Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1846 - December 28 2012   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1846 with a release date of December 28,   
   2012 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Hams in the Philippines activate as yet another   
   tropical storm hits that nation; new spectrum for hams in Switzerland and   
   the U-K; a ham radio operator in New York City beats the bureaucracy and   
   gets to keep his tower; Canada changes the way it administers its   
   communications enforcement and AMSAT gets a Matching Fund for donations made   
   to the Fox satellite project. These stories and more on the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline report number 1846 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: PHILIPPINES ACTIVATES EMERGENCY NET 7.095 MHZ   
      
   Hams in the Philippines are again activated as yet another tropical storm   
   hits the nation. Stephen Kinford, N8WB, has more in this report:   
      
   --   
      
   Spare a thought for those who spent a nervous, very wet and windy Christmas   
   as Tropical Storm Quinta went through the south of the Philippines. This in   
   areas trying to recover from Tyhoon Bopha earlier in the month.   
      
   Landslides occurred in the Visayas, Southern Leyte and Eastern Samar areas.   
   There were more than 5,800 ferry passengers stranded with fishermen told not   
   to venture out.   
      
   Activated during the storm was the Philippines Amateur Radio Association   
   Emergency net on 7.095 MHz and VHF, to handle emergency and welfare traffic.   
      
   Among those involved were members of the Philippines Amateur Radio   
   Association affiliated club called the District 5 Radio Amateur Network.   
   They were kept busy coordinating pre-emptive evacuations in Tacloban City   
   and elsewhere alongside members of the Disaster Risk Reduction and   
   Management Council. Other radio amateurs were also involved in the overall   
   emergency.   
      
   The Philippine archipelago has numerous severe weather events each year.   
   Typhoon Bopha which made landfall over Mindanao on December the 2nd ripped   
   through the   
   southern provinces killing 1,067 people, leaving hundreds missing and many   
   more homeless.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB.   
      
   --   
      
   All ham radio operators world wide awere being asked to keep clear of the   
   Philippine emergency net frequency of 7.095 MHz until operations stand down.   
   (VK3PC, DU1UG)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: SWITZERLAND GRANTS HAMS ACCESS TO 472 TO 479 KHZ   
      
   A new year's present from telecommunications regulator BAKOM to the ham radio   
   community of Switzerland. As of January 1st, Swiss hams will have access to   
   the low frequency spectrum from 472 to 479 kHz.   
      
   As in most other nations that have granted access to this band, the Effective   
   Radiated Power level is 5 watts making it more suitable for low noise   
   digital narrowband modes than either analog voice or CW.   
   (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: 5 MHZ SLOTS AVAILABLE IN THE UK   
      
   And a New Years gift from United Kingdom telecommunications regulator Ofcom   
   to that nations hams. This with the announcement that the previously   
   adopted additional block of frequencies at 5 MHz are now available on a   
   Notice of Variation Basis.   
      
   As of January 1st UK hams holding Full Advanced class U-K licenses can apply   
   for the Notices of Variation to gain access to the new frequency slots.   
   Information for U-K hams on how to apply for these as well as a Notice of   
   Variation for operation in the Low Frequency 472 to 479 kHz bands are on   
   line at tinyurl.com/new-UK-nov (Southgate, 5 MHZ Newsletter, G4MWO)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: NYC HAMS WINS FIGHT TO KEEP TOWER   
      
   A New York City ham will be able to keep his tower and antenna on the roof of   
   his home in the borough of Manhattan. This after the city's Board of   
   Standards and Appeals overrules the Department of Buildings that had tried   
   to revoke his permit for the antenna that had previously been legally   
   issued. Amateur Radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   In September of 2010, Paul Isaacs, W2JGQ, was granted a building permit for   
   his amateur radio antenna. The antenna system was made up of a 40 foot   
   tower and top mounted Yagi antenna. Isaacs installed his antenna system on   
   the roof of his four story home about 60 or so feet above ground level.   
      
   Then some four months after the system had been put in place the City of New   
   York's Department of Buildings declared its intention to revoke Isaacs'   
   properly attained building permit. Why? Well after all that tuime it   
   decided that Issac's amateur radio antenna system was not, in the   
   Department's opinion, an accessory use.   
      
