Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1855 - March 1 2013   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1855 with a release date of March 1 2013   
   to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. A smart-phone powered satellite is now on-orbit, the   
   FCC proposes a new set of broadband that will impact ham radio; amateur   
   radio created varicode is now an ITU recommendation; Canada launches   
   Mototrbo-based ham radio interconnect and a new 6 meter propagation beacon   
   takes to the air from near the South Pole. Find out the details are on   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1855 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: STRAND ONE CELLPHONE BASED HAMSAT NOW ON-ORBIT   
      
   A new ham radio satellite based on a smart phone is now on-orbit as we hear   
   in this report:   
      
   --   
      
   The United Kingdom first CubeSat named STRaND-1 was launched on Monday,   
   February 25 on the PSLV-C20 booster. This from the Indian Space Research   
   Organization Space Launch Center. Successful deployment from the STRaND-1   
   into a 785 km orbit took place about 20 minutes later.   
      
   Signals from STRaND-1 were received by Nader Omer, ST2NH, in the Sudan at   
   15:55 UTC and by the Surrey Space Centre later in the day. Soon afterward   
   on Hector Martinez, CO6CBF, in Cuba used an AMSAT-UK FUNcube Dongle to   
   receive the satellite.   
      
   STRaND stands for Surrey Training, Research and Nanosatellite Demonstration.   
   STRaND 1 and was built in only three months using a Google Nexus One   
   smartphone with an Android operating system. This to demonstrate the   
   feasibility of using such an inexpensive device to control a spacecraft.   
      
   STRaND-1 carries an amateur radio AX.25 packet radio downlink on 437.568 MHz.   
   It also uses a 9k6 bps Frequency Shift Keying in an High Level Data Control   
   frame and Non-Return-to-Zero Inverted encoding.   
      
   The overall STRaND program is intended to be a long-term arrangement between   
   the space company SSTL and academic researchers at the Surrey Space Centre.   
   STRaND-1 is the first of a long line of STRaND smartphone based   
   nano-satellites.   
      
   According to the latest reports hams around the world have responded to the   
   request for telemetry data from the STRaND-1 satellite controllers.   
   Information on how to receive the satellites telemetry data is available at   
   tinyurl.com/hearing-strand-one.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   The STRaND-1 team has asked if radio amateurs can assist in collecting   
   telemetry from around the world to help them determine the health and   
   attitude of the spacecraft. Again, the downlink uses amateur radio AX.25   
   packet radio on 437.568 MHz using 9600 bps FSK modulated data with an HDLC   
   frame and NRZI encoding. Reports go by e-mail to Dr. Chris Bridges at C   
   (dot) P (dot) Bridges (at) surrey (dot) ac (dot) uk. (AMSAT-UK, STRaND)   
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: FCC PROPOSES MORE SPECTRUM AT 5 GHZ FOR UNLICENSED BROADBAND   
      
   The FCC has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking or NPRM in ET Docket No.   
   13-49, seeking to revise the Part 15 rules governing unlicensed national   
   information infrastructure devices in the 5 GHz band. These devices   
   presently operate in the frequency bands 5.15-5.35 GHz and 5.47 to 5.825   
   GHz. They use wideband digital modulation techniques to provide a wide array   
   of high data rate mobile and fixed communications for individuals,   
   businesses and institutions. Slightly different rules apply to 5.825 through   
   5.85 GHz.   
      
   Among the changes being proposed in the February 20th document are the   
   creation of two additional bands totaling 195 MHz for unlicensed operation.   
   These are 5.35 to 5.47 GHz and 5.85 to 5.925 GHz. It should be noted that   
   the Amateur Radio Service has a secondary allocation at 5.65 to 5.925 GHz.   
   This includes an Amateur Satellite Service uplink from 5.65 to 5.67 GHz and   
   a downlink from 5.83 to 5.85 GHz.   
      
