Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1857 - March 15 2013   
      
   Please note that this is an extended newscast that runs 34 minutes 58 seconds   
   from the tone. Mark (1 sec tone)   
      
   The following is a closed circuit and not necessarily for air. With a report   
   on the current state of Amateur Radio Newsline's financial picture, heres   
   our producer Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF:   
      
   --   
      
   Thanks to a number of you who provide month to month contributions it's been   
   quite a long time since I've been here to ask for widespread support for the   
   Amateur Radio Newsline operations. And while we deeply appreciate our   
   ongoing contributors, the income we derive from their generosity is simply   
   not enough to see us through the long term. And that long term is very   
   quickly sneaking up on us. Simply said, Amateur Radio Newsline needs   
   widespread support right now if we are to stay in operation to bring you   
   these weekly newscasts and only you our friends and listeners can provide   
   it.   
      
   To that end, we try to make it as simple as possible to make your tax   
   deductible donation to us. Simply go to our website at www.arnewsline.org   
   and click on the Pay Pal button to make a donation electronically. Or, if   
   you rather, you can send us a check at the address heard at the end of this   
   week's newscast. Either way, the all volunteer team at Amateur Radio   
   Newsline once again says thank you in advance for your ongoing generosity   
   and your support.   
      
   Im Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, and hers Jim Damron, N8TMW, with this week's   
   newscast.   
      
   --   
      
   Thanks Bill. Now, Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1856 with a release   
   date of March 8 2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
      
   The following is a QST. 2013 will see two Global Simulated Emergency Tests   
   in April; France approves digital voice for its ham community; a review of   
   Canada's ham radio examination questions is underway; comments on WRC 2015   
   close on March 22nd; Dayton announces Hamvention 2013 award winners and the   
   legendary CBS World News Roundup turns 75. Find out the details are on   
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1857 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: TWO GLOBAL SIMULATED EMERGENCY TESTS IN APRIL   
      
   There will be two Global Simulated Emergency Tests taking place on the   
   Saturdays either side of World Amateur Radio Day which is slated for   
   Thursday April the 18th. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has   
   more:   
      
   --   
      
   Greg Mossop, G0DUB, is the International Amateur Radio Union Region 1   
   Emergency Coordinator. He says the first Global Simulated Emergency Test   
   will happen on Saturday April 13th will repeat the format of 2011 using   
   'local time' for each station. This will give a good chance of messages   
   moving towards the regional Headquarters Stations to be delivered. The   
   second Saturday, April the 20th, will see answers to those messages,   
   starting from the Headquarters Stations and being sent back to the countries   
   that originated them.   
      
   According to Jim Linton, VK3PC, the Global Simulated Emergency Test also   
   known as GlobalSET is an opportunity to increase the common interest in   
   emergency communications, create practices for international emergency   
   communications and the relaying of messages. Linton who is the Chairman of   
   the IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee says that GlobalSET is   
   open to all three IARU regions and will be held on or near the emergency   
   Center of Activity frequencies on the 80, 40, 20, 17 and 15 meter bands.   
   VK3PC adds that the full rules concerning this emergency training operating   
   event are available to those who register through their IARU Regional   
   Coordinator.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, down-under in   
   Nelson, New Zealand.   
      
   --   
      
   Again those dates are April 13th and 20th for the twin edition of thr 2013   
   Global Simulated Emergency Test. It will be followed June 25th to the 28th   
   by the Global Amateur Radio Emergency Conference or GAREC 2013 in Zurich,   
   Switzerland. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: FRANCE APPROVES USE OF DIGITAL VOICE AND OTHER DIGI MODES   
      
   France has finally approved the use of digital modes by its ham radio   
   community. According to word from Digital Radioamateurs of France president   
   F1SHS, the new draft regulation was signed by the Minister on Wednesday,   
   March 6th. Until now French radio amateurs had been banned from using   
   digital modes including D-STAR and the like. F1SHS calls this great news   
   for the French amateur radio community following a lot of work on the part   
   of the organization. (F1SHS, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: REVIEW OF CANADIAN AMATEUR RADIO EXAM QUESTIONS UNDERWAY   
      
   As a result of its response to a Request for Proposals from   
   telecommunications regulator Industry Canada, Radio Amateurs of Canada has   
   been awarded a $20,000 contract. This to review the questions used for   
   examinations to qualify radio amateurs in that nation.   
      