   Isaacs appealed the decision through the Department's bureaucracy. When it   
   didn't reverse the decision, W2JGQ had a series of hearings before the New   
   York City Board of Standards and Appeals.   
      
   Now comes word that in November the Board of Standards and Appeals ruled that   
   while perhaps uncommon, that an amateur radio antenna system is indeed an   
   accessory use under New York City's zoning ordinance and the building permit   
   was properly granted.   
      
   Burt heres the best part. The Board of Standards and Appeals also stated in   
   the case of amateur radio towers, that, unlike cellular towers and certain   
   other structures, there is no expressed standards to guide Department of   
   Buildings in determining at what height a particular radio tower becomes a   
   non-accessory.   
      
   While its possible that the city could enact some form of ordinance to create   
   a standard in at some future date, at the moment the interpretation stands   
   as defined. It also has the blessing of the New York City Board of   
   Standards and Appeals.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   The bottom line: Not a bad win for ham radio and other private radio users   
   in the city known as The Big Apple. (eHam, others)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: CANADIAN ENFORCEMENT RULES CHANGES   
      
   An announcement in the Canada Gazette says that there have been modifications   
   made in the Contravention Regulations concerning the enforcement of the   
   nations Radiocommunication Regulations. These changes will allow peace   
   officers including Municipal, Provincial and Royal Canadian Mounted Police   
   officers to issue tickets for certain offences under the nations   
   Radiocommunication Regulations.   
      
   This change is the result of amendments made back in 2000 and 2011 to the   
   Canadian Radiocommunication Regulations to exempt amateur radio apparatus   
   and its operation from the licensing requirement by Industry Canada. Also   
   to respond to concerns expressed by the Standing Joint Committee for the   
   Scrutiny of Regulations. The latter had concluded that provisions of the   
   Radiocommunication Regulations were redundant to, or inconsistent with, the   
   Radiocommunication Act, or inconsistent with the terms of the Charter of   
   Rights and Freedoms.   
      
   You can see the changes and how they might affect radio amateurs in that   
   nation at tinyurl.com/new-Canadian-regs (RAC, VE4WO)   
      
   **   
      
   COMMUNICATIONS LAW: SUPREME COURT REFUSES TO HEAR CHALLENGE TO 2008 WIRETAP   
   IMMUNITY LAW   
      
   The United States Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to a 2008 federal   
   law granting immunity to phone companies. This for assisting the government   
   eavesdrop on private phone conversations. Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter   
   Nash takes a look at what transpired:   
      
   --   
      
   The case involved 33 lawsuits brought against the telecommunications   
   providers in 2006 after news reports that the government had conducted   
   warrant-less surveillance. Phone customers alleged that AT&T, Sprint   
   Nextel, Verizon Communications and others violated federal and state law.   
      
   In reaction to the suits, in 2008 Congress passed Section 802 of the Foreign   
   Intelligence Surveillance Act. This gave the Attorney General the power to   
   grant legal immunity to anyone providing assistance to the intelligence   
   community. The then Attorney General used that law to block the 33 suits   
   all of which were eventually dismissed.   
      
   The Electronic Frontier Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union and   
   others appealed. Their lawyers argued that Section 802 violated the   
   separation of powers doctrine of the U.S. Constitution. But in December of   
   2011, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected those   
   arguments, finding the telephone companies immune.   
      
   Asking the Supreme Court to review that decision, the civil liberties groups   
   said the law allowed the executive branch to conduct warrantless,   
   suspicionless domestic surveillance without fear of review by courts. Also   
   that it gave the Attorney General sole discretion to decide when   
   eavesdropping was necessary.   
      
   But the high court, without comment, has declined to review the challenge to   
   the law.   
      
   --   
      
   This decision is the latest in which the High Court has refused to review   
   government surveillance practices adopted since the al-Quida lead terrorist   
   attacks of September 11, 2001. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: FOX MATCHING FUND ESTABLISHED   
      
   AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, says that the organization has received   
   a matching funds challenge to help with the Fox 1 program. Baines says that   
   an anonymous donor will match up to $25,000 in funds to be donated to the   
   Fox satellite project.   
      
   Fox-1B mission will incorporate the spare flight hardware of Fox-1. It is a   
   joint project with the Institute for Space and Defense Electronics at   
   Vanderbilt University and is AMSAT's first satellite with science as its   
   primary mission. As such it holds the potential of opening up new   
   opportunities for free launches. The satellite will also carry a ham radio   
   FM transponder and AMSAT expects to be able to operate the transponder and   
   science payload simultaneously.   
      
