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Ärende: Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1533 - December 29th, 2006
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MSGID: 1:397/22 4596af1c
PID: GED+W32 snapshot-2002.9.29
CHRS: CP437
TID: FastEcho 1.46.1 8614
Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1533 - December 29th, 2006
Ladies and gentlemen, Amateur Radio Newsline Producer, Bill Pasternak,
WA6ITF:
--
This is not an easy newscast for any of us. Especially for me. Last
Friday night, December 22nd, one of our founders lost his 4 year battle
with Cancer and left us. That person was Alan Kaul, W6RCL.
Alan was one of those very special people who touch your life and make you
all the better for it. He was a part of the team that took over the old
Westlink Radio Network in 1977 and transformed it to the Amateur Radio
Newsline of the 21st century.
In many ways, he was the soul and conscience of Amateur Radio Newsline.
He was also a mentor who taught us how to recognize a news story. How to
enterprise it and how to tell it.
In good measure, what Amateur Radio Newsline is today is because of the
guidance given to us from day one by Alan Kaul, W6RCL
More important to me, Alan was my friend. A person who came into my life
back in 1973 when Bill Orenstein, KH6QX, introduced us and Alan quickly
became an integral part of my life. He was my friend and my colleague and
I miss him very much. Miss him very much.
So to our friend -- my friend -- Alan Kaul, W6RCL, I say to sleep well,
We know that we will meet again when we too get to cross over to the other
side of the great ethereal abyss.
And if I may paraphrase the rather apropos words written by lyricist
Steven Schwartz:
Alan -- because I knew you, I have been changed for the better. Because I
knew you, I have been changed for good."
I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF.
--
We will have more on Alan's passing at the end of this weeks newscast.
Right now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1533 with a release date
of Friday, December 29th, 2006 follows in 5-4-3-2-1.
The following is a Q-S-T. Scientists predict a record breaking solar
cycle is on its way, AMSAT's Echo satellite becomes an open FM repeater in
space and our tribute to our friend and colleague Alan Kaul, W6RCL. These
items and more on Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1533 coming your
way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
PROPAGATION FORECASTING: SCIENTISTS SAY THE NEXT SOLAR CYCLE COULD SET
RECORDS
Evidence is mounting: the next solar cycle is going to be a big one. This
according to the December. 21st edition of NASA News that says that their
forecast is based on historical records of geomagnetic storms. Don
Carlson, KQ6FM, is here with more:
--
Solar physicist David Hathaway of the Marshall Space Flight Center says
that solar cycle 24, due to peak in 2010 or 2011 looks like its going to
be a big one. In fact he predicts that it will be of the most intense
since record-keeping began almost 400 years ago.
Hathaway explains in laymen's terms that when a gust of solar wind hits
Earth's magnetic field, the impact causes the magnetic field to vibrate or
shake. If it shakes hard enough, we call it a geomagnetic storm. And in
the extreme, these storms cause power outages and can make compass needles
swing in the wrong direction. It also produces Auroras that Hathaway
calls a beautiful side-effect.
Hathaway and his colleague Robert Wilson looked at records of geomagnetic
activity stretching back almost 150 years and noticed something useful.
That being the amount of geomagnetic activity now tells us what the solar
cycle is going to be like 6 to 8 years in the future. And a strong solar
cycle is the thing that good DX is made of.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Carlson, KQ6FM.
--
Hathaway and Wilson presented their conclusion earlier this month at the
American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco. According to their
analysis, the next Solar Maximum should peak around 2010 with a sunspot
number of 160 plus or minus 25. This would make it one of the strongest
solar cycles of the past fifty year -- which is to say --one of the
strongest in recorded history. The complete story is on-line at:
http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/21dec_cycle24.htm?list189891 (NASA
Science News)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: ISS AFFECTED BY SOLAR STORM
A glitch experienced by the International Space Station's attitude control
system a week and a half ago may have been caused by the recent solar
flare.
During a morning briefing on Friday, December 15th, ISS flight director
Joel Montalbano said that NASA controllers were seeing some problems with
software that controls the stations attitude. He attributed it to a
phenomena on the surface of the Sun that was radiating into space.
The I-S-S typically relies on four gyroscopes tied to computer control to
maintain attitude control without consuming fuel. One is currently
off-line but only two are required to maintain ISS orientation with the
system.
