Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1795 - January 6 2012

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1795 with a release date of
January 6th, 2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. ARISSat One falls from orbit after bringing
the delight of ham radio to peoples world-wide; the last B-P-L system
in the USA to use the ham bands shuts down; the ARRL seeks input on a
new bandplan for 60 meters; Samoa and Tokelau cross the International
dateline and ham radio honors inventors Reginald Fessenden and Raymond
Heising, Find out the details are on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report
number 1795 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ARISSAT ONE MISSION COMES TO A CLOSE

The mission of ARISSat-1 has come to an end. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF,
is in the newsroom with the details:

--

Reception reports indicate that ARISSat-1 fell from the sky on
Wednesday, January 4th. Its predicted impact point was in an open area
of the South Atlantic west of Angola.

The last full telemetry captured and uploaded to the ARISSatTLM web
site was at 6:02 UTC as the satellite passed over Japan. These reports
showed that the temperature aboard ARISSat One had been rising as
atmospheric drag began to affect the satellite. Final temperatures
received showed that the Internal Housekeeping Unit was at 167 degrees
Farenheight and was rising.

The last time ARISSat One was heard at the Amateur Radio Newsline
studio facility in California was on January 2nd at about 18:15 Pacific
Standard Time. During that transmission the satellite was at about 127
statute miles in altitude and several hundred miles West of Los
Angeles. Its signal sounded like this:

--

ARISSat-1 audio

--

Two days later, during the 8:42 UTC pass over Russia, RN3ZF sent in a
reception report to the ARISSat-1 monitoring website. That posting
stated telemetry was absent, voice messages were not legible and
interrupted. It is pretty much assumed that RN3ZF most likely
witnessed the last minutes in the life of satellite.

ARISSat-1 was deployed from the International Space Station on August
3, 2011 during a space walk by two Russian Cosmonauts. It marked the
first ever test flight of an AMSAT designed Software Defined
Transponder. One with the ability to transmit simultaneous FM voice on
its downlink cycling between student messages, spoken telemetry and
SSTV from cameras on the spaceframe. Students from around the world
provided the voice announcements. The satellite also carried a student
experiment from Kursk State University in Russia which measured
atmospheric density.

ARISSat-1 was likely one of the most popular ham radio satellites ever
placed on orbit and its one that is definitely going to be missed.

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

--

ARISSat-1 was originally to be named Suitsat 2. The entire project was
re-engineered after the Russian spacesuit that was to become Suitsat 2
was prematurely jettisoned from the International Space Station before
it could be fitted with ham radio gear. (ANS, WA4SCA, ARNewsline(tm))

**

THE BPL FIGHT: IBEC CLOSES DOWN BPL OPERATIONS DUE TO FINANCIAL LOSSES

One of the very few remaining United States operators of a Broadband
over Powerline Internet access system has announced that it is shutting
down. A notice that appeared on the International Broadband Electric
Communications web site said that due to its inability to overcome
financial damage from the April 27th 2011 tornadoes that ravaged some
of its service areas in Alabama, it regrets that it has no other option
than to close its doors and cease operations.

International Broadband Electric Communications better known by the
acronym IBEC went on to say the customer support would cease on
January 16th and urged its customer base to seek alternative Internet
access as soon as possible. It also stated that it sincerely cares
about the Internet needs of rural America and detests watching the
national carriers ignore the communications needs of so many hard
working families across the nation.

IBEC was headquartered in Huntsville, Alabama. It provided Internet
service using broadband over power line technology to rural communities
in several states including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Indiana as well as
Alabama. With is departure, the ARRL says that there is no other
Broadband over Powerline system in the United States that uses the
amateur bands in their deployments. You can read the IBEC closure
announcement on its website at www.ibec.net. (Various news reports)

**

RESTRUCTURING: ARRL SEEKING INPUT ON A 60 METER BANDPLAN

The ARRL is seeking input on a proposed new bandplan for the 5 MHz or
60 meter band.

As previously reported, last November the FCC released a Report and
Order detailing new rules for the 5 MHz Amateur Radio band. This
announcement brought with it a number of changes for 60 meter
operators.

Changes include substituting a channel at 5 point 358 point 5 MHz for 5
point 368 MHz previously authorized. The effective radiated limit in
the 60 meter band will be raised by 3 dB to 100 W Peak Envelope Power
relative to a half-wave dipole. Also, three additional emission types
are authorized. These are Data, RTTY and CW will be authorized as soon
as an effective date for a rules change is announced.

