Amateur Radio NewslineT Report 1897 - December 20 2013   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1897 with a release date of December   
   20 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST.  The murderer of ham radio operator and his wife   
   gets life behind prison bars; UK telecommunications regulator Ofcom is   
   re-evaluating ham radio licensing requirements; Myanmar could soon create   
   an amateur radio service; the South Africa Radio League celebrates the   
   life and passing of Nelson Mandela and Santa comes to Echolink.  All this   
   and more on this Christmas week edition of Amateur Radio NewslineT report   
   number 1897 coming your way right now.   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  CONVICTED KILLER OF RADIO AMATEUR AND WIFE GETS LIFE   
   SENTENCE   
      
   A federal jury deliberating the sentence for Arizona inmate John McCluskey   
   failed to reach a unanimous verdict on Wednesday, December 11th meaning   
   the judge will sentence him to life in prison for murdering a retired   
   Oklahoma ham radio operator and his wife.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm   
   Seeley, KI7UP, has more:   
      
   --   
      
   John McCluskey was convicted of the brutal murder of Gary Haas, N5VGH, and   
   his wife Linda.  Their bodies were found in their burned out travel   
   trailer in Santa Rosa, New Mexico on August 4th, 2010.   
      
   During the four-month trial, the defense argued that McCluskey should not   
   be executed because brain damage, abuse and addictions made him incapable   
   of controlling his impulses and making reasoned decisions when he shot the   
   Haases.  Prosecutors asserted that the only fitting punishment was to put   
   McCluskey to death because he was a dangerous and remorseless,   
   cold-blooded killer and a danger to society.   
      
   The victims were making their 11th summer trip to Colorado when they were   
   killed three days after the prison break funded by a drug smuggling ring   
   McCluskey allegedly ran in the prison.  At that time, McCluskey was   
   serving 15 years for attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault   
   and discharge of a firearm when he and two other prisoners staged a daring   
   escape from a medium-security jail near Kingman, Arizona.  This with the   
   help of his cousin and fianc‚e Casslyn Welch.   
      
   Jurors deliberated for nearly four days before deciding they couldn't   
   agree on the death sentence making mandatory that McCluskey serve the rest   
   of his life in prison without the possibility of parole.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   The Haas family left the courtroom quietly saying that they didn't want to   
   comment on the jury's decision.  A sentencing date has yet to be set.   
   (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO TESTING:  NCVEC RELEASES 2014 TO 2018 TECH QUESTION POOL   
      
   The National Conference of Volunteer Examination Coordinators, better   
   known as the NCVEC has released its new Element 2, Technician Class,   
   question pool to the public.  The new questions which are the work of the   
   groups Question Pool Committee take effect on July 1st, 2014 and will   
   remain valid through June 30, 2018.   
      
   A note on the NCVEC website says that Pool files that were posted on   
   December 10, 2013 have been replaced with corrected content.  It asks   
   those who visited the site on December 10th and downloaded files to go   
   back and do it again.  It notes that following some edits and corrections   
   the files were re-posted on Thursday, November 12th.   
      
   The URL where the questions can be found is   
   tinyurl.com/tech-questions-2014.  The question pool being used at this   
   time for administering Technician class tests is valid until June 30,   
   2014. (NCVEC)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  OFCOM SAYS IT WILL NOT CREATE INCENTIVE LICENSING   
      
   Hams in the United Kingdom need not worry about a form of incentive   
   licensing being imposed on them.  According to telecommunications   
   regulator Ofcom, as it reviews that nations ham radio structure it has no   
   plans for a mandatory upgrade program that will drive anyone from the   
   hobby as we hear from RSGB Newsreader Jeremy Boot, G4NJH:   
      
   --   
      
   During the wide debate about the forthcoming amateur radio license review   
   to be carried out by Ofcom, several amateurs have been in touch with the   
   RSGB to express concern that they will either be required to progress to   
   become Full licensees or to surrender their Foundation or Intermediate   
   license and give up the hobby.  In response Ofcom has provided the   
   following statement:   
      
   "It is not Ofcom's intention to discourage people from the hobby but we   
   want to set up a framework that encourages those interested in pursuing   
   the technical hobby to stretch their knowledge and operating skill.   
      