When controllers notice the problem on Thursday the 14th, they switched
attitude control to using the space stations thrusters until the solar
storm died down and non-propellant mode is reactivated. The leading
theory right now is that the anomaly was caused by the additional solar
activity.
There was never any danger to the flight crew or members of the visiting
space shuttle mission. Flight controllers mentioned the solar flare's
effects in an e-mail to Discovery's STS-116 crew but all operations
at the I-S-S including four successful space walks went on as planned.
(NASA)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AO-51 ECHO NOW CARRIER OPERATED REPEATER IN SPACE
A big change for a little satellite in Earth orbit. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Fred Vobbe, W8HDU, has the details:
--
AMSAT has announced that as of December 20th, its AO-51 or "Echo"
satellite is operating in carrier access mode. This means that users no
longer need to transmit a 67 hertz access tone to utilize the satellites
F-M voice transponder.
For those not aware, Echo is actually a cross-band F-M repeater flying in
Earth orbit. One of the so-called Easy-Sats or easy to access and operate
and use ham radio satellites. It requires no special home station gear.
It has even been accessed by hams using H-T's connected to external gain
type antennas.
Echo carries two sets of transponders. Packet uplinks on 145.860 MHz and
downlink on 435.150 MHz. The mode is FM 9k6 digital. F-M voice uses an
uplink on 145.920 MHz and a downlink at 435.300 MHz.
According to the AMSAT News Service, the inclusion of the 67 Hz tone was
primarily to allow AO-51's downlink transmitter to be switched off when
the Echo's voice transponder was not in use. However, it turned out that
this tone access scheme has been more of a hindrance than an asset. This
is especially true when the bird is over heavily populated areas and in
high use at a time when controllers are trying to troubleshoot
interference on the uplink.
The tone access has also proven exclusionary when the satellite is over
regions where transceivers equipped with tone access encoders are less
common. With the tone now turned off, Echo should start getting more
users from those parts of the world.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Fred Vobbe, W8HDU.
--
More about Echo and its operation is on-line
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam.php
(ANS)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: NEW SATS OF INTEREST TO AMATEUR RADIO
Meantime, more satellites of interest to radio amateurs are now in space.
ANDE, RAFT and N-MARS were deployed from the Space Shuttle on December
21st.
The two operating in the ham bands are ANDE and RAFT. They each carry
packet radio communications systems and join with other US Naval Academy
A-P-R-S digipeating satellites such as P-C SAT-1.
More information about these satellites is available on-line at
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html (ANS)
**
Break 1
From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,
heard on bulletin stations around the world including the KA9KBU Net
serving Hickory Hills, Ilinois.
(5 sec pause here)
**
ON THE AIR: ARRL KIDS DAY - JANUARY 7 2007
It may well be one of the two most important days in Ham Radio because
these are days that help insure ham radio will survive. Evi Simons, has
more:
--
Of course we are talking about the twice annual Kids Day operating events
that take place in January and June each year. And your next chance to
provide youngsters with a fun, magic and mystery of radio takes place on
Sunday, January 7th. That's when the first Kids Day of 2007 takes place.
Here's how it works.
You as a licensed radio amateur only need to open your home, your station
and your heart to the kids living in your area. You turn on your radio at
18:00 U-T-C and for the next 6 or so hours you let those kids talk over
your ham station to other kids visiting other hams around the country and
around the world.
Keep in mind that you are always the station in control. As such, you are
required to observe third-party traffic restrictions when making DX
contacts.
Some suggested contact exchanges might be first name, age, location and
favorite color. But if the kids find other common interests to talk
about, sit back, relax and encourage them to keep going.
Who knows, if you listen carefully you might even learn a new form of ever
changing coded language that many of today's youngsters use to
communicate. A language called kid talk that for our older generation it
can be a bit hard to understand.
Again, the first ARRL sponsored Kids Day of 2007 is Sunday, January 7th
beginning at 18:00 U-T-C. Turn on, tune in and treat some kids to the
magic of communications without wires.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Evi Simons, in New York.
--
Some suggested Kids Day frequencies are are 14.270 to 14.300 MHz, 21.380
to 21.400 MHz and 28.350 to 28.400 MHz. Also, try local repeaters whose
sponsors have said they welcome Kids Day operations.
**
THE BPL WAR: ARRL CHALLENGES FCC DISMISSAL OF VIRGINIA BPL INTERFERENCE
COMPLAINTS
The ARRL is again challenging the FCC in another of its Broadband over
Powerline decisions. This after the regulatory agency dismissed
interference complaints from five Manassas, Virginia, radio amateurs.
