Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1863 - April 26 2013   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1863 with a release date of April 26   
   2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST.  Ham radio rallyes to assist in the wake of a   
   killer quake that hits China; another loss in the ongoing fight against   
   BPL; a number of new hamsats are now on-orbit; the latest news on   
   Hamvention 2013; a new D-Star repeater where few might expect it and a new   
   book to interest the new ham and non ham alike.  All this and more on   
   Amateur Radio NewslineT report number 1863 coming your way right now.   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  HAMS ASSIST AFTER SICHUAN CHINA EARTHQUAKE   
      
   Amateur radio was there to provide emergency relief communications after a   
   powerful earthquake killed more than 185 people and injured several   
   thousand in China's rural south-west on Saturday, April 20th.  Graham   
   Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News has more:   
      
   --   
      
   Fan Bin, BA1RB, reported that amateur radio operators swung into action to   
   provide emergency communications and coordinate parts of the disaster   
   response.  With toppled houses everywhere, rescuers frantically began   
   their search of the rubble for survivors, while medical staff treated   
   those hurt on the ground and in make-shift hospitals.   
      
   Panic was evident with survivors sheltering in cars and tents.  Badly hit   
   Lushan County is now like a large refugee camp with volunteers providing   
   meals.   
      
   Fan Bin, BA1RB, has recently reported that public communication was back   
   to normal in the disaster area and the local repeater systems continued to   
   work.   
      
   He said the Chinese Radio Sports Association, also known as the Chinese   
   Radio Amateur Club, no longer required emergency communication   
   frequencies.  It expressed thanks for the support from IARU member   
   societies and others.   
      
   A role for some radio hams was maintaining traffic control, with emergency   
   supplies arriving including tents, water, food and medicine.   
      
   Rain hampered search and rescue efforts in the quake zone, and added to   
   fallen trees and landslides making progress slower in some areas.   
   After-shocks also occurred.   
      
   The Sichuan provincial government reported that 3,000 kilometres of road   
   and 327 bridges had been damaged.  The total repair bill from the   
   earthquake was put at $3 billion.   
      
   The central government of China, local officials, rescuers, relief workers   
   and radio amateurs are much better prepared to deal with disasters, than   
   has been the case in the past.   
      
   Neighboring Russia sent rescue teams, and the Red Cross from Hong Kong   
   with an embedded radio amateur, are helping the on-going effort.   
      
   For the Amateur radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News in   
   Australia.   
      
   --   
      
   Five years ago a massive quake hit the same area.  The 2008 disaster   
   killed tens of thousands and left some five million people homeless.   
   (WIA News, VK3PC, BA1RB, QRZ, BBC, others)   
      
   **   
      
   THE BPL FIGHT:  FCC RULES AGAINST ARRL IN BPL APPEAL   
      
   Back here in the United States, word that the FCC rejected an appeal from   
   ARRL and has upheld its current Broadband over Power Line rules.  In   
   denying the ARRL appeal the FCC said that the League had raised no new   
   arguments, nor proved previous that FCC B-P-L related decisions contained   
   mistakes.   
      
   The FCC went on to say that its previous decisions regarding B-P-L strike   
   what it calls the right balance between the need to provide Access   
   Broadband over Power Line technology while protecting incumbent radio   
   services against harmful interference.   
      
   In a related story on the ARRL website ARRL Chief Executive Officer Dave   
   Summer, K1ZZ,  said that he wasn't surprised at the decision.  However he   
   also noted that some of the rhetoric used by the agency in continuing to   
   defend what he termed as its wrong-headed promotion of the flawed BPL   
   technology is disappointing.  (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  ANTARES CARRYING PHONESATS MAKES IT TO ORBIT   
      
   The twice-delayed maiden flight of the Orbital Sciences Corporation   
   Antares rocket carrying three CubeSats with amateur radio payloads has   
   been called an overwhelming success as we hear from Amateur Radio   
   Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with the details:   
      
   --   
      
   After a pair of delays due to technical and weather related problems the   
   Antares rocket lunged skyward at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time Sunday   
   afternoon April 21st from a launch pad at NASA's Wallops Island Virginia   
   Flight Facility.  On board were three ham radio cubesats dubbed Phonesats   
   because they were built using off the shelf smart phones.   
      