   The actual work began back on January 28th with the final product will be   
   delivered to Industry Canada on April 17th. More than 3000 questions are   
   being reviewed. Of these 965 are in English and in French for the Basic   
   qualification. Another 545 in English and in French for the Advanced   
   qualification.   
      
   The objective of the review is to identify questions and answers no longer   
   relevant as well as those requiring modifications to correct grammatical   
   errors or improve clarity. The review should also lead to new questions on   
   aspects of amateur radio that have changed in recent years.   
      
   The present work is the first comprehensive review of the Canadian question   
   pool in more than a decade. While some current questions were revised in   
   2007 many questions date from much earlier. Radio Amateurs du Quebec Inc. is   
   working with Radio Amateurs of Canada on the French language component of   
   this question pool revision and overhaul. (RAC)   
      
   **   
      
   INTERNATIONAL: LAST CHANCE TO FILE COMMENTS WITH FCC ON WRC 15   
      
   Comments are due March 22nd on FCC draft recommendations regarding issues to   
   be considered at the 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference or WRC. These   
   discussions generally involve international spectrum related agreements.   
   You can read the current recommendations at tinyurl.com/fcc-wrc-15.   
      
   The commission is also seeking comment on National Telecommunications and   
   Information Agency's draft proposals to WRC-15. The NTIA is the Executive   
   Branch agency that is principally responsible for advising the President on   
   telecommunications and information policy issues. You can read its proposals   
   at tinyurl.com/ntia-wrc-15   
      
   The FCC says that public input will help the commission in its upcoming talks   
   with the Department of State and the N-T-I-A in developing United States   
   positions for WRC-15. It should be noted that the FCC's International   
   Bureau is inclined to support most of the suggestions provided by the WRC-15   
   advisory committee. Filed comments should reference IB Docket No. 04-286.   
   (FCC, RW)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: MONTANA HAMS WIN EXEMPTION FROM DISTRACTED DRIVING LAW AND MORE   
      
   Hams in Montana now have both antenna height limit and protection from   
   distracted driving laws. The ARRL reports that on February 28th Governor   
   Steve Bullock signed House Bill 148 into law to provide protections to the   
   states ham radio community.   
      
   Montana State Representative Pat Connell, WA7PDC, had submitted the bill   
   titled Clarifying Local Government Authority to Regulate Amateur Radio   
   Operations to the 2013 Montana legislative docket. The new law prohibits   
   local governments from regulating licensed amateur radio operations from a   
   motor vehicle. It also establishes a 100-foot height limit below which   
   local jurisdictions may not regulate ham radio towers and antennas.   
      
   You can read more details on this good news for Montana hams on-line at the   
   ARRL website using the shortcut tinyurl.com/Montana-Antenna-Win   
      
   And oh yes: We you aware that the Montana state fossil is Maiasaur also   
   known as the Duck-billed Dinosaur? According to Wikipedia it is, and we   
   thought you would like to know. (ARRL, ARNewsline(tm), Wikipedia Commons)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the KD8LWR repeater serving   
   Dexter, Michigan   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   BREAKING NEWS: HAMVENTION ANNOUNCES 2013 AWARD WINNERS   
      
   I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, with word that the Dayton Hamvention has   
   announced this years winners of its famed Hamvention Awards. The news was   
   made public on the March 13th edition of Ham Nation by past Hamvention   
   General Chairman Michael Kalter, W8CI, with a well known ham from Germany   
   garnering the top spot:   
      
   --   
      
   W8CI: Our Amateur of the Year is Mustapha Landoulsi, DL1BDF. He was   
   actually born in Tunisia and has set up six amateur radio stations in   
   Tunisia and has brought them into the IARU. He's worked tirelessly to help   
   Middle-Eastrern countries and African counties in amateur radio. He also   
   sped uo and organized the delivery of emergency medical equipment and   
   medicine to African and other third world countries, and he is so well known   
   throughout the world that his work actually embodies what amateur radio is   
   about. He tries to bring peoples together from different countries and his   
   heart is one hundred percent into amateur radio.   
      
