Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1867 - May 24 2013   
      
   Please note that this is an extended Amateur Radio Newsline report and   
   contains three breaks. Newscast begins after the tone.   
      
   --   
      
   Tone   
      
   --   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1867 with a release date of May 24   
   2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio joins other services in responding to   
   tornadoes in the Great Plains; Israeli hams get limited access to 5 MHz, a   
   distracted driving law that exempts ham radio is signed by Hawaii's   
   governor; a major DXpedition to Heard Island is delayed and an in-depth look   
   at Hamvention 2013. All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report   
   number 1867 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: RADIO SERVICES RESPOND TO MIDWEST TORNADOES   
      
   Several radio services including broadcasters and hams responded as several   
   days of severe weather including tornadoes hit the Central Plains. Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's Mark Abramowicz, NT3V, is here with what we know so far:   
      
   --   
      
   The pictures seen on cable and network news channels of the devastation in   
   Oklahoma have been gut-wrenching.   
      
   But emergency officials are saying the warnings and local broadcast coverage   
   by radio and television probably saved hundreds if not thousands of lives.   
      
   Amateur radio played a part in the initial hours after the tornado went   
   through the community of Moore in the Oklahoma City area.   
      
   Kevin O'Dell, N0IRW, is the American Radio Relay League section manager for   
   Oklahoma. He tells Newsline in an interview that the real call-up came   
   through the Amateur Radio Emegency Service for operators to assist the Red   
   Cross chapter.   
      
   "We've had one specific request of ARES to assist with the Red Cross in   
   communications between the chapter office and their feeding area down at the   
   incident command post and we secured from that."   
      
   O'Dell says the operation secured Wednesday night.   
      
   "I do know of a couple of instances where there have been some other folks   
   that have been involved not for any real length of time. Once Comm-El got   
   their systems up and running, everything was in pretty good shape."   
      
   O'Dell, who lives about 75 miles north of the tornado-affected region of the   
   state, says while the devastation is vast, it is confined to a narrow area.   
   And that enabled emergency crews to keep police, fire and emergency radios   
   up and running and restore wireless service rapidly.   
      
   "What a lot of people don't understand is that this is a 17-mile-long tract   
   but it's only a couple of miles wide," O'Dell says. "You get outside of that   
   and things work pretty well. So, just the communication within that strip is   
   the only thing that's been really in question."   
      
   O'Dell says the Oklahoma City-Moore area has lots of experience dealing with   
   tornadoes....   
      
   "This isn't their first rodeo," O'Dell says. "These people know what they're   
   doing, they're very good at it. The communications systems because of this   
   and because of events they've had in the past, especially the May 3, 1999   
   storm that went basically through a very similar part of Moore, a lot of the   
   communications systems have been hardened a whole lot.   
      
   "And, have also been decentralized. So that the infrastructure issue isn't   
   quite as big a deal as you would have in a much broader situation."   
      
   O'Dell describes the people of Oklahoma as resilient.   
      
   Although he concedes there are a couple people who lost their homes in 1999   
   and on the same site in the most recent tornado.   
      
   O'Dell says he wouldn't be surprised if some of them took this second hit as   
   a divinely-inspired message to move elsewhere.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Mark Abramowicz, NT3V.   
      
   --   
      
   As this newscast is being prepared rescue workers are still sifting through   
   the rubble of the twisters that brought death and destruction to the area.   
   Meantime ham radio operators remain on alert in case they are needed.   
   (ARNewsline(tm))   
      
   **   
      
   PROPAGATION ALERT: M5 X-RAY FLARE OF MAY 22, 2013   
      
   Some breaking propagation news. I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF   
      
   CQ Magazine reports via Facebook that a strong M5.0 solar flare occurred on   
   Wednesday, May 22nd at around 13:32 UTC. Its origin was on the sunspot   
   1745, on the west side of the Sun.   
      
   A CME or coronal mass ejection was projected into space and is clearly   
   visible in the images of NASA SOHO spacecraft. If the plasma is directed   
   Earthward the CME could soon trigger aurora and other geomagnetic activity   
   including some level of High Frequency radio degradation.   
      