   All three of the Phonesat based cubesats carries an amateur radio payload   
   downlinking on 437.425 MHz. Each cubesat will transmit during individual   
   time slots using AFSK modulation at 1200 bps, AX.25 packet coding and have   
   vertical linear polarization.   
      
   The two PhoneSat 1.0 satellites code named Graham and Bell transmit with a   
   period of respectively 28 seconds and 30 seconds. The PhoneSat 2.0 beta   
   satellite, Alexander, transmits with a period of 25 seconds.   All of the   
   tiny birds are using the callsign KJ6KRW.   
      
   The PhoneSat web page at www dot phonesat dot org provides access to the   
   "Dashboard" allowing hams to track the location of the satellites in real   
   time. Detailed information on the downlink packet telemetry format can be   
   found on this page as well.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los   
   Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   The orbit of the PhoneSat satellites is very low and are expected to only   
   remain on-orbit for two weeks.  The satellites are battery powered with no   
   additional charging from solar cells or any other source.  (ANS, NASA,   
   others)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  OSSI-1 AMATEUR RADIO CUBESAT LAUNCHED   
      
   The OSSI-1 CubeSat along with three other satellites were launched to   
   orbit from the Bikenour  Cosmodrome in Kazikstan on Friday, April 19th.   
   Also on-board the Soyuz-2-1A launch vehicle were some research and   
   commercial satellites.   
      
   Korean artist Hojun Song, DS1SBO has spent 7 years developing his Open   
   Source Satellite Initiative satellite that he named OSSI-1.  He has   
   designed and built it from scratch using readily available components   
   rather than expensive space qualified hardware.  The launch reportedly   
   cost him a cool $100,000 and is believed to be the first one person   
   privately constructed and launched ham radio bird.   
      
   We will have more ham radio space related news later on in this weeks   
   Amateur Radio Newsline report.  (ANS, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  CELLPHONE FAILURE AT THE BOSTON MARATHON   
      
   Neither the Federal government nor any Massachusetts state agency or the   
   Boston police ordered a shutdown of cellular telephone service in the   
   Boston area following the terrorist bombing of the Boston Marathon on   
   Monday, April, 15th.  The systems simply failed of their own accord   
   because too many people trying to use them at the same time.  Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, explains:   
      
   --   
      
   On April 18th outgoing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said the FCC would   
   follow up on cellular service issues at the Boston Marathon.  This while   
   emphasizing that broadband services had not been shut down after the   
   bombings.   
      
   Genachowski conceded that the event again raised issues of communications   
   and public safety like those the FCC has been working on for some time.   
   However he went on to acknowledge that wireless networks were so   
   overwhelmed by the temporary surge in traffic, that there were incorrect   
   media reports that mobile services had actually shut down when they had   
   not been.   
      
   What appears to be a fact is that most cellphone subscribers erroneously   
   believe that the phone in their pocket should function perfectly 100   
   percent of the time.  The reality is that the no cellular system currently   
   in use can handle 100% of all of its subscribers at any one time.  Or even   
   50% for that matter.   
      
   Most experts say that when most cellphone systems reach between 15 to 20   
   percent of its subscribers simultaneously using the service that it is at   
   a point of limited network density.  In other words it cannot handle any   
   more subscribers more until those on-line hang up.   
      
   And that's what appears to have happened in Boston after the two bombs at   
   the marathon finish line went off.  It's also why the autonomous  Boston   
   Marathon ham radio communications networks continued to function   
   flawlessly even when the cellphones failed.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   Genachowski said that the FCC will certainly pursue this issue along with   
   other agencies.  He called it an institutional imperative for the FCC.   
   Meantime an excellent reference guide on what you can really expect from   
   your cellphone including in emergency situations has been published   
   on-line by the FCC.  You can find it on the web at   
   tinyurl.com/cellphone-reality.  (FCC, Wikipedia, published news reports)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  WAS EAS USED FOLLOWING THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBING   
      
   Emergency Alert System expert Richard Rudman, W6TIA, says initial feedback   
   from the Boston area indicates emergency officials did not use the EAS to   
   issue shelter-in-place warnings when authorities were looking for the   
   bombing suspect.   
      
   According to Rudman, if reports from the greater Boston area show that EAS   
   was not used to issue the shelter-in-place warning, it's time for the   
   entire emergency management community to take to heart and put in practice   
   FEMA's still new protocol known as the Integrated Public Alert and Warning   
   System or IPAWS.   
      