According to the ARRL Letter, earlier this year, a number of Manassas
radio amateurs complained of BPL interference to their mobile operations.
FCC engineers took measurements at several locations in Manassas on
October 25 and 26.
On December 14th, Spectrum Enforcement Division Chief Kathryn S. Berthot
reported the results. At that time the FCC said that its testing shows
the city's BPL system complies with FCC Part 15 rules.
But the the League is questioning the Commission's conclusions. According
to the ARRL Letter, General Counsel Christopher Imlay, W3KD, wrote back to
the FCC saying in part:
"Because the Commission -- and especially OET -- has exhibited "an
overwhelming and obvious bias in favor of BPL" and "done everything
possible to deny or obfuscate the substantial interference potential of
BPL" on HF, the League is unwilling to accept what he called "the
unsupported conclusions" in Berthot's letter. Those conclusions, he noted,
vary substantially with the complainants' own observations and
measurements, verified by the ARRL Laboratory staff." (ARRL)
**
RADIO BUSINESS: ELECTRONICS TOPS HOLIDAY GIFT LIST
Portable music players, cell phones and digital cameras were in hot demand
this holiday season. This, according to a pre-holiday market survey that
also projects a 27 percent boost in spending on electronics gifts.
Among the top electronic gifts this year were digital cameras followed by
DVD players and video disc recorders. But for the second year in a row,
the most wished-for gadget among adults and teens is a portable digital
music player.
This years Consumer Electronics Association holiday survey was based on
phone interviews with 1,019 adult U.S. households in September. It had a
margin of error of plus or minus 3 percent. No word on the favorite ham
radio gifts this year, but maybe we can do our own survey and find out.
(Science OnLine)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC SAYS CHARGES AGAINST VEC ARE FRIVELOUS
The FCC has dismissed a complaint filed against the W4VEC Volunteer
Examination Coordinator, calling it unfounded and frivolous.
Last August 19th John C. Wait, W4LNX, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee had
written to the regulatory agency with a charge against the VEC concerning
an examination session on August 18th. At that time Wait alleged that an
applicant, whom he was unable to name, was allowed to test without
sufficient identification. Also that when Wait objected that he was
threatened and asked to step outside the examination room.
In it's November 7th letter dismissing Wait's complaint, the FCC said
information submitted to the Enforcement Bureau indicates that the
applicant was too young to have a driver's license, but had a learner's
permit and other forms of identification. Also, that he was known by the
other Volunteer Examiners and that he was accompanied by his uncle, who is
a well known Amateur Radio licensee who vouched for his identity.
In closing, the FCC told Wait that his complaint was being dismissed as
being frivolous. It added that it was unfortunate that the limited
resources of the agency's Enforcement Bureau had to be used to evaluate
these allegations. (FCC)
**
ENFORCEMENT: NY AND NJ UNLICENSED BROADCASTERS DINGED $10000 EACH
Hams are not the only ones in the Commission's enforcement eye these days.
A pair of unlicensed broadcasters in the New York City and Northewrn New
Jersey Metropolitan area. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Davis, W2JKD, has
the details:
--
The FCC has issued a $10,000 Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture
to Elroy Simpson of Brooklyn, New York. This for operating an unlicensed
radio transmitter on the frequency 102.3 MHz in Brooklyn, New York.
This one began this past January 12th when agents from the FCC's New York
city office traced an unlicensed broadcast on 102.3 MHz to an apartment on
a street called Ocean Avenue rented to Simpson. Simpson was sent a Notice
of Unlicensed Operation and ordered to cease transmitting at once. The
Certified notice was returned to the FCC and the station called "102.3 Red
Hot FM." Continued to operate.
On July 15th Commission agents, entered the apartment building and rang
the buzzer for an apartment where they had traced the lead in wire from
the station transmitter. One identified himself as an FCC agent to the
man who answered and informed the man that he was coming to his apartment
to talk to him. When the agent knocked on the door no one answered. When
the agents returned to the direction-finding vehicle, they could hear that
the station was still on the air. A later check with the building
management showed that Simpson was the lease holder on the apartment. It
took several more trips and warning letters before the station went off
the air on February 14th.