   The FCC will be accepting comments on its NPRM due no later than 45 days   
   after publication in the Federal Register, as well as reply comments due 30   
   days later. No date has yet been set for the Federal Register release. The   
   NPRM can be found on the web at tinyurl.com/fcc-broadband-five. (ARRL, VHF   
   Reflector, W0WOI)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: AMATEUR-CREATED 'VARICODE' ADOPTED AS ITU RECOMMENDATION   
      
   The ARRL report that Varicode, developed by Peter Martinez, G3PLX, has been   
   adopted as an International Telecommunications Union Recommendation. On   
   Tuesday, February 19th, Francois Rancy who is the Director of the   
   Radiocommunication Bureau of the I-T-U announced the simultaneous adoption   
   and approval of the Recommendation entitled Telegraphic Alphabet for Data   
   Communication by Phase Shift Keying at 31 Baud in the Amateur and   
   Amateur-Satellite Services.   
      
   This digital mode alphabet is commonly called "Varicode" because the more   
   frequently used characters in the English language occupy fewer bits. It   
   was developed by G3PLX in the 1990's. For his effort Martinez was awarded   
   the ARRL Technical Innovation Award for the year 2000 for his development of   
   PSK31, which uses Varicode for transmission efficiency.   
      
   Varicode now becomes Recommendation ITU-R M.2034. More on it is on the web   
   at www.arrl.org/psk31-spec (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: CANADA LAUNCHES MOTOTRBO DIGITAL AUDIO C BRIDGE INTERCONNECT   
      
   Hams in Canada have taken their first step toward the creation of a national   
   amateur radio Division Multiple Access or DMR network. This with the launch   
   of the first inter-provincial DMR networking server on Saturday, February   
   23rd. Amateur Radio Newslines Stephan Kinford, N8WB, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The server, more commonly known as a "c-Bridge" was manufactured by Rayfield   
   Communications and will serve as a network hub for Canadian amateur radio   
   DMR repeaters. It will not only allow them to reliably link to one another   
   but also to the growing DMR-MARC global network using Internet connectivity.   
      
      
   The DMR-MARC global network is an all-digital group of Mototrbo DMR repeaters   
   in the USA, Germany, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Switzerland,   
   Spain, Austria, Finland, Sweden and of coarse Canada. The backbone   
   networking is being created by amateur radio operators many of whom are   
   Motorola Solutions employees, Motorola Service Station employees, dealers,   
   system installers, and just plain Motorola equipment aficionados. Repeaters   
   on this network are connected around the clock.   
      
   And for those listeners who are unfamiliar with Mototrbo system, this is a   
   Motorola digital radio product marketed primarily to business and industrial   
   users, but which has found its way into some public safety uses and now to   
   ham radio. The format is based on and compatible with the European 2-slot   
   DMR standard and uses Time Division Multiple Access to accommodate two   
   simultaneous users. Therefore a single 12.5 kHz channel is able to carry   
   two simultaneous and independent conversations or simultaneous and   
   independent voice and data paths each with 6.25 kHz equivalency. More about   
   the world-wide DMR-MARC global ham radio network is on-line at   
   www.dmr-marc.net.   
      
   The Canadian c-Bridge is located in Montreal and is currently supporting   
   several DMR repeaters in Ontario and Quebec, including the VA3XPR digital   
   DMR repeater located in downtown Toronto. For more information on the new   
   Canadian digital interconnect and how your organization can connect their   
   DMR system to it, please visit tinyurl.com/canada-c-bridge.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephan, Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth,   
   Ohio.   
      
   --   
      
   And before you ask, Mototrbo and D-Star radios cannot talk directly to one   
   another. This is because each uses a different and incompatible digital   
   voice encode and decode technology. (VA3FXT via QRZ.com, DMR-MARC)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: THE VK0RTM 6M BEACON ON AIR FROM NEAR THE SOUTH POLE   
      
   A new 6 meter propagation should now be on the air from near to the South   
   Pole. Craig Hayhow who is signing VK0JJJ from Mawson Base in Antarctica is   
   reported to have brought with him a beacon transmitter with the call VK0RTM   
   that is now operational on 50.300 MHz.   
      
