Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1905 - February 14, 2014

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1905 with a release date of
February 14 2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a QST. Hams stand ready in Slovenia as severe weather
turns electric power off for many citizens; Radio Amateurs of Canada
says it will protect hams from proposed cellphone tower law; a United
Kingdom monitoring station traces 40 meter interference to France; an
on the air party to introduce High Frequency Digital Audio to the
world; the commissioning of the new Ham Video system on the ISS
postponed to March and twinkling the light of Morse code is alive once
more from the UK. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio Newsline
report number 1905 coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)


**

RADIO HAMS RESPONDING TO SLOVENIA ELECTRICITY DISRUPTION

The cold weather across Europe has disrupted the electricity supply in
Slovenia and radio amateurs have been assisting with operations on a
local level. Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has the
details:

--

Since January 31st Slovenia has been affected by extreme cold weather
such as blizzards, heavy snow and sleet. This has caused the collapse
of power lines under the weight of ice and falling trees with
electricity disruptions now affecting 250,000 people at the height of
the outage. The restoration of electric mains supply was being made
difficult by the continuing bad weather. This has prompted Slovenia to
request assistance from the European Union in the form of mobile high
power electric power generators.

While there has been no wide-spread national request for communications
assistance Slovenian radio amateurs are preparing to respond if
required. In the meantime a number of radio amateurs have been
assisting in communications operations on a local community level.
This, due to problems with the mobile phone service and other radio
networks falling victim to the severe weather outbreak.

The European Union Civil Protection Mechanism has asked for assistance
from nearby European states with Germany, the Czech Republic and
Austria providing assistance. Because of uncertainty of both weather
conditions and overall communications, the Austrian teams responding to
Slovenia will be carrying their own gear so as to communicate back to
their home bases using Pactor and Winlink..

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reporting.

--

OE1VGC is the Emergency Communications Coordinator for Austria. He is
asking all European radio amateurs to keep clear of 3.601, 3.608 and
3.617 MHz 3.644 MHz which are being used to support the Pactor and
Winlink operations until further notice. Information on the European
Union response can be found at:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-102_en.htm (IARU Region 1)

**

RADIO LAW: RAC SAYS IT WILL ACT TO PROTECT HAMS IN PROPOSED NEW CELL
TOWER LAW

Some possible new worries for our friends to the North regarding towers
and antennas. This with the February 5th announcement by Industry
Canada's Minister of a new rule making procedure titled "Harper
Government Making Changes to Cell Tower Placement Rules." And while
not directly mentioned in the proposal, Canadian ham radio leaders
appear to fear that changes could adversely affect that nations amateur
radio community.

According to a news release from Radio Amateurs of Canada, it does not
believe this policy change announcement was generated by problems
caused by the amateur radio community. It also says that the current 50
foot height limit has worked well for several years.

Radio Amateurs of Canada goes on to say that amateur radio antenna
structures are more like those used to receive off the air television
or listen to short wave broadcasts and as such they are different in
many ways from cell phone towers. It adds that it plans to convey to
Industry Canada in the strongest of terms that no changes should be
made that would negatively affect amateur radio antenna installations.
(RAC, VE3XRA)

**

WORLDBEAT: UK MONITORING STATION TRACES 40 METER INTERFERENCE TO
FRANCE

A United Kingdom monitoring station has gotten a fix on a possible
French military station that has been causing interference on 7.166
MHz in the 40 meter band. The IARU Monitoring System newsletter
reports a French station has been making long CW transmissions of 5
letter groups on 7.166 MHz. United Kingdom telecommunications
regulator Ofcom's used its direction finding facility at Baldock to get
a fix on the station which is now believed to be located in France's
Loire valley. (IARU-R1)

**

RESTRUCTURING: POLAND GIVES HAMS TWO NEW BANDS

As of February 18th, two new bands have been made available to ham
radio operators in Poland. The first is 472 to 479 kHz with up to 1
Watt of Effective Radiated Power. The other spectrum is from 122.25
to 123.00 Gigahertz. Both are allocated to the Polish amateur service
on a secondary non interfering basis to other services using the same
spectrum. (Southgate, others)

**

WORLDBEAT: ALL SOUTH AFRICA LICENSE RENEWALS DUE FEBRUARY 28

South African Telecommunications Regulator ICASA has announced that the
closing date for that nations radio amateurs to file their license
renewal will be February 28th. This applies to all amateur radio
licenses including repeaters and beacons. Failing to do so will result
in cancellation of the license. According to the South African Radio
League, this is also an opportunity to renew an amateur license for 5
years at a discounted rate. (SARL)

**

ON THE AIR: URAO PARTY TO INTRODUCE DIGITAL VOICE TO THE HF WORLD

The European Radio Amateurs' Organization has announced a new High
Frequency on the air gathering that it's calling "Experiencing Digital
Voice." Its purpose is to help introduce this new mode to a wide as
possible ham radio audience while having fun and meeting other hams on
the air the world over.