Finally, on November 8th, after evaluating the evidence, the FCC issued
the $10,000 N-A-L against Simpson claiming that he willfully and
repeatedly violated the Communications Act through his operation of the
unlicensed transmitter. He was given 30 days to pay or to file an appeal.
The FCC has also issued a $10,000 Notice of Apparent Liability for
Forfeiture to Kacy R. Rankine. of West Orange, New Jersey. This, for
operating an unlicensed radio transmitter on the frequency 90.1 Mhz.
Based on a on October 2005 complaint, the FCC's New York City office
visited the location Rakine's station called Roadblock Radio several
times. In one instance they attempted a station inspection but were
refused entry.
It was not until July of 2006 and after repeated warnings from the FCC
that the station finally went dark. Now the FCC has issued the NAL to
Rakine based on the station being in violation of Commission prohibition
on unlicensed operations. Rakine was given the usual 30 days to pay the
fine or to file an appeal.
--
It should be noted that neither Simpson In New York nor Rankine in New
Jersey are listed in the FCC database licensed as radio amateurs. (FCC)
**
RADIO LAW: STUDY SHOWS MEDIA CONSOLIDATION ENDS DIVERSITY
A research group says that an FCC plan to ease restrictions on
consolidation of media companies would lead to less local news and fewer
choices for radio and television audiences,.. The Benton Foundation and
the Social Science Research Council, authors of the studies that were
released in October concluded that media consolidation does not create
better, more local or more diverse media content, as the FCC maintains.
By way of example, the studies said a radio company that owns multiple
stations in a local market is less likely to offer niche formats. This
includes such music specialties as easy listening, bluegrass, and
classical music.
The FCC has been re-examining its media ownership regulations, which
restrict the number of broadcast outlets and newspapers that a company may
own in a particular market. The agency's initial public comment period on
the matter has ended, and the studies by the two groups were intended to
influence the FCC's deliberations. (RW)
**
THE SOCIAL SCENE: CSVHFC IN JULY 2007
The 2007 Central States VHF Conference will be in San Antonio, Texas, July
26th to the 29th at the Omni San Antonio Hotel. A couple of new program
items planned for this year's conference, including a "Getting started in
Weak Signal VHF/UHF Operations" session.
Planners say that this forum is aimed at everyone from the newest licensee
to the oldest, most grizzled High Frequency operator. The ones who have
worked all there is to work below 30 MHz and are looking to expand their
Amateur Radio horizons above 50 MHz.
More on the convention is on-line at www.csvhfs.org (CSVHFS)
**
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)
**
RESTRUCTURING EDITORIAL -- WHAT WE THINK WILL HAPPEN - PART 2
Finally this week, part 2 of our editorial on the FCC phasing out of Morse
code testing. This week we look at the proponents of ending Morse exams.
Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennat, K6PZW, is here with our view on
their view:
--
Lets start with the extreme and work our way toward reality. If you read
the various ham radio websites and on-line blogs, you might be led to
believe that most of those who felt that Morse code is no longer
relevant in the modern world we live in are gloating over the rest of us.
This, ever since the FCC announced that it would soon stop testing for
knowledge of the code.
The most extreme of these people predict that in short order all C-W will
disappear as hams come to realize that modern digital technology has
supplanted hand generated Morse. They also want the FCC to mandate
that Morse identifiers on repeater be replaced by ones using voice.
Thankfully for ham radio as well as all of mankind, extremists do not
represent the views or the will of the majority. And when you look past
those making the most noise. it turns out that most of those who
campaigned to abolish Morse testing are folks no different than you and
me. And they know that while digital might be more modern, operating
Morse can be a lot of fun.
Why you ask? Well. gear is simple and cheap. You do not need a lot of
power to make a contact. Its one of the few modes on the High frequency
bands were long rag-chew contacts are encouraged. And once you get past
the basics, a whole world of ham radio friendships are yours.
It's for these reasons and numerous others that most of those who worked
to abolish Morse testing also are the first to tell you that the code will
not die off. If anything, its likely to grow in popularity now that its
no longer a mandate to know and can be viewed as another way to have fun
in the hobby.
And in the end, that's why most folks become radio amateurs. To relax.
To enjoy meeting one another by radio.
And less we forget. No matter what those on the fringe mighrt want, you
will not be seeing the FCC mandate voice identifiers on repeaters. That's
because the identifiers are not there to tell the ham community the call
of a repeater. Its there so that the FCC knows what transmitters are
taking to the air.