   AMSAT says that it has requested a launch in the second half of 2014 to a 650   
   kilometer sun-synchronous orbit. This is same as had been requested for   
   Fox-1.   
      
   Donatations to the matching fund can be made via PayPal sent to Martha (at)   
   amsat (dot) org. Or you can simply click on the PayPal logo at   
   www.amsat.org. And we will have more ham radio space related news later on   
   in this weeks newscast. (AMSAT)   
      
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   Wishing you a very Happy New Year. From the United States of America, we are   
   the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world   
   including the K7CSK repeater serving Everett, Washington.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO MIRACLES: HAM RADIO OPERATOR WALKS AWAY FROM CHOPPER CRASH   
      
   Call it a Christmas miracle. This with word that a Minnesota ham who crash   
   landed his helicopter on his sons back yard helipad has walked away with   
   only minor injuries. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The pilot was Trygve Svard, KD0PNQ, of Plymouth, Minnesota. According to   
   news reports Svard was in the process of landing his personal helicopter in   
   the yard of his son's home in the rural city of Corcoran at around 10:30   
   a.m. on Sunday morning, December 23rd. This as he had done many times in the   
   past. But something went wrong as the chopper began to spin with its tail   
   rotor hitting a near-by trailer.   
      
   News reports go on to say that Svard's son Stefan was watching his father   
   land the Robinson Model 22 chopper when the accident occurred. The younger   
   Svard ran out with a fire extinguisher. Stefan got his father safely out of   
   the helicopter before a major fire erupted. KD0PNQ reportedly suffered only   
   a scorched arm and singed facial hair but thankfully was otherwise   
   unscathed.   
      
   Brad Christianson, KC0HCP, tells Amateur Radio Newsline that Trygve Svard is   
   a member of the Minneapolis area Twin City FM Club. The news report about   
   the crash describes Svard as being a very skilled pilot.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the   
   incident. More on this story is on the web at   
   tinyurl.com/hams-helicopter-down. (KC0HCP, Lakeminnetonka Patch, other   
   published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENDED BROADCASTER WITH THREE TRANSMITTER LOCATIONS HANDED   
   $25000 PROPOSED FINE   
      
   An unlicensed broadcaster that tried to fool the FCC by originating his   
   programming frm different locations has been found and issued a $25,000   
   propsed fine.   
      
   Recipient of this likely unwanted gift from Uncle Sam is Fabrice Polynice, of   
   North Miami, Florida, whom the regulatory agency claims to have apparently,   
   willfully and repeatedly violated Section 301 of the Communications Act.   
   This by allegedly operating unlicensed radio transmitters on the frequency   
   90.1 MHz from three locations in North Miami, Florida.   
      
   According to the FCC, while conducting routine monitoring of the airwaves,   
   agents from the Enforcement Bureau's Miami Office determined that an   
   unlicensed radio station was operating on 90.1 MHz from multiple locations,   
   presumably to evade detection. On six different days over several months   
   the agents the used direction finding to locate the source of radio   
   frequency transmissions and traced them to three separate locations in North   
   Miami. The agents made signal strength measurements and determined that the   
   signals exceeded the limits for operation under Part 15 of the FCC rules and   
   therefore required a license.   
      
   The agents inspected two of the station locations when Mr. Polynice was not   
   present. One inspection was conducted following seizure of the transmitting   
   equipment by federal marshals. The other was conducted with the residents   
   of the property, and they were issued an on-scene Notice of Unlicensed   
   Operation. But the unlicensed station continued to operate at one of the   
   locations even after the federal marshals had seized the radio transmitting   
   equipment located at another location.   
      
   Now in issuing the $25,000 proposed fine, the FCC says that the evidence in   
   this case is sufficient to establish that Mr. Polynice violated Section 301   
   of the Communications Act on at least six different days during March to   
   July of 2012. It also stated that its agents heard the station identify   
   itself on the air as "Touche Douce" and announce Polynice's personal   
   telephone number as the station's telephone number. It also noted that   
   Polynice has a history of operating a radio station without a license, which   
   demonstrates a complete disregard for Federal and State authorities and   
   their laws. Despite being arrested and convicted in 2006 for violating the   
   State of Florida's prohibition against operating an unlicensed radio station   
   within the State that Polynice continued to operate an unlicensed radio   
   station at three separate locations in North Miami.   
      