The event is slated March 1st and 2nd from 00:00 to 24:00 hours UTC
each day. The mode used will be Free DV which implements both Codec 2
and the FDMDV modem neither of which is patent protected or restricted.

This is not a contest but rather just a radio meeting but it does have
a few simple recommendations to follow. Recommended frequencies for
this fun technology gathering and all other needed information is on
the web at www.eurao.org. It's the second item down on the page.
(EURAO)

**

GOING TO SPACE: SEND YOUR NAME TO THE ASTEROID BENNU!

If you have ever wanted to vicariously into space, now is your chance.
NASA is inviting people around the world including ham radio operators
to submit their names to be etched on a microchip aboard a spacecraft
headed to the asteroid Bennu in 2016.

The "Messages to Bennu" microchip will travel to the asteroid aboard
the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security
Regolith Explorer spacecraft. The robotic mission will spend more than
two years at the asteroid, which has a width of only about 1,760 feet.
The spacecraft will collect a sample of Bennu's surface and then return
it to Earth .

The deadline to submit your name online is Sept. 30, 2014. Participants
who submit their names to the "Messages to Bennu!" campaign will be
able to print a certificate of appreciation to document their
involvement. To submit your name for inclusion on this mission please
take your web browser to planetary.org/bennu. While there are no
instructions as to how to how to include your callsign, we found it
simple to just put it right after your last name. (ANS, NASA)

**

DX UP FRONT: PERUVIAN IOTA DXPEDITION

In DX up front, word that a joint Peruvian expedition composed of
members of the Radio Club Peruano and the Radio Club Grupo DX Bahia
Blanca of Argentina, will be on the air from Isla San Lorenzo from
February 20th to the 24th. The Island is located in the Pacific with
the group signing the special call OC0I. The operators plan to have two
stations active simultaneously 24 hours a day on 80 through 10 meters,
including WARC bands. Modes mentioned include CW, SSB and PSK-31. QSL
direct to LU7DSY or via the bureau to LU3DXG. Electronic QSL's go via
eQSL. (Southgate)

**

DX UP FRONT: OH2AXE MOVES TO CRETE

And word from OH2AXE that he is now a permanent resident on Crete and
on the air signing portable SV9. He hopes to obtain a SV0 callsign
eventually. For the moment please QSL direct only or electronically
using eQSL. We will have more DX news for you later on in this weeks
newscast. (DXNL)

**


BREAK 1

Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio
Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the
VU3MGH repeater serving Madurai in the South of India.

(5 sec pause here)


**

COMMUNICATIONS POLITICS: SENATE NOTE LIKELY TO TAKE UP REVISING THE
COMMUNICATIONS ACT SOON

Don't look for the United States Senate to follow the House of
Representatives lead to overhaul the Communications Act anytime soon as
we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:

--

According to United States Senator Mark Pryor of Tennessee, the Senate
won't be following the House's lead this year to overhaul the sweeping
law regulating TV, radio and all other telecommunications services.

The Communications Act, first written in 1934, created the Federal
Communications Commission and outlined rules governing communications
as it stood at that time. Over the years it has been amended on many
occasions to try to keep up with emerging technologies. The Act was
last updated in 1996, when the Internet was still in its infancy.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee has already begun to look into
ways to bring the Communications Act into line with the needs of the
21st Century, but Pryor who is chairman of the Senate Commerce
Subcommittee on Communications said the overall Senate Commerce
Committee probably will not be following suit.

Critics of the current Communications Act have said that it creates
what they call silos for different type of communications. That they
say has posed a problem for new technologies such as Voice over
Internet Protocol phone calls that are transmitted over broadband and
other Internet lines.

The House of Representatives effort to rewrite the law is expected to
take multiple years, and has only just gotten started. This past
January an Energy and Commerce Subcommittee held its first hearing on
the issue with five former FCC chairmen in attendance.