In the end, maybe the words written by ham radio song writer Andrew-John
Huddelston, OZ1XJ. Not being a singer I'll just recite the key words.
They go:
"Its great to Q-S-O in Morse again, instead of talking till I'm horse
again.
I know I'm on my hobby horse again, but its so great to Q-S-O in Morse
again."
With part 2 of our editorial on the passing of Morse proficiency testing.
I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.
--
As we said last week in Part 1 of this editorial, with or without the
Morse code, ham radio will continue. And that ends the newscast and
editorial comment for this week. (ARNewslineT)
**
NAMS IN THE NEWS: BOSTON'S CBS4 IS WBZ-TV ONCE AGAIN
CBS Boston affiliate television station known for several years as CBS 4
has reverted back to the station's former call letters WBZ TV. General
manager Ed Piette announced the name change at a staff meeting in late
November. WBZ is the latest of a number of stations nationwide that are
forsaking their network identity to return to their historic roots and
their ties to the local community that they serve. (Media News)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: ITS CALLED COPLINK (NEWSLETTER PRINT VERSION ONLY)
Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's
Department will each soon begin using a $1.3 million computer program to
better protect the public. Called CopLink, it will allow the department
to target violent criminals by linking four of the department's databases
while at the same time freeing up officers for other duties..
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is scheduled to start using
the system next month. The sheriff's department is expected to link with
the LAPD's database by the start of next year. More than 300 law
enforcement agencies use the Cop Link database linking system. (LASD)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: NASA SEEKS DELAYED SHUTTLE LAUNCH SCHEDULE (NEWSLETTER
PRINT VERSION ONLY)
NASA says a backlog in processing the shuttles' external fuel tanks will
likely delay by as much as a month some space shuttle launches scheduled
for next year.
The revised schedule that is still to be approved would push back the
first launch of 2007 to March 16th from February 22nd. The launch of space
shuttle Endeavor would then be moved to June 28th from June eleventh. And
the scheduled August ninth launch of Atlantis would be bumped to September
seventh.
In the three years since the Columbia disaster, NASA's efforts to get the
external fuel tanks ready for launch have been affected by design changes
and by Hurricane Katrina. The latter caused damaged to the tank assembly
plant in New Orleans last year. (NASA)
**
WORLDBEAT - DENMARK: ISP ORDERED TO CUT OGFF MUSIC SHARING ACCESS
(NEWSLETTER PRINT VERSION ONLY)
A court in Denmark has ordered Swedish Internet service provider Tele2 AG
to block its Internet subscribers from connecting to a Russian Website.
One that has been accused by recording companies of selling their music
illegally.
Targeted by this ruling is a service provided by Moscow based
Mediaservices, which owns Allof MP3. Allof MP3 is a music sharing service.
The ruling, issued on November 15th stemmed from a lawsuit filed in
Copenhagen City Court in July by the Danish arm of the International
Federation of the Phonographic Industry.
Neither Mediaservices nor Allof MP3 were named in the suit. The company
says that it is disappointed in the ruling because it has not been found
guilty of violating any laws. (Published reports)
**
BIG DX NEWS: SPRATLY ISLANDS COMING ON IN MARCH
The highly prized Spratley Islands should come to the air in 2007. This,
according to Tex Izumo, 9M2TO, and quoted in several D-X newsletters.
Izumo says that the "Project 2007 Spratly Island 9M0 Dxpedition" now has
the callsign 9M2SDX. It was issued by the Malaysian Communication and
Multimedia Commission for operation from Pulau Layang Island in the
Spratly group between March 9th and the 19th.
Tex says that the operators will include members of the Malaysian Amateur
Radio Transmitter's Society and a group from Japan for a total of 20. They
plan to have 2 to 4 stations up and running 24 hours a day on 160 through
6 meters, on CW, SSB, RTTY and some digital modes.
QSL via 9M2TO, by the bureau or direct.
(Do not read: to: Tex Izumo, 2C-10-03 Mutiara APT., JLN. SG. EMAS 11100
Batu Ferringhi, Penang, MALAYSIA. Also, visit the DXpedition's Web page
at: http://island.geocities.jp/layang9m4sdx/) (OPDX)
**
DX
In other D-X, word that members of the "Buddipole Users on Montserrat"
will mount a DXpedition to the island of from January 29th to Feburary
6th, 2007. This will be another of those ultralite operations with
team members taking only lightweight transceivers and portable antennas.
