Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1635 - December 12, 2008
 

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1635 - December 12, 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1635 with a release date of Friday,
December 12th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Region One of the International Amateur Radio
Union suggests contest free operating spectrum, the FCC asks hams to help
in the digital United States television conversion, two industry giants say
that they will build a national rescue radio system, two friends unite for
a space to classroom contact and the tale of ham radio's patron
saint. Hear his amazing story on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number
1635 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RADIO REGULATION: THE IARU SUGGESTS SOME WELCOME CHANGES

No-contesting zones and improved QSL procedures are just two of the items
discussed at the recent International Amateur Radio Union Region 1
Conference held in Croatia. Jim Linton, VK3PC, has the details:

--

The five-day IARU Region 1 Conference attended by 50 delegates had a packed
agenda related to various amateur radio activities - contesting, beacons,
QRP, intruder watch and specialized emission modes.

Among other topics were operating procedure, emergency communications, BPL
and the promotion of amateur radio.

One conference initiative may see the IARU proposing to the United Nations
Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO, that it
acknowledges the Amateur Radio Service as an activity to be protected.

The QSL'ing practices of some DX stations were discussed. The conference
resolved to encourage QSL managers of DXpedition, DXCC, IOTA or other
stations to accept both direct and Bureau QSL cards.

It was also recommended that contest-free band segments be included in
rules of contests organized by national societies, and where possible,
contests include a category for youngsters and newcomers.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Linton, VK3PC.

--

Meantime the conference also reported that all is now in place for the
expansion of the 40 meter band. This very useful HF spectrum will double
in size in many parts of the world on the 29th of March. (WIA News)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: FCC ASKS HAMS TO ASSIST IN FEBRUARY 2009 DTV
CONVERSION

Hams across the United States are being asked by the FCC to assist in the
upcoming conversion of all television broadcasting to digital
operation. This, as the ARRL reports that it has received a request from
the regulatory agency asking its members to provide technical educational
assistance to their communities concerning the FCC-mandated digital
television conversion scheduled for February 17, 2009.

According to ARRL Media and Public Relations Manager Allen Pitts, W1AGP,
Amateur Radio clubs across the country are being asked to develop and
implement plans to provide information throughout January and February
about the Digital Television conversion in their geographic areas. The FCC
is leaving it up to the clubs to decide how to do this because they believe
that local groups understand the communities in ways that the FCC does not.

Pitts said that in early January the FCC will ask ARRL Section Managers for
the names and contact information of the volunteering groups. The FCC
staff will then make contact with the groups, learn their plans and provide
them with the media, brochures or other materials that groups and clubs may
need in this effort. FCC regional staff members may even visit with larger
organizations to aid in implementation of the group's plans.

Pitts stressed that hams should not make "house calls," sell any
equipment
or do actual installations. The request is only to distribute technical
information and FCC materials only. In other words you are not to do
anything other than hand out literature and answer questions. Nor can you
charge anyone for your time or effort as this is a volunteer undertaking.

Interested groups should contact their ARRL Section Manager. More
information on this request from the FCC is on line on the ARRL newspages
at www.arrl.org. (ARRL)

**

RESCUE RADIO: GSS AND NORTHROP GRUMMAN TO BUILD NATIONAL EMCOMM ALERT
SYSTEM

Global Security Systems and Northrop Grumman say that they are working
together to offer an integrated emergency alert system. One that they hope
will be deployed all across the United States by homeland security
officials. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, is here with the
details:

--

According to a news release the system is designed to cover any emergency
situation at any level. It says that in the event of a war, natural
disaster, national, regional or local emergency the combined systems will
allow the president, state and local officials, critical infrastructure and
emergency management agencies to seamlessly and immediately communicate
with first responders as well as citizens. This using any and all forms of
personal communications devices such as cellular phones, wireless Personal
Digital Assistants and permanently installed two-way enabled entertainment
systems.

Northrop Grumman will build a national, state and local alert and warning
system that uses wireless communications infrastructure and consumer
devices. Global Security Systems will contribute expertise in local
collection and delivery of emergency messages and its experience in
deploying its Alert FM system.

The two companies believe they can offer an all encompassing national
alerting framework that spans agencies and levels of government at all
levels while benefiting from an installed base at emergency operations
centers. They also contend that this system will provide an access point
to involve mobile service providers and device integration labs.