The ARRL says that considering the expected increase in 60 meter
activity when the FCC's Report and Order finally takes effect, the
League is asking for feedback to assist in crafting a proposed band
plan. If you're a 60-meter operator, e-mail your suggestions to
hf-band-plan (at) arrl (dot) org. You can also participate in an
online survey at tinyurl.com/60-meter-plan. (ARRL)

**

TIME TRAVEL: SAMOA AND TOKELAU JUMP INTERNATIONAL DATELINE

The tiny South Pacific nation of Samoa and its neighbor Tokelau have
jumped forward in time crossing westward over the International Date
Line. This, to align themselves with their other 21st century trading
partners throughout the region.

At the stroke of midnight on December 29th time in Samoa and Tokelau
leapt forward to December 31st which was New Year's Eve. For Samoa's
186,000 citizens, and the 1,500 in Tokelau, Friday December 30, 2011
simply ceased to exist.

Of coarse this does complicate the QSL'ing process for ham radio
contacts made with either of these entities on the dates that were
simply cast away. It will be interesting to see how the DXCC and
pother awards operations handle this situation. (Media Network)

**


NCDXF CONTRIBUTES $15000 TO HK0NA OPERATION

The Northern California DX Foundation has made a $15,000 (dollar)
contribution to the HK0NA Malpelo Island DXpedition which is scheduled
take place from January 21st to February 5th or 6th.

According to team co-leader Bob Allphin, K4UEE, an advance team of four
members departed on Christmas day with nearly 4 tons of gear to
transport to the island. They will establish two camps and set up
antennas and stations which should be ready when the main team arrives
January 21st.

Allphin says that no expedition has ever operated from the top of the
island before. Because of this western North America, Asia and Oceana
have a much higher need for it.

For the past 40 years the Northern California DX Foundation has funded
major DXpeditions to many of the worlds most wanted entities. Malpelo
was rated as number 12 on the DX Magazine's Most Wanted List for 2011.
More about this massive DX operation is on-line at HK0NA dot com.

The Northern California DX Foundation has also sent a $500 Christmas
gift to the Radio Amateur Society of Thailand's HS0AC Club This to
help rebuild and re-equip the HS0AC station that was destroyed by
recent flooding.

We will have more DX related news later on in this weeks Amateur Radio
Newsline report. (NCDXF, W0GJ)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K3ZFF
repeater of the Boise County Amateur Radio Club serving Boise, Idaho.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: FEMA PLANS MORE AND LONGER EAS TESTS

FEMA and the FCC plans to conduct more, longer, national EAS tests.
This, according to Damon Penn who is the assistant administrator for
National Continuity Programs at the Federal Emergency Management
Agency. Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, is here with the
details:

--

According to news reports FEMA's Damon Penn recently told a
congressional panel that after broadcasters report their E-A-S results
to the FCC that his agency will be able to determine the extent of the
successes and limitations of the November 9th 2011 national test. It
will also let FEMA lay plans for future system testing.

Reports say that much of Penn's testimony centered on how to improve
the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System known by the acronym
IPAWS. This includes making it accessible to people with disabilities.
To accomplish this, FEMA has partnered with organizations like National
Public Radio to demonstrate that incorporating Common Alerting Protocol
enabled technologies to alert persons with access and functional needs.
Penn says that National Public Radio is working on using Common
Alerting Protocol compliant messages to deliver alerts through N-P-R's
digital radio to prototype devices that activate a bed shaker, display
an audio alert in text and output the text to a Braille printer.

Penn also noted that FEMA continues to expand and harden Primary Entry
Point stations, going from 36 in 2009 to a current level of 63 with
three more under construction. Primary Entry Point stations are those
used by the government to originate a nationwide alert. Penn says that
by the end of 2012, some 77 Primary Entry Point stations will cover
more than 90% of the nation's population.

In his testimony Penn noted that new Primary Entry Point stations all
use a standard configuration. This he says means savings in
maintenance costs and ensuring ease of movement between these
operations. New stations also have the ability to operate under
extreme conditions and possess backup equipment and power.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in
Zion, Illinois.