   The VK0RTM transmitter runs 50 watts. It was donated for this very special   
   operation by David Craig, N3DB, who is the Secretary and Treasurer of The 6   
   Meter Beacon Project.   
      
   But the beacon will not be the only 6 meter signal coming to the air. While   
   at Mawson Station for about 12 months, Hayhow plans to be active on all   
   bands from 80 through 6 with priority given to 6 meter operation.   
      
   VK0JJJ is a senior telecommunications engineer from West Australia. He is a   
   member of the Antarctica Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition   
   due to return home in January 2014. (VK3PC, QRZ.com)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the KF4ADM repeater serving   
   Williamsburg Virginia.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: UNLICENSED BROADCASTER SUED BY GOVERNMENT TO COLLECT $20000   
   FINE   
      
   A Florida resident whose unlicensed radio station interfered with air traffic   
   control at Palm Beach International Airport is being sued for collection of   
   a $20,000 fine by the federal government. This as Federal prosecutors file   
   documents in federal court instructing Robins Cheriza, to respond to action   
   demanding that he pay the fine issued against him last year by the FCC.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   According to the February 9th court filing Robins Cheriza has ignored the   
   Federal Communications Commission's order to pay the fine since last April.   
   This after the regulatory agency found that he had willfully and repeatedly   
   transmitted a radio signal without a license in the spring of 2011.   
      
   According to FCC records, the sounds of a party being broadcast from   
   Cheriza's home interrupted air traffic control at Palm Beach International   
   Airport on April 1, 2011. That incident prompted the Federal Aviation   
   Administration to file a complaint with the FCC. Agents with the FCC's   
   Miami Enforcement Bureau used direction finding to locate an antenna mounted   
   to the West Palm Beach home of Cheriza.   
      
   The agents performed a station inspection and found a complete broadcast   
   facility on an enclosed patio connected to the antenna. At that point   
   Cheriza told agents he owned the studio and its equipment. He also admitted   
   to having operated the station on 107.3 MHz for about a month even though he   
   was aware that operating an unlicensed FM station was illegal.   
      
   That lead to his being issued a $20,000 Notice of Apparent Liability which   
   was affirmed on April 3rd of 2012. At that time he was given 30 days to pay   
   or to appeal. But the FCC says that Cheriza ignored the notice, leading to   
   the Federal suit for collection.   
      
   The litigation which was filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern   
   District of Florida directs that Cheriza pay the $20,000 fine plus court   
   costs and interest and that he does so within 21 days.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   Whether or not Cheriza has paid the $20,000 fine is unknown as we go to air.   
   (FCC, published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: AMERICAN RED CROSS TO PHASE-OUT ECRV OPERATIONS   
      
   The ARRL reports the American Red Cross will be phasing out out its Emergency   
   Communication Response Vehicles also known as ECRV's. According to American   
   Red Cross Disaster Services Technology Manager Keith Robertory, KG4UIR,   
   every communication capability of the Emergency Communication Response   
   Vehicles already exists, or will soon exist as a rapidly deployable kit.   
   These says Robertory can be loaded on any vehicle that is owned or rented by   
   the American Red Cross, providing more flexibility in shaping its response   
   to match the disaster.   
      
   Robertory told the ARRL that retrofitting the decade old vehicles with new   
   equipment is not a good use of donated funds, as the long-term strategy is   
   to move to more portable systems. This says KG4UIR is consistent with the   
   trends in the telecommunications and technology industries.   
      
   As to the ham radio gear currently installed in these vehicles, it is not   
   going away. Rather it will be removed and will either become part of the   
   deployable inventory or provided to the local American Red Cross chapter to   
   build local capacity. A more in-depth look at this decision by the Red   
   Cross and its impact on ham radio can be found on line at   
   tinyurl.com/b84tn88 (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: HAMS HELP TRAIN EMERGENCY RESPONDERS IN CONNECTICUT   
      
   The Ridgefield Press in Connecticut says that amateur radio operators from   
   the city's volunteer disaster communications team have been assisting in the   
   development of a communications training video. This for use by fire,   
   police and emergency medical first responders.   
      