According to the announcement, the Alert FM technology allows warnings to
be sent to geographically specific areas and the control processor chip can
be designed into common devices such as cell phones, pagers and even smoke
detectors. It will be interesting to see if any ham radio manufacturer
decides to integrate Alert FM into the next generation of ham radio gear or
if they will be licensed by the technology's patent holder to do so.

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

--

The bottom line: While the FCC tries to find a way to make money selling
off spectrum to companies to use to build a non money making national
emergency alert and communications network, two corporations have decided
to take the initiative on their own. (RW)

**

COMMUNICATIONS LAW: FCC CHAIRMAN MARTIN UNDER CONGRESSIONAL FIRE

A year-long Congressional investigation of Federal Communications
Commission Chairman Kevin J. Martin is alleging egregious abuses of
power. However it was unclear whether the nation's top telecommunications
regulator broke any rules or laws during his leadership.

The report released on Wednesday, December 10th is titled "Deception and
Distrust." It was led by Representatives. John D. Dingell who is Chairman
of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Bart Stupak the Chairman of
the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The report alleges that
the FCC's Martin suppressed information and manipulated data to serve his
agenda.

For some time, Chairman Martin has been criticized by his own FCC staff
members for pushing his proposals to free up media ownership rules and
pushing requirements for a la carte pricing of cable television. This,
through such tactics as suppressing agency studies that do not support his
plans.

FCC spokesman Robert Kenny said that the agency's review of the report
indicated the it did not violate any rules, laws or procedures, but
Congress will ultimately have the final say in this matter. (W8HDU, others)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KA9KBU Net
serving Hickory Hills, Illinois.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RADIO LAW: A DECISION IN THE MILLS TOWER CASE

A zoning board in a Pennsylvania suburb has rendered its decision on the
fate of a tower owned by Chuck Mills, W3YNI. Amateur Radio Newsline's Mark
Abramowicz, NT3V, has been following the matter and has the latest:

--

By a vote of 5-0, the Penn Township Zoning Hearing Board in southwestern
Pennsylvania voted to uphold the permit issued to W3YNI for a 53-foot-tower
on his property.

"I'm very eager to continue my hobby and continue to serve the community
when I'm called upon to do so."

That's Chuck Mills in a telephone interview with Amateur Radio Newsline
immediately following the board's decision.

Mills has been battling neighbor John Ducar who simply didn't want a ham
radio tower erected next to his property.

Mills says he did everything the township asked him to do, including
provide proper screening. But it was PRB-1 and Pennsylvania's recently
enacted tower law called Act 88 which bolstered his case.

While Ducar has the right to appeal, Mills says he's hopeful this battle
has come to an end.

"I've learned to never say never, but I'm optimistic at this point that
this will be the end of it," Mills says.

Michael Lazaroff, K3AIR, a volunteer American Radio Relay League legal
counsel, has been with Mills throughout the process. He says Pennsylvania's
new, ham-friendly tower law, went into effect Dec. 8, just three days
before the board's decision was issued.

"To the best of my knowledge, this is the first case that's been considered
under Act 88 of 2008 and if so, it's very good news," Lazaroff says.

As for Mills' neighbor, Lazaroff says, he, too, is confident the dispute
has come to a legal end.

"He appears to be rather upset that the zoning hearing board ruled against
him," Lazaroff says. "He does have the right to file an appeal with the
county common pleas court. He has 30 days to do so. However, the standard
of review is pretty strict.

"If he appeals, in order to prevail, he will have to prove that the
township zoning hearing board either abused their discretion or made an
error of law in denying his appeal. I don't believe he can prove either
point."

Lazaroff says it's time to move on.

"I'm hoping that this neighbor will finally realize that it's over and he
needs to move on with his life and get over it," Lazaroff says.

The attorney says the decision actually has much broader implications.

"This is an important decision, an important victory for private property
rights and for PRB-1 and Act 88," Lazaroff says. "We've seen in this
country a very steady erosion of private property rights in the last few
years. And, I'm glad to see that at least in this case that that erosion
has come to a stop."

For his part, Mills says he has been very appreciative of the backing
received from hams in his area and throughout the country.

"Support from the ham community was tremendous both in terms of moral
support, financial support, and just a collective 'Thank you' to all of
them," Mills says.