The maximum equipment weight will be 100 pounds per person or less. With
this lightweight gear, the team plans many portable operations in the
hills, on the beach, and from the volcano observatory on the southern part
of the island.
More is on-line at http://dxpedition-vp2m.com/
And G7COD, will once again operate from Embudu Island, South Male Atoll,
in the Maldives as 8Q7AK. This, between January 21st and February 2nd.
Activity will be on 30, 20, 17, 15 and 12 meters, mostly SSB with some CW.
QSL cards direct to G7COD at his callbook address.
(Above from various DX news sources)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: A TRIBUTE TO ALAN KAUL, W6RCL - SK
And finally this week, a tribute to the memory of one of the people who
helped to make Amateur Radio Newsline and all of Amateur Radio what it is
today. To Alan Kaul, W6RCL, who came on-board with us in 1977 and stayed
with us through our metamorphosis into the Amateur Radio Newsline. And
now, as the sands of time force us to say goodbye, David Black, KB4KCH,
takes a look at the man, his career as a broadcast journalist and his
lifelong devotion to the world of Amateur Radio:
--
Alan Kaul's passion was telling stories. He did that both on the job as a
West Coast producer for NBC Nightly News and for another love: Amateur
Radio. From throughout the world, Alan helped bring some of the biggest
stories to millions of American television viewers and to the world of
Amateur Radio as well.
Among the events he covered: The 1979 Iran hostage crisis. he spent more
than two weeks in Kosovo, covering the U-S Marines. He helped produce
NBC's coverage of Mother Teresa's funeral, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, the
eruption of Mount St. Helens, the bombing of Pan Am flight 103.and the
hijacking of the cruise ship Achille Lauro.
Alan lived in the Middle East for three years. He was once shot at in
Lebanon by an Israeli soldier. He said the soldier fired over his head as
a warning shot, and said he would never forget the high pitch, siren-
like sound of the rifle slug zipping past.
In addition to NBC's Nightly News, his work was seen on The Today Show and
MS-NBC.
In June 1994, Alan was assigned to cover the United Nations action on
Haiti. He left Los Angeles International Airport on a flight for Miami on
his way to handle the assignment. Ninety minutes after his flight left,
O.J. Simpson ran through the airport on his way to Chicago. It was the
night Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were brutally murdered. When
Alan returned to the states, he spent the next two years covering
Simpson's trial.
Alan was deeply involved in science and political reporting, as well. He
covered the Republican and Democrat National Conventions in 1980, 84, 88,
and 96. He traveled with a dozen candidates including Ronald Reagan,
George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton.
And he even made it on to the silver screen in the 1979 Jane Fonda film
China Syndrome. Off-camera, he served as the film's Technical Adviser, but
he also wound up playing the on-screen role of the movie's TV Director.
Alan's involvement and contributions to Amateur Radio were just as
prolific. In the late 1970s, he wrote and reported for the Westlink
Amateur Radio News which later became Newsline. That marked the start of
a close personal and working relationship that he maintained with the
network for the rest of his life. Alan is perhaps best remembered for his
eloquent coverage of the death of JY1, Jordan's King Hussein.
In 1983, Alan Kaul took on a new role: He was tapped by the late Roy
Neal, K6DUE, to produce a half hour video called "Amateur Radio's Newest
Frontier." That documentary profiled the flight of Dr. Owen Garriott,
W5LFL, who conducted the first manned amateur radio operation from space.
While overseas for NBC, Alan continued supporting Newsline by filing
reports on Amateur Radio activities from throughout the region. It was
his reporting that gave listeners a world perspective on ham radio they
otherwise might have never heard. During the Iran hostage crisis, Alan
provided the only news on amateur radio coming from Iran. At a time when
Iran's government had outlawed ham radio, but Alan managed to interview an
Iranian radio amateur who was operating despite the ban.
In 2002, Alan again dedicated his talents by helping arrange for former
CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, to host a presentation called
"Amateur Radio Today." He co-produced the show and wrote the words that
Walter Cronkite spoke. The video was released by the American Radio Relay
League and was shown to members of Congress to promote ham radio's value
during emergencies. It received the Chicago Film Festival's Certificate of
Merit.
Three years later, he helped produce "The ARRL Goes to Washington.
--- QScan/WC v1.20a / 02-****
* Origin: (1:261/1)
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