Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1615 - July 25, 2008

Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1615 with a release date of Friday,
July 24th, 2008 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Several popular digital audio programs that
were pulled from the World Wide Web have returned, but with a different
coding and decoding scheme. Are they as good as before? Also, hams help
as hurricane Dolly hits the gulf coast, the ARRL and FCC meet to discuss
B-P-L and a United Kingdom amateur radio club gets a public grant to go
D-Star. Find out the details on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number
1615
coming your way right now.


(Billboard Cart Here)

**

RADIO LAW: WINDRM AND OTHER SOUND CARD PROGRAMS GET CODEC CHANGE

Several popular digital voice programs that were pulled from distribution
have returned with a different digital coding and decoding scheme. This
following major rewrites to avoid problems dealing with intellectual
property rights. Amateur Radio Newsline's Gary Pearce, KN4AQ, is in Cary,
North Carolina, with the details:

--

Hams who tried to download any of the sound-card based Digital Voice
programs - WinDRM, DRMDV and FDMDV - this past week, found them gone, as
were the Google-Groups message boards that supported them.

The problem was licensing, or lack of it, for the codec that all the
programs shared. That codec was developed for the US military and NATO, but
was never licensed for free distribution. Several companies shared the
intellectual property rights, and finally, one of them complained.

This caused a quick re-write of WinDRM and FDMDV with an open-source codec.
At air-time, the new version of FDMDV was available again at the download
site, N1SU dot COM, and WinDRM is expected to be back soon. DRMDV, little
used since FDMDV was developed, has been dropped.

Digital Voice users will need to download the new version of FDMDV to
maintain compatibility.

The new codec isn't quite as good as the old one, so audio quality, a
hallmark of the Digital Voice programs, will suffer a bit. The old codec,
called MELP, was designed for high quality, low data-rate communication,
and was particularly well suited for HF radio applications.

WinDRM occupies about 2.5 kHz of spectrum and sounds like FM with few
artifacts when signals are good. FDMDV, uses only 1.1 kHz of spectrum. It
sounds a little rougher, but still remarkable for that low bandwidth. It
works closer to the noise level, and has almost no latency. Both programs
use OFDM multiple carrier modulation schemes, and work with ordinary
single-sideband transceivers.

This episode points out the need for someone - somewhere - to develop a
codec for low-bandwidth digital voice on Amateur Radio. The sound-card
based digital-voice programs have been a continuous "work in progress." But
they need a codec for that work to continue.

Note that the AOR digital voice modems, and D-STAR radios, use a commercial
product, the AMBE 2020 vocoder, so they are NOT affected by this license
situation.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Gary Pearce, KN4AQ.

--

More on this in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports. (ARNewsline(tm),
KN4AQ)

**

RADIO LAW: FCC AND ARRL MEET TO DISCUSS FUTURE OF BPL

The ARRL and the FCC have met to discuss the future of Broadband over
Powerline Internet access. This after an appeals court ruled earlier in
the year that the FCC handled the matter of B-P-L's introduction to the U-S
improperly.

On July 9, ARRL officials including President Joel Harrison, W5ZN; Chief
Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, and General Counsel Chris Imlay,
W3KD met with members of the FCC's Office of Engineering and
Technology. According to Imlay, the meeting was hold to discuss a possible
regulatory approach to BPL with the FCC. Suggestions put forth by ARRL
addressed the needs and concerns of Amateur Radio operators in avoiding
harmful interference from BPL systems while imposing the minimum necessary
regulatory obligations on B-P-L deployments.

Imlay said, that there are at this point rules that could be adopted which
would, at once, both protect Amateur Radio communications from predictable
harmful interference from BPL; and permit broadband over power line systems
to operate in the 3 to 80 MHz range without significant constraint and
without substantial redesign or retroactive build outs.

Meantime, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit has ordered that the Federal Communications Commission \ reimburse
ARRL for the docketing fee and the cost of reproducing copies of briefs and
other documents in the ARRL's successful challenge of the FCC's Broadband
over Powerline rules. The Order, issued on July 9 following review of an
opposition from the FCC and a reply from the ARRL, awarded the ARRL's full
claim of $6,096.18. (ARRL)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: BREAKING NEWS- SATELLITE WEEKING STREAMING ON THE WEB


Thanks to the British Amateur Television Club this year's AMSAT-UK
Satellite Weekend will be streamed live to the web. In fact it happening
as this newscast hits air.