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

--

This is not the only tower and antenna issue being faced by hams. We will
have more for you on them in future Amateur Radio Newsline
reports. (ARNewsline(tm), NT3V)

**

ENFORCEMENT: THE $51,500 FAX FINE

Another heavy fine for sending out unsolicited fax's. This, as the FCC
notifies Hot Lead LLC of Addison and Plano Texas and Las Vegas, Nevada of
its Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $51,500 for
delivering at least nine unsolicited advertisements to the telephone
facsimile machines of at least nine consumers. That works out to be a fine
of $5722 per unsolicited fax. The company was given the customary 30 days
to pay or to file an appeal. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN PRINT

The FCC has also notified Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. of its Apparent
Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $4,000. This, for marketing a
radio frequency device without including the required consumer disclosure
in the user manual.

Multi-Tech is a manufacturer of communications and device networking
products that provide voice and data services over internet protocol
networks. One of its products, the CallFinder Global System for Mobile
Communications is a cellular gateway that enables users to connect to a
private branch exchange trunk line, PBX extension line, or a single public
switched telephone network line and route incoming and outgoing calls
through a GSM wireless network.

Because the CallFinder is a Class A digital device, Multi-Tech must verify
that it complies with the requirements contained in Part 15 of the Rules
and must distribute it with a customer notice informing users of the
potential for harmful interference. It failed to do the latter and that's
the reason for the proposed $4000 fine. (FCC)

**

RESCUE RADIO: HAMS IN SCOTLAND PROIVIDE EMCOM AT CAR CRASH

A family in Scotland left stranded with at least one person injured when
their car skidded off a rural country road has been rescued. This thanks
to the quick thinking of two United Kingdom amateur radio operators.

The drama unfolded Friday morning, December 5th. That's when Barry
Horning, GM4TOE, came across the couple and their three children ina wreck
on the Dufftown-Tomintoul road. Unable to get a cellular telephone phone
signal near the accident scene, GM4TOE took to ham radio for medical
assistance for the injured female driver.

Using the services of a local repeater, Horning's plea was picked up 20
miles away in the town of Longmorn by Jon Coulter. Coulter, who was not
identified by call sign notified police and gave them the information
needed for an emergency medical response. A short time later an ambulance
arrived at the accident scene to provide on site treatment and then
transported the victim to a local medical facility.

According to Horning the ambulance crew was impressed by the way he and
Coulter were able to provide them exact coordinates for the accident
site. They told him that it saved them a lot of time in responding to the
scene.

Coulter says that he's not heard from Horning since the QSO to report the
accident so he has no word on the current condition of those who were
injured in the mishap. (Northern Scot)

**

RESCUE RADIO: WICHITA KS. NEWSPAPER HONORS SKYWARN

The Wichita, Kansas Eagle newspaper has recognized the key role that ham
radio operators play in providing an early warning of approaching severe
weather. In its December 7th story titled Skywarn volunteers see what
radar can't the paper notes that when severe weather threatens the region,
dozens of volunteer amateur radio operators and weather spotters work
together to provide information to the Weather Service. Writer Tim Potter
calls the Skywarn hams the eyes on the ground for the National Weather
Service in Wichita. In the Wichita region, Skywarn covers 26 counties. The
article is on-line at
http://www.kansas.com/news/state/v-p...ry/623024.html (Kansas.com)

**

RESCUE RADIO: RENO TV STATION HONORS HAM RADIO EMCOMM

Ham radio operators providing emergency communications was also the theme
of a 2 minute news report over NBC television affiliate KRNV in Reno
Nevada. One of those featured was Amateur Radio Newsline's Don Carlson,
KQ6FM., who explained to reporter Lemor Shlomof the way in which hams
helped loved ones learn about the health and welfare in a disaster
area. The story also featured Jack Goetz, WA2FDK, who has been a ham
since 1934 reminiscing about the old days of the hobby. This was a very
positive story about ham radio at a truly fun time of year. Our thanks to
KRVN for permission to use the audio clips heard in this report. (KRNV)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: GET WELL WISHES TO WA6MHZ

Get well wishes to past ARRL San Diego Section Manager Pat Bunsold, WA6MHZ,
who is and is recovering from heart surgery. Pat was operated on last
Thursday at haro Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa California. Hes now at home
and those that know Pat are well aware that he particularly enjoys
discussing vintage radio and even runs a ham radio museum at his QTH. Get
well wishes can go to WA6MHZ at his Callbook address or e-mail listed on
QRZ dot com. (CGC Communicator)

**

HAM AWARDS: THE LEWIS AND CLARK AWARD PROGRAM

The Pacific Northwest V H F Society has announced the creation of its new
Lewis and Clark awards program. The goal is that of promoting V H F and U
H F activity throughout the Pacific Northwest. The awards and certificates
of this program are specific to the culture and pioneering spirit of rams
residing in the North-Western states. However, the sponsors say that with
modern communications technology it should also be obtainable by radio
amateurs outside of that local geographic region. More information is on
the society's webpage at www.pnwvhfs.org (VHF Reflector)

**

HOLIDAY RADIO: OPERATION SANTA CLAUSE IN SOCAL

Operation Santa Clause has begun. This as members of California's Moreno
Valley Amateur Radio Association, provided an opportunity for children to
‘Talk to Santa' via amateur radio at the 10th annual Lake Perris State
Recreation Area‘s, ‘Lights on the Lake' holiday season celebration,
held on
Saturday, December 6th.

