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Ärende: Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1933 - August 29 2014
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Greetings Y'all!
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1933 - August 29 2014
Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1933 with a release date of August 29
2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.
A ham radio floater balloon makes two trips around the world; an IARU
Region One official says 23 centimeters is in jeopardy; Moldavia joins the
CEPT universal licensing system; International Lighthouse and Lightship
Weekend sets a new record and a Morse sprint will honor the memory of the
late Nancy Kott, WZ8C. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio
NewslineT report number 1933 coming your way right now.
(Billboard Cart Here)
**
HAM HAPPENINGS: HAM BALLOON CIRCUMNAVIGATES EARTH
British radio amateur Leo Bodnar, M0XER, recently launched several solar
powered balloons that have managed to circumnavigate the globe. The most
interesting of these appears to be B 64 as we hear from Amateur Radio
Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD:
--
B-64 carrying an 11 gram transmitter payload, was launched from
Silverstone in the UK on July 12th and it's still flying. It completed
its first circumnavigation of the Northern Hemisphere on July 31 and its
second complete trip on or about August 21st. When last reported it was
on is third round the world trip over northern Russia heading towed the
Arctic Circle at an altitude of about 40,000 feet above mean sea level.
B-64 transmits 10 milliwatt signal on 434.500 MHz signing M0XER dash 4 and
using the data modes Contestia 64/1000 and APRS. In designing the
balloons payload, Bodnar has utilized some clever techniques including the
storage of up to 5 days of positions when the balloon is out of radio
contact. It later transmits a log file of its previous locations in the
comments field of the APRS packet when ground acquisition is
re-established. This enables a fairly complete path to be built up.
Like all od Bodnar's floaters, B-64 is a plastic foil party balloon that
flies between 25,000 and 45,000 feet as carried by winds aloft. When
looked at on an APRS tracking map if you see only a straight line on the
track it means that it is currently out of radio contact.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im Heather Embee, KB3TZD.
--
Bodnars' other balloons still aloft are designated as B-63 and B-66. The
paths of all of them in flight over the past 6 weeks can be seen at
spacenear.us/tracker/flyb.php (Southgate, others)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: IARU - R1 TO DISCUSS PODSSIBLE LOSS OF 23 CM BAND
A dire prediction the imminent loss by amateur radio of the 23 centimeter
band has been issued by an official International Amateur Radio Union
Region One. The warning along with suggested action was authored by
Michael Kastelic, OE1MCU, who is the Chair of the IARU Region One VHF UHF
and Microwave Committee.
In his paper, OE1MCU writes that the latest reports he has received make
it seem to him that radio amateurs will lose the 23 centimeter band in the
near future. He does not offer any specific date for this to happen but
he does note that the current amateur 23 centimeter allocation includes a
key Amateur Satellite Service uplink band at 1260 to 1270 MHz which is now
being shared as a downlink for the new European Galileo Global Positioning
System.
OE1MCU goes on to note that in his opinion, if the loss of 23 centimeters
happens that a proposal for a new amateur radio allocation such as 1300 to
1310 MHz should be added to the agenda of the 2018 World Radio Conference.
This so that amateurs still have spectrum to utilize near the current 23
centimeter allocation in which to operate.
A short excerpt from his paper to be presented at the upcoming
International Amateur Radio Union Region One conference slated for
September 21st to the 27th in can be found at amsat-uk.org/tag/iaru.
(IARU-R1, AMSAT-UK)
**
RADIO IN SPACE: ANOMALIES DETECTED IN ORBITS OF 2 GALILEO SATELLITES
LAUNCHED THIS WEEK
Meantime what might be at least a minor setback for the European Galileo
G-P-S system has been reported by European Space Agency. This after two
of the satellites recently launched for the system have shown an anomaly
in their orbits the implications of which for the overall mission have yet
to be determined.
Arianespace which was responsible for launch and the orbital injection of
the satellites acknowledged that complementary observations gathered after
the separation of the two birds from the Soyuz launch vehicle have
highlighted a discrepancy between targeted and actual orbital height for
the Galileo satellites. An Arianespace spokesperson later said that the
satellites are in an orbit lower than was planned.
Meantime, the European Space Agency said that both satellites are safely
in orbit and are being controlled from its operations center in Germany.
Also that further information on their status will be made available after
the preliminary analysis of the situation is completed.
Since it was approved back in 1998, the European Commission has invested
the equivalent of some $17 billion United States dollars in the Galileo
program. Since then it has suffered years of delays due to political and
industrial disagreements. (Published News Reports)
**
RESTRUCTURING: MOLDOVA HAS JOINED CEPT LICENSING
International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 reports that Moldova has signed
the pan-European CEPT Novice and Class 1 amateur radio license agreement.
