Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1737 - November 26 2010


Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1737 with a release date of
Friday, November 26th 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.

The following is a Q-S-T. Five new ham radio satellites are now in
space. We have their story. Also, Internet connected ham radio is
found to be legal in New Zealand, Skywarn Recognition Day is December
4th and a new form of diode could revolutionize the future of
electronic design. Find out the details on this Thanksgiving week 2010
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1737 coming your way right
now. (Billboard Cart Here)

**

HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW HAMSATS ARE ON ORBIT

A cluster of new ham radio satellites are now on-orbit. Amateur Radio
Newslines Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the latest on these new birds:


--


Five new satellites are on-orbit. Four are of interest to ham radio
and one has already been heard. Take a listen:


--
RAX Audio Here

--

That was RAX-1 as it was heard on 437.505 MHz as it flew over Hawaii on
Saturday, November 20th at about 06:00 local time. The bursts of
static you hear between the band noise is the 9600 baud RAX-1
transmitter.

But RAX was not alone when it was launched into space at 01:24 UT on
Nov 20th. The other for birds are FASTRAC-1 "Sara Lily" transmitting
on 437.345 MHz FM using the AX.25 packet protocol at 1200 bits per
second.

Then there is FASTRAC-2 "Emma" is its 2 meter counterpart downlinking
on 145.825 MHz with the same mode and protocol as FASTRAC-1.

Next up is O/OREOS is 437.305 MHz.

Last but by no means least is Nanosail D2 that transmits a half second
beacon beacon every 5 sec on 437.275 MHz.

All of these new birds were sent to orbit on-board a Minotaur-4 launch
vehicle from the Kodiak Launch Complex in Alaska. All of the the
satellites are in a 400 mile high circular orbit.

And less we forget, some of these new ham radio satellites has its own
web page. You will find links to each on in this weeks printed Amateur
Radio Newsline report.

With thanks to Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, for providing the audio of RAX, I'm
Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reporting on these new satellites from Scottsdale
Arizona.


--

The web sites for the satellites are as follows:

RAX Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RAXRa...68658456492859

RAX Twitter: http://twitter.com/RAX_2010

FASTRAC Facebook http://www.facebook.com/fastracsats

FASTRAC Twitter http://www.twitter.com/fastracsats/ O/OREOS
http://www.crestnrp.org

NanoSail-D2 http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm

More on the new satellites in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports.
(AMSAT, AH6RH)

**

RADIO RULES: INTERNET CONNECTED HAM RADIO LEGAL IN ZL

Some good news for hams in New Zealand. The government regulatory
agency has completed is review of Internet connect ham radio systems
and has concluded that no changes are required to the current Amateur
General User Radio License conditions to accommodate amateur radio
modes such as APRS, IRLP, D-Link, and the like.

According to a government release, normal New Zealand repeater
licensing procedures will continue to apply to those circumstances
where frequency coordination is required and/or the internet-connected
device is located at a site belonging to a non-amateur third party.
Also, in operating Internet connected systems, New Zealand amateurs
need to be aware of the provisions of the Amateur General User License
as well as Regulation 25.2 of the International Radio Regulations The
latter says that transmission between amateur stations of different
countries shall be limited to communications incidental to the purposes
of the amateur service. (NZART)

**

RESCUE RADIO: NEW WORKING AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN RSGB AND RAEN

A new agreement between the Radio Society of Great Britain and the
Radio Amateurs Emergency Network will improve emergency response in the
U-K. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, is here with the details:

--

The Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network, the UK's principal organization
of volunteers providing radio communications in time of need, and the
Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB), the UK's national society for
Amateur Radio, are pleased to announce the signing of a formal
agreement between the two organizations providing a framework to
progress the closer working relationship between them.

The Network Chairman, Cathy Clark, said "I am delighted to sign this
agreement, which promises to bring the two organizations closer
together for the benefit of our members and the service they provide to
our many User Services."

RSGB President Dave Wilson, said "I would like to thank all those
who've been working behind the scenes on what was undoubtedly not an
easy task to get us to the position we are today."