   If you happen to know for certain whether or not Boston officials did or   
   did not utilize the Emergency Alert System for public notification in the   
   aftermath of the marathon bombings or to issue the shelter in place order,   
   please let us know.  We in turn will be happy to pass along the   
   information to W6TIA.   
      
   More on this story is on-line at tinyurl.com/boston-eas-alerts  (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  FCC ADOPTS RULES TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY INFO TO THE BLIND   
      
   The FCC has adopted rules requiring that emergency information provided in   
   video programming be made accessible to individuals who are blind or   
   visually impaired.  It's also mandating that that certain apparatus be   
   capable of delivering video description and emergency information these   
   citizens.   
      
   Specifically, the rules clarify that the new emergency information   
   requirements apply to video programming provided by entities that are   
   already covered by Section 79.2 of the Commission's rules along with  any   
   other distributor of video programming for residential reception that   
   delivers such programming directly to the home and is subject to the   
   jurisdiction of the Commission.   
      
   The complete text in PDF format is on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/emergency-alerts-for-the-blind.  (CGC, FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  TWO BUSINESSES CITIED FOR CELL JAMMER USE   
      
   Two businesses have been told that they will have to pay some heavy duty   
   fines for importing and using cellphone jamming devices.  Amateur Radio   
   Newsline's Steffen Kinford, N8WB, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   On April 9th the FCC issued a Notice of Apparent liability in the amount   
   of $144,000 to The Supply Room in Oxford, Alabama.  On the same day a   
   $126,000 N-A-L was imposed on Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing in Broussard,   
   Louisiana.   
      
   In both cases the FCC received anonymous tips that cell phone jamming was   
   occurring at both businesses.  Using direction finding FCC agents   
   discovered strong wideband emissions in the cellular bands that they   
   determined to be one or more signal jammers at each site.  On inspection,   
   both the Supply Room and Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing admitted to the   
   agents that they had each purchased a number of cellphone signal jammers   
   off of the Internet from overseas sources.   
      
   And here's where it really gets interesting.  Not only did each business   
   freely admit to purchasing and using the cellphone jammers but their   
   excuses were interesting as well.  In the case of the Supply Room, it's   
   general manager admitted that the jammers were in place to prevent its   
   employees from using their cellular phones while working.  Not only that,   
   but that the devices had been in operation for more than two years before   
   they were caught.   
      
   Meantime, managers at Taylor Oilfield Manufacturing told FCC that the   
   devices were also being utilized to prevent its employees from using their   
   cellular phones while working, but in this case following a near-miss   
   industrial accident.  One that the company alleges was partially   
   attributable to employee cell phone use.   
      
   While both companies voluntarily surrendered their jammers to the FCC,   
   that did not help mitigate the penalties that have been imposed.  In fact,   
   the FCC told both companies that they must submit payment in full by May   
   9th or file a written appeal.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth,   
   Ohio.   
      
   --   
      
   Both businesses were also directed by the FCC to file a statement to be   
   signed under penalty of perjury no later than May 9th that would provide   
   the source or sources from were each purchased or received the jamming   
   devices.  (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  FLORIDA RESIDENT ORDERED BY FCC TO ELIMINATE WELL PUMP   
   INTERFERENCE TO HAM RADIO   
      
   The FCC has issued an Official Citation1issued to Ruben D. Lopez, Jr. of   
   Pomona Park, Florida.  This for operating an incidental radiator and   
   causing harmful interference in violation of Section 15.5(b) of the   
   Commission's rules.  In this case the incidental radiator was of all   
   things a well pump that was putting out a signal at 1800 Kilohertz and   
   interfering with ham radio operations.   
      
   On July 15, 2010 and February 28, 2011, in response to complaints of   
   interference to Amateur Radio Service reception of medium and high   
   frequency radio signals, the Enforcement Bureau issued Lopez two letters   
   informing him of the complaints.  The letters summarized the relevant   
   rules, instructed him to resolve any interference, and suggesting he   
   install new AC line filters for his well pump.   
      
   On October 23, 2012, in response to another complaint of interference to   
   Amateur Radio Service reception, agents from the Commission's Tampa Office   
   of the Enforcement Bureau used direction finding techniques to identify   
   Lopez's well pump as the source of transmissions on the frequency 1800   
   kHz.  The agents from the confirmed that Mr. Lopez's well pump was the   
   source of the interference by conducting on/off tests.  The interference   
   ceased when the well pump was turned off.   
      