--

Penn said that legacy Primary Entry Point stations will be retrofitted
to meet the current Primary Entry Point station resiliency standards.
(RW)

**

RADIO DAMAGE: FIRE TAKES PENNSYLVANIA AM STATION OFF THE AIR

A Carlisle, Pennsylvania radio station has been taken off the air due
to a fire. WIOO AM Program Director Ray Thomas told W-H-T-M news that
everything was fine when he left the building to get lunch at around 1
p.m. on Monday, January 2nd. When he returned sometime later he found
the building was on fire.

Operations Manager Eric Swidler says station personnel need to
determine how much of the facility's equipment is salvageable and time
to locate new studio space. Right now, It's unclear when WIOO will be
back on the air. An electrical malfunction has been blamed for the
blaze. (RW)

**

ENFORCEMET: POPULAR FT. MYERS FLORIDA UNLICENSED STATION SHUT DOWN

Another crackdown on unlicensed radio operations in Florida. Jim Davis,
W2JKD, reports:

--

A Lee County, Forida, man has been arrested for broadcasting gospel and
public service announcements over 107.5 mHz without a license.

The station called itself Dunbar Community Radio, which catered to the
Ft. Myers area. It was shut down on December 9th after its operator,
Al Knighten, was arrested for illegally broadcasting shows and music.

Fort Myers Police helped with the FCC bust but Captain Dennis Eads
admitted it was a difficult task. He told the local press that the
station was providing a service, but the bottom line is that it's
operation was illegal.

For his part, station owner Knighten says he doesn't have any regrets.
In an interview with WBBH television news he was quoted as saying he
believes it was worth it in letting people know we can create something
in this community that we can be proud of.

Im Jim Davis, W2JKD.

--

What further action will be taken against Knighten by the FCC or the
state of Florida is unknown as we go to air. (RBR.com, FCC)

**

PUBLIC SERVICE: OPERATORS NEEDED FOR CANADIAN SKI MARATHON

Volunteer operators are needed for the 2012 Canadian Ski Marathon will
be held on February 11th and 12th. According to Harold Hamilton,
VA3UNK, the event will be held in Western Quebec Province's Ottawa
Valley running eastward between Buckingham and Lachute. VA3UNK notes
that the marathon depends on ham radio volunteers to provide safety and
logistical communication for the benefit of the skiers. If you would
like to take part, please e-mail VA3UNK to radio1 (at) admin2 (dot) ca.
More information on this event is on-line at www.radio-1.ca. (VA3UNK)

**

HAM RADIO ON THE WEB: ARVN RELEASES ARRL/TAPR DCC VIDEO

Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, of Amateur Radio Video News has released video of
the entire 2011 ARRL and Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Digital
Communications Conference on the World-Wide-Web. Amateur Radio Video
News says that it is also trying a shareware approach to the funding of
these videos. It is trusting that those who view them will in turn
make a contribution to cover their production costs. You can screen
these videos and get information on how to support this and future
Amateur Radio Video News projects by taking your web browser to
www.arvn.tv. (KN4AQ)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: YOUR HELP NEEDED TO KEEP W5KUB NETCASTS ON THE WEB

One of the true good-guys of ham radio says that he needs the financial
support of those who watch his live video coverage of the Dayton
Hamvention and other major ham radio events at W5KUB dot com to keep
these Netcasts coming their way.

Tom Medlin, W5KUB, has been Netcasting the Dayton Hamvention and
Huntsville Hamfest for the past 10 years. He says that covering such
events is a major undertaking for him that requires several months of
preparation for each one that is live streamed. And during the decade
he has provide this service he has done so paying almost every penny
himself.

Medlin lives in the Memphis, Tennessee area. According to W5KUB, it
now costs him close to $1500 to live stream any of these shows to
viewers worldwide. Using the Dayton Hamvention as an example, some of
his expenses include over $500 in hotel charges; $200 or more in
gasoline for his mobile unit and another $210 for his flea-market
parking spaces.

But that's not all. As Tom points out, his video streaming service is
not a part of the Hamvention he gets no subsidy from it. So he has to
pay another $70 for tickets for himself and his crew plus about $400
for food and expendable items such as batteries and the like. And in
the end it works out at about $1500 each time he provides the video
streaming service.

According to a posting on his W5KUB.com website, expenses have climbed
through the roof over the past few years. As such, he is asking those
who view his Netcasts to please consider donating a little to help
defray his expenses in providing this service. He says that his goal
is to try to raise at least $1000 in donations this year to go towards
the $1500 expense. If he can get that, he will continue to subsidize
the difference.