The signing of this agreement cements on-going co-operation between the
two organizations. Joint working will continue to ensure the smooth
implementation of the Principles of Co operation described in the
agreement.

I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.

--

The agreement, which had unanimous acceptance by both the RSGB Board
and the Network's Committee of Management, was signed on Saturday 20th
November 2010 during the RSGB Spectrum Forum meeting in which all
parties consider frequency planning and usage issues. (GB2RS)

**

RADIO RULES: IC SUGGESTS CANADIAN HAMS CAN HELP ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY
LOCATE INTERFERENCE

Canadian hams could be called upon by that nations power industry to
help find sources of interference emanating from power lines and
associated devices.

At a November 2nd meeting between the Canadian Electricity Association
and telecommunications regulator Industry Canada, the subject of the
power industry properly controlling interference from its generators,
power transmission line or annularly gear was discussed. Such
interference is governed under an Industry Canada document titled
Interference Causing Equipment Standards number 004.

Canadian Electricity Association representatives indicated that front
line electrical utility workers may not be familiar with the
requirements of the document. They also noted that many utilities may
not always have the expertise available to locate sources of electrical
interference

In response, Industry Canada pointed out to Canadian Electricity
Association that radio amateurs can be an invaluable resource in these
cases. This is because hams may have skills that could be used to help
identify interference sources.

The interference discussion with the Canadian Electricity Association
was the result of a meeting last October 28th of the Canadian Amateur
Radio Advisory Board. This is a joint Radio Amateur of Canada and
Industry Canada consultation body which meets to discuss matters of
mutual concern. (RAC)

**

BREAK 1

From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W2SNM
repeater serving the Big Apple from the heart of New York City.

(5 sec pause here)


**

RESCUE RADIO: NC HAM ASKS HELP IN LOCATING MISSING 14 YEAR OLD
DAUGHTER

The 14 year old daughter of David Westphalen, KJ4ENS has gone and he is
asking hams nationwide to be on the lookout for her. Tabatha Marie
Self was last seen in the Delway area of Sampson County, North Carolina
on Thursday November 11th. She stands about 5 foot 5 inches tall,
weighs about 140 lbs, has blue green eyes and multi colored red, blonde
and brown hair that she usually wears up most of the time. If you spot
Tabatha Marie Self, please call Sergeant Sanchez at the Sampson County,
North Carolina Sheriff's Department at area code 910-592-4141. Photos
of Tabatha are on- line at tinyurl.com/22or3gp (QRZ.com)

**

ENFORCEMENT: MOVIE-MOVIE - NOT

Lots of enforcement action in the past few weeks, but none of it
directly involving ham radio. In fact, a lot to do with the motion
picture industry and all of it in California and a unit called the
Modulus UHF wireless video assist device.

Able Cine Tech of Burbank, South Bay Film and Video Services of Redondo
Beach and Wolf Seeberg Video of Marina del Rey, have all been issued a
Citation for the alleged illegal marketing of the Modulus
un-certificated radio frequency device.

The Modulus is a wireless unit designed to transmit composite video-in
and retransmit it to a wireless video monitor and eliminating the need
for hard wire coax cable between the two. (FCC)

**

ENFORCEMENT: FCC ISSUES OFFICIAL CITATION TO HOBBY LOBBY INC.

The FCC has issued an Official Citation to Hobby Lobby International,
Inc.. This, for marketing unauthorized radio frequency devices in the
United States.

In a November 22nd release, the FCC said that it found that Hobby Lobby
had been selling a product known as the JETI Duplex 2.4 GHz System for
radiocontrolled models. These units, built in the Czech Republic had
not been approved by the FCC for sale in the United States.

