents and other published reports. His attorney Steven Van Grack says that as a matter of law, the towers were constructed legally. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, reporting. -- Though the Supreme Court ruling was the end of the road for the administrative case, the neighbors also filed a civil lawsuit against Evans in Circuit Court in August 2004. Its been on hold until the administrative case concluded. (Gazette.net) ** BREAKING DX NEWS: SPRATLY ISLANDS COMING OIN THE AIR If you have waited a ham radio lifetime to work the very elusive Spratly Islands, wait no longer. This with word that Ed Sawyer N1UR and his wife Christine, KB1PQN are expected to be active portable 9M6 from the Layang-Layang Island Resort in the Spratly Islands. This, between 0800 UTC on , March 22nd through midnight UTC on March 30th. The duo have already received their licenses. Once they get permission from the Navy, they will apply for a special 9M0 callsign. Activity will be on 160 through 10 meters, on CW and SSB. 100 watts to omnidirectional verticals will be used from the near-by beach and the operators will be moving bands frequently to take advantage of changing band conditions and openings. Sunset on Spratly is 1040 UTC with sunrise at 2240 by the middle of that week. QSL cards for either operator go via Bob Tomkovich, Jr., K2RET, 405 Hemlock Dr., Lanoka Harbor, NJ 08734 in the USA. More information is on line at www dot n1urspratly dot com. We will have more DX news later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (OPDX) ** THE BPL WAR: SARL SAYS NO TO PLT / BPL The South African Radio League will be taking a very tough stance in its fight to stop the proliferation of Broadband over Powerline Internet access in that nation. According to a society news release, while the draft regulations for the introduction of what they call Powerline Internet Transmission or PLT go some way to protect the High Frequency radio spectrum from interference the general consensus was that the regulations do not go far enough. SARL says that interference limits, the lack of compulsory notching of the Amateur bands and the inadequate mitigation process were identified as some of the issues left open. The decision was reached following a nationwide net on Sunday, February 24th where the draft PLT regulations and the negative impact the licensing of Powerline Internet Transmission in South Africa will have on HF communication were discussed. The South African Radio League also received input from experts in the field and a major assistance from the ARRL laboratory which has been dealing with BPL interference issues for several years. (SARL) ** RADIO LAW: FCC SAYS NO TO MORSE RECONSIDERATION REQUESTS The FCC has said no to a pair of proposals that had asked for the restoration of Morse testing for a qualification to become and hold a United States Amateur Radio license. In a Memorandum Opinion and Order released February 28th, the FCC denied two petitions calling for General or Amateur Extra license applicants to demonstrate proficiency in Morse code. In the wake of the FCC's actions to do away with Morse testing, two amateurs submitted separate petitions asking the agency to bring back Morse testing. Anthony Gordon, KG6EQM, objected to the FCC eliminating the telegraphy examination element as an examination requirement for the Amateur Extra Class operator license. Russell Ward, W4NI, requested the FCC reconsider its decision for strictly procedural reasons. In denying both requests the FCC reiterated its prior conclusion that an individual's ability to demonstrate Morse code proficiency does not further the underlying purposes of the Part 97 rules. It appears to be of the opinion that Morse does not accommodate individual contributions to the advancement of the radio art and to enhance the value of the amateur service to the public. In December 2006, the FCC decided to drop the Morse code requirement for all Amateur Radio license classes. At the time the commission decided to drop the Morse Code exam, it said knowing Morse is not necessarily indicative of an individual's ability to contribute to the advancement of ham radio. The agency also said emergency communication today is performed using voice, data or video modes. The agency claims that all of these are much faster than telegraphy. The FCC said it received roughly 100 comments on the reconsideration request. It says that most were overwhelmingly negative. (RW, ARRL, FCC) ** BREAK 1 From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the N6KRV repeater of the Sequoia Amateur Radio Group serving beautiful Lake Isabella, California. (5 sec pause here) ** RECUE RADIO: MARYLAND SENIORS FORM FIRST RESPONSE TEAM A story in the March 5th edition of Hometown Annapolis dot com proves that you do not have to be young to be an emergency planner. A story titled Heritage Harbour's Detailed Plans Impress County Officials tells the story of how senior citizens in a planned Maryland community have put together