The event also known as the AMSAT U-K Soace Colloquium takes place over 3
days from Friday July 25th through Sunday the 27th at the University of
Surrey, Guildford, England. Peter Blakeborough G3PYB, President of BATC,
is streaming video of the presentations live to the Internet so that Radio
Amateurs and SWL's can watch them from anywhere in the world. In addition
to the webcast club is providing a Live Chat web page enabling viewers to
post messages.

This streaming video is available at www.batc.tv with no log in or
membership required,. More information on Satellite Weekend is on line at
www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium (G4TUT, Southgate)

**

RESCUE RADIO: VOIP HURRINCE NET ACTIVATES FOR DOLLY

The VoIP Hurricane Net was called up last Tuesday Evening as Hurricane
Dolly threatened the U.S. shoreline. We have more in this report:

--

When hurruicane Dolly slammed into the Texas coastline on Wednesday
morning, July 233rd, hams involved in the VoIP Hurricane Watch Net were
already on the air. Dolly had became a Class 2 hurricane packing winds
exceeding 100 miles an hour. The storm causing heavy damage to low lying
areas on the border of the United States and Mexico, ripping off roofs, and
leaving thousands of people without power or telephone service. Cellular
service was also reportedly overwhelmed.

But hams involved in Skywarn and Hurricane Watch activities stood their
ground. WX4NHC, the Amateur Radio station at the National Hurricane Center
in Miami, had already activated its High Frequency network and its
EchoLink, and IRLP station at 1800 U-T-C on Tuesday, July 22nd. Accordiong
to Lloyd Colston, KC5FM, the VoIP Hurricane Net was called on 14.325 MHz on
Tuesday evening, by Rob Macedo, KD1CY. Merecado is the Net Operations
Manager. WX4NHC at the National Hurricane Center monitored the net for
field reports both by radio and by VoIP.

Dolly is the second hurricane of the Atlantic season., It dropped close to
a foot of rain in the first few hours after coming ashore. Hardest hit was
the area South of Port Isabel in the border town of Brownsville.

After making landfall it weakened to a tropical storm on Thursday July 24th
but concern remains over flooding along the heavily populated Rio Grande
Valley. As we go to air on Friday, July 25th, hams across the area
involved in emergency response reportedly remain on alert.

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

--

More on this story in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports. (KN4AQ,
ARNewsline(tm))

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the K4LJP repeater
serving West Palm Beach, FL.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: UK CLUB RECEIVES GRANT TO GO D-STAR

A United Kingdom based amateur radio organization has received a grant to
go D-Star. The Worthing and District Amateur Radio Club has been awarded
over £9,000 in lottery funding towards new radio equipment which will
serve
a large area of Sussex.

The repeaters will be located in the Worthing Borough Council buildings
serving an extensive area along the Sussex Coast. They will allow digital
communication both locally and worldwide using radio and internet
technology.

In addition to the repeaters, part of the funding will be used to replace
the club's current radio equipment with new state of the art
equipment. This will include new transceivers, antennas, microphones and
several other pieces of equipment.

The Worthing and District Amateur Radio Society is an organization with
well over 100 members. More about it is on-line at
www.wadarc.org.uk (Southgate)

**

RESCUE RADIO: SERVICENATION TO HOST 911 SUMMIT

A major conference on volunteerism and emergency preparedness will be held
this September in New York City and planners hope to have both Presidential
froint runners attending. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR,
reports:

--

The two major presidential front runners have been invited to speak about
the need for public service at a national symposium being held on the
anniversary of the 911 terror attacks.

The ServiceNation Summit being held in New York September 11th and 12th.
Planners hope it will bring together 500 leaders of all ages and from every
sector of American life to celebrate the power and potential of citizen
service. Planners also hope to lay out what the group calls a policy
blueprint for addressing America's greatest social challenges through
expanded opportunities for volunteer service.

Theres already talk on the blogs that ham radio operators could play a
significant hole in some programs that ServiceNation plans to put in
place. This, by providing volunteer communications for some of them. Some
thoughts are that this type of involvement could breath new like into
thousands of ham radio repeaters that currently lie dormant most hours of
the day.

ServiceNation has invited Prseidential hopefulls Brack Obama and John
McCain to speak at the event. As we go to air only Republican McCain has
accepted. Also confirmed to address the meeting are New York Mayor Michael
Bloomberg and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. The latter has
already created a cabinet level post dedicated to service and volunteering.

Look for more on the ServiceNation volunteer program and just how ham radio
might fit in coming in future Newsline reports.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Jeff Reinhardt, AA6JR, in Los Angeles .