   Based on the evidence before it, including what the FCC termed as   
   consideration of the egregiousness of the violations, the history of prior   
   offenses, and the degree of culpability, that it finds that the violations   
   warrant a total upward adjustment of $15,000 from the $10,000 base fine.   
   Polynice was also warned that future violations may subject him to more   
   severe enforcement action, including larger monetary forfeitures, criminal   
   prosecution, and the seizure of his equipment. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   EXPANDING RADIO: MORE RADIO HAMS IN FAIRBANKS   
      
   The amateur radio population in Fairbanks, Alaska is increasing thanks to the   
   work of the Arctic Amateur Radio Club. The club reports that in 2012 that   
   it welcomed 18 new Technician licenses and had 11 General class upgrades and   
   7 Extra class upgrades.   
      
   If you are not familiar with Alaska, Fairbanks is located in the interior of   
   the state. It is about a 6 hour drive from the next largest city of   
   Anchorage. (KL3NO)   
      
   **   
      
   CORRECTION: SUPERSTITION HAMFEST FEBRUARY 9 AND YUMA HAMFEST FEBRUARY 15 - 16   
      
   A quick correction to a typo that only appeared only in the text version of   
   last weeks' newscast. In the printed headline, the text gave a date of   
   Superstition Arizona hamfest February 19th while the story itself said the   
   date was the 9th. To clarify, the text of the story was correct and the   
   headline was wrong. The correct date is February 9th.   
      
   And while we are at it we should mention that the following weekend is the   
   Hamfest and State Convention in Yuma Arizona. That's February 15th and   
   16th. The bottom line is that it looks like a busy ham radio month in   
   Arizona and the planners of both these events hope to see you there.   
      
   Our thanks to Alan Price. N6ALP for the correction and the Arizona events   
   update. (N6ALP)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: ORLANDO HAMCATION ON FEBRUARY 8 - 10 IN FLORIDA   
      
   The 67th annual Orlando Amateur Radio Club Orlando HamCation Amateur Radio   
   and Computer Show is slated for the weekend of February 8, 9 and 10 at the   
   Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, Florida.   
      
   The theme for the 2013 Orlando HamCation is Ham Radio Exploring New Horizons.   
   The event will feature over 150 commercial vendor booths, 400 swap tables,   
   the largest Tailgate Area in the southeast as well as a plethora of forums.   
   Special event station K4H will be on the air from the Hamcation site.   
      
   Updated information is available at www.hamcation.com, on Facebook under the   
   fan page of Hamcation. You can also follow developments on Twitter by   
   subscribing to @hamcation. (Orlando Hamcation)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT ON OSCAR   
      
   AMSAT is again inviting radio amateur's world wide to participate in Straight   
   Key Night on OSCAR.   
      
   As always, operation is simple and informal. Just use CW through one or more   
   satellites on January 1st 2013 from 0000 to 2400 UTC using only a straight   
   hand key. There is no need to send in a log, but all participants are   
   encouraged to nominate someone they worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need   
   not have the best fist of anyone you heard, only of those you worked. Send   
   your nomination to w2rs at amsat dot org. A list of those nominated will   
   appear on the Amsat News and in the AMSAT Journal.   
      
   And less we forget, this year's event is dedicated to the memory of John   
   Thompson, who held the calls W1BIH and PJ9JT who passed away in 2012 ate age   
   96. Although known primarily as a High Frequency DXer and contester,   
   Thompson was also active on the OSCAR satellites, mostly on CW. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: WYONG CONTEST UNIVERSITY URL UPDATE   
      
   From the social calendar file we have been advised to ask that you use the   
   direct U-R-L for information regarding the Mini Contest University at Wyong   
   Australia. According to the event planners the Tiny URL link will not work   
   because there is a space in the URL which causes problems with tinyurl and   
   other U-R-L compression schemes.   
      
   Wyong Mini Contest University takes place on Saturday, February 23rd. If you   
   want more information on this event please take your web browser to   
   www.fieldday.org.au/contest_university/.   
      