   --   
      
   Recognized as this years Special Achievement Award recipient was George   
   Thomas, W5JDX, of Ridgeland, Mississippi. For those few of you not aware,   
   George the producer of the Internet TV show known as amateurlogic.tv. He   
   also co-hosts Ham Nation with Bob Heil K9EID and Gordon West WB6NOA on TWiT   
   TV. And he took the opportunity to thank those who have been working with   
   him over the past few years:   
      
   --   
      
   W5JDX: "You know I couldn't do this without my partners Tommy, Jimmy and   
   Peter and of coarse Bob and Gordo."   
      
   --   
      
   Sharing the 2013 Technical Achievement Award are Dave Whitten, KD0EAG and   
   David Rowe, VK5DGR. They are being honored for their combined work in   
   developing a free digital voice program that can encode high quality digital   
   voice into a 1.25 kHz bandwidth for use on the High Frequency bands,   
      
   Rounding out this years winners is the West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club in   
   Florida. It was chosen for its ongoing outreach program to the local   
   community that includes a 7 day a week manning of a ham radio at the South   
   Florida Museum. Also noted was the clubs sponsorship of an ARISS contact   
   that was made available live and in real time to a record 250,000 students   
   across the state.   
      
   This years winners will receive their awards at Hamvention 2013 that runs   
   from May 17th through the 19th at the Hara Arena the world ham radio capitol   
   of Dayton Ohio. Its planners say that they hope to see you there.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom   
   in Los Angeles. (Hamvention(r), Ham Nation)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: COCOA BEACH FLA HAM ISSUED $25000 NAL FOR INTERFERENCE TO   
   PRISON COMMUNICATIONS   
      
   A Cocoa Florida ham has been hit with a $25,000 Notice of Apparent Liability   
   for allegedly causing interference to the Brevard County Sheriff's   
   Department. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   According to the March 1st Notice of Apparent Liability issued to Terry L.   
   VanVolkenburg, the FCC says that it used radio direction finding to locate a   
   signal interfering with communications at the Brevard County Sheriff's   
   Department jail in Sharpes, Florida. The FCC says that VanVolkenburg, whom   
   the agency notes holds an Amateur Service license and the call sign KC5RF   
   was the source of the interference to the prison complex which is licensed   
   to use 465.300 MHz for its communications.   
      
   By way of background, in September of 2012, the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa   
   Office received a complaint of radio interference from the Sheriff's   
   Department. According to the complaint, on at least 14 days during the   
   months of September and October of 2012 that law enforcement agency   
   experienced intermittent interference to its communications at the jail on   
   456.300 MHz. Audio recordings taken by the Sheriff's Department suggests   
   that a male individual interfering with the prison's communications by   
   transmitting vulgar language, sound effects, previously recorded prison   
   communications, and threats to prison officials over the prison's radio   
   communications system.   
      
   In response, on October 28th of 2012 agents from the Tampa Office used   
   direction-finding and traced the source of the interference to a residence   
   in Cocoa, Florida. The agents also recognized VanVolkenburg's voice as the   
   one interfering with the prison's communications system.   
      
   Approximately two hours after locating the source of the transmissions, the   
   agents inspected the radio stations in the VanVolkenburg residence. The   
   FCC says that VanVolkenburg initially showed the agents an amateur radio   
   station that was incapable of transmitting on 465.300 MHz. However when   
   pressed buy the investigators he eventually produced an Alinco DJ-C5   
   portable radio transceiver that could operate on 465.300 MHz.   
      