--

ServiceNation is a non-partisan organization formed to promote volunteerism
by creating target groups with a goal of having 100 million citizens
involved as volunteers in schools, workplaces and faith-based and community
institutions each year. The summit is part of that campaign. More
information on this meeting and on ServiceNation is on-line at
http://www.bethechangeinc.org/servicenation (ServiceNation release and
other sources)

**

ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENSED FLORIDA BROADCASTER WARNED TO CEASE OPERATION

The FCC has told a Florida resident that he must immediately cease
operation of an unlicensed broadcast transmitter. One that the FCC alleges
he or someone on his premises has been operating.

In its July 14th letter to David A. Keir of Lake Worth the regulatory
agency says that its Miami Office had earlier received information that an
unlicensed broadcast radio station on 92.5 MHz. On June 18th agents from
this office confirmed that radio signals on frequency 92.5 MHz were
emanating from property in the Lake Worth area that Florida records showed
as belonging to Keir.

The Commission says that its records show that no license was issued for
operation of a broadcast station at that location in Lake Worth,
Florida. It ordered Keir to immediately cease operation of this radio
station and warned him of severe penalties if he did not comply. This
could include monetary fines, in seizure of the offending radio equipment,
and criminal sanctions including imprisonment.

Keir was given 10 days from the date of the notice to respond with any
evidence that he has been granted authority to operate the station by the
FCC. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: THAT'S NOT REALLY HAM GEAR

The owner of a company that sells wireless video solutions has pulled
several wireless transmitters from his website. This after the FCC issued
a Citation to Georgia based Range Video for importing and marketing
unauthorized wireless video transmitters and failing to file the proper FCC
forms with the US Customs office and the US Border Patrol.

In its July 21st Citation sent to Vladimir Reznik who is the owner of Range
Video, the FCC says that it had previously sent him a Letter of Inquiry
regarding this issue. Reznik responded to that Letter of Inquiry by fully
admitting that he first imported the devices in 2006 and that he continues
to import the units.

Reznik went on to say that before he ships a transmitter that he switches
each unit to operate only in the Amateur Radio Service bands. He also
claimed that equipment that transmits solely on Amateur Radio Service
frequencies is not subject to the equipment authorization requirement prior
to manufacture or marketing.

But in its letter of Citation the FCC says that it appears that the seven
transmitter devices marketed on Reznik's website were equipped with
external toggle switches. The FCC says that if these switches are engaged
it would allow operation of the device on the restricted frequencies.

The FCC has warned Reznik that if he violates the Communications Act or the
Commission's Rules in any manner after receipt of the Citation, that the
regulatory agency Commission may impose monetary forfeitures for each such
violation or each day of a continuing violation.

Reznik was given the customary 30 days to reply to the Citation. He was
directed to specify the actions he is taking so as not to violate the
Commission's Rules governing the marketing of radio frequency equipment in
the future. But the federal regulators really don't have to wait. All
they have to do is go to the World Wide Web to find a notice on the Range
Video website next to each of these units that reads:

" This item is temporary not available. The FCC is not allowing us to sell
these transmitter to the USA because they can be modified to transmit on
restricted frequencies."

The Range Video website notice goes on to state that all future transmitter
devices shipped to the USA will have this toggle switch permanently removed
by the manufacturer to allow transmission only on 910 MHz.

The FCC noted that more than 2600 of these illegal transmitters have been
sold by Range Video since 2006. (FCC)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: K0DXC FEARURED ON KTSP TV

A teenage Minnesota ham has been featured on a local news show for his
outstanding accomplishments as both a radio amateur and an
athlete. 13 year old Cal Darula, K0DXC, of Waconia has been featured on
Minneapolis St. Paul station KTSP in a story that highlights his love of
baseball and his dedication to our world wide communications hobby.

Darula says that he has been playing baseball since he was a toddler. He
discovered ham radio at age 10 when he got his Technician license . At 12
upgraded to General, and he has since worked the world using mainly
Morse. In fact, Cal can handle Morse at speeds up to 30 words per minute.

In the KTSP news item, K0DXC says that ham radio is really a hobby for
people of all ages. He also says that it has also helped him to become a
straight A student in school.

In addition to his love of Morse, Cal Darula is a member of the ARRL,
FISTS, the Minnesota Wireless Association, the Young Amateur Contest Ham
Team and World Wide Young Contesters. He is also the ARRL Minnesota Youth
Assistant Section Manager.