   If you missed that, don't worry. You will find it in the printed edition of   
   this week's Amateur Radio Newsline report. (VK2JI)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: HAM RADIO UNIVERSITY 2013 JANUARY 6 IN NY   
      
   The 14th annual Ham Radio University will be held on Sunday, January 6th from   
   7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Briarcliffe College in Bethpage, New York. The   
   event will include more than 25 informational forums moderated by local   
   experts in a broad range of Amateur Radio activities. The keynote speaker   
   will be Bill Cross W3TN, Staff member in the Federal Communications   
   Commission's Mobility Division.   
      
   Ham Radio University is a cooperative effort supported by radio clubs and   
   related organizations in the New York City and Long Island area. This year   
   the event is being sponsored by the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club.   
   Further information and the forum schedule is on line at   
   www.hamradiouniversity.org. (KS2G)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: 2012 YASME EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED   
      
   The Yasme Excellence Awards for 2012 have been announced. Among those   
   receiving honors this year are George Fremin, K5TR; Tree Tyree, N6TR; Trey   
   Garlough, N5KO, and Scott Neader, KA9FOX. This, for their contributions to   
   many infrastructure projects that benefit the ham community at large.   
      
   Also recognized is ARRL Education and Technology Program Director Mark   
   Spencer, WA8SME. Spencer received the honor for his contribution to the   
   ARRL Teachers Institute on Wireless Technology and other training efforts.   
   Also for his development of P-I-C microcontroller projects, books for   
   amateurs, as well as working with leaders in student and scientific teams in   
   applying amateur radio to scientific projects and experiments.   
      
   The Yasme Excellence Awards are given to individuals who through their own   
   service, creativity, effort and dedication, have made a significant   
   contribution to amateur radio. The award itself takes the form of a cash   
   grant and an engraved crystal globe. For a complete list of these years   
   winners please take your web browser to www.yasme.org/awards.   
   (Yasme. ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: VE3DSS NEW RAC MARITIMES SECTION MANAGER   
      
   And congratulations to Craig Seaboyer, VE1DSS, who was recently elected Radio   
   Amateurs of Canada Section Manager for the Maritimes for the balance of a   
   two year term. He ran unopposed eliminating the need for a balloted   
   election. (RAC)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: AE5DW TO GUEST ON THE DODROPIN ECHOLINK NER OM JANUARY 5   
      
   And on Jan 5th at 2100 hours Eastern Standard Time, Amateur Radio Newsline's   
   Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, will be the guest on the Amateur Radio Newsline Net   
   held on the DoDropIn Echolink conference server. You are invited to -   
   well -- drop in and catch Don talking about his career in broadcasting as   
   well as amateur radio after which the latest Amateur Radio Newsline newscast   
   will be aired. Again that's the Amateur Radio Newsline Net on Saturday   
   January 5th 2100 ours Eastern Standard Time to meet Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, on   
   the DoDropIn Echolink conference server node number 355800. Hope to see you   
   there. (W8WFO)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   With you 52 weeks a year every year. From the United States of America, we   
   are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our only   
   official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the volunteer   
   services of the following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   THE CHANGING OF THE GUARD: RESPECTED FCC ENGINEER ANGELO DITTY K4GKB - SK   
      
   A name familiar to both broadcasters and ham radio operators has passed from   
   the scene. This with word that former FCC Inspector Angelo Ditty, K4GKB,   
   became a Silent Key on December 2nd at the age of 87.   
      
   Ditty served in the Atlanta FCC office as the Engineer in Charge from 1974   
   until 1990 following a stint with the FCC out of Tampa, Florida. Earlier   
   in his career while based at the FCC's San Francisco office he worked with   
   Ney Landry, W6UDU, who recently passed away at age 95.   
      
   After leaving the FCC Ditty took a position with the Georgia Association of   
   Broadcasters where he served until 2011. There he examined engineering and   
   public files for members, allowing them three-year exemptions from FCC   
   inspections.   
      
   Memorial services for Angelo Ditty, K4GKB, were held on Friday, December 7th   
   in Canton. Georgia. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   CHANGING OF THE GUARD: BARCODE INVENTOR JOSEPH WOODLAND -S.K.   
      
   Norman Joseph Woodland who co-created the barcode using Morse code, has died   
   at his New Jersey home at the age of 91.   
      