Tom adds he never wanted to ask for donations but that may be what it
takes if he is to continue broadcasting these events. More information
on how to support this worthy cause is on-line at
tmedlin.com/donate.html. (ARNewsline(tm) from W5KUB.com posting)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: CONTEST UNIVERSITY 2012 - MAY 17 IN DAYTON OHIO

The 2012 Contest University will be held May 17th at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel in Dayton, Ohio. This in concurrence with this years Dayton
Hamvention.

This years scheduled instructors include such notables as N6TR, K3NA,
K7NV, XE1KK, W5WZ and K2RD to name only a few. Also, several past
professors will present papers as well.

Early bird registration is open through January 31st. More information
is on liner at www.contestuniversity.com. (Contest University)

**

HAMVENTION 2012: AWARDS NOMINATIONS DEADLINE IS JANUARY 15

January 15th is the deadline to submit nominations for the Dayton
Hamvention 2012 awards for Amateur of the Year, Special Achievement,
Technical Excellence and Club of the Year.

The Amateur of the Year Award goes to an individual who has made a
long-term, outstanding commitment to the advancement of amateur radio.
The Technical Excellence Award is for the person who has made an
outstanding technical advancement in the field of amateur radio. The
Special Achievement Award honors someone who has made an outstanding
contribution to the advancement of amateur radio, usually someone who
has spearheaded a significant project. The Club of the Year award goes
to a club which has made a significant contribution to the advancement
of amateur radio.

All amateur radio operators are eligible. The Hamvention Awards
Committee makes the decision on all awards based in part upon the
information it receives. Documentation that informs the Awards
Committee of a nominee's accomplishments may include magazine articles,
newsletters, newspaper clippings, and even videos. These materials
become the property of Hamvention and will not be returned.

Additional details on these awards and a nomination form are available
on the Dayton Hamvention Website located in cyberspace at
www.hamvention.org/awards.php. Nominations also are accepted via US
mail to Dayton Hamvention Awards, PO Box 964, Dayton, Ohio, 45401.

The winners will be recognized at the 2012 Hamvention, which runs May
18th to the 20th at the HARA Arena in the Dayton suburb of Trotwood,
Ohio. Hamvention planners say that they hope to see you there.
(Hamventionr)

**

BREAK 2

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

(5 sec pause here)

**

RADIO FROM SPACE: SETI SEARCH BEGINS ANEW

Researchers have once again undertaken the search for intelligent life
on other planets. After lying dormant for more than seven months,
radio telescopes run by the SETI Institute have once again begun
listening for radio signals from the many alien planet candidates
discovered by NASA's Kepler space telescope. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, is here with the details:

--

S-E-T-I or SETI is an acronym that stands for the Search for
Extraterrestrial Intelligence. On Monday December 5th, Jill Tarter,
who is the director of the Center for SETI Research at the SETI
Institute announced that the group has begun re-observing the Kepler
worlds using a ground-based radio telescope system.

SETI's Allen Telescope Array or A-T-A is a set of 42 dish type antennas
located about 300 miles northeast of San Francisco, California. It
began scanning the heavens for electromagnetic signals that could
betray the presence of an intelligent alien civilization back in 2007.
In January of 2011 the SETI team started training the Allen array on
the 54 planet candidates Kepler had detected what is described by
astronomers as the first habitable zone to date. Then it was shut down
due to budgetary constraints.

Once funds became available, SETI researchers reactivated the Allen
Telescope and have begun using Kepler's discoveries to guide its
activities. The Kepler space telescope was placed on-orbit in March
2009. Its mission is to hunt for Earth-size planets in their parent
stars' habitable zone. That would position such planets at just the
right range of distances from their home star where liquid water and
perhaps life as we know could exist.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Butera-Howell, KB3TZD, near
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

--

SETI and ham radio have had a long association with one another going
back several decades. (Space.com)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT FRANCOPHONE FORMED TO REPLACE AMSAT-FRANCE

Amsat-Francophone is the name of a new organization that hopes to
replace AMSAT-France which was dissolved in late 2011. Formed in late
December, AMSAT-Francophone lists among its goals the development of
amateur satellites, technology and systems useful for the construction
and / or use of amateur satellites and participation in national and
international non-commercial projects in space. The hams behind
AMSAT-Francophone are said to be some of the people who originally
created AMSAT-France 16 years ago. More in Google translated English
is at tinyurl.com/AMSAT-Francophone. (Southgate)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AGEING FO-29 RECOVERED FROM SHUTDOWN

The Fuji Oscar 29 Command Team reports from Japan that they have
recovered the satellite after it had experienced a shutdown. This, due
to longer eclipse periods causing an under-voltage condition.