   "In our analysis we will be consulting on any changes to the licensing   
   arrangements but we will be taking into account the accessibility and   
   diverse interests provided by the hobby and we won't be designing a regime   
   that leaves or pushes people out."   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeramy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham, in   
   the UK.   
      
   --   
      
   That's good news for hams in the UK especially to those familiar with the   
   Incentive Licensing debacle here in the United States that took place back   
   in the late 1960's.  While the incentive was to force then current lower   
   class license holders to upgrade or loose privileges, its effect was just   
   the opposite.  Many General class operators, unhappy at having their   
   privileges reduced, decided to drop out of the hobby rather than upgrade.   
   As a result overall growth slowed to a crawl which in turn caused a number   
   of longtime manufacturers of ham radio gear to either leave the market and   
   seek greener pastures or simply go out of business.  (RSGB News,   
   ARNewsline Archive, Wikipedia)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  XZ-LAND MAY OPEN UP SOON   
      
   There are signs from Myanmar indicating that normalized Amateur Radio may   
   be returning to that Asian country in the not so distant future.  This   
   after decades of little activity.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan   
   Kinford, N8WB, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   Over the years a few foreigners have been heard with Myanmar XZ callsigns   
   but the activity has not been a fully open Amateur Radio service.  Even   
   so, this year saw operations led by JH1AJT, initially as XZ1Z and later as   
   part of a multi-member team.   
      
   A bit earlier, British radio amateur Simon Butterill, G6JFY, regularly   
   visited Myanmar from Thailand and in May 2012 he was allowed to sign XZ1K   
   from one of the nation's southern states.  He mounted a PSK31 operation as   
   XZ1K logging several hundred QSOs on 10 and 20 meters.   
      
   But this past October the country's Posts and Telecommunications   
   Department, under the Ministry of Communications and Information   
   Technology, enacted a new Telecommunications Law for Myanmar.  However   
   there seems to be little known about what steps are being taken to   
   reactivate Amateur Radio in that country, or interest from outside being   
   shown by those who may have some influence with telecommunications   
   leaders.   
      
   So will ham radio return to Myanmar?  Only time and politics will tell.   
   That said, things look far more hopeful than they did only a few short   
   years ago.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting   
      
   --   
      
   Myanmar formerly known as Burma was a British colony gained its   
   independence in 1948. The government has been under direct or indirect   
   control of the military since 1962.   In 2011 the ruling military junta   
   was officially dissolved following a 2010 general election.  At that time   
   a nominally civilian government was installed, however the military still   
   retains some amount of influence through the constitution that was   
   ratified in 2008.  (VK3PC, Wikipedia)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  ZS9MADIBA CELEBRATES THE LIFE OF NELSON MANDELA   
      
   ZS9MADIBA is the South African Radio League Special Event Station   
   commemorating the life and recent passing of Nelson Mandela, the elder   
   statesman and first democratically-elected President of the Republic of   
   South Africa.  Affectionately referred to as "Madiba," he became one of   
   the most recognized world leaders and was instrumental in the peaceful   
   transition of South Africa from minority rule to a constitutional   
   democracy.   
      
   If you make contact with ZS9MADIBA you can QSL via the bureau or by   
   sending your card to the South African Radio League, Post Office Box 1721,   
   Strubensvallei 1735, South Africa.  Confirmations will also be accepted   
   electronically via Logbook of the World.  To receive the special QSL card   
   by mail, please include $1 for postage.   
      
   Also, members of the South African Radio League are invited to apply for   
   time slots to operate ZS9MADIBA from their own home stations.   
   (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  CHINA OPENS EMERGENCY BROADCAST CENTER   
      
   China has taken a big step in creating a national emergency notification   
   system.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   China has taken the rescue radio initiative with the announcement that it   
   has opened a national emergency broadcast center.  This, as the country   
   speeds up the construction of a nationwide radio network that will spread   
   rescue and relief information for disaster hit regions.   
      