   The new training video will focus on the importance of including ham radio in   
   emergency planning and operations. It will also demonstrate the   
   capabilities of amateur radio equipment and disaster-trained ham radio   
   operators.   
      
   Ridgefield's Emergency Operations Center and many other centers and hospitals   
   throughout the region are equipped with amateur radio equipment that   
   provides backup communications when normal channels are out of service. The   
   complete story on this new video can be found at   
   tinyurl.com/rescue-radio-video (RP.com)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: HAM RADIO CLUB TO CELEBRATE LEGION BIRTHDAY   
      
   The American Legion Amateur Radio Club will operate special event station N9L   
   on March 15, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and March 16 between 9 a.m. and 4   
   p.m. Eastern Standard Time. This to commemorate the 94th birthday of The   
   American Legion   
      
   The primary frequency to look for N9L will be 14.270 MHz on 20 meters and   
   locally on 146.46 in Central Indiana. The station will also be available   
   via IRLP Node 4816.   
      
   A full-color certificate will be sent upon receipt of a 9-by-12-inch   
   self-addressed stamped envelope to the American Legion National   
   Headquarters, Attn: TALARC, 700 North Pennsylvania Street, Indianapolis,   
   Indiana 46204. More is on-line at www.legion.org/hamradio. (TALARC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: HAM RADIO COMMEMORATES THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH   
      
   The Mesilla Valley Radio Club of Las Cruces, New Mexico will be operating   
   Special Events Station K5B on March 17th. This in conjunction with the 24th   
   annual Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon event to be held at the White   
   Sands Missile Range.   
      
   K5B will operate from 1000 UTC to 2300 UTC on or near 21.337, 14.330, 7.225,   
   and 3.893 megahertz. A commemorative QSL card will be available by request.   
   If you make contact send your QSL with a self addressed stamped business   
   sized envelope to Special Events Station K5B in care of the Mesilla Valley   
   Radio Club, P. O. Box 1443, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88004.   
      
   All QSL requests must be received by Friday, April 26th. More information   
   about this special operation is on line at www.n5bl.org/bataan. (Mesilla   
   Valley Radio Club)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: ST PATRICK'S DAY SPECIAL EVENT   
      
   Irelands West Tyrone Amateur Radio Club will be taking part in the St.   
   Patrick's Day celebration on Monday March 18th in the city of Omagh by   
   operating special event station GB1SPD. This from the Strule Arts Centre in   
   the Heart of Omagh Town during the Omagh District Council St. Patrick's Day   
   Parade and Festival. You can listen out for GB1SPD world-wide on the High   
   Frequency bands as well as Echolink. Commemorative QSL cards will be   
   available to those who wish to have a conformation of the QSO. More details   
   available at www.wtarc.org   
   (WTARC, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: WIND UP RADIO DEVELOPER SEEKING UK GOVERNMENT PROTECTION   
   FOR ALL INVENTORS   
      
   Some names in the news. The developer of the famed Free-Play wind-up radio   
   is calling on the British government to step-in to protect the interests of   
   inventors. The Daily Telegraph reports that inventor Trevor Baylis says he   
   faces having to sell his house after failing to make money from his wind-up   
   radio that many say helped to revolutionize public emergency notifications   
   and there-by save lives in emerging nations. The full story on how Baylis'   
   situation came about and the intellectual rights protection he is seeking   
   for all inventors is on-line at tinyurl.com/baylis-radio (UK Telegraph)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: YOUNG BOY SCOUT RECEIVES AMATEUR RADIO PATCH   
      
   The Jamestown New York Post-Journal reports that Robert Miles, KD2BWZ, is one   
   of the youngest scouts to receive the Boy Scouts of America's Amateur Radio   
   Operating Patch.   
      
   Robert and his father Aaron Miles KD2BWY both received these patches at an   
   event attended by Wayne Schuver Jr. who is the senior district executive of   
   the Boy Scouts of America's Alleghany Highlands District. John Mueller   
   K2BT, who is the Western New York section manager for the American Radio   
   Relay League.   
      