   If you are on Facebook be sure to "Like" the CQ Magazine to have alerts like   
   this show up in your timeline. More information on this event, as well as   
   sunspots and solar flares is on-line at SunSpotWatch.com   
      
   I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF. Jim. (CQ via Facebook)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: ISRAELI AMATEURS GET LIMITED 5 MHZ TEMPORARY ACCESSES   
      
   The Israel's radio regulator has decided to grant temporary permissions on an   
   individual application basis for use of eight discrete frequencies between   
   5298.5 and 5.047 MHz. These channels are available to General and Extra   
   Class license holders. The maximum power allowed is 100 Watts Peak Envelope   
   Power measured at the Transmitter rather than Effective Radiated Power from   
   the antenna.   
      
   The Israel Amateur Radio Club is that nation's national amateur radio   
   society. It says that it's main goal in obtaining this allocation is to   
   experiment for local short range emergency communication readiness and that   
   long distance activity is a side product.   
      
   The validity of this temporary authority is from a given applications   
   approval date until mid March 2014 but it appears this could be extended.   
   Operation is on a secondary status and was coordinated with the Spectrum   
   Committee representing primary and other relevant spectrum users. More   
   information is on-line at tinyurl.com/Israel-5-mhz. (IARC, RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: HAWAII CELL LAW EXCLUDING HAM RADIO SIGNED BUY GOVERNOR   
      
   Mobile ham radio operations have received an exclusion as Hawaii Governor   
   Neal Ambercrombie signed House Bill 980 on Monday May 20th. . This is the   
   State's new law that takes effect on July 1st and enforces a ban on the use   
   of mobile electronics and places strict limitations on text messaging while   
   operating a motor vehicle.   
      
   Specifically, with certain exceptions, House Bill 980 prohibits the use of   
   cellphones and other mobile electronic devices while operating a vehicle   
   statewide. It specifically prohibits activities such as texting,   
   instant-messaging, gaming and e-mailing, which take a driver's eyes and mind   
   off the road and hands off of the steering wheel.   
   The use of hands-free devices remain permitted but a new change is a   
   restriction for those under 18 years of age.   
      
   According to Ron Hashiro, AH6RH, the exemption for mobile amateur radio use   
   which was already available in four counties has survived the 2013 State   
   Legislature and remains in effect state-wide.   
      
   Hashiro, who is the Hawaii State Civil Defense ARES Emergency Coordinator and   
   the State Civil Defense RACES Coordinator praised the amateur radio   
   operators who since 2009 who have been involved in the legislative effort to   
   preserve mobile amateur radio operating privileges. More is on the web at   
   tinyurl.com/hawaii-cell-law-signed   
   (AH6RH)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAKING DX NEWS: HEARD ISLAND DXPEDITION RESCHEDULED   
      
   Some breaking news in the world of DX. This with word that a planned Cordell   
   Expedition operation from Heard Island has been postponed until January of   
   2015.   
      
   According to expedition organizer Robert Schmieder, KK6EK and co-planner Rich   
   Holoch, KY6R, the primary reason for the delay was the cost of using the   
   preferred vessel, the Marion Dufresne, to put the team on the island for the   
   required time.   
      
   In note to the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter and republished by the Southgate News,   
   KK6EK and KY6R say that despite extensive negotiations and rescheduling of   
   the cruise, it became clear that the cost of using this vessel will exceed   
   $1 million. Therefore the total cost for the project would be about $1.5   
   million and that even increasing the team size to 50 to partially cover this   
   cost was not enough. So the planners reluctantly concluded that sponsorship   
   at this level would be impossible.   
      
   KK6EK and KY6R say that they have therefore decided to delay the expedition   
   to the early 2015 date to allow more time to restructure the project. It   
   will also give them the ability to locate a more suitable vessel and bring   
   the cost more in line with projected available resources.   
      
   According to Club Log, Heard Island is Number 7 on its DXCC Most Wanted List.   
   The operations website is at www.heardisland.org. A detailed account of   
   the problems being incurred in planning this important expedition is on line   
   at tinyurl.com/Heard-Rescheduled and we will have more DX related news near   
   the end of this week's newscast. (OPDX, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the N8URW repeater serving   
   Jackson, Michigan.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: A LOOK AT HAMVENTION 2013   
      
   The 2013 Dayton Hamvention will likely go down in the amateur radio history   
   books as one of the best. And while it will be a while before we know the   
   actual number of those attending, all indictors say that it was again a   
   banner year. Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford, N8WB, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   It was rather foggy on Friday, May 17th when the doors opened at the Hara   
   Arena for the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. But the gloom outside was quickly   
   replaced by crowds of hams inside the showplace ready for three days of ham   
   radio fun. One of these was Hollywood producer Dave Bell, W6AQ:   
      