The FCC warned Hobby Lobby that future violations of its rules in this
regard may subject the company to substantial monetary penalties,
seizure of equipment, and criminal sanctions. It also gave the company
the usual 30 days to file a reply to the citation. (FCC)

**

RESCUE RADIO: SKYWARN RECOGNITION DAY DECEMBER 4th

The 2010 SKYWARN Recognition Day event will take place Saturday,
December 4th. Cosponsored by the National Weather Service and the
ARRL, SKYWARN Recognition Day is the National Weather Service's way of
expressing its appreciation to Amateur Radio operators for their
commitment to keep communities safe. Over 100 National Weather Service
regional offices will be participating in this year's event to
recognize the community service of ham radio operators who volunteer to
provide this vital severe weather watch service. (NWS, ARRL)

**

BROADBAND NEWS: COX CABLE LAUNCHES CELLULAR NETWORK

Cox Communications which is the nations thirdlargest cable company, is
launching its new cellular telephone network in three scattered areas
on Friday, November 26th.

Initially, the Cox cellular service we only be available in Orange
County, California., Omaha, Nebraska and Hampton Roads, Virginia. These
are cities where Cox is the local cable company but Cox plans to expand
the network sometime in the future.

It is public record that Cox has spent $550 million to buy rights to
use wireless spectrum in and around Atlanta, New Orleans, San Diego,
and Las Vegas as well as much of Kansas and southern New Mexico. Those
areas represent about 23 million potential wireless customers that the
cable giant likely hopes to entice to join its service. (B&C)

**

THE SOCIAL SCENE: PRCARC HAMFEST DECEMBER 11 IN MISSISSIPPI

The Pearl River County Amateur Radio Club in Poplarville, Mississippi,
holds is annual hamfest on Saturday, December 11th starting at 8 a.m.
local time. The venue is the National Guard Armory in Poplarville, and
will feature commercial sales, VE testing, forums and much more. For
information take your web browser to tinyurl.com/2592362 or e-mail
Larry Wagoner to N5WLW (at) arrl dot net. (AE5DW)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: W1JNR TO SPEAK ON DECEMBER 6TH

Some names in the news. The Hartford Current newspaper reports that
area hams, broadcasters and the public are invited to a slide show and
talk by John Ramsey, W1JNR, chief technical officer of WCCC Radio and
general manager of FM station WWUH. In his presentation, Ramsey will
play memorable air checks and give his own recollections of outstanding
radio events interspersed with slides of studios, transmitter towers
and related sites.

By way of background, John Ramsey is chairman of the Society of
Broadcast Engineers local chapter and webmaster of
HartfordRadioHistory.com and Coldwar-ct.com. He is also president of
Ramsey Communications Services a broadcast engineering consulting firm
and also holds an Advanced Class Amateur Radio license as well as an
FCC Radio Telephone First Class Commercial license. He started in
broadcasting in1971 as a DJ and board operator at the former WEXT radio
in West Hartford.

This free event is presented by Newington Amateur Radio League. More
information is available at 860-667-2864. (NARL)

**

NAMES IN THE NEWS: 2004 YHOTY RECIPIENT KG4UIM ELECTED ARRL
SOUTHEASTERN VICE DIRECTOR

And a word of congratulations to 2004 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham
of the Year Andrea Hartlage, KG4IUM, of Grayson, Georgia. This, on her
election as ARRL Vice Director Southeastern Division.

Andrea was declared the winner after garnering 3573 votes and ousting
incumbent Jeff Beals, WA4AW, who garnered only 1615 votes. Beals was
appointed Vice Director in June 2009 upon the death of Vice Director
Sandy Donahue, W4RU.

At age 21, Hartlage is believed to be the youngest person ever elected
to this high a position in the ARRL political structure. She is
currently a student at Georgia Tech studying Aerospace Engineering with
hopes of eventually joining the United States Astronaut Corps.

In the same election Brian Mileshowsky, N5ZGT, of Albuquerque, New
Mexico, who was the 1997 Young Ham of the Year recipient was re-elected
as Director of the League's Rocky Mountain Division for his second
term.

A complete list of this falls ARRL election winners can be found at the
Leagues website at www.arrl.org. (ARNewsline(tm), ARRL)

**

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)

**


EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW DIODES COULD REVOLUTIONIZE FUTURE ELECTRONICS

Researchers at Oregon State University have solved a fundamental
problem in material science that has eluded researchers since the
1960s. One that could form the basis of a new approach in electronic
designs.