The CEPT Radio Amateur License Class 1 corresponds to the United States
Extra and United Kingdom's Advanced and Full licenses. The CEPT Novice
License is closely compatible to the Unites States General and United
Kingdom Intermediate license.
There is also a CEPT entry class license which equate to the United States
Technician and United Kingdom Foundation class, however Moldavia is not
joining in that entry level system at this time.
CEPT which is an English acronym for the European Conference of Postal and
Telecommunications Administration which was established in 1959. Among
its duties is the administration of a universal licensing system that
permits radio amateurs in a given member nation to receive reciprocal
operating privileges in that of other member nations. (IARU-R1)
**
EMERGING HAM TECHNOLOGY: THE VK6IRO TRANS INDIAN OCEAN BEACON PROJECT
A trans-Indian Ocean 2 meter Chirp modulated beacon is now in its planning
stage. Chirp is a spread spectrum technique that uses its entire
allocated bandwidth to broadcast a signal making it robust to band noise.
The VK6RIO beacon transmitter will be located in Perth, Australia with the
receive site in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Its purpose will be to
detect possible openings on 144 MHz via Troposphereic Ducting across the
Indian Ocean, which has never been accomplished before. The use of Chirp
means that the receive site will be able to detect a signal at up to minus
50 decibels below the actual band noise floor.
Right now, the Australia to South Africa path is considered the greatest
terrestrial challenge for VHF radio amateurs, and is even more difficult
than such a contact using moon bounce techniques. (SARL)
**
DX UP FRONT: K5LBU ANNOUNCES CGANGE OF PLANS
In DX up front, Charles Frost, K5LBU, has announced that the planned trip
to Mozambique with WB6OJB has been canceled. This, due to medical
problems with the latter. Instead, K5LBU will be going to Botswana in
early September and is looking for additional operators for a 4 to 7 day
trip. If you are interested, contact him ASAP via E-mail at 3da0cf (at)
gmail (dot) com. (OPDX)
**
DX UP FRONT: LUXEMBOURG SEPTEMBER 10 THROUGH 17
Also, PA3EWP, PA1AW, PA9JO and PB5X will be active stroke LX from
Luxembourg from September 10th through the 17th. Operations will be on 80
through 10 meters with four stations using all modes. QSL via PA1AW.
(OPDX)
**
DX UP FRONT: ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS IN NOVEMBER
And down the calendar a bit more comes word that W4VKU will be leading a
team of ten operators to the Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands in
November. The callsign for both activations will be VU4KV. QSL's go via
W4VKU. (OPDX)
**
ENFORCEMENT: FCC PROPOSES $14000 FINE TO CB OPERATOR WHO REFUSED STATION
INSPECTION
The FCC has proposed a $14,000 fine against Tommie Salter of Jacksonville,
Florida. This for apparently refusing to allow an inspection of his
Citizen Band radio station by Commission personnel. Amateur Radio
Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the details:
--
According to its August 22nd release the FCC says that Tommie Salter has a
history of causing interference to his neighbor's home electronic
equipment. On March 17, 2004, the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa Office
issued him a Notice of Violation for failing to allow an agent inspection
of his CB station in response to interference complaints. After receiving
further interference complaints, the Tampa Office restricted Salter's
hours of operation three times from 2004 to 2006. And in 2004 he was
assessed a forfeiture for operating a non-certificated CB transmitter
during his restricted hours.
Fast forward to this past March 21st. In response to a new complaint of
interference to a neighbor's home electronic equipment, agents from the
Tampa Office monitored radio transmissions on 27.245 MHz in the 11 meter
Citizens Band. They also used radio direction finding techniques to
locate the source of the signals to Salter's residence.
At that point the agents knocked on the front door and identified
themselves to him as Commission personnel. They then told Salter about
the interference complaint and asked if they could inspect his CB radio
station. But Salter denied the agents' request.
The agents then verbally warned Salter that refusing to allow an
inspection of his CB radio station violated the Communications Act and the
FCC's Rules. As such his refusal could result in a forfeiture action. But
Salter again denied the agents request.
Now, as a result of this refusal the FCC has issued a $14,000 Notice of
Apparent Liability to Salter which is double the base amount of $7000. In
doing so the regulatory agency notes that Salters' actions demonstrate a
deliberate disregard for the Commission's authority and its rules and thus
warranting a significantly increased penalty over the base amount.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting.