   The radio service was jointly initiated by China National Radio working   
   with local radio and TV stations.  It broadcasts government relief   
   measures and secondary disaster warnings to those affected using AM radio,   
   satellite facilities and even loudspeakers where necessary.   
      
   The center's official website has also begun operation.  It will be used   
   to release the latest data on disasters across the country and providing   
   online rescue and relief guidance.   
      
   The plan is considered by China as an important measure for coping with   
   disasters.  I was reportedly inspired by a similar but smaller scale radio   
   network that was set up after a fatal 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Lushan   
   in southwest China last April.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the   
   newsroom in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   From what is known about China's new emergency alert system it appears to   
   be based on the "keep it simple" principle so as to prevent the   
   possibility of failure when it's needed most. (WIA News, ecns.cn)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RECOGNITION: PLAQUE LISTS AMATEUR RADIO CLUB AMONG SUPERSTORM SANDY   
   VOLUNTEERS, FIRST RESPONDERS   
      
   New York's Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club has earned a spot on a   
   plaque honoring first responders and other volunteers who assisted in the   
   wake of the devastating Superstorm Sandy and the nor'easter that followed   
   in the fall of 2012.   
      
   The town of Babylon on Long Island erected the plaque earlier this fall in   
   Tanner Park.  This area which faces Great South Bay on Long Island's south   
   shore and suffered serious damage from the storms.   
      
   The plaque itself reads, "When the Town of Babylon was struck by   
   Superstorm Sandy in the fall of 2012, many residents were exposed to   
   dangerous storm conditions; some of whom were rescued from their homes.   
   These brave men and women were the first to answer the call when their   
   neighbors needed them the most.  We thank them for their service and   
   dedicate this plaque to them."   
      
   According to club spokesman Bob Myers, K2TV, the recognition came as a   
   complete surprise to his organization, most of whom also belong to the   
   local ARES organization.  According to Myers, club members were only   
   carrying out what they felt was expected after the many hours of training   
   and emergency preparedness.  Myers added that having recognition like this   
   serves as validation that they were doing their job. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  OHIO SCHOOLS APPLY FOR GRANTS FOR RADIO SYSTEM   
      
   Applications covering more than 1,200 Ohio schools have been submitted for   
   state grants to pay for new emergency radios that contain entry security   
   features for such buildings.   
      
   The school radios manufactured by Motorola were developed by the states   
   Multi-Agency Radio Communications or MARCS System.  This is a state-wide   
   system that allows first responders to easily talk to any agency with   
   MARCS radios.   
      
   The design of these radios not only permits two way voice communications,   
   but also allows a school employee to send an electronic alert with the   
   push of a button.  Then he or she can take shelter or help others without   
   speaking and giving away their presence to an intruder.   
      
   The radio system reportedly avoids problems with downed phone lines or   
   overloaded cellular telephone networks.  More about this new emergency   
   radio structure is on the web at tinyurl.com/ohio-school-radio-system   
   (Times Reporter)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE WEB:  NEW HAM RADIO EDUCATIONAL INTEREST VIDEO   
      
   There's a new ham radio promotional and educational video now on the   
   Internet that may be of use to those trying to interest non hams in   
   joining the fraternity.  Amateur Radio Newsine's Hal Rodgers, K8CMD, tells   
   us a bit about it:   
      
   --   
      
   Amateurs interested in spreading the good word about their hobby now have   
   a new tool. A video entitled "Discovering Amateur radio" has just been   
   released.   
      
   Written and narrated by David Anderson, K1AN, the production describes an   
   extraordinary technology that in just 100 years has transformed our lives   
   in, as Anderson says, "the most amazing ways."   
      
   Available in a condensed version as well as a half hour program, the   
   well-paced video can be viewed on line or used in group presentations. The   
   producers say it was created for anyone who wishes to encourage youths and   
   adults to discover amateur radio.   
      
   The production is one of many educational programs administered under the   
   auspices of UNESCO, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural   
   Organization through partnership with the World Genesis Foundation.   
   "Discovering Amateur Radio" is on the project website at www.radioqrv.com   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Hal Rogers, K8CMD   
      
   --   
      
   Those who teach Amateur Radio in high school and college settings might   
   find Discovering Amateur Radio to be very well suited for showing to their   
   students. This, especially given the additional reference material   
   included in the longer half hour minute version.   
      