Some 15 members of the Moreno Valley club participated along with members
of the City of Moreno Valley RACES organization. Each child received a
name tag identifying their radio contact and entitling them the opportunity
to personally meet Santa following the evening finale of the parade of
boats.

Alan Pearson, KB6DMZ, is a spokesperson for the club. He says that the
overall success of the event was gauged by the long lines of children
making their Christmas wishes known to Santa at the groups lakeside amateur
radio station. (AF6HR)

**

BREAK 2

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

(5 sec pause here)

**

HAM RDIO IN SPACE: AN ARISS CONTACT BETWEEN FRIENDS

Its not often when two friends hold a space to ground Q-S-O so that the one
on-orbit can talk top kids in a classroom. But that's what happened so
that students at a southern Illinois grade school could get their chance
to vicariously go into space. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak,
WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with the details:

--

Monday, December 8th was just another day at the Ellis Elementary School in
Belleville, Illinois. The students came to class. They got their daily
education. And oh yes, they also got to talk to Astronaut and Flight
Engineer Sandra Magnus, KE5FYE, on board the International Space
Station. Take a listen:

--

Student: "My name is Austin. What was the first thing you did when you got
into space?"

KF5FYE: "You know Austin, the first thing I did was also the most fun. I
actually opened up my seatbelt and let myself float out of my seat and
that's how I knew I was back on orbit. Over."



--

The QSO between Ellis Elementary and Sandra Mangus was a direct
contact. It was made possible by ARISS -- amateur Radio on the
International Space Station in conjunction with the Saint Clair Amateur
Radio Club of nearby Saint Louis, Missouri. Its callsign K9GXU was used to
establish contact with KE5FYE who was operating from the space station as
NA1SS:

--

Control Station: "NA1S, NA1SS, this is K9GXU, over."

KF5FYE: "K9GXU, this is NA1SS. How do you copy?"

Control Station: "We've got you perfect."

--

Once the two way circuit was established the real fun began. This, as
student after student quizzed KF5FYE on what it was like to ride to orbit
and live on board the I-S-S:

--

Student: "Hi, my name is Ashley. How long does it take to get from Earth
to the ISS?"

KF5FYE: "Ashley, the ISS is only up about 200 to 250 miles but we use
about three days to get here because of the way that the shuttle flies to
the station. So I'm really not that far away. Over."

Student: My name is Allison. "How funny do you think a bird would look if
it was flying inside the
ISS-would it fly like a bird on Earth?"

KF5FYE: "Well Allison, that's a good question because I don't know what
kind of sensors that birds have that sense gravity. In the environment
(here) there is air it can fly in but I don't know how it would feel
without gravity. Over.

Student: "My name is Felix. What are some of the fun experiments you are
doing?"

KF5FYE: "Well Felix, my most fun one I am watching. We have a couple of
spiders up here and they are learning how to build webs in zero
gravity. As a matter of fact, you guys sent us the names for the spiders
-- Elmo and Spiderman. And thank you for that., over."

--

On hand to record the event was ham radio's own Mr. Audio, Bob Heil,
K9EID. After the contacts were concluded Bob got a chance to chat with the
third grade teacher spearheading the project. She is Jennifer May who just
happened to be a longtime friend of Flight Engineer Sandy Magnus, KE5FYE:

--

K9EID: "How great was this for you today"

May: "Oh this was wonderful. The children have been working on this for
the past couple of weeks. They formed their questions. They had everything
prepared. They decorated the room and they really enjoyed themselves and
especially hearing Sandy on the radio.

K9EID: "You and Sandy have been friends for a couple of years, as I
understand."

May: "Yes, we have."

K9EID: "How long have you been working together on this project?"

May: "Its not just this project. We've been pen-pals and friends for
about 13 years.

K9EID: "It has to have been real exciting?"