a first response unit that includes everything from stockpiling food and medical supplies to communicating with the world using Amateur Radio. In this case the communications hub is the garage of Heritage Harbour resident Walter Van Gieson, AB4DQ. Van Gieson was a radio operator who served in the military during World War II. According to the news article, in the event a disaster severs power and phone lines, AB4DQ's ham radio will become the lifeline out of Heritage Harbor. The complete story is truly uplifting example of how those in their 70's and 80's and beyond can provide a valuable service to their communities. You can read all about the Heritage Harbour first response team at http://www.hometownannapolis.com/cgi...8/03_02-14/TOP (HometownAnnapolis.com) ** RESCUE RADIO: WISCONSIN HAMS HELP SAVE DRIVER WHO RAN OFF THE ROAD A pair of Wisconsin hams are being lauded for their quick action that likely saved an injured drivers life. We have more from Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson, KQ6FM: -- It happened on Wednesday, February 27th. That's when Robert Stout, WB9ECK, put out a call for assistance on the Madison 147.150 two meter repeater and was answered by Brian Sprecher, KC9LCC,. Stout told Sprecher that a car had gone off the road, broken through a guard rail and stopped just short of a creek. Stout aid that the driver was injured and trapped in his vehicle. He asked KC9LLC to inform authorities that an ambulance was needed at the scene. Sprecher then put in a call to the county sheriff's office and relayed the assistance call. Stout then kept Sprecher apprised of the driver's injuries. KC9LLC used the information to give the sheriff's dispatch updated real time information. Stout remained at the scene providing aid until local police arrived. Sprecher stayed on the air relaying information from Stout to the local authorities until they relieved him of duty and sent him on his way. For the amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM in Reno. -- The identity of the victim and his medical condition were not known as this newscast goes to air. (KC9GM, others) ** RESCUE RADIO: CALIFORNIA HONORS DCS VOLUNTEERS Twenty seven Los Angeles area hams who are members of the Carson Sheriff Station Disaster Communications Service have been honored for their work on behalf of the community. All received individual and group awards from for their taking part in a wide range of emergency and public service episodes including assisting in providing assistance during tactical alerts due to civil unrest. The hams were also lauded for their work during the massive wildfires that plagued the region last fall. In expressing support to the volunteers a proclamation was issued. It said in part that together local ham radio operators provided 7986 hours of service to the agencies. Also that the service provided by the Carson Station Disaster Communications Service volunteers has so far saved the taxpayers of Los Angeles County almost $320,000. The Carson Station Disaster Communications Service is a volunteers group of radio amateurs who volunteer to provide communication links in the event that more traditional communication systems are disabled due to natural or manmade disasters. In addition to the 27 radio amateurs, thirteen deputies, a firefighter, two station volunteers and two citizens were also recognized at the presentation event. (ARNewsline(tm) from LA Sheriff's Press Release) ** ENFORCEMENT: GOVERNMENT SILENCE LEADS TO FIGHT BACK WEBSITES A new twist on the ham radio regulatory enforcement scene in the United States. This, as some radio amateurs accused of wrong doing by the Federal Communications Commission take to the World Wide Web to plead their case or denounce the regulatory agency as interfering with their right to free speech. In the wake of a recent FCC announcement that only final actions in ham radio matters would be made public, some hams accused of Part 97 infractions are taking their story public with websites and on-line blogs of their own. The reason seems to be to let the ham radio public know that they intend to fight the government accusations made against them. Back on January 15th the FCC announced that due to privacy concerns that it was dramatically scaling back the amount of information it would make public in regard to it Amateur Service enforcement actions. Up until then it had been common practice for the agency to release letters to individuals that require a specific response to an allegation of wrong doing, Now the only information made public are Notices of Violation, Notices of Apparent Liability to Monetary Forfeiture and other final actions in a given case. But in a strange turn of events, this new FCC posture to protect the identifies of those accused has lead at least two or three such people to create cyberspace homes. Places on the web where they have posted the violation notices that they received along with their respective views or responses. The reason that these sites and blogs