   Once again the website where to find "Discovering Amateur Radio" is   
   www.radioqrv.com  (K8CMD, others)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO READING:  FIRST NOVEL ABOUT CUBESATS AND PERSONAL SPACECRAFT   
   PUBLISHED   
      
   A Pyramid of Tiny Skulls by Andy Thomas, G0SFJ, is reported to be the   
   first novel to find inspiration from Cubesats and the new wave of personal   
   spacecraft such as Sprites.   
      
   In, the story a character named Jack Malik, who is an entrepreneur and   
   nightclub operator, carries a letter from murdered dancer home to a   
   Russian enclave at Kaliningrad.  There he agrees to collect a secret   
   parcel from Shanghai.  What he brings back will attract the City Leader's   
   attention, and echo through the Cosmos.   
      
   Thomas has dedicated the new book to those whom he describes as the   
   visionaries of Cubesats and personal spacecraft.  Availability is at   
   www.createspace.com/4548329  (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  ARRL CENTENNIAL TO INCLUDE REGIONAL EVENTS   
      
   If you can't make it to Hartford, Connecticut, for the ARRL's 2014   
   Centennial Convention then the League will work with other ham radio   
   gatherings to bring the convention to you.  At least in the spirit of the   
   event.   
      
   As part of its centennial celebration, the ARRL has designated six major   
   ham radio gatherings as "Regional ARRL Centennial Events."  These include   
   the 2014 Orlando Hamcation in February, the Dayton Hamvention next May,   
   Sea-Pac in Oregon in June, Ham-Com in Plano Texas also in June; the   
   Huntsville Hamfest in August and Pacificon in Santa Clara, California next   
   October.   
      
   The concept of regional celebrations was approved when the ARRL Executive   
   Committee met in Colorado last October.  The League's Marketing Manager   
   Bob Inderbitzen developed the concept as a way to, in effect, take the   
   ARRL Centennial celebration to the amateur radio community across the   
   United States.  (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  VO1NO NAMED NEW CHAIR OF RAC 0-30 MHZ COMMITTEE   
      
   Some names in the news.  First up is Al Penney, VO1NO who is the new chair   
   of Radio Amateurs of Canada's Zero to 30 MHz Band Planning Committee.   
   Penney was first licensed in 1977 and has been active on all bands from   
   160 meters through the microwave bands.  VO1NO replaces previous chair,   
   Jim Fisher, VE1JF who has retired but will continue to serve the committee   
   for a time and has pledged his active support to a successful transition.   
   (RAC, VE3YV)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  VE7AV RECIPIENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY LIFELINE VOLUNTEERS   
   AWARD   
      
   Still up North, a Prince George ham radio operators contributions in   
   emergency radio communications have earned him a Public Safety Lifeline   
   Volunteers award from British Columbia Canada's  Justice Minister Suzanne   
   Anton.   According to a biography provided by the ministry, in addition to   
   a 35 year radio communications career in the federal public service, Frank   
   VanderZande, VE7AV has been teaching amateur radio since 1970.   
      
   VanderZande was first licensed at the age of 14.  During his ham radio   
   career he has been associated with the Red Cross as a disaster management   
   emergency response team member since 2001, and has been the project lead   
   for the Prince George Amateur Radio Club in the building of its emergency   
   communication trailer.  This mobile unit is now used to support search and   
   rescue efforts across northern British Columbia.  (Prince George Citizen)   
      
   **   
      
   SOLAR FORECASTING:  SUN'S CURRENT SOLAR ACTIVITY CYCLE IS WEAKEST IN A   
   CENTURY   
      
   Although there have been numerous theories presented by solar researchers,   
   many have come to the simple conclusion that Solar Cycle 24 is the most   
   anemic in 100 years.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, has   
   the details:   
      
   --   
      
   While our home star the Sun is now at its 11 year solar maximum it has   
   already been compared with earlier poor solar maximums including the very   
   weak Solar Cycle 14 in the early 1900's.   That cycle began February 1902   
   and ending in August 1913.  The maximum smoothed sunspot number observed   
   during that cycle was 64.2, and the minimum was 1.5.  There were a total   
   of approximately 1019 days with no sunspots during cycle 14.   
      