--
As is usual in cases such as this, Tommie Salter was given the customary
30 calendar says from the FCC release to pay the full amount or to file a
written statement seeking reduction or cancellation of the proposed fine.
(FCC)
**
RADIO LAW: CALIFORNIA PASSES NEW CELLPHONE ANTI-THEFT LAW
California Governor Jerry Brown signed new legislation that requires that
all smart phones destined for sale in the Golden state sold after July 1,
2015 to contain a remotely controllable anti-theft security feature. One
that could be used to render these devices inoperable if lost or stolen.
This technology already exists but up to now phone owners must choose it.
The new California law will require it to be a default standard on all new
phones but owners will be able to turn of the feature if they choose to do
so. (Published News Reports)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR JIMMY FUND WALK
Hams are needed to assist in this years Jimmy Fund Walk slated for Sunday,
September 21st in Boston, Massachusetts. Assignments usually run from 5
AM to 7 PM Eastern Daylight Time, but there are some half day morning
openings as well. All communications is on 2 meter FM so a good antenna
for an HT with extra batteries are required for the First Aid Station
assignments. A mobile antenna is needed for use on transport buses. For
more information or to volunteer please contact Steve Schwarm by e-mal to
w3eve (at) arrl (dot) net and put the words Jimmy Fund in the subject
line. More is on line at jimmyfundwalk.org (W3EVE)
**
PUBLIC SERVICE: MASSACHUSETTS RIDE TO DEFEAT ALS
Still with public service events in Massachusetts, we have all seen the
video's of people around the world taking the ice bucket challenge to
increase awareness and raise funds for research into finding a cure for
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis better known by the acronym ALS. But this
is not the only way that awareness of this killer disease is being brought
to the attention of the public.
Ham radio is also doing its part and one of the groups involved is the
Worcester Emergency Communications Team. It is in the process of
soliciting radio amateurs to help with communications for the Annual Ride
to Defeat ALS that will be held in the city of Wayland, Massachusetts on
Sunday September 28th.
If you wish to volunteer or have any questions please contact Rob Capizzio
via e-mail at rob (at) kc2ema (dot) net. More information about the event
is available at tinyurl.com/als-bike-ride.
(KG1H)
**
NEW GEAR: ICOM PREVIEW 50TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED EDITION IC-7850
Icom has displayed a pre-release version of what is calling a very special
High Frequency and 6 meter radio in celebration of the company's 50th
anniversary. Designated as the IC-7850, the radio is based on Icom's
IC-7800 but incorporates several circuitry improvements as well as special
styling.
Icom says that the IC-7850 will be produced early in 2015 but in very
limited numbers. You can download a brochure on this 50th anniversary
Icom radio in PDF format at tinyurl.com/new-ic-7850. A short video of the
IC-7850 recorded at the Tokyo Hamfaire is on line at
tinyurl.com/icom-anniversary-radio (Southgate, others)
**
NEW GEAR: YAESU FT-991 KW/50/144/430 MHz TRANSCEIVER
Yaesu has announced the introduction of a new High Frequency, VHF and UHF
base station transceiver dubbed the model FT-991. This new transceiver is
capable of operating SSB, CW, AM, FM, Packet as well as the company's
exclusive System Fusion C4FM Digital Voice mode.
The FT-991 is not yet listed on the Yaesu English language website nor has
any pricing been announced. However specifications are available at
several independent sites on the World Wide Web including nicktoday.com.
You can see a short video of this new transceiver on YouTube at
tinyurl.com/n462ksn. (Southgate, others)
**
RADIO ENTERTAINMENT: VK9MT MELLISH REEF VIDEOS POSTED
Four short videos have been posted on the VK9MT Mellish Reef Web page on
the recent DXpedition to that remote location. Titles of the videos are
"Mellish Reef 2014 Collage," "Sailing to Mellish Reef," "VK9MT Setup" and
"VK9MT Setup Short Form". Each runs less than 10 minutes and can be found
at Videos can be found at tinyurl.com/mellish-2014-video. (OPDX)
**
HAM RAPPENINGS: ILLW 2014 SETS SOME NEW RECORDS
The just concluded 2014 International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend saw
541 registrations from 56 countries making for some new records in the
annual event.
According to Jim Linton, VK3PC, some 20 per cent of all registrations were
first-time activations. New countries for the event included Barbados and
Kuwait.
Linton says that it was an outstanding year for the United States which
has with 91 activations. This, exceeded the previous an all time high of
80 it achieved back in 2011.
Some first-time portable operations of former maritime navigation
structures came from several countries that in all numbered more than 100.