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

--

So when might the Senate take on looking at such a Communications Act
overhaul? Most political guessers think that it will be sometime after
the mid-term elections at the earliest. (The Hill, CommNews)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC AFFIRMS $10000 FINE AGAINST UNLICENSED SAN FRANCISCO
STATION

The FCC has denied a petition for reconsideration and has ordered
Daniel K. Roberts of San Francisco, California, to pay a $10,000 fine
for operating an unlicensed radio station. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports:

--

According to the FCC, the case concerns Daniel Roberts's alleged
operation of a station it identifies as Pirate Cat Radio. This claims
the agency was an unlicensed radio broadcast station operating on 87.9
MHz in San Francisco, California.

As detailed in the Forfeiture Order, Daniel Roberts was identified as
the executive of the Pirate Cat Cafe and Studio. The FCC asserts that
in 2008, Roberts began operating Pirate Cat Radio from a studio at the
same location. At the time the Notice of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture was issued, the Pirate Cat Radio website prominently
featured Roberts while describing itself as an unlicensed low powered
community radio station.

On October 23, 2009, Roberts filed a response to the Notice. In it he
acknowledged his previous involvement in extra-legal broadcasting years
ago, but denied that transmissions had ever emanated from the Pirate
Cat Radio Cafe and Studio. Roberts also denied operating or controlling
any unlicensed radio station on 87.9 MHz or any transmission of energy
on any frequency. Roberts claimed that the Pirate Cat Cafe and Studio
internet streamed program was likely downloaded and broadcast by third
parties.

But in its February 7th finding denying the FCC said that based on the
overall record in this case, it finds that the agency correctly
determined that Roberts was engaged in the management and operation of
Pirate Cat Radio. This in violation of Section 301 of the Act and that
proof of the operation was supported by a preponderance of evidence.
It then affirmed the Forfeiture Order gave him the usual time to pay or
to file a further appeal.

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

--

If Roberts fails pay the fine the FCC says the matter could be turned
over to the Department of Justice for possible further action. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: NEW ZEALAND SAYS NO TO STREAMING AIR TRAFFIC OVER THE WWW

New Zealand's Radio Spectrum Management says that streaming air traffic
communications over the internet may compromise air safety. It has
already ordered one such operation to cease as we hear from Amateur
Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF:

--

A commercial pilot recently began streaming local airport radio
communications traffic over the internet, without either the consent of
the parties involved or of the Civil Aviation Authority.

Telecommunications regulator Radio Spectrum Management soon received a
complaint from the airport. It was concerned of a likely compromise to
the safety and integrity of its operations resulting from unwanted
publication of its communications.

In consultation with the Civil Aviation Authority which was also
concerned that the internet streaming breached International Civil
Aviation Organization principles, and with assistance of airport staff,
Radio Spectrum Management was able to quickly locate the offender and
visited the property. The pilot cooperated with an inspection and was
then formally warned.

It should be noted that Articles 17 and 18 of the International
Telecommunication Union Radio Regulations apply to secrecy of
communications by both licensees and the general public. New Zealand
gives recognition to those requirements in the nations
Radiocommunications Act 1989. Those laws make it an offense for anyone
to disclose the contents, or to reproduce, or to make use of radio
based communications not intended for that person. The Act also
provides for a penalty of up to $30,000 in New Zealand Dollars for
violating this law.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Nelson, New
Zealand.

--

As we go to air there is no word as to what if any additional penalties
the unnamed pilot may face for violating New Zealand laws against
streaming airport audio over the Internet. (NZ Radio Spectrum
Management)

**

RADIO ON-LINE: APPS FOR HAMS AND SWLS AT SWLING POST

Hams looking for amateur radio related apps for their smart phones or
tablets now have a place to go to learn what's available. The on-line
SWLing Post has printed a run down of some of the amateur radio apps
that are currently available. Apps for Shortwave Listeners are there
as well. To get there, simply go to tinyurl.com/ham-radio-apps. (SWLing
Post, Southgate)

**

HAM HAPPENING: CENTRAL STATES VHF SOCIETY SOLICITING PAPERS FOR
CONFERENCE

The Central States VHF Society is soliciting papers and presentations
for the 48th annual conference slated for July 25th to the 27th in
Austin, Texas.

Papers and presentations pertaining to all aspects of operation on VHF
and above frequencies other than FM and repeaters are welcome. The due
date for all entries is April 23rd with all submission going via e-mail
to Tom Apel or Dick Hanson via e-mail to tom at k5tra dot net or dick
at dkhanson dot com.