   Initially VanVolkenburg did not specifically admit that he had interfered   
   with the prison's communications system. But when asked about the   
   transmissions on 465.300 MHz and the interference to the prison he stated   
   that he chose 465.300 MHz because the prison's transmissions on that   
   frequency were strong. Also that he was only using 300 milliwatts and did   
   not think that he could talk over anyone and therefore wasn't interfering   
   with anyone. At that point VanVolkenburg is also reported to have declared   
   that the interference would not happen again.   
      
   But in issuing the proposed fine the FCC is essentially saying that it does   
   not buy Van Volkenberg's defense. It sates that while VanVolkenburg holds   
   an amateur license and the call sign KC5RF, that this license does not   
   authorize him to operate on public safety frequencies.   
      
   The FCC says that the bottom line is that the evidence in this case is   
   sufficient to establish that VanVolkenburg violated the FCC rules on 14   
   different days during September and October of 2012. As such he is eligible   
   for the proposed $25,000 fine.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   VanVolkenburg was given the usual 30 days from to pay the proposed fine or to   
   file an appeal. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC UPHOLDS $25000 FINE TO ALLGED MALL COMMUNICATIONS JAMMER   
      
   The FCC says that California resident Kevin Bondy will have to pay a $24,000   
   fine. Back in 2011 the commission issued a forfeiture order against Bondy   
   for operating in the General Mobile Radio Service and unlawfully causing   
   interference to licensed radio operations. He was also charged with   
   refusing to allow the FCC to inspect his radio gear.   
      
   The commission said Bondy's radio equipment interfered with the two way   
   radios used by The Oaks Shopping Center in Thousand Oaks, California.   
   During its investigation FCC agents also found an unlicensed and   
   unauthorized repeater transmitter in a secured radio communications facility   
   on Oat Mountain in the Santa Susana Mountains. The transmissions   
   effectively jammed Oaks' operations on two of its frequencies.   
      
   Now in its Memorandum Opinion and Order the FCC states that Bondy was   
   supposed to file his appeal by July 6, 2011. While he did e-mail a copy to   
   the local Enforcement Bureau, before that date the agency says there's no   
   evidence Bondy sent a copy to the Commission Secretary as required by law.   
   As far as the FCC is concerned this means that the appeal was not properly   
   filed and the agency considers it as being procedurally defective.   
      
   In its release dismissing the appeal the FCC notes that Bondy raised no new   
   arguments in the version that it did receive. Based on all the evidence   
   before it the agency said as it decided to reaffirm and gave Bondy the   
   customary 30 days from the February 15th release date of the Memorandum   
   Opinion and Order to pay the amount in full. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   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)   
      
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: DRONE SEEN NEAR JFK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT MAY HAVE BEEN A   
   WAYWARD RADIO CONTROLLED MODEL PLANE   
      
   Federal officials say a small aircraft that reportedly looked like a drone   
   and violated the airspace at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New   
   York on March 4th was probably a radio controlled model aircraft sent aloft   
   from Long Island that lost its way. Amateur Radio Newslines Steffan   
   Kinford, N8WB, has more:   
      
   --   
      
   Whatever the object was, the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration   
   issued an alert on Tuesday March 5th. One seeking the public's assistance   
   in identifying the operator and the aircraft which a nearby pilot described   
   as black in color, about 3 feet wide with four propellers.   
      
   The unidentified aircraft was spotted about 1:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday   
   March 4th by the pilot of an Alitalia airliner as it approached runway 31   
   Right at JFK International. Because no flight plan was filed with the FAA   
   for the mystery aircraft, authorities believe it probably was a radio remote   
   controlled model sent aloft by a hobbyist. Officials speculate that the   
   craft likely took off from somewhere along the south shore of Long Island   
   had drifted off course when the operator lost radio contact with it. It   
   then flew in the direction of JFK International on its own.   
      