May: "Yes. Especially to see all of the and the (antennas) go on top of
the roof and everybody working together. We could not have pulled this
off without everyone."

--

Bob also got a chance to speak with the ham radio operator who made the
technical end of the contact happen. Chris Pixson, KC9EIZ:

--

K9EID: "Chris, what did you thing of this operation?"

KC9EIZ: "Well, the fact that it was successful was the most important
thing and not for the amateur radio side. Rather for the 26 third graders
at the Ellis Elementary School who had a once in a lifetime experience of
talking to the International Space Station.

"The amateur radio gear that we had worked flawlessly and the hundreds and
hundreds of man hours that were put in by amateurs to make this happen is
the key to the success of this whole endeavor."

--

Not only was this contact between the Ellis Elementary School an
overwhelming success, the kids even learned how Santa Clause gets to
space. Well at least how Christmas presents get the

--

Student: "My name is Tim. Since you are going to be on the ISS for
Christmas, how are you going
to get your presents?"

KF5FYE: "Tim, actually, our presents arrived on the last Progress vehicle
last Sunday, but I haven't opened them.. I'm going to wait until Christmas
to open them so it will be a surprise. Over."

--

And on that happy holiday note we say well done to all who made this ARISS
contact both a fun and educational time for the students at the Ellis
Elementary School, in Brellville, Illinois.

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

--

Our sincere thanks to Bob Heil, K9EID, of Heil Sound Limited for recording
the event and making the sound available to us for this story. (ARNewline(tm)
with audio provided by K9EID)

**

WORLDBEAT: NEW EUROPEAN DRM SERVICE LAUNCHES IN 2009

Early 2009 is the target for a new joint radio service that will serve
European audiences on shortwave using Digital Radio Mondiale
technology. That's when the BBC World Service and the English-language
division of Deutsche Welle will begin targeting Western and Central Europe,
with digital content that will include global news and current affairs,
analysis, documentaries and cultural programs.

BBC World Service is a U.K.based international radio and online
broadcaster; Deutsche Welle is Germany's international
broadcaster. Digital Radio Mondiale was developed in Eueope as the digital
broadcasting system for bands below 30 MHz. With the exception of North
America where In Band On Challel or IBOC is trying to gain a foothold,
Digital Radio Mondiale has been almost universally embraced worldwide as
the preferred medium for broadcast services to use on these bands. (RW)

**

DX

In DX, WJ2O, will once again be active from VP5JM's location on
Providenciales Island during the ARRL DX CW Contest on February 21st and
22nd. His call will be VP5DF and he will operate as a single-operator
all-band entry. QSL via his home callsign

And Japanese special event station 8J1UEC90 is on the air until
12th January. This, in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the
University of Electro-Communications. QSL only via the bureau.

The 4M5DX Group will activate Toas Island from December 9th to the 12th
using CW, SSB and RTTY on 160 through 6 meters. QSL via IT9DAA, either
direct or via the bureau.

Lastly, listen out for G7OCD operating from the Maldives as 8Q7AK from
January 11th to the 27th. This will be his fifth time on from that
location and he plans to operate 40 through 10 meters on SSB and CW every
day. Times are approximately 0730 to 0830, 0900 to 1030, 1300 to1500 and
1730 to 1800 hours UTC. For QSL information please check 8Q7AK- on QRZ dot
com.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: THE SAINT OF AMATEUR RADIO

And finally this week, the story of a ham radio operator who was killed by
the Nazi's during World War 2. Graham Kemp VK4BB, is here with the story
of SP3RN:

--

GI70MY writing in the 30 meter psk yahoo group says that during the WW2
German occupation of Poland, a Ham radio Priest, Fr. Maximilian Kolbe,
SP3RN was arrested by the Germans. The Germans believed his amateur radio
activities were somehow involved inespionage and he was transferred to
Auschwitz on May 28, 1941.

After some prisoners escaped in 1941, the Germans ordered that 10 prisoners
be killed in retribution.. Fr. Kolbe was martyred when he volunteered to
take the place of one of the condemned men.

On October 10, 1982 he was canonized by Pope John Paul II as Saint
Maximilian Kolbe, Apostle of Consecration to Mary and declared a Martyr of
charity. He is now considered the Patron saint of Amateur Radio Operators.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News in
Australia.

--

A bit of history about a ham who truly cared about his fellow man. One who
cared enough to forfeit his own life to save another. (WIA News)

**

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
. 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 Burt Hicks,
WB6MQV,, saying 73 from and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.