appearing is unclear since one would think that most hams who receive letters of inquiry regarding their on-the-air operating practices would tend to want to keep the matter quiet and settle the issue well out of the public eye. It will be interesting to see how many more of these sites show up as ham radio rules enforcement continues and some on the receiving end of FCC notices going public to fight back. (ARNewsline(tm), others) ** ENFORCEMENT: AMBULANCE COMPANY FINED FOR OPERATING ON AN UNAUTHORIZED FREQUENCY Even first responders have to comply with the FCC rules as an Oregon company found out recently. The FCC affirms a $3200 monetary against Metro West Ambulance licensee of station WQBI492, in Hillsboro, Oregon. This, for willful and repeated violation of Section 1.903(a) of the Commission's Rules by operating on a frequency not authorized for it to use. On June 11, 2007, the Enforcement Bureau's Portland Resident Agent Office issued a Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $4,000 to Metro West after determining that the company apparently willfully and repeatedly operated on 463.2875 MHz. This is a frequency not authorized by its license. Metro West replied to the NAL on July 2, 2007. In its response the company disputed some of the facts, arguing that the violation was not willful and not repeated, that Metro West took immediate steps to rectify the situation as soon as it was aware of the violation, and that Metro West has a history of compliance with the Commission's Rules. In affirming its action, the FCC said that the Communications Act defines "repeated" as "the commission or omission of such act more than once or, if such commission or omission is continuous, for more than one day. It says that in this case, the evidence is clear that Metro West operated its station on 463.2875 MHz for more than one day. Therefore, it finds no merit to that argument. It did however agree that Metro West did have a history of overall compliance with the Commission's Rules. Based on this the FCC did reduce Metro West's forfeiture amount from $4,000 to $3,200. Metro West was given the customary 30 days to pay or to file a further appeal. (FCC) ** HAM FREEWA WORKEDGRIDS FROM VE2ZAZ Bertrand Zauhar, VE2ZAZ, has released his new freeware WorkedGrids, ham log grid square mapping software. The program runs only under Windows. It displays a map showing the amateur radio grid squares contacted and logged in using third-party logging program. Up to four bands can be displayed concurrently on the map. The program reads plain-text ASCII log files generated by most logging programs. WorkedGrids is directed towards the VHF and above operators who collect grid squares for contesting or award purposes. More is on-line at ve2zaz.net (ANS, VE2ZAZ) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: RAC ELECTS TWO NEW VP'S Some names in the news. First up is Jim Hay, VE2VE. Hay has been elected as Radio Amateur of Canada's Vice-President, for Technical and Administrative Services. This confirms his recent assumption of responsibilities for the organizations information technology requirements. And John Bartlett, VE1OZ, has been elected as Radio Amateur of Canada's Vice-President for Public Relations. His job is to lead efforts to develop strategies to improve membership across Canada and to promote Amateur Radio to the Canadian public. (RAC) ** NAMES IN THE NEWS: VK2AMD TURNS 100 And words of congratulations to Australian operator Howard Booth, VK2AMD who turned 100 years of age on March 6th. Originally licensed as G2AS of Sheffield England, Booth and his then young family emigrated to Australia after the bad winters of the late 1940's, settling in Windang, NSW, some 60 miles south of Sydney. Booth, who was a builder and roofer in the U-K built his own house and still lives in it today. He is believed to be one of the oldest or even the oldest active radio amateur on the Australian continent and possibly world-wide. (WIA) ** THE SOCIAL SCENE: QCWA AT STUART FLORIDA HAMFEST - MARCH 15 Ken Simpson, W8EK, says that the Quarter Century Wireless Association will hold an open forum at the Stuart Florida Hamfest. The date of the event is Saturday, March 15th at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. The venue is meeting room 2 at the Martin County Fairgrounds in Stuart. More information about the hamfest is on line at www.mcaraweb.com (QCWA) ** THE SOCIAL SCENE: CHARLESTON HAMFEST - MARCH 15 And the 24th annual Charleston West Virginia Hamfest also takes place on Saturday March 15th. Its venue is the Coonskin Armory at 1707 Coonskin Drive in Charleston. Talk in is on the W8CHF 145.35 MHz repeater. For more information please contact our own Jim Damron. His e-mail is N8TMW at arrl dot net. (N8TMW) ** THE SOCIAL SCENE: MICROHAMS DIGITAL SEMINAR - MARCH 22 The second annual MicroHAMS Digital Seminar is slated for Saturday, March 22nd on the Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington. The program includes a wide variety of topics