   At that time the agents informed Lopez that he must cease operating his   
   well pump until the interference could be resolved.  After the October 23,   
   2012 inspection, the Tampa Office received information that Lopez tried to   
   eliminate the interference by replacing the AC line filter for the well   
   pump, but the new filter did not resolve the interference.   
      
   Now, in its April 23rd Citation the FCC has instructed Lopez to take   
   immediate steps to come into compliance by repairing or replacing his   
   incidental radiator and eliminating all harmful interference.  It also   
   directed Lopez to confirm within thirty calendar days after the release   
   date of the Citation that he has ceased operating his incidental radiator   
   or taken steps to eliminate all harmful interference.  If he fails to do   
   so, the FCC says that he could be subject to substantial monetary   
   penalties, seizure of the offending equipment, and criminal sanctions. The   
   entire text of the Citation is on-line as a PDF file at   
   tinyurl.com/pump-qrm  (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE WEB:  RADIO FOXTROT 100 INTERNET STATION FOR HAM RADIO   
      
   Tony Bond, EI9GMB, says he is again operating Radio Foxtrot 100.  Foxtrot   
   100 is an internet radio station dedicated to ham radio and short wave   
   listeners that has topics related to ham radio in addition to its music   
   programming.  More is on the web at foxtrot100.weebly.com  (EI9GMB)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  OUTGOING FCC CHAIR TO JOIN ASPEN INSTITUTE   
      
   Outgoing FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (PRON: GEN A COW SKEE) will   
   likely become a fellow at the Washington D.C.-based Aspen Institute when   
   he steps down from his current position.  The move makes Genachowski the   
   fifth former FCC Chairman in a row to become a Senior Fellow of the   
   institute, following Kevin Martin, Michael Powell, William Kennard and   
   Reed Hundt.   
      
   The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in   
   1950 and  dedicated to fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation   
   of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary   
   issues.  The institute and its international partners promote the pursuit   
   of common ground and deeper understanding in a nonpartisan and   
   non-ideological setting through regular seminars, policy programs,   
   conferences, and leadership development initiatives.   
   (Published reports)   
      
   **   
      
   HAMVENTION 2013:  VHF WEAK SIGNAL GROUP BANQUET AT THE DAYTON HAMVENTION   
      
   The 18th VHF Weak Signal Group dinner to be held on Friday evening May   
   17th at the Dayton Grand Hotel in Dayton, Ohio.  This, concurrent with the   
   2013 Dayton Hamvention.   
      
   The cash bar opens at 6:15 PM with dinner to be served at approximately   
   7:15 PM.  This years guest banquet speaker is VHF Contester Jeff Klein,   
   K1TEO.   
      
   Reservations are required with seating is limited to 125.  Tickets are $40   
   per person from Tony Emanuele WA8RJF, 7156 Kory Court, Concord Township,   
   Ohio 44077.  For more information contact WA8RJF (at) arrl (dot) net.   
   (WA8RJF)   
      
   **   
      
   HAMVENTION 2013:  D-STAR TRAINING ON MAY 17   
      
   DSTARinfo.com and the Georgia D-STAR group will again conduct training for   
   beginning and intermediate D-STAR users during 2013 Dayton Hamvention.   
   The three hour instruction will be held Friday, May 17th at the Drury Inn   
   Ballroom, conveniently located in the Hamvention hotel area at 6616 Miller   
   Lane.   
      
   The class will begin promptly at 8:00am.  This training will provide the   
   basics for new D-STAR users guiding them through the registration process,   
   getting on the air and get the most out of handhelds or mobiles.   
      
   Class size is limited and pre-registration is required at   
   tinyurl.com/D-Star-Class.   The cost of the class is $15.00 and attendees   
   will receive all course materials.  For more information please e-mail   
   info (at) dstarinfo (dot) com.  (WB9QZB)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:   FIRST DIGITAL D-STAR REPEATER ON FROM THE CANARY ISLANDS   
      
   D-Star is bringing some unexpected placed to the VHF and UHF bands.  This   
   with word that the first repeater using this mode has come on the air in   
   the Canary Islands.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TD, has   
   the details on this one:   
      
   --   
      
   Sponsored by Radio Club Vecindario, the ED8ZAB D-Star machine is located   
   on the island of Gran Canaria at an altitude of about 4,000 feet above   
   average terrain covering most of the group's 7 islands.   
      