Linton says that already 30 registrations are listed for next years
International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend that will be held on August
15 and 16 of 2015. More about this year's event is on the web at illw.net
(VK3PC)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: COMMISSIONER PAI AT UPCOMMING NAB RADIO SHOW
National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith will engage in
a one-on-one chat with FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai. This, the annual Radio
Luncheon at the upcoming joint 2014 NAB and Radio Advertising Bureau
gathering slated for September 10th to the 12th in Indianapolis. Indiana.
Commissioner Pai has been very outspoken on just about every aspect of
broadcasting and telecommunications since his appointment back in 2012.
He and Smith are expected to discuss communications policy and how it
affects free, local radio broadcasting. (TalkMedia)
**
NAMES IN THE NEWS: WZ8C MEMORIAL CW SPRINT
The North American QRP CW Club and FISTS are jointly sponsoring a special
Morse sprint on September 3, from 0000 to 0300 UTC. This, in memory of
the late CW advocate Nancy Kott, WZ8C.
WZ8C was the leader of the FISTS CW Club in North America as well as being
past editor of WorldRadio and WorldRadio Online magazines. She was also a
2014 inductee into the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame in recognition of her
work in promoting Morse code.
This sprint is part of month-long operating challenge that is also being
done in Nancy Kott's memory. Complete details about the exchange, log
submission, etc. can be found at tinyurl.com/remembering-wz8c. (CQ)
**
CHANGING OF THE GUARD: ASTRONAUT STEVE NAGEL N5RAW - SK
The changing of the guard in Amateur Radio continues. This, with the sad
news that NASA astronaut Steven Nagel, N5RAW, who flew four space shuttle
missions, died Thursday August 21st.
Nagel became a NASA astronaut in August 1979. He first flew as a mission
specialist on STS-51G, which launched on June 17, 1985. In 1991 as
Commander on flight STS-37 he was among the all ham radio crew where he
was joined by astronauts Ken Cameron, KB5AWP; Linda Godwin, N5RAX, Jay
Apt, N5QWL, and Jerry Ross the former N5SCW.
During this mission, the crew aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis deployed
the Gamma Ray Observatory for the purpose of exploring gamma ray sources
throughout the universe. They also conducted the first scheduled
spacewalk in more than 5 and a half years as well the first unscheduled
spacewalk to free a stuck antenna on Gamma Ray Observatory. Some of the
crew members spent many of their free hours using the Shuttle Amateur
Radio Experiment 2 meter ham radio station to talk with youngsters in
schools around the world. That flight was chronicled in the joint ARRL
and AMSAT video Ham Radio in Space.
Nagel's last flight was as commander of STS-55 that carried the German D-2
Spacelab. With that mission's completion Nagel had logged a total of 723
hours in space. He then assumed a position with the Astronaut Office from
which he retired in March of 1995 to become the of deputy director for the
Operations Development, Safety, Reliability, and Quality Assurance Office.
In September 1996, Nagel transferred to the Aircraft Operations Division
where he performed duties as a research pilot, chief of aviation safety
and deputy division chief. He retired from NASA on May 31, 2011.
Nagel is survived by his wife, Linda, and his two daughters, Lauren and
Whitney. At the time of his passing Nagel was age 67. (NASA, published
news reports)
**
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: ELECTRON'S QUANTUM BEHAVIOR RECORDED BY LASERS
Researchers say they've come up with a way to record and control behavior
of a single electron at the quantum mechanical level which they say could
bring quantum computing and information processing one step closer. Hal
Rogers, K8CMD, reports:
--
The team headed by University of Chicago scientists focused on the quantum
mechanical property of electrons knows as spin. They report using ultra
fast pulses of laser light to control the quantum state of electrons
contained inside nano scale defects located in a diamond. They then
observed changes in that electron over a period of time.
The researchers say that this all operates in a manner similar to the way
conventional computers hold bits of data. Those being a binary 1 or 0 in
an electron's charge state. In a quantum-based computer spin states of
individual electrons would represent a quantum representation of that same
bit.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Hal Rogers, K8CMD.
--
You can read the entire story of this new discovery on the web at
tinyurl.com/laser-quantum-experiment (TechTimes.com)
**
HAM RADIO IN SPACE: ASSISTANCE NEEDED IN TRACKING NEW GREEK HAMSAT
The Cyprus Amateur Radio Society is asking all radio amateurs to support
the work of the Lambdasat program which is in the process of readying the
first Greek ham radio satellite for operation. This through what it calls
the establishment of the necessary infrastructure for reception and
relaying of the micro satellites signals back to the controllers on Earth
for scientific analysis.
