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Ärende: Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1905 - February 14, 2014
===============================================================
Amateur Radio NewslineT 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 NewslineT 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)
**
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)
**
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 NewslineT. Our e-mail address is newsline (at)
arnewsline (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio
Newsline'sT only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can
also write to us or support us at Amateur Radio NewslineT, 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 NewslineT is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
==========================================================================
R\%/itt - K5RXT
"It is the fault of our science that it wants to explain all, and
if it explain not, then it says there is nothing to explain."
Bram Stoker (1847-1912)
Thus, we have "Climate Change Science" - which isn't capable of
explaining anything.
--- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012
--- D'Bridge 3.98
* Origin: K 5 R X T (Royz Xtra Terrific) So-Central Texas, USA (1:387/22)
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