Ground station operators have placed FO-29 in a temporary, but stable
configuration for further testing and recovery operations. They were to
test FO-29 while it is over Japan between December 23rd and the 25th.
If no problems occur the Command Team will announce an operating
schedule for the satellite for the early part of 2012. (JE9PEL)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NO 40 METER CONTACTS POSSIBLE WITH THE ISS

According to a note from the Amateur Radio on the International Space
Station team, rumors that the ISS was having direct contacts on the 40
meter band are false. The reason that this is not possible is that
there is no high frequency radio gear on board the orbiting outpost.
What is likely being heard is space station audio being retransmitted
by an amateur station on the ground. ARISS notes that WA3NAN which is
the club station at the Goddard Spaceflight Center in Greenbelt,
Maryland, is among those that retransmit shuttle audio. (ANS)

**

DX

In DX, word that the long planed Sable Island DXpedition has been
postponed. According to AA4VK and WA4DAN, a recent winter storm with
twenty foot swells pushed water onto the sand runway making it
unusable. Al Wilson, the Officer in Charge of Sable Island made an
assessment of the landing area and reported there was no possibility of
a flight to the island at that time. Also, resumption of air
operations to Sable would depend on how quickly the water would drain
from the landing area and if any other storms affect the island. At
that point, the DXpedition planners decided to postpone the operation.
For the latest on when the operation might be rescheduled please check
www.cy0dxpedition.com on the World Wide Web.

Keep an ear open for special event station 4G0LD to be active during
2012. This operation is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the
Philippine Amateur Radio League. QSL only via the Bureau.

Lastly, listen out for six operators to be active as TN2T from the
Republic of the Congo between January 22nd and the 31st. Using three
stations, the DXpedition will be active on 160 through 10 meters using
CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL Manager is M0URX. More information is on-line
at www.tn2t.be.

(Above from various DX news sources)

**


THAT FINAL ITEM: HONORING FESSENDEN AND HEISING NEAR 500 KC

And finally this week, in honor of inventors Reginald Fessenden and
Raymond Heising, a special operation is taking place on 472.5 kHz.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the rest of the
details:

--

As early as 1900 Reginald Fessenden was experimenting with the direct
transmission of human speech. A bit later, during WW1, Raymond Heising
was developing a method of constant-current modulation that was one of
the earliest forms of Amplitude Modulation.

Brian Justin, WA1ZMS/4 is part of the ARRL's Low Frequency WD2XSH
Experimental License. With the cooperation of commercial coastal CW
station WNE and the FCC's Office of Engineering Technology Justin has
received a Special Temporary Authority with call sign WF9XIH. This to
permit AM transmissions with a center carrier frequency of 472.5kHz
until March 1st.

Reginald Fessenden is best remembered for his Christmas Eve 1906
transmission. It was comprised of him playing the violin, playing a
recording and him reading a Bible verse. Justin began his operation the
week of December 18th of 2011 with a special recreation of that 1906
Christmas Eve transmission:

--

Actual transmission audio.

--

According to Justin, WF9XIH is licensed for up to 20 watts Effective
Radiated Power and he says that every effort is being made to run as
close to that ERP as possible. The antenna is a 160 meter dipole that
tends to be very lossy when fed by a 600 meter signal. This is the
same antenna that he has been using for his WD2XSH/31 operation.

WF9XIH transmissions are being coordinated with W-N-E and any changes
to the WNE schedule will alter the WF9XIH operating times. The current
plan is to make at least one Heising modulated AM transmission most
evenings at 02:00 UTC. Audio loops of speech and a series of stepped
audio tones will be used most of the time. The stepped audio tones
should make it easier for DX listeners to demodulate them in CW or SSB
mode even when they are well beyond the range of the AM signal.

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

--

If you happen to copy a WF9XIH transmission, WA1ZMS requests that you
log it at www (dot) 500kc (dot) com. Information about the ongoing
WD2XSH/31 operation can be found at tinyurl.com/wd2xsh31 (WA1ZMS/4)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ
Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain,
the RSGB, the Southgate News and Australia's WIA News, that's all from
the Amateur Radio Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline(at)
arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio
Newsline's(tm) only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.
You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm),
28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim
Damron, N8TMW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.