   --   
      
   Bell: "So the first thing I do is go down the ramp to deposit my ticket   
   stub; my winning ticket stub which has never won. And then down into the   
   main arena which I call the `snake pit' because it is always full and this   
   Friday it was even fuller than usual. It was packed/   
      
   "I turned around and went out the the way I came in and into a relatively   
   empty hallway to go around to where the rest of the merchants were and it   
   was busy over there too. I think the merchants must have done a gangbusters   
   business this time."   
      
   --   
      
   According to several long time attendees, numbers appeared good for an   
   opening day as its been the past two or three years. The ARRL reports that   
   its Expo area drew a substantial crowd with popular activities such as the   
   W1AW 75th anniversary exhibit, the Youth Lounge and spectral purity testing   
   provided courtesy of the ARRL Lab. And as usual, lines formed immediately   
   for DXCC card checking.   
      
   There were several new products introduced at Hamvention 2013 and while we do   
   not have time this week to cover all of them, perhaps one of the most   
   interesting was Yaesu's new High Frequency transceiver. Tim Phactor, KT7F,   
   of Yaesu described the new entry:   
      
   --   
      
   Phactor: "Weve come out with a very new HF rig which is called the FTDX-1200   
   which is an entry level TFT screen radio.   
      
   "Last year you may remember that we came out with the FTDX-3000 which was an   
   opportunity for those who liked the 5000 to have a price point a little   
   less. So this year we just topped that with now an entry level TFT screen   
   radio with a built-in bandscope and the kind of features you would find on a   
   higher priced radio."   
      
   --   
      
   Not to be outdone, Icom was there with two new products. The company   
   showcased both its ID-51A portable and IC-7100 mobile radios. Both are are   
   D-STAR ready and as such they facilitate clear digital voice, short data   
   messages, worldwide D-STAR linked repeater access over the Internet and   
   more.   
      
   The IC-7100 is particularly of interest in that it combines VHF and UHF   
   analog and digital with all-band all-mode mobile operations using a new   
   slanted control head with what is the amateur industries first touchscreen   
   interface. This is the radio many saw previewed on the Ham Nation Internet   
   TV show a few months ago.   
      
   Icom, along with several other manufacturers were also prize contributors to   
   one of the highlights at the Hamvention for over a quarter of a century.   
   That being the Youth Forum hosted by New York City educator Carole Perry,   
   WB2MGP. This session usually pulls one of the largest crowds of any session   
   and 2013 was no exception:   
      
   --   
      
   Perry: "Well this year was a banner year for the Youth Forum. It was our   
   26th year and we had close to 300 people in what I refer to as the love   
   audience. Those who come out to support the kids.   
      
   "I had six young speakers age 10 to 18 who gave phenomenal presentations. We   
   had a scientist doing a live demonstration on cloaking (which is) a new   
   technology and he tied it into his childhood involved with amateur radio.   
   And we had twenty-two radios that were donated by the manufacturers Icom,   
   Kenwood and MFJ. And it was simply wonderful!"   
      
   --   
      
   Meantime, over in the ARRL Expo area there was also an emphasis on youth and   
   according to the Leagues president Kay Cragie, N3KN, this young peoples   
   interest in ham radio bodes well for the future:   
      
   --   
      
   Cragie: "One of the things I think is most positive is that young people who   
   are in technical and engineering fields `get' amateur radio today. A lot of   
   them are going to spend their careers in the wireless industry so radio   
   makes sense to them in a way that it might not have twenty or twenty-five   
   years ago when everything was computer programming."   
      
   --   
      
   Even though the theme of this year's Hamvention was DX, there was a lot there   
   dealing with ham radio technology as well. One of the most interesting   
   hi-tech displays was over at the Amsat booth where AMSAT-North America had   
   the engineering model of the Fox-1 satellite on display. The satellite is   
   presently scheduled to fly in November 2014.   
      