You can see the complete news item featuring Cal Darruls, K0DXC, on
line http://kstp.com/article/stories/S519423.shtml?cat 6 (KQ0NN)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: ART BELL W66OBB INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL RADIO HALL
OF FAME

A word of congratulations to ham radios own Art Bell, W6OBB. This on word
that he has been inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame as a part of
the hall's class of 2008.

In its press release the Hall of Fame said the following about W6OBB:

"Showing an early interest in radio, Art Bell became a licensed amateur
radio operator at the age of 13. In 1989, he was offered a five hour time
slot in the middle of the night by KDWN in Las Vegas. The original format
was a political talk show, but Bell switched the focus to paranormal-themed
topics in the mid 1990s.

At its peak, "Coast to Coast AM" was syndicated on over 500 stations and
enjoyed an audience of 15 million. While Bell has reduced his schedule, he
still occasionally hosts the weekend edition."

Others inducted along with Art Bell include radio legands Charlie Tuna and
the late Dick Wittinghill. Art Bell, W6OBB, can usually be found on 75
meter SSB when he takes to the ham radio airwaves. (RW)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: AUSTIN SUMMERFEST CELEBRATES 25 YEARS

Austin, Texas will be the spot to be on August 1st and 2nd for the 2008
Austin Summerfest ham radio show. 2008 marks the 25th anniversary of the
Summerfest and to mark the event planners has set up an entire roster of
happenings. These include presentations and meetings, a swapfest and lots
of prizes.

The venue is the Wyndham Garden Hotel and Conference Center off Interstate
35 and Woodward Street, in Austin. More information is on-line at
www.austinsummerfest.info (Via e-mail)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: DUKE CITY HAMFEST

The 2008 Duke City Hamfest takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, August
15th and 16th. Its venue this year is the Sandia Baptist Church on
Constitution Avenue in the North East Heights area of the city. Admission
is free but banquet tickets are not included. This years banquet speaker
is ARRL's Emergency Preparedness and Response Manager Dennis Dura, K2DCD.

Talk-in for the Duke City Hamfest is on the local 145.33 and 444.0 Mhz
repeaters. Both require a 100 hertz access tone. More information is on
the web at www dot qsl dot net slash dchf or by snail mail to the Duke City
Hamfest, P.O. Box 30394, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87190. (Via e-mail)


**

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)

**

THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: BOB SIEVERS. W9FJT - SK

A radio legend has become a Silent Key. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim
Davis, W2JKD, has the story of the passing of Mr. WOWO:

--

The ham known as Fort Wayne, Indiana's "Mr. WOWO" became a silent key last
fall, but its only now hit the ham radio community that radio legend Robert
Bob Sievers was also one of us and held the call W9FJT

Bob Sievers spent five decades with WOWO as host on the very popular
morning shows "Little Red Barn Show" that aired from 5 to 7 a.m., and
the
Bob Sievers show that was on from 7 to 10 a.m..

Sievers started his career at WOWO in 1932 as an unpaid announcer for a
morning gospel while he was still a freshman at South Side High
School. He was hired as a morning announcer in 1936, for $5 a week while
still in high school.

The only break Sievers took from the station was when he served in the U.S.
Navy. He did four years during World War II and two years during the
Korean War. After his enlistment's ended it was back to W0WO where the
stations 50,000-watt signal put Sievers' voice into 28 states and even
overseas. He often received reception reports from listeners that
included missionaries in places as far away as Africa.

In 1981 Bob Sievers was Inducted into the Indiana Broadcasting Hall of
Fame. He retired from WOWO in 1987 after more than 50 years at the station.

In the world of amateur radio, Bob Sievers W9FJT had an equally big voice,
though not quite as powerful as that of WOWO. He enjoyed 160 meter AM
operation using an RCA transmitter that was retired from WOWO. W9FJT gave
it a second life and his rich broadcasters voice became well known on Top
Band.

For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD.

--

Bob Sievers, W9FJT, became a Silent Key on September 3, 2007. A note
posted to his QRZ.com listing simply say that he will be greatly missed by
all his friends. (W2JKD and various other sources)

**

HAM HAPENINGS: QCWA ELECTION RESULTS ANNOUNCED

Bob Roske, N0UI, will be the next Preident of the Quarter Century Wireless
Association succeeding John B. Johnston, W3BE, in that post. Roske, a
longtime Q-C-W-A Board member from Hutcninson, Minnesota, beat out Len
Nathanson, W8RC, by a close vote of 1037 to 991.