   As previously reported the Amateur Radio Operating Patch is a recent addition   
   for the Boy Scouts and recognizes the scout's availability as an amateur   
   radio operator for communications services for events and activities as well   
   as in emergencies. All registered youth and adult members who also hold a   
   valid FCC issued amateur radio license of any class are eligible to earn and   
   wear the patch. The full Post-Journal story along with a photo of the   
   presentation is at tinyurl.com/scouting-patch (Post-Journal)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: W2TRR LEAVING WOR FOR CONSULTANT BUSINESS   
      
   Noted Broadcast Engineer Tom Ray, W2TRR, is leaving WOR - AM, in New York   
   City after more than 15 years with the station. Ray had been Chief Engineer   
   of WOR and Director of Engineering of Buckley Broadcasting until the station   
   was sold to Clear Channel late last year. His current title is AM Chief   
   Engineer.   
      
   During Ray's tenure at WOR, he had taken the station from an older analog   
   facility into the digital world, culminating in the move of the WOR studio   
   to a new locality in Manhattan. He next built WOR a new transmitter   
   facility in the New Jersey Meadowlands, retiring the former Lyndhurst, New   
   Jersey facility that had served WOR for 40 years. Ray will now head up his   
   own broadcast consultancy firm. (RW, QRZ.com)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. 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)   
      
   **   
      
   CHANGING OF THE GUARD: PAT HAWKER MBE G3VA SILENT KEY   
      
   Pat Hawker, MBE, G3VA, who for 50 years wrote the Technical Topics column in   
   the RSGB publication RadCom, passed away on February 21st at age 90.   
      
   Hawker was first awarded a UK an 'artificial aerial' license and call sign   
   2BUH in 1936. He received his transmitting license and the call G3VA in   
   1938.   
      
   During his lifetime Pat Hawker was involved in many aspects of radio. Tis   
   ranged from World War 2 with the United Kingdom's military intelligence   
   organizations through to his time working for the RSGB, then as the editor   
   of Electronics Weekly and the Royal Television Society Journal.   
      
   The extraordinary career of Pat Hawker, G3VA, is described in a book by Steve   
   White, G3ZVW, titled A Bit of Controversy, Pat Hawker - A Radio Life. And   
   for those not aware, the title MBE stands for Member of the Most Excellent   
   Order of the British Empire. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: CANADA'S BRIT FADER SCHOLARSHIP   
      
   Canadian hams in need of educational financial assistance listen up. The   
   Brit Fader Scholarship established in 1993 by the Halifax Amateur Radio Club   
   is now accepting applications for the 2013 to 2014 educational year.   
      
   This Scholarship will be provided for attendance at an accredited Canadian   
   post-secondary technical school, college or university, with preference   
   given to applicants who have been accepted into a program in the field of   
   electronics, electrical engineering, or a related area.   
      
   An applicant for this scholarship must be a Canadian citizen and hold an   
   active Basic Class or higher grade of Canadian Amateur Radio license.   
      
   A zipped application package is available for down-loading from the Halifax   
   Amateur Radio website at www.Halifax-arc.org. Follow the link to the Brit   
   Fader Scholarship from the home page under Education.   
      
   Application submissions must be postmarked no later than July 12th. The   
   amount of the 2013 award will be $1000. (HARC)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: INTERNATIONAL RADIO FESTIVAL SEPT 4 - 8 IN ZURICH   
      
   The 2013 International Radio Festival will be held September 4th to the 8th   
   at the famed Schloss Sihlberg Castle in Zurich, Switzerland. Participating   
   broadcasters so far include the BBC, Switzerland's DRS3, Portugal's Antena   
   3, Raadio 2 of Estonia and the Czech Republic's Radio Wave. Planners say   
   that this years event will feature industry speakers flying in from all   
   parts of the world. You can follow developments by joining their page at   
   facebook.com/internationalradiofestival. (RW, others)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: INTERNATIONAL LIGHTHOUSE AND LIGHTSHIP WEEKEND GROWS   
      
   An update on pre-registration for the 2013 International Lighthouse and   
   Lightship Weekend operating event. So far there have been some 150   
   registrations from 25 countries. Germany has the most with 35 closely   
   followed by Australia accounting for 34.   
      