   In his report to the control tower, the Alitalia pilot said that he had seen   
   what appeared to be a drone aircraft. At the time of the sighting he said   
   the aircraft had an altitude of about 1,500 feet and was about three miles   
   from his plane. That would put it well above the 400 foot height   
   restriction for radio controlled model aircraft and well within restricted   
   airport airspace.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephan Kinford, N8WB, a few hundred   
   miles West of JFK International in Wadsworth, Ohio.   
      
   --   
      
   Les Dorr is a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration. He says   
   that regardless of whether someone is operating as a public agency or a   
   person flying a model for recreational purposes, they always have to give   
   way to any aircraft in the vicinity. In other words, you are not supposed   
   to be flying anywhere near or over a major airport. (ThisWeek.com,   
   HuffPost and other published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO ON THE SCREEN: MODERN AMATEUR RADIO FROM CANADA   
      
   Modern Amateur Radio is the title of a new, bi-lingual video produced in   
   Canada by Donald Boucher, VE2XT. Boucher put the show together in full wide   
   screen High Definition and it includes some truly breathtaking aerial   
   footage of the Canadian countryside.   
      
   VE2XT tells Newsline that he owns a video production company in Montreal and   
   that he shot the video last year in his spare time. Posting of the video   
   to Youtube was done by CQ Propagation Editor Thomas Hood, NW7US.   
      
   What makes Modern Amateur Radio unique is its international flavor. While   
   the narration is in English most of the natural sound background   
   conversations are in French. But you do not have to understand the French   
   language to truly enjoy this Canadian look at our great hobby. You can see   
   it for yourself at tinyurl.com/modern-amateur-radio (ARNewsline(tm))   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO ON THE SCREEN: SPECIAL EVENT STATION 2O12L VIDEO NOW AVAILABLE   
      
   The organizers of 2O12L, the amateur radio special event station celebrating   
   the London Olympic and Paralympic Games in the Summer of 2012 have now   
   released a 45 minute DVD of the event. Produced by Fred Curtis G3SVK, the   
   DVD goes behind the scenes of the event, telling the story of how those   
   69,644 QSOs were made possible. Details can be found at www.2o12l.com under   
   the `News' link. (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO READING: CQ LAUNCHES ONLINE PHOTO GALLERY   
      
   CQ magazine has announced the launch of the online CQ Photo Gallery to   
   supplement photos published in the magazine.   
      
   According to Editor Rich Moseson, W2VU, the magazine shoots photos at many   
   events. It also receives many photos from readers that it does not have   
   space to put in the magazine. But CQ still wants to share these with its   
   readers and the new CQ Photo Gallery will allow it to do just that.   
      
   Moseson says that the new photo gallery is on the flickr.com web site and is   
   organized into albums called sets. Initial sets include CQ cover images;   
   the CQ Garage featuring ham radio license plates; news photos from the FCC's   
   field hearing on communications lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy, and   
   reader-submitted photos. New pictures will be added regularly.   
      
   The CQ Photo Gallery may be accessed at   
   www.flickr.com/photos/cqphotogallery/sets but you can also reach it using   
   the shortcut tinyurl.com/cq-photos-online. (CQ)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: M0VFC NAMED WINNER OF CASSADAY AWARD   
      
   Some names in the news. First up is Rob Chipperfield, M0VFC, who has been   
   selected as the first recipient of the Cass award. This, in recognition of   
   his DX operation from the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan Da Cunha   
   as ZD9UQ in October of 2012. During his short four day operation   
   Chipperfield worked 3,362 unique stations and there-by demonstrating an   
   outstanding effort to log as many individuals as possible.   
      