   Leif Svalgaard is a researcher at Stanford University.  On December 11th   
   he told reporters at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union   
   that none of us alive have ever seen such a weak cycle, noting that the   
   learning has already begun.   
      
   For example, scientists think they know why the solar storms that have   
   erupted during Solar Cycle 24 have caused relatively few problems here on   
   Earth.  They say that the sun often blasts huge clouds of superheated   
   particles known as Coronal Mass Ejections into space.  Powerful CME's that   
   hit Earth squarely can trigger geomagnetic storms, which in turn can   
   disrupt radio communications.   
      
   But such effects have rarely been seen during Solar Cycle 24, even though   
   the total number of Coronal Mass Ejections hasn't dropped off   
   significantly. The explanation, researchers say lies in the reduced   
   pressure currently present in the suns heliosphere.   
      
   Nat Gopalswamy of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center asserts that this   
   lower pressure has allowed CME's to expand greatly as they move through   
   space.  As such Solar Cycle 24 Coronal Mass Ejections are, on average, 38   
   percent wider than those measured during the last cycle.  In other words,   
   less pressure from these CME's is hitting here on Earth.  And when the   
   CMEs expand more, the magnetic field inside of them has lower strength.   
   So when you have lower-strength magnetic fields, then they cause milder   
   geomagnetic storms.   
      
   Scientists also think they know why relatively few super-fast solar   
   energetic particles, or have been measured in Earth's neighborhood during   
   the current cycle, which began in early 2008.  They say that this has to   
   do with a weakened interplanetary magnetic field which appears to be   
   another characteristic of Solar Cycle 24.   
      
   Also quite significant is the fact that the polar field was weak during   
   Solar Cycle 23, so researchers kind of suspected that Solar Cycle 24 would   
   be similar.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,   
   Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   Stanford's Leif Svalgaard says that predictions about Solar Cycle 25   
   should start coming in two or three years.  (Space.com, Huffington Post,   
   other published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO TECHNOLOGY:  WG2XRS SIGNALS HEARD IN EASTERN USA AND GERMANY   
      
   Signals from WG2XRS, one of the United States based special experimental   
   transmitting licensed stations for the 75kHz band, crossed the Atlantic in   
   early December.  This by using the new Oh-P-65 mode.   
      
   Seventeen monitor stations spread across the United States and Western   
   Europe listened for the transmissions.  The first transmit period produced   
   a substantial number of automated signal reports from monitoring points in   
   the eastern United States.   
      
   Across the Atlantic, only one station in Germany managed to capture the   
   signal.  He heard and decoded it at a distance of 3,881 miles. As we go to   
   air, these tests are continuing.  (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW:  VK ANALOG TV GOES AWAY BUT THE 6 METER RESTRICTION REMAINS   
      
   Even as Australia went 100 percent digital television on December 10th, it   
   does not automatically mean the automatic return of 50 to 52 MHz to that   
   nations amateur radio service.   
      
   According to Jim Linton, VK3PC, even with the removal from service of the   
   last analog TV transmitter on Channel 0, the six meter limitations are   
   listed in the nations License Conditions Determination on operation of   
   amateur stations in Australia's eastern states.  As such the restrictions   
   on the lower end of six meters will remain in force until the document is   
   changed by the Australia Communications and Media Authority or ACMA.   
      