   This years International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend is on August the   
   17th and 18th. More information on this fun event along with registration   
   details is on line at www.illw.net. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: AMSAT AND VIRGINIA TECH SIGN COLLABORATION AGREEMENT   
      
   AMSAT and the Virginia Polytechnic Institute have signed a Collaboration   
   Agreement that establishes a relationship for future projects. This in the   
   development of space hardware, software, algorithms, documentation of same   
   and an agreement to protect each other by protecting International Traffic   
   in Arms Regulations or ITAR-covered materials and identifying same for the   
   other. The agreement was signed on February 4th by AMSAT President Barry   
   Baines, WD4ASW and Virginia Tech Assistant Vice President for Sponsored   
   Programs Administration John Rudd. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   SCIENCE AND SPACE: METEOR THAT HIT RUSSIA TRAJECTORY IDENTIFIED   
      
   Scientists from Colombia believe they have pinpointed the origin of the giant   
   meteor that smashed into a remote region of Russia last month. Using some   
   of the dozens, if not hundreds, of videos that captured the   
   once-in-a-century event, the scientists have calculated the Chelyabinsk   
   meteor's trajectory, tracing it back to a group of Earth-crossing objects   
   known as Apollo asteroids. Researchers Jorge Zuluaga and Ignacio Ferrin,   
   from the University of Antioquia then used trigonometry to calculate the   
   height, speed and position of the rock as it fell to Earth.   
      
   To reconstruct the meteor's original orbit around the sun, they used six   
   different properties of its trajectory through Earth's atmosphere. They   
   then plugged all of that data into specialized astronomy software developed   
   by the U.S. Naval Observatory. The computers then confirmed that it was   
   from the Apollo group.   
      
   Unlike the more stable objects in the Asteroid Belt which lies between Mars   
   and Jupiter, Apollo asteroids tend to sideswipe Earth's orbit, posing a risk   
   of collision like the one I Russia. According to the International   
   Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center, more than 4,800 Apollo asteroid   
   close approaches that have been identified to date. (Science Now)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO IN SPACE: NEW LANDSAT SATELLITE NOW ON-ORBIT   
      
   A new satellite to keep an eye on our planets changing landscape was launched   
   into orbit on Monday, February 11th. This eighth and most sophisticated   
   Landsat spacecraft blasted off at 1802 GMT aboard an unmanned Atlas 5 rocket   
   from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The Landsat Data Continuity   
   Mission will join the sole operational fourteen year old Landsat 7   
   spacecraft in providing visible and infrared images from an orbital perch   
   438 miles above Earth.   
      
   The new satellite circle the planet every 99 minutes, relaying pictures by   
   radio that show details down to about the size of a baseball diamond. The   
   images, which are distributed at no charge, are used by federal, state and   
   local governments and planning boards worldwide to monitor crops, assess   
   damage from fires, floods and other natural disasters. They also track   
   changing coastlines, glaciers and other areas impacted by global warming.   
   (Science OnLine)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: SPECIAL EVENT N4WIS DURING WISCONSIN QSO PARTY   
      
   On the air, word that K9UTQ will activate the USS Wisconsin Battleship   
   station N4WIS. This during the Wisconsin QSO Party on March 9th. QSL's go   
   via N4WIS. For more details and updated information, please visit   
   www.n4wis.org on the World Wide Web. (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, W0FK will be active from Longboat Key between March 2nd and the 16th.   
   No word on times or frequencies. If you work him QSL via his home callsign,   
   direct or by the Bureau.   
      
   EI7CC will be operational from Lesotho as 7P8PB from March 6th to the 26th.   
   Activity will be limited because he will be on a family holiday and will   
   operate when circumstances permit. QSL via EI7CC either direct or via the   
   bureau. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World immediately upon his   
   return to Ireland.   
      