The discovery, just reported online in the professional journal
Advanced Materials, outlines the creation for the first time of a new
high performance "metal-insulator-metal" diode. Creation of such a
device could change modern electronics. This is because these so called
next generation diodes previously made with other approaches always had
poor yield and sub-standard performance.

As one of the basics of electronics, diodes are an important part in
all future circuit designs. You can read more about this fascinating
discovery is on-line at tinyurl.com/28tqqzm (Science OnLine)

**

ON THE AIR: XR33M CELEBRATES CHILEAN MINE RESCUE

On the air, word that members of the Radio Club de Copiapo are active
through the end of December as XR33M. This in celebration of the rescue
of 33 trapped miners near San Jose in Chile. The XR33M call will also
be used during the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest the 27th and 28th of
November, and the ARRL 10 Meter Contest on December. 11th and 12th.

On a historical note, club members offered their support to the rescue
effort by providing communications in the desert region where the
copper mine is located. That support enabled links to various
authorities with emergency equipment inside the San Jose site and also
with family and authorities in the City Of Copiapo. (Various)

**

DX

In DX word that G3PJT will be active stroke J6 from the northeast
corner of St. Lucia between March 8th and the 15th. His activity will
be holiday style using an Elecraft K2 transceiver and vertical
antennas. QSL direct to G3PTJ.

Bill Moore NC1L, the Awards Branch Manager at the ARRL has announced
that two DXpeditions from earlier this year have been approved for DXCC
credit. These are the 2010 5-X-ZeroC-W operation from Uganda and the
2010 D-2-Q-V operation from Angola.

RD3A will be active from Bonaire island as PJ4G during the ARRL DX CW
Contest which runs from February 19th to the 20th. He will be a
Single-Op All-Band HighPower entry. QSL via K4BAI.

N3QQ says that NL8F will join him on the DXpedition to Marshall Islands
only a few weeks from now. Both operators will arrive on Majuroon
November 30th and they will stay in V73-land until December 17th. The
operators will operate from Enewetak Atoll where some of the equipment
is already pre-positioned. More on this one is on line at www dot oc278
dot ucoz dot com.

OH1VR will be active from Chatham Island as ZL7VR through November
29th. His operation will be on all of the high frequency bands and will
also include the CQ World Wide DX CW Contest on November 27th and 28th.
QSL via OH1VR.

W2GD will operate P40W from Aruba through December 1st. He plans to
join the World Wide DX CW Contest in the single Operator all band
category with his focus on 160 meters and the WARC bands before and
after the contest. QSL via Logbook of the World or direct to N2MM.

And lastly, the trio of VK3KH, VK4UH and VK3XPD are returning to
Norfolk Island after

their inaugural VHF/UHF and

Microwave band DXpedition of last

summer. The dates for the next

outing are the 7th to the 21st of

January. The prime focus this time

is for those elusive microwave

QSO's on 2.4 GHz thru 10 GHz to

Australia and New Zealand. The

team will also carry gear for 6

meters, 2 meters, 70 cm and 1296

MHz. QSL as directed on the air.

(Above from various DX News Sources)


**


RADIO FROM SPACE: MARS HOPPER COULD REPLACE MARS ROVER And finally
this week, word that researchers at the University of Leicester are
developing a conceptual motor design for a Mars 'hopping' vehicle which
should lead to a greater understanding of the 'Red Planet'.


The hopper can collect fuel between hops by compressing gas from the
Martian atmosphere and can fly quickly between sites, powered by a
longlife radioisotope power source. It could therefore study hundreds
of locations over a lifetime of several years and continually radio its
findings back to Earth.

The Leicester research is focused on

the rocket motor, looking at its size

and materials. A video illustrating

the concept is available on YouTube

at tinyurl.com/22ujspj

(SD)

**

NEWSCAST CLOSE

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


Please do not forget that in association with the Newark Amateur Radio
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For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Frank
Haas, KB4T, in Holly Hill Florida saying we hope you had a great
Thanksgiving holiday, 73 and we thank you for listening.

Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is

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