Elected as QCWA Vice President is Ken Oelke, VE3AFO, of Calgary, Alberta,
Canada. Walt Supina, N3WS, of State College, Pennsylvania was selected as
Secretary and Frank Harris, WA4PAM, from Clewiston, Florida as
Treasurer. 12 directors were also elected or re-elected as well. (QCWA)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: WIN A SOLAR POWERED RADIO FROM RNW

To mark the launch of its SMS texting service, shortwave broadcaster Radio
Netherlands is offering liteners the chance to win a solar-powered
shortwave radio and lots of Radio Netherlands Worldwide goodies. All you
have to do is text the answer to a very simple question, plus supply your
name and email address. Full details are on line at a special Radio
Nretherlands website at
http://www.radionetherlands.nl/radio...rnw-programmes (Media
Network)

**

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: VIDEO GAME HELPS TEENS FIGHT CANCER

Science OnLine reports on a new video game designed to give young cancer
patients a sense of power and control over their disease. Re-Mission is the
3D game described as a 20 level journey through the bodies of fictional
patients with different types of cancer.

Players control a nano robot named Roxxi. Its task is to destroy cancer
cells, battle bacterial infections, and manage realistic, life-threatening
side effects
..
But the game is more than a fun challenge. Studies show that young cancer
patients who play the Re-Mission are more likely to take their medicine,
undergo needed therapy and understand their illness. Thats because the game
is geared to help teenagers better adhere to their cancer treatment and
embrace vital behaviors to improve their health.

For more information on Re-Mission is available on-line at
www.CIGNA.com/Re-mission. (Science OnLine)

**

RADIO RESEARCH: NEW 2 METER BEACON IN NC

A new two meter propagation beacon has become operational from
Oriental, North Carolina. Its callsign is N7BHC slash B and it operates
Morse on 144.290.8 MHz. Power out is 50 watts at the antenna which is a KLM
yagi pointing 70 degrees. QSN reports go to
(VHF Reflector)

**

WORLDBEAT - NEW ZEALAND: WAITAKERE SPRINTS TO CONTINUE

New Zealand's Papakura Radio Club inc. has announced that the Waitakere
Sprints will continue. The dates of these mini-contests will be the same
as previously held. The Phone Sprint will be on the last Saturday in July
and the CW Sprint will be on the first Saturday in August. Both are
one-hour duration on 80 meters and are open to all licensed amateurs in New
Zealand, Australia and the Oceania call areas. (Papakura Radio Club)

**

DX

In DX, EP3BN is reported on from Iran. Listen out for him on 20 meter SSB
between 13:30 and 16:00 UTC. QSL via JH1NBN.

The Hong Kong Amateur Radio DX Association will use the special call
VR2008O on 40 through 6 meters during the upcoming Olympic
Games. Operations will use SSB, RTTY and PSK31 through August 31st. QSL
direct only by VR2XMT, Charlie Ho, P.O. Box 900, Fanling Post Office, Hong
Kong..

LA3OHA, will be staying in Caucasus through September. He will operating
on several bands and looks for QSLs during his time there. If you work him
QSL to Terje Hovde, P. O. Boks 58, 0102 Tbilisi, Georgien.

Lastly, DL5XX, is on a business trip to Ghana through August 10th and will
be active on CW on all bands as 9G5MM. Equipment is IC-706 and 1 kW power
amplifier feeding a G5RV antenna. More information is on-line
at www.rrdxa.eu/9g5mm .

(From various DX news sources)

**

THAT FINAL ITEM: THE RADIO SPEEDGUN KID

And finally this week, since police can't be everywhere an 11 year old
armed with a toy radio spredgun is filling in the gaps. Bill Pasternak,
WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with mo

--

His name is Landon Wilburn. He is only 11 but he stands tall against
speeders.

As he recently told the Louisville Courier-Journal newspaper, he used to
shout at speeders to slow down. Then Landon got a better idea.

Dressed in a reflective vest, wearing a bicycle helmet and armed with a Hot
Wheels brand radar gun, he points it at cars speeding through the
sub-division where he lives and records the speed of passing traffic.

One of the subdivision residents is George Ayers. He told the newspaper
that he has seen drivers lock up their brakes when they saw Landon
clocking them.

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

--

Officials say the city will install speed bumps in the neighborhood if 70
percent of residents agree and are willing to put up half the money. Until
that happens Landon, toy radio speed gun in hand, will likely continue to
do his part to get speeders to slow down. (courier-journal.com)

**

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 Don
Wilbanks, AE5DW, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.

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