centered around digital communications and Amateur radio. Lunch and snacks are included with the price of the conference and there will be free Internet access. Because of space limitations and parking requirements pre-registering is suggested, More is on line http://www.microhams.com/digitalconference (W7LRD, ANS) ** 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) ** HAM HONORS: 2008 YHOTY NOMINATIONS BEING SOUGHT In case you have not heard the announcement at the end of the newscast the past few weeks, the nominating period for the 2008 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award. The award honors a licensee 18 years old or younger who has used ham radio to significantly contribute to the benefit of the Amateur Radio Service, to the state of the communications art, to the community or the nation. Any FCC or Industry Canada licensed radio amateur, age 18 or younger, residing in the United States 50 states, plus Puerto Rico and the Canadian Provinces is eligible to be nominated for this award. To obtain a nominating form, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to 2008 Young Ham of the Year Award, c/o Newsline, 28197 Robin Ave, Santa Clarita, California, 91350, or download the form from www dot yhoty dot org. Nominations may be electronically submitted at the website, but supporting materials must be submitted separately. Presentation of the 2008 YHOTY Award will take place in August at the Huntsville Hamfest in Alabama. Again, more information is in cyberspace at our special website at www.yhoty.org. (ARNewsline(tm)) ** EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: GERMAN PUBLIC RADIO TO ABANDON EUREKA 147 A once prominent digital audio broadcasting format soon could be a technical achievement of the past in one European nation. This, as an oversight organization in Germany says its time to stop supporting Eureka 147. Jim Damron, N8TMW, has the details: -- The organization responsible for setting fiscal policy for public broadcasting in Germany has deemed the Eureka-147 Digital Audio Broadcasting codec unworthy of further investment. The KEF which oversees the financial aspect of DAB is calling for the equivalent of about $246 million slated to fund public-service DAB projects from 2009 to 2012 to be reallocated to other projects. Since 2001, some $266 million has been allocated to KEF for Digital Audio Broadcasting projects. In explaining its recommendation to halt such funding after 2008, KEF said that receiver options remained limited in Germany and that public support for FM radio and the availability of satellite radio, Internet radio, podcasts and other outlets have changed the nature of radio broadcasting since DAB was first envisioned. I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW. -- But there is some strong opposition to such a phase out. A group called the Initiative Marketing Digital Radio is a European consortium of receiver manufacturers, transmitter network operators, program providers and institutions backing the DAB standard. It warns that Germany moving away from Eureka 147 could cause chaos. It says this is because the digitalization of broadcasting is unstoppable. (RW) ** WORLDBEAT - UK: BBC CLOSES SHORTWAVE TO EUROPE The British Broadcasting Company has announced that all its shortwave radio transmissions to Europe ceased on 18th February 2008. The U-K based broadcaster says that it recognize that this will be a loss to some of their listeners, its managers point out that BBC World Service radio programs are delivered to Europe via other platforms including longwave at night. The BBC's World Service grew from the original British Empire Service which was inaugurated in 1932. Last year the BBC celebrated its 75th anniversary and today boasts an estimated world audience of some 180 million. According to the announcement, only the analog shortwave transmissions to Europe are affected. The experimental Digital Radio Mondiale or D-R-M transmissions for North East continental Europe will continue unaffected. Full details of World Service sound broadcasts can be found on the web at bbc.co.uk/worldservice. (GB2RS) ** HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT 2007 SYMPOSIUM DVD RELEASED AMSAT North America has released its long awaited 2007 AMSAT Symposium DVD. The DVD contains all of the 2007 papers, PowerPoint slide show and audio of the presentations. Additional features include Symposium papers from 2004 and 2005, an International Space Station Columbus module video and much more. This DVD is a must for anyone that was not able to attend the 2007 AMSAT Symposium or as a club meeting presentation. For pricing or to order a copy please contact Martha Sargovitz at the AMSAT office at telephone area code 301 589-6062. (ANS) ** OPERATING NEWS: INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS WEEKEND ADDS ANOTHER WEEKEND An update to last weeks story on the International Museums Weekend operating event slatted to place on 14th and 15th June. Due to popular