   Barcodes Inc. says that Woodland worked with university classmate Bernard   
   Silver to create the now ubiquitous thick-and-thin-line system in the 1940s.   
   Woodland reportedly used the Morse code as a basis to create the barcode   
   when he just extended the dots and dashes downward and made narrow lines and   
   wide lines out of them.   
      
   The BBC reports that the system was patented in the US in 1952 and was later   
   sold for only $15,000. (BBC)   
      
   **   
      
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: THREE NEW HAMS JOIN ISS CREW   
      
   Three new astro-hams are now on-board the Internationl Space Station. They   
   are American Tom Marshburn, KE5HOC; Russian Roman Romanenko, UT5ERP and   
   Canada's Chris Hadfield, KC5RNJ. All were launched from the Bikenour   
   Cosmodrome in Kazakhestan on board a Soyuz booster on Wednesday, December   
   19th . The trio traveled for two days in the capsule, before docking with   
   the space station where three other astronauts are already on board. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT-UK introduces Electronic Membership   
      
   AMSAT-UK has announced that it will now offer Electronic E-membership at a   
   reduced rate.   
      
   The new E-membership will provide OSCAR News as a downloadable PDF file and   
   members will have the freedom to read it on their tablets or smart phones at   
   their leisure. E-membership should also be especially beneficial to   
   overseas members who have long suffered from high postal charges and long   
   delivery times.   
      
   The AMSAT-UK membership year runs from January 1st to December 31st. Members   
   can renew at tinyurl.com/amsat-uk-renew. New members sign up at   
   tinyurl.com/amsat-uk-join (AMSAT-UK)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO IN SPACE: CUBESAT DEPLOYERS BEING MANUFACTURED AT CALIFORNIA PRISON   
      
   According to a news reports, inmates at San Quentin prison in California are   
   building CubeSat orbital deployers.   
      
   Working under the strict guidance of NASA, a handful of skilled inmate   
   machinists are making P-PODs which is an acronym for Poly Picosatellite   
   Orbital Deployers. These are essentially, aluminum boxes designed to hold   
   CubeSats which ride "piggyback" into space as secondary payloads.   
      
   The devices are part of a new generation of low-cost, miniature launch   
   vehicles developed for research used by more than 150 universities   
   worldwide. You can read the complete story on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/prison-satellite-deployers (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: ACMA SAYS NO MORE VK MICKEY-D SPAM E-MAIL   
      
   The Australian Communications and Media Authority has given McDonald's   
   Australia Limited a formal warning under the nations Spam Act about a `send   
   to friends' facility on the McDonald's Happy Meal website. According to the   
   WIA News, an ACMA investigation found that e-mails using the `send to   
   friends' facility which promoted games and activities were sent to friends   
   of users without first getting the friends' consent. The messages also did   
   not have an unsubscribe facility, as required by that nations Spam Act.   
   (WIA, ACMA)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: HUNGARY CLOSES REGIONAL PUBLIC SERVICE STATIONS   
      
   Hungary's Media Services and Support Trust Fund has closed all five of its   
   regional radio studios which make up the Regio Radio network. According to   
   the Trust memo on December 21st, the studios will be leased out, and staff   
   will either be made redundant or employed as correspondents for the national   
   public talk and news service.   
      
   According to the Chief Operating Officer of the Media Services and Support   
   Trust Fund, the Regio Radio network experienced a waning audience due to   
   increasing competition from other local private stations. The   
   soon-to-be-available FM and AM frequencies will be used for broadcasting a   
   new nationwide public service of Hungarian song or urban folk music and at   
   least one operetta music station, (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: NEW CANADIAN HELLSCHREIBER AWARD   
      
   A new award has been created for those ham radio enthusiasts in Canada who   
   enjoy operating Hellschreiber. The basic Worked All Canada award requires   
   contacts in Hellschreiber with the ten Canadian Provinces. The complete   
   award requires additional QSO's be held with the three northern Territories   
   of the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.   
      
   Hellschreiber was originally a mechanical mode that now is operated by most   
   in the digital domain and enables the transmission of text using facsimile   
   technology. The start date of the award was December 19th which happened   
   to be the birthday of Dr. Rudolf Hell, who patented Hellschreiber in 1929.   
      