   The Cass Award was created and named in memory of the late DXing legend Hugh   
   Cassady, WA6AUD. It is meant to encourage DXpeditions to maximize the   
   number of unique contacts made and comes with a $1,000 prize for the single   
   operator DXpedition that works the most unique callsigns within a four week   
   period. More information about the award program is available at   
   www.cassaward.com (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: RCA NAMES PATRICIA KOZIOL AS ITS EXECUTIVE SECRETARY   
      
   The Radio Club of America has appointed Patricia Koziol as its Executive   
   Secretary effective February 25th. RCA President, Bruce R. McIntyre also   
   announced the assignment of Ms. Koziol's firm, Peak Management Solutions for   
   Associations, to manage the administrative and programmatic activities of   
   the association. Patricia Koziol currently manages seven other trade   
   associations and two national and regional trade events. (RCA)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: CBS WORLD NEWS ROUNDUP HIT 75   
      
   The legendary CBS Radio World News Roundup has turned 75.   
      
   The first broadcast took place on the evening of March 13, 1938. That's when   
   legendary CBS radio newsman Robert Trout reported from New York that the   
   Nazis were "driving with all their might to bring Austria under complete   
   Nazi domination." Then, in what has become a historic moment in broadcast   
   history Trout stopped talking so listeners could hear live reports from   
   correspondents throughout Europe. One of these was Edward R. Murrow in   
   Vienna, who went on to become another CBS broadcast legend.   
      
   Over the years, the CBS Radio World News Roundup has been there night after   
   night, bringing all of us the news live and direct from the scene. And even   
   in the age of instant reporting over the Internet and bloggers proliferating   
   while spewing opinion as news, the CBS World News Roundup stands apart as   
   one of the most accurate, concise and listened to news sources in the world.   
   Its also a credit to those at C-BS who created it seven and a half decades   
   ago.   
      
   Ironically, you can read the full story about this iconic radio news service   
   on-line at tinyurl.com/cbs-news-at-75. And if we may be permitted to add   
   our own tiny voice, we say happy 75th to this ongoing radio legend.   
   (ARNewsline(tm) from published reports)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 3   
      
   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)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM TECHNOLOGY: RFINDER - THE WORLD WIDE REPEATER DIRECTORY ADDS JAPANESE   
   LANGUAGE   
      
   Yet another expension of RFinder and the World Wide Repeater Directory.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   RFinder has added the Japanese language to its operational ability. In their   
   ongoing effort to make localized versions of RFinder available, the creators   
   have announced the Android version of RFinder Version 3 and have also loaded   
   the canonical list of analog and D-Star repeaters across Japan nation into   
   the systems World Wide Repeater Directory.   
      
   To use it, just download RFinder from Google Play. If your device is using   
   Japanese as it's language, RFinder will automatically load in Japanese.   
      
   RFinder is already available in English, Spanish and French. Italian, German   
   and Portuguese are in development and are said to be next.   
      
   The World Wide Repeater Directory database is the first repeater directory   
   covering the world of amateur radio on Android, iPhone and RT Systems   
   Software. It also works with CHIRP, the World Wide Web and can loaded into   
   Points of Interest on most GPS's. This makes it of special interest   
   especially to the globe-trotting ham,   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newswline, I'm Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, in Zion, Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   So far 178 countries are included in the World Wide Repeater Directory. More   
   information about RFinder and the database system is on the web at   
   www.rfinder.net/blog/ (W2CYK)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: USAF APPROVES AMSAT REQUEST FOR REDISTRIBUTION OF KEPS   
      
   The Keps will keep on coming. So says AMSAT North America after a deal was   
   reached between the Amateur Radio Space Agency and the Air Force Space   
   Command that will permit AMSAT to continue to re-distribute Keplerian   
   elements from the latter's SpaceTrack service.   
      