This years featured dinner speaker will be Jimmy Treybig, W6JKV. And
possibly as an added incentive, planners say that there will be Best
Presentation and Best Technical Paper awards presented at this year's
convention banquet. More is on the web at csvhfs.org. (VHF Reflector)

**

HAM HAPPENINGS: 2014 FIELD DAY PACKETS AVAILABLE.

The ARRL has announced that the 2014 Field Day packets are now
available on-line at arrl.org/field-day. This years Field Day takes
place on June 28 and 29th. (ARRL)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: N8TMW NASHVILLE SCENE TO AIR FEB 26

An episode of the TV program Nashville on which Amateur Radio
Newsline's Jim Damron, N8TMW, will appear is now slated for broadcast
on Wednesday evening, February 26th on the ABC Television Network. As
previously reported Jim plays the part of a minister conducting the
graveside service of one of the show's characters. He says that the
scene was shot in the historic Mt Olivet Cemetery in Nashville. The
title of the episode is number 215 and carries the title of "They Don't
Make 'em Like My Daddy Anymore." (N8TMW)

**

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)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: JAPAN TO TEST 'MAGNETIC NET' TO CATCH FLOATING
SPACE JUNK

One of the real challenges to low Earth orbit satellite deployment is
the growing amount of space junk circling the globe. Now Japan thinks
it has found a way to can get rid of some of that debris as we hear
from Skeeter Nash, N5ASH:

--

According to the FCC, the case concerns Daniel Roberts's alleged
operation of a station it identifies as Pirate Cat Radio. This claims
the agency was an unlicensed radio broadcast station operating on 87.9
MHz in San Francisco, California.

As detailed in the Forfeiture Order, Daniel Roberts was identified as
the executive of the Pirate Cat Cafe and Studio. The FCC asserts that
in 2008, Roberts began operating Pirate Cat Radio from a studio at the
same location. At the time the Notice of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture was issued, the Pirate Cat Radio website prominently
featured Roberts while describing itself as an unlicensed low powered
community radio station.

On October 23, 2009, Roberts filed a response to the Notice. In it he
acknowledged his previous involvement in extra-legal broadcasting years
ago, but denied that transmissions had ever emanated from the Pirate
Cat Radio Cafe and Studio. Roberts also denied operating or controlling
any unlicensed radio station on 87.9 MHz or any transmission of energy
on any frequency. Roberts claimed that the Pirate Cat Cafe and Studio
internet streamed program was likely downloaded and broadcast by third
parties.

But in its February 7th finding denying the FCC said that based on the
overall record in this case, it finds that the agency correctly
determined that Roberts was engaged in the management and operation of
Pirate Cat Radio. This in violation of Section 301 of the Act and that
proof of the operation was supported by a preponderance of evidence.
It then affirmed the Forfeiture Order gave him the usual time to pay or
to file a further appeal.

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

--

While it may sound a bit like science fiction, the same was said about
mans exploration of the moon and beyond less than five decades ago.
More is on the web at http://tinyurl.com/kjanbpx) (Southgate, G7VFY)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAM VIDEO COMMISSIONING POSTPONED

The European Space Agency has postponed the commissioning of the new
Ham Video system until at least March 8th. According to Gaston Bertels,
ON4WF, this is a multi-step process with the possible dates being March
8th for step 1, March 9th for step 2 and March 16th for step 3. These
dates are all on weekends. While the agenda is still to be finalized
Bertels notes that there will be a week of blank transmissions as a
part of the commissioning process. Once in operation the Ham Video
system will expand the experience of those participating in the Ham
Radio in Space classroom contacts. (ON4WF)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: VON KARMAN INSTITUTE QB50 PRECURSOR FLIGHTS TO
CARRY HAM TRANSPONDERS

The Von Karman Institute of Belgium is developing a constellation of 50
CubeSats called QB 50 that will be launched into a 220 mile altitude
low earth orbit for scientific research.

Now comes word that AMSAT-UK, AMSAT-Francophone, and AMSAT-NL are
preparing amateur radio payloads to fly on two precursor spacecraft to
launch in advance of the main satellites. These early birds are
expected to be carried to space in April or May of this year and placed
into a 370 mile high Sun Synchronous orbit. One bird will carry a
FUNcube-based UHF to VHF linear transponder and the other will be a UHF
to VHF FM transponder with AX.25 telemetry. Exact operating frequencies
and other technical details of these two tiny satellites has not been
announced.