   N6MW and N6TQ, who were expected to be on the air stroke KH8 from March 19th   
   to the 28th from American Samoa have postponed this operation indefinitely.   
   No reason for the cancellation was given.   
      
   KV1J will once again be operating stroke FP from Miquelon Island between July   
   6th to the 16th. His activity will be on 160 through 6 meters using CW,   
   SSB, RTTY and PSK31 generally be on the highest frequency band that is open.   
   Also, look for him on the satellites, weather permitting. QSL via KV1J,   
   direct, via the bureau or electronically using Logbook of the World.   
      
   JL1UTS and L3PFH will be active as KH0TH and KH0TG, respectively, from the   
   Saipan between May 2nd to the 5th. Their operation will encompass all of   
   the High Frequency bands and modes. QSL via their home callsigns, either   
   direct or the JARL Bureau.   
      
   AE1C will be active stroke VE9 from Grand Manan Island between August 18th to   
   the 25th. Activity will be holiday style on the HF bands using 200 watts   
   and a vertical antenna. QSL via his home callsign using Logbook of the   
   World, eQSL or direct.   
      
   Lastly, word that the Sri Lanka 4S7DXG and Maldives 8Q7VR operations in 2008   
   and 2011 have been approved for DXCC credit. If you had request rejected   
   for contacts with these dates only, send an e-mail to dxccrules@arrl.org to   
   be put on the list for an update. Contacts before or after these periods   
   cannot be accepted.   
      
   (Above from various DX News Sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: RESCUE RADIO: FOLLOW-UP - NPR LABS EMERGENCY ALERT FOR   
   THE DEAF EXPERIMENT TO GO FORWARD   
      
   A follow up to our recent report on an Emergency Alerting system being   
   proposed for the deaf and hart of hearing using radio. Amateur Radio   
   Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW. is here with the details:   
      
   --   
      
   NPR Labs has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Department of Homeland   
   Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to demonstrate the   
   delivery of emergency alerts to people who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in   
   the Gulf Coast states. This through local public radio stations and the   
   Public Radio Satellite System.   
      
   This pilot system is intended to demonstrate that all individuals, including   
   those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, can rely on battery-powered radios to   
   stay informed in emergencies when electricity, Internet and other   
   communications channels are unavailable.   
      
   NPR Labs is the technology research and development group of National Public   
   Radio. It will work with DHS and FEMA to identify 25 public radio outlets   
   in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas to participate in the   
   pilot. The distribution network of the Public Radio Satellite System will be   
   used to test the effectiveness of the message delivery system. The Gulf   
   region was chosen because it is frequently subjected to extreme and sudden   
   weather conditions. Once proven, the system could be rolled out nationwide   
   on the public radio stations served by the Public Radio Satellite System,   
   which reach 95% of the United States population.   
      
   In the demonstration project, FEMA will transmit emergency alert messages   
   using the Common Alerting Protocol. The Public Radio Satellite System   
   network operations center will re-transmit the warning via the Radio   
   Broadcast Data System on the participating 25 public radio stations on a   
   dedicated digital alerting channel. The stations will broadcast the   
   emergency alert to receivers capable of displaying text messages. Deaf or   
   hard-of-hearing project volunteers will be alerted to the message by a   
   flashing indicator on their radios or a bed-shaker triggered by their   
   radios, to ensure the message is received day and night.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   NPR Labs plans to identify 500 individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing in   
   the listening areas of the 25 participating stations. The volunteers will be   
   surveyed periodically to determine the efficacy of the warnings. This is the   
   first effort to deliver real-time accessibility-targeted emergency messages,   
   such as weather alerts, via radio broadcast texts. (RadioOnLine, RW)   
      
   **   
      
   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 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, in Southern Mississippi, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2013. All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
   As a Service to the HAM Radio Community and Ham Operators all around the   
   world, this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the internet   
   and posted to you by Waldo's Place USA, 1:3634/12. We hope you enjoyed it!   
      
   Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsletter editor as   
   described in this posting. If you have any specific questions concerning   
   the actual posting of this message service, you may address them to   
   hamfdn -at- wpusa.dynip.com.   
      
   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)