   Keplerian elements. sometimes called by the acronym Keps are the basis for   
   all satellite tracking. According to AMSAT's Orbital Data Manager Ray Hoad,   
   WA5QGD, the re-distribution agreement was approved on March 7 for the period   
   April 1, 2013 to April 1, 2014. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIOSPORTS: ALASKA QSO PARTY MACH 23 - 24   
      
   From the radiosports file, remember to mark down March 23rd as the date of   
   the 2013 Alaska QSO party. The event runs from 18:00 UTC and continues to   
   23:59 UTC on the 24th. This is an H-F only contest on 160, 80, 40, 20 and   
   10 meters using CW, SSB, PSK31 and RTTY. A similar event for the VHF bands   
   will be held July 15th through the 16th with the same hours. More   
   information on both QSO party's is on line at kl7yk.us/akqso.htm. (KL7YK)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: MOMO ON THE AIR CELEBRATIONS IN JAPAN   
      
   On the air, 8N1MOMO is a special callsign celebrating both the 37th Momo   
   Peach Blossom Festival and the 20th Fire Baloon Contest in the Ibaraki   
   prefecture on Honshu Island. Honshu is Japan's largest island and the   
   station will be operational until April 5th. QSL only via the JA bureau.   
   (DX News)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE RESTORATION OF GREY POINT FORT IRELAND   
      
   And a group of hams who are working to restore Grey Point Fort will be   
   operating a special event stations from 1700 UTC on May 31st to 1700 UTC on   
   June 2nd. Grey Point Fort is a World War One Coastal Defense Fort located   
   in Helens Bay, Northern Ireland. The special event operation will be using   
   three yet to be announced special event call signs. More information will   
   be posted on-line at tinyurl.com/greypoint-2013 or by e-mail to   
   greypointfort (at) hotmail (dot) co (dot) uk. (GI4RNP)   
      
   **   
      
   In DX, word that JQ2WTT and JE1XUZ who are KH0XH and KH0XW respectively will   
   be active from Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands through April 1st.   
   Both are university undergraduates. QSL via each operator's home callsign   
   either direct or via the J-A Bureau.   
      
   An international team of seven operators are currently on the air from the   
   Solomon Islands signing H44G. Several stations will be operating   
   simultaneously on various bands between 160 through 6 meters using CW und   
   SSB, RTTY, PSK31 and SSTV. It all comes to an end on March 25th. QSLs go   
   via DL7DF   
      
   GM3WOJ and GM4YXI will be active from Cocos Keeling Island from March 30th   
   through April 13th using the new callsign of VK9CZ. They plan to be on SSB   
   and CW, with some RTTY and hope to have a real-time logging system and daily   
   Logbook of the World updates. More updates on this operation will be found   
   on-line at www.vk9cz.com   
      
   Lastly, a group of Italian operators along with members of the Associationdes   
   Radio Amateurs Tunisiens and the Engineering University of Gabes are   
   planning a DXpedition to Djerba Island using the call TS8TI between April   
   29th and May 6th. Operation will be on all HF bands plus 6 meters using CW,   
   SSB, RTTY and several digital modes. More information on this operation is   
   on-line at www.qrz.com/db/TS8TI   
      
   (Above from various DX News Sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: SPACE UPDATE: MORE ON US PRIVATE MISSION TO MARS   
      
   And finally this week, a follow up to our story of a few weeks ago concerning   
   a privately funded United States mission to the planet Mars. Now its been   
   revealed that it wont be to Mars, but rather a sightseeing round trip around   
   the red planet. Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, has the   
   details:   
      
   --   
      
   According to news reports, a team led by millionaire and former space tourist   
   Dennis Tito plans to send what it calls a tested couple to Mars and back in   
   a privately funded mission. The Inspiration Mars Foundation plans to start   
   its one-and-a-half-year mission in January 2018 providing that it can raise   
   funding for the mission.   
      
   The foundation has carried out a study which it says shows that it is   
   feasible to achieve such a mission using existing technology. Among those   
   involved in the project is Jane Poynter, who spent two years locked away in   
   a sealed ecosystem with seven other people in 1991.   
      
   Mission planners wanted the crew to consist of an older couple whose   
   relationship would be able to withstand the stress of living in a confined   
   environment for two years.   
      
   I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.   
      
   --   
      
   More on this story is on-line at tinyurl.com/mars-round-trip. (Published news   
   reports)   
      
   **   
      
   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 Jim Damron,   
   N8TMW, in Charleston, West Virginia, saying 73 and we thank you for   
   listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 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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   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)