The precise launch date of the 50 microsat QB 50 constellation has yet
to be confirmed but the launch window is defined as being between
December 2015 and November 2016. (AMSAT-UK)

**

RADIO IN SPACE: CUBESATS DEPLOYED FROM INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

Astronaut Koichi Wakata, KC5ZTA, has successfully deployed the first of
the 33 CubeSats that were launched to the International Space Station
in the Cygnus freighter on January 9th. The Tuesday, February 11th
deployment consisted of the first two of the Flock-1 constellation of
28 Dove CubeSats made by Planet Labs.

In addition to the 28 Planet Labs micro-birds, there are also four
amateur radio CubeSats waiting to be placed on-orbit. These are
LituanicaSat-1, LitSat-1, ArduSat-2 and UAPSat-1 as well as a 915 MHz
CubeSat SkyCube. All are planned to be deployed in the coming weeks.
(ANS)

**

ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE HAMANAKO FLOWER EXPO

On the air, keep an ear open for special event station 8N2HHH to be
active on all bands and modes between March 1st to June 16th. This in
celebration of Japan's Hamanako Flower Expo on the island of Honshu.
If you make contact, please QSL as directed on the air. (JJ1WTL/AC6IM)

**
ON THE AIR: ROTARIANS ON THE AIR TO STOP POLIO

To celebrate the birthday of community service organization Rotary
International and highlight its involvement in eradicating the disease
polio, members of the organization will be on air on February the 22nd
and 23rd with a number of special event stations.

All participating Rotarians on Amateur Radio throughout the world will
call CQ Polio to commemorate the founding of Rotary International in
1905, and educate the public about Rotary's End Polio Now campaign.

Thanks to the vaccine developed by the late researcher Dr. Jonas Salk.
Polio is no longer a problem in many nations. However it still remains
a major threat to public health in a number of places around the globe.
(WAI News)

**

DX

In DX, UA4WHX is now active stroke CE0Z from Robinson Crusoe Island.
As always, the length of his stay is unknown but he has been heard in
the past on 80 through 10 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. QSL via the
information found on QRZ.com.

OE4AAC is reportedly on the air stroke 3B9 from Rodrigues Island and
will be there through February 18th. Activity is holiday style on 40
through 10 meters using CW only. QSL via OE4AAC.

F5MVB and F5AOW are planning to be active as 5V7MP and 5V7BJ,
respectively, from Avepozo, Togo from March 23rd to the 31st.
Operations will be on CW and SSB. QSL via their home callsigns, either
direct or by the Bureau.

G3XAQ be on the air from Kampala, Uganda, as 5X1XA between February
25th and March 16th. Activity will be CW only. QSL 5X1XA via G3SWH.

GM4YXI and GM3WOJ will be operational as A35X and A35V respectively,
from Tongatapu Island between April 4th to the 18th. Activity will be
on 160 through 10 meters using CW and SSB and some RTTY. QSL both A35V
and A35X via N3SL

Lastly, M5RIC will be active stroke 5B from Cyprus between July 22nd
and the 29th. His operation will include the RSGB Islands on the Air
Contest slated for July 26th and the 27th using the callsign C4I.
Outside of the contest, look for him on SSB and RTTY. QSL via M0OXO.

(Above from OPDX and other DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: WORLDBEAT: UK BRISTOL'S CABOT TOWER SENDS OUT MORSE
CODE AGAIN

A visual beacon is once again shining from a special place in the
United Kingdom and is speaking in Morse Code. Amateur Radio Newsline's
Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, tells us the story:

--

A blinking lamp spelling out the name Bristol in Morse code is flashing
once again from the United Kingdom's 105 foot tall Cabot Tower. This,
marking the full refurbishment of the historic monument.

The sites old Morse transmitter was switched off in 2001 after
developing a problem that required major repair. It was removed when
the tower was closed to the public six years later following the
discovery of cracks in its structure.

The tower was reopened in 2011 following a massive restoration. The
finishing touch will be added when the transmitter is reinstalled but
is currently just sending the name Bristol once again.

Originally it flashed out the word `Bristol' from dusk until dawn. The
text was later changed to read Cabot Tower, Brandon Hill, Bristol.

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

--

More about the history of the Cabot Tower can be found at
http://tinyurl.com/l3r3zco (Southgate, Wikipedia, others)

**

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, TWiT-TV and Australia's WIA News, that's
all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our e-mail address is newsline
(at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur
Radio Newsline's only official website located at www.arnewsline.org.
You can also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline, 28197
Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350

For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Hal
Rogers, K8CMD, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.