   The system currently runs 10 watts out on 438.4625 MHz and listens for   
   signals on its input that is 7.6 MHz below. It has been reported as having   
   been heard by stations in both Portugal and Spain during two recent   
   tropospheric openings; a distance of more than 1,400 kilometers.   
      
   And for those who are not world travelers or DXers, the Canary Islands are   
   a Spanish archipelago located just off the northwest coast of mainland   
   Africa, 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara.   
   They are one of Spain's seventeen autonomous communities and an outermost   
   region of the European Union.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline. I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,   
   Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   If by any chance you happen to hear the ED8ZAB D-Star machine outside of   
   its local coverage area, please send a report by e-mail to ed8zab (at)   
   yahoo (dot) es.  (EA8EE)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  SA AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM MAY 18   
      
   South Africa AMSAT will hold its annual space symposium on Saturday, May   
   18th. The venue is the Innovation Hub in the city of Pretoria with McLean   
   Sibanda, the CEO of the Hub as its keynote speaker.   
      
   The symposium is sponsored by South Africa Telkom and features an agenda   
   that is packed with interesting presentations and demonstrations.  Full   
   details and the registration form are available on the web at   
   www.amsatsa.org.za.  (SA-AMSAT)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  WEB SDR NOW AVAILABLE ON RSGB SITE   
      
   A web-based Software Defined Radio for the 5, 7 and 14 MHz bands is now   
   available on the new Radio Society of Great Britain website.  The "Web SDR   
   receiver" link can be found under the "My RSGB" drop-down menu.  Also on   
   the new site are "Live DX Cluster" and "Live solar data" pages under the   
   "News" drop-down menu.  Go to www.rsgb.org for more.  (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  ILLW REACHES A MILESTONE OF 200   
      
   The honor of being the 200th registrant for this years International   
   Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend goes to the Whitby High Light in England.   
      
      
   Built in 1858 the Whitby High Light helped ships avoid the Whitby Rock, on   
   the North Yorkshire coast. Its well known as the place Captain James Cook   
   became a seaman before leading his epic voyages of discovery.   
      
   The special event call GB2WHL will be operated from the lighthouse by the   
   Denby Dale Radio Club.  A special QSL card is available on request.   
      
   So far there are registrations from 29 countries.  To read the guidelines   
   for the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend slated for August   
   the 17th and 18th or to register a lighthouse, lightship or maritime   
   beacon on-line, please visit illw.net. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIOSPORT:  RESULTS OF THE NYQP POSTED   
      
   The final results of the 2012 New York QSO Party have been published.  You   
   can read them on-line by taking your web browser to rdxa.com/results/2012.   
      
   This year's plaque winners will be receiving the awards in the mail as   
   soon as they are completed.  Participants can also download and print   
   their own paper awards and participation certificates or have the New York   
   QSO Party print them for you.  The latter requires a $3 donation sent via   
   PayPal to af2k@juno.com.   
      
   Please include your name, callsign and mailing address with any on-line   
   orders.  (NYQP)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR:  WB8BZK TO ACTIVATE GRID EO-40 ON 6 METERS   
      
   On the air, VUCC grid hunters who need Canadian grid E-Oh-40-ud may want   
   to listen for WB8BZK Stroke VE3 who will be on the air from Seseganaga   
   Lake in Ontario Province between May 26 and the 31.  He will be operating   
   only on 6 meters primarily on 50.135 MHz running SSB and CW only.   
   Operating times are tentatively each morning at 12:30 UTC and then again   
   between 22:30 and 23:00 UTC each evening.  If you make contact, please QSL   
   with a self addressed stamped envelope to WB8BZK at his address on QRZ.com   
     (WB8BZK)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR:  DUTCH NATIONAL WINDMILL AND WATERPUMP STATION WEEKEND   
      
   The special event call PD13MILL will be on the air May 10th to the 12th in   
   honor of the Dutch Windmill and Waterpump weekend.  Operators will be   
   PD5JFK , PD0ME and PD7BZ and they will have three Stations active at the   
   same time on 40, 20 and 10 meters using SSB and the digital modes.  A 2   
   meter station for local contacts will be operational as well.  QLL via   
   PD7BZ,direct, via the bureau or electronically on Logbook of the World or   
   eQSL.  Information about Mills on the Air is on the web at   
   www.pd6mill.com.   (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, a multi-national, multi-operator, DXpedition to Vientiane, Laos, is   
   being planned for September 6th to the 16th.  They plan to operate five   
   stations from 160-6 meters using CW, SSB and RTTY.  A Web site is   
   currently under construction and will be available soon.  The callsign and   
   more details will be announced later.   
      