   The Wireless Institute of Australia has long held that the 50 to 54 MHz   
   band should be returned to and allocated exclusively for use by that   
   nations amateur service, once the existing Channel 0 transmitters were   
   removed from service.  It notes that 6 meters is the so-called 'magic   
   band' and as such is important to radio amateurs because it provides   
   unique opportunities for ham radio operators to conduct various forms of   
   propagation experimentation. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   PROPAGATION:  SOUTH AFRICAN 60 METER PROPAGATION BEACON   
      
   South Africa's Kempton Park Amateur Radio Technical Society currently has   
   an operational 60 meter propagation study beacon transmitting on 5 dot 250   
   MHz using the call ZS6KTS.  The beacon transmits at 5 minute intervals   
   with PSK31 as the preferred mode.  Please visit the clubs website at   
   www.zs6kts.co.za for more detailed information regarding the beacons   
   operation.  (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, the K9W Wake Atoll DXpedition reports that it logged slightly over   
   100,000 contacts from 186 discrete DXCC entities during its November   
   operation.  This DXpedition was dedicated to preserving the memory of the   
   Forgotten 98 which was a group of civilian contractors who lost their   
   lives on Wake Island on October 7, 1943 during World War II.   
      
   The ARRL DXCC Desk has approved the current T6TM operation from   
   Afghanistan for DXCC credit.  If your request for this operation has been   
   rejected in a prior application, contact ARRL Awards Branch Manager Bill   
   Moore, NC1L, to be placed on the list for an update to your record.  His   
   e-mail is bmoore (at) ARRL dot org.   
      
   PA0RRS will once again be active as 9M2MRS from Penang Island.  This   
   between December 31st and February 3rd.  His operation will be on 40   
   through 10 meters using CW, RTTY and PSK.  QSL via his home call.   
      
   Oh-E4AAC will once again be active stroke 3B9 from Rodriguez Island from   
   February 10th to the 18th.  His operation will be holiday style on 40   
   through 10 meters on CW only. QSL via his home call.   
      
   BA4DW is expected to be operational as E51CDW during a holiday style   
   operation from Rarotonga Island between January 21st and the 27th.  He   
   tells the Ohio-Penn DX newsletter that his activity will be on the major   
   High Frequency bands using CW and SSB.  QSL via BA4DW.   
      
   Lastly, a group of six operators from the UK will operate as TX6G from the   
   Island of Raivavae in the Australs Islands between March 20th and April   
   1st.  A website will be launched with further details once the other   
   details are confirmed.   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  CHRISTMAS EVE SANTA WATCH COMES TO ECHOLINK   
      
   And faunally this week, we have not heard much from radio clubs that are   
   sponsoring pre-Christmas talk to Santa Clause nets or similar type events.   
    We are sure that there are some out there but one we have found is rather   
   unique because it combines both ham radio and the Internet.  Here's   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK:   
      
   --   
      
   Starting Christmas Eve at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Dave Vowell,   
   N3NTV, will be hosting the Santa Watch Net on the DoDropIn conference   
   server at node 355800.  This is the same Echolink server node that hosts   
   numerous ham radio social events including the Sunday night Broadcasters   
   Net out of New York City and the Wednesday evening Ham Nation post show   
   gathering.   
      
   N3NTV will be keeping track of and announcing Santa's location.  He will   
   also be taking check-ins from the youngsters via the magic of the Internet   
   and Amateur Radio.   
      
   So please do drop in to the DoDropIn Santa Watch Net with your kids,   
   grandkids or your neighbors with their youngsters and find out where Santa   
   Clause is.  And you never know: Santa himself may just might be a ham and   
   could check in "reindeer mobile" from his high flying sleigh.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl Lased, K9BIK, already with lots   
   of holiday snow already here in Zion, Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   Once again that's the Santa Watch Net on the DoDropIn conference server at   
   node 355800 at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Christmas Eve.   
   (W8WFO)   
      
   **   
      
   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 W-I-A 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   
      
   Before we sign off, a reminder that the Dayton Amateur Radio Association   
   is soliciting nominations for its Hamvention awards.  This includes the   
   Amateur of the Year, Special Achievement, Technical Excellence and Club of   
   the Year.  Nominations must be received by January 17, 2014. For more   
   information, visit tinyurl.com/hamvention-awards-2014.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Skeeter   
   Nash, N5ASH, near Houston Texas wishing you a very Happy Holiday season   
   and as always, we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio NewslineT is Copyright 2013.  All rights reserved.   
      
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            R\%/itt, K5RXT   
      
      
      
   --- GoldED+/W32 1.1.5-31012   
   --- D'Bridge 3.92   
    * Origin: AMATEUR RADIO STATION ID K5RXT (1:387/22)