Lambdasat, was launched on Sunday, July 13th from the Wallops Island
launch facility and was received at the International Space Station about
three days later. The satellite remained stored at the International Space
Station for scheduled deployment on Tuesday, August 26th. It is expected
to remain in orbit from 9 to 11 months. More details about the project
and how to assist is on the web at tinyurl.com/first-greek-hamsat (CARS)
**
PROPAGATION STUDY: NEW 222 MHZ BEACON ON THE AIR FROM GRID EN52
A new 222 MHz beacon has come on the air from Clinton, Wisconsin. Located
in Grid Square E N 52 the beacon operates on 222.058 MHz signing N9HF
running about 3 « watts from a vintage Midland 13-509 transceiver into a
single horizontally polarized halo antenna. The N9HF beacon went on the
air at 0001 GMT on August 23rd. Reception reports go to n9hfontheair (at)
gmail (dot) com (VHF Reflector, W9JJ)
**
DX
In DX word that G3ZEM will be operating stroke 4 W from a water's edge
location of Timor Leste between October 8th and the 20th. Activity will
be on 160 through 10 meters primarily on CW. There will be a focus
towards the lower frequency bands if conditions are favorable. QSL via
M0URX.
VE3LYC and KD1CT will attempt to operate from Matthew Island from
September 4th to the 7th. They will maintain one station on the air around
the clock, operating on all bands from 40 through 10 meters using CW and
SSB. QSL via VE3LYC, direct or by the Bureau.
HA0HW will be on the air from Thassos Island as SW8WW between September
12th and the 22nd. He will operate mainly CW, with some SSB and RTTY on
the HF bands and on 6 meters. QSL via his home callsign, direct or via
the HA Bureau.
Keep an ear open for K7TRB who will be active from Rwanda as 9X0VA until
October. Bands and modes of this operation were not announced. QSL via
his home callsign.
K9EL will once again be operational stroke FS from St. Martin between
November 20th and December 2nd. Activity will be on 160 through 6 meters.
QSL via his home callsign.
Lastly, ZS1ANF, RD3MX and UA1PAW will be active as RI1ANR from the Novo
Runway Airbase in Antarctica between November 2014 and March 2015. Their
operation will be on 160 through 10 meters using CW and SSB. QSL via
RK1PWA.
(This weeks DX news courtesy of OPDX)
**
THAT FINAL ITEM: MAKE SURE YOUR DEVICES ARE CHARGED
And finally this week, if you are planning a trip by air to the United
States you will want to make certain that the batteries in any electronic
device you plan to carry with you are charged and ready to demonstrate to
the TSA as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK:
--
The TSA recently published an announcement stating that passengers
boarding flights to the United States from certain overseas airports will
need to prove that all electronic devices they plan to take with them on
board a flight can be powered up.
Part of the text of the announcement says that the Secretary of Homeland
Security has directed TSA to implement enhanced security measures at
certain overseas airports with direct flights to the United States.
It says that as the traveling public knows, all electronic devices are
screened by security officers. During the security examination, officers
may also ask that owners power up some devices, including cell phones.
Powerless devices will not be permitted onboard the aircraft. The
traveler may also undergo additional screening.
The announcement goes on to say that the TSA will continue to adjust
security measures to ensure that travelers are guaranteed the highest
levels of aviation security conducted as conveniently as possible.
For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, reporting.
--
As many hams who travel internationally carry an HT in addition to
cellphones, laptops and the like, it will be important to be able to
demonstrate to the TSA that devices that work off internal batteries can
indeed be powered up. More is on-line at the link provided in this weeks
printed Amateur Radio Newsline report. More is on line at
http://techcrunch.com/2014/07/06/charge-your-phone-before-flying-tsa-will-
now-block-dead-devices-at-some-airports/?ncid=twitt
(TSA, Published news reports)
**
NEWSCAST CLOSE
With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio
Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the South African
Radio League, the Southgate News, TwiT-TV, Australia's WIA News and you
our listeners, that's all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our e-mail
address is newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org. More information is
available at Amateur Radio Newsline'sT only official website located at
www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support us at Amateur
Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita California, 91350.
For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Ralph
Squillace, KK6ITB, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.
Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
(Note to Ed: See rulz, more specifically, rule 4a.)
Have a day!
R\%/itt - K5RXT
--- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012
--- D'Bridge 3.99
* Origin: K 5 R X T (Really Xtra Terrific) San Antonio, TX (1:387/22)
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