   The Malaysian Special Expedition Team operating as 9M2SE will be   
   activating Perhentian Besar Island from May 1st to the 3rd.  The group   
   will use a pair of 100 watt transceivers on 40 through 10 meters running   
   CW, SSB and some digital modes.  For QSL information please check 9M2SE   
   carefully on QRZ.com.   
      
   VU2PAI and W4VKU are on the air from Bodu Finolhu Island as 8Q7KP through   
   April 30th.  Their operation is using two stations on the various High   
   Frequency bands.  QSL electronically via OQRS, eQSL or Logbook of the   
   World.   
      
   DL6JGN and DL2AWG should be operational as ZK3N from Nukunonu Atoll until   
   April 30th.  Modes being used are CW, SSB and RTTY.  This one counts as   
   OC-048 for the Islands on the Air Award.  QSL as directed on the air.   
      
   Lastly, M0HLT will soon be off to the Falkland Islands on a 2 year work   
   contract.  Arrangements have been made to acquire a VP8 callsign and he   
   will be operating from VP8LP when work commitments allow. QSL via his home   
   call.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: RADIO READING:  RIDING THE SHORTWAVES: EXPLORING THE   
   MAGIC OF AMATEUR RADIO   
      
   And finally this week, the story of a new book for new and potential hams.   
    Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, tells us all about it:   
      
   --   
      
   Riding the Shortwaves:  Exploring the Magic of Amateur Radio is a new book   
   by author Don Keith, N4KC, that contains material of special interest to   
   newcomers to ham radio and those thinking of joining its ranks.  This   
   includes easy-to-understand chapters on antennas, choosing a first   
   station, and a tour of the amateur radio high-frequency bands.  There are   
   also short fictional and satirical pieces that use humor or drama to show   
   the various facets of the hobby. According to Keith, that's why he too the   
   approach that he did:   
      
   --   
      
   N4KC:  "I felt there was a need for a book for people who were just on the   
   verge of either committing to ham radio or walking away from it.  So I had   
   to think about whats keeping people from entering the hobby and what would   
   it take to push them over the cliff."   
      
   --   
      
   Keith also notes that it's just a matter of being in the right place at   
   the right time and in the right situation for ham radio to become a part   
   of someone's life:   
      
   --   
      
   N4KC:  "That was my case.  My dad was not a ham.  He was a television   
   repair  and he had a shortwave receiver.  We used to sit around and listen   
   to hams; to Sputnick and all sorts of things line that and the bug bit."   
      
   --   
      
   Keith's book also counters the notion that Facebook, the web, Twitter,   
   smart phones and other new technology have made amateur radio obsolete.   
   On the contrary, the author maintains, in its 100th year, the hobby is   
   more vibrant and exciting than ever.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion,   
   Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   Riding the Shortwaves:  Exploring the Magic of Amateur Radio is available   
   in both paper and electronic release from booksellers everywhere including   
   Amazon.com.   
      
   You can hear more from Don Keith, N4KC, talking about this new book and   
   his other writings on this weeks RAIN Report.  Just take your web browser   
   to www.therainreport.com and tune in.  (Press release)   
      
   **   
      
   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   
      
   A reminder that the nominating period for the 2013 Amateur Radio Newsline   
   Young Ham of the Year Award is now open.  Full details and a nominating   
   form are on our website at www.arnewsline.org/yhoty.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Skeeter   
   Nash, N5ASH, near Houston, Texas, saying 73 and we thank you for   
   listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights reserved.   
      
   ------------------------------------   
      
      
      
            R\%/itt, K5RXT   
      
      
   --- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012   
   --- D'Bridge 3.9   
    * Origin: Lone-Star BBS - San Antonio, Texas - USA (1:387/22)