   You must be a member of the Feld Hell Club to be eligable, but contacts with   
   non-members are bvalid for award credit. A sample of the certificate, the   
   rules and information on how to apply for the award is on line at   
   tinyurl.com/Hellschreiber-Canada-Award. (Feld Hell Club)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: 6 METER PROPAGATION TO BE ACTIVATED IN ANTARCTICA   
      
   On the air, listen out in February for Craig Hayhow VK6JJJ, who will be   
   signing VK0JJJ from the coast of MacRobertson Land and Australia's base   
   at Mawson in Antarctica. He arrives on February the 10th and while there he   
   is also planning to install a 6 meter beacon to test the propagation on that   
   band. The beacon will operate using the call VK0RTM running 400 watts out   
   into a 5 element yagi. For contacts on the high frequency bands he will be   
   running a Flex 5000A and an amplifier to a triangle antenna. QSL via   
   VK3ZAZ. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, OH1LEG will be active from Rodrigues Island through January 7th   
   signing stroke 3B9. He will be operational on 160 through 10 meters using   
   SSB , RTTY and PSK31. QSL direct via OH1LEG.   
      
   DF3FS and DL1QW will be active stroke 5Z4 from Kenya from January 6th to the   
   20th . They will be operating 80 through 10 meters using CW , SSB and   
   RTTY. QSL via each operators home call.   
      
   PP1CZ will be on the air from Fernando de Noronha Island January 15th to the   
   21st signing PY0F. He will focus on 160 and 80 meter CW. QSL via his home   
   call.   
      
   JR1IZM will be active from Lesotho through January 2013 as 7P8ZM   
   He will be operational on all of the High Frequency bands but no specific   
   modes or operating times have been mentioned. QSL via JO1CRA   
      
   DK9FN is operational from Temotu Province using the call H-40-F-N through   
   January 7th. If you make contact QSL H-40-F-N via HA8DD.   
      
   JR1IZM is in Losotho has been issued with the callsign 7P8ZM. He will be   
   active until mid-January though no specific bands or operating times are   
   known. QSL's go via his home call.   
      
   Prefix hunters will be interested in the callsign 8N119T. This is being   
   used to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Tokyo Fire Department and   
   will be in operation until March 25th. QSL as directed on the air.   
      
   Lastly, an international team organized by the Belgian Rockall Team will be   
   on the air from Burundi between February 14th and the 23rd with four   
   stations using the call 9U4U. Activity will be on 160 through 10 meters   
   using CW, SSB and RTTY. Their QSL Manager will be M0URX and their website   
   can be found at www.9u4u.be   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: ANNIVERSARY OF LAST MORSE CODE TELEGRAM   
      
   And finally this week, we celebrate the last telegram ever sent in New South   
   Wales, Australia. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the   
   details:   
      
   --   
      
   The date was December the 13th, 1962 when the last telegram and its reply   
   were sent by Morse code in New South Wales. And in a 50th anniversary   
   re-enactment, former Telegraph Operator Phil McGrath traveled to Bombala,   
   Australia, to send and receive souvenir telegrams to mark the occasion.   
      
   At the appointed time McGrath sat at the sounding box and typewriter and   
   received what was originally meant to be that all important final   
   commemorative message. It read:   
      
   "This telegram from Sydney to Bombala is the last message which will be sent   
   by Morse in New South Wales, concluding 104 years of operations. Henceforth   
   telegrams to and from Bombala like all other offices in this state will be   
   transmitted through the teleprinter perforator switching system TRESS."   
      
   Not to be outdone, Bombala's then postmaster Stan Blyton, sent his own reply   
   that read:   
      
   "My privilege personally to transmit the last message from last Morse station   
   New South Wales. Key being forwarded to you is a relic that was in use in   
   1919 where I joined service and remained there in use untill station closed   
   in 1960. On behalf old telegraphists and Morse operators we bow to   
   progress."   
      
   And with that transmission the celebration of Morse messaging system in New   
   South Wales, Australia, had come to an end.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   TRESS eventually also ceased its messaging, first giving way to individually   
   owned Telex machines and in more modern times to internet based e-mail.   
   (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
      
   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 Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline(at) arnewsline   
   (dot) org. More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm)   
   only official website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to   
   us or support us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa   
   Clarita California, 91350   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Don Wilbanks,   
   AE5DW, saying 73, a truly happy and prosperous 2013 and we thank you for   
   listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2012 and 2013. All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
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   world, this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the internet   
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