demand, this event has now been extended to two weekends by adding June 21st and 22nd as well. Those intending to take part should register their museum on the International Museums Weekend website. (GB2RS) ** DX In DX, NZ5N reports that he will be operating the satellites during the upcoming Swan Island Dxpedition as HQ8R from March 15th to the 23rd. Bill will be taking along an FT-817 and an Arrow antenna to work the birds. Time permitting, he will also try to make a few contacts before and after the expedition from the Honduran mainland. Weather permitting, he may also try to give out grid square EK 76 from the boat on the way to and from the island. QSL as directed by the operator. The 2007 Equatorial Guinea 3C7Y DXpedition to has been approved for DXCC credit. If you had cards rejected for this operation, please send an e-mail to the ARRL's DXCC Desk to have your record updated. Beginning on Sunday the 9th of March, a week-long expedition will operate from various castles and forts on the Isle of Man. Club calls GT4KPT, GT8LED and GT3GWB will used. They expect to activate several Worked All Britain areas during the week. And G3RWF is active from Uganda as 5X1NH until March 22nd. His operation will be limited because he is on holiday but he expects to operate all of the High Frequency bands except 160 meters. Modes will be CW, SSB, RTTY and PSK. He will run 100 watts to wire antennas. QSL to G3RWF. Last but by no mean least, F8CHM will be active as FR5EZ from Reunion Island until March 21st. He expects to be active on the High Frequency bands as well as 6 meters on CW and SSB. QSL to his callbook address. (Above from various DX news sources) ** THAT FINAL ITEM: LIGHTNING AND ICE FOR SALE And finally this week, a company that hams and broadcasters have come to rely on for lightning protection devices is up for sale. Its up for sale on eBay. The company is Industrial Communication Engineers. Its located in Indianapolis, Indiana here in the U-S-A and that's where you will also find Amateur Radio Newsline's Jack Parker, W8ISH: -- Better up that limit on your Pay Pal account. This business opportunity could cost you a pretty penny. Long time amateur radio operator Mike Koss W9SU is hanging up his test leads and putting his company on the eBay auction block. Going price is a cool 2-point-7 million dollars. Koss has spent the past 18 years building up his electronic products business. So why auction the business on eBay? SOT: "eBay is one way you can advertise anything including a business. And there are And it can be seen by the entire world. The total cost of the ad on eBay was 14-dollars". This may be the first time an electronics manufacturer has been auctioned on eBay. For 2-point-seven-mil, Koss says you get a large product and parts inventory, circuit designs, established customer base, 800 number and two new patents for electro-magnetic pulse and nuclear electro-pulse arrestors that have not yet been marketed. So if lightning strikes and he gets an offer, what is this 40 year veteran of amateur radio going to do now? Koss: "Becoming somewhat of a semi-professional DXer has always been kind of a keen interest. Ah, go back and sort of be a kid again", Mike's world class ham radio station includes six tall towers that make great lightning rods. Its all protected by his patented lightning protection equipment. It's that ham station that Koss would like to spend more time operating. He says the stress of running a business and getting gray hair lead to his decision to auction the business on eBay and enjoy retirement. Koss: "I'll probably travel a little bit because I haven't done very much of that in my lifetime and I'd like to write a book". Koss says the book would detail the finite science of tower installation, lightning protection and proper grounding techniques. It could be a golden idea that earns him enough pocket change to enjoy the best of amateur radio and his well earned retirement. Reporting from Indianapolis, this is Jack Parker W8ISH. -- Amateur Radio operators world-wide depend on Industrial Communication Engineers lightning protection equipment to keep their stations safe from Mother Nature. Many hope that Mike Koss, W9SU, is successful in finding someone to keep it going for many years to come while permitting him a lot more time on the radio. (ARNewsline(tm), W9IND) ** 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 W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is . 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. Before we go we want to remind you that the nominating period for the 2008 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year is now open. Any licensed radio amateur age 18 or younger residing in the United States or Canada is eligible for the award. Full details and both downloadable and on-line nominating forms are in cyberspace at www dot YHOTY dot org. 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 2008. All rights reserved. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|