   But for the average ham in the street it was a book that caught a lot of   
   attention. The Heil Ham Radio Handbook, Edition 2 is a newly revised   
   edition of Bob Heil, K9EID's earlier work but updated for ham radio in the   
   21st century. And according to K9EID, this was for him a labor of love:   
      
   --   
      
   Heil: "The big focus here for us this year is our book. Thanks to a lot of   
   people, Stephan Kinford probably being one of the most valuable, we were   
   able to take our book from 1976 and we've enhanced it. A lot of the old   
   stuff left there but we also put a lot of new stuff in it. And its really   
   been successful here; everybody is thrilled with it and I am honored to   
   bring things to this industry that haven't been here before."   
      
   --   
      
   Thank you for the compliment Bob. I can tell you that working with you on   
   this project was one I enjoyed as well.   
      
   Theres lots more to tell you about Hamvention 2013, but that's all the time   
   we have right now. For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephan Kinford,   
   N8WB, in ham radio city, U.S.A.   
      
   --   
      
   Stephan will be back next week with more on Hamvention 2013. Meantime if you   
   were not there and did not see any of the live streaming video of this years   
   event there's still a way to get a peak at some of the highlights in a slide   
   show video posted to YouTube by Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, Just take your web   
   browser to tinyurl.com/freeze-frame-video, sit back and enjoy. (ARNewsline   
   (tm))   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: NORTHERN NEVADA SWAPFEST ON JUNE 1ST   
      
   Turning to other events on the ham radio social calendar, the 8th annual   
   Northern Nevada Swap Meet is slated for Saturday, June 1st at the Brad   
   Hollander N7RCA Ranch in the city of Minden. That's about 15 miles South of   
   Carson City. Anyone interested in radio from the latest and greatest to old   
   boat anchor gear is welcome. A map and contact information is on-line at   
   www.N7RCA.info. (N7RCA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: SEA-PAC AMATEUR RADIO CONVENTION MAY 31 - JUNE2   
      
   The SEA-PAC Amateur Radio Convention takes place in Seaside, Oregon, May 31st   
   to June 2nd. SEA-PAC is the Northwest's largest amateur radio gathering   
   with communication equipment dealers and factory representatives on hand to   
   demonstrate the very latest in ham radio technology. Also seminars will be   
   held on emergency communications, digital communications, the national   
   electrical code for amateur radio and there will also be amateur radio   
   licensing testing. For more information on this fun event take your web   
   browser to seapac.org.   
   (SEA-PAC)   
      
   **   
      
   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: PITTSBURGH CB OPERATOR ISSUED $18000 NAL   
      
   A Pennsylvania Citizens Band radio operator has been issued an $18,000 Notice   
   of Apparent Liability for several violations of Part 95 of the FCC rules.   
   Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   In its May 14 order the FCC alleges that Pittsburgh resident Nathaniel   
   Johnson failed to comply with restricted hours of station operation as   
   required in an official notice. Also that he failed to make his CB station   
   available for inspection by authorized FCC representatives.   
      
   This story goes back to January 19, 2012. Thats when the FCC received a   
   complaint alleging that Nataniel Johnson's CB station was causing   
   interference to his neighbors' telephone and television reception.   
      
   When agents in the Enforcement Bureau's Philadelphia Office attempted to   
   conduct an on-scene inspection at Johnson's residence on February 16, 2012,   
   no one answered the door. So on March 19, 2012, the Philadelphia Office   
   sent a Warning Letter to Johnson, directing him to contact the Philadelphia   
   Office within ten calendar days to schedule an inspection. The Warning   
   Letter also specified that if the harmful interference continued, and   
   arrangements were not made with the Philadelphia Office to schedule an   
   inspection, the Commission might impose restricted hours of operation for   
   the CB station. Johnson did not contact the Philadelphia Office to schedule   
   an inspection as directed.   
      
   This pattern repeated itself even after the FCC sent Johnson two separate   
   warning letters and imposed quiet hours on his operation.   
      
   On October 11, 2012, agents from the Philadelphia Office performed an   
   on-scene investigation to confirm the source of continuing interference to   
   televisions and telephones in Nathaniel Johnson's neighborhood. At 9:55   
   a.m., during the Quiet Hours period, the agents monitored multiple radio   
   transmissions on the frequencies 27.025 MHz, 27.055 MHz, and 27.015 MHz.   
   They then T-Hunted the interference directly to Johnson's residence.   
      
   Agents then knocked multiple times on the door but no one answered but the   
   transmissions on 27.025 MHz, 27.055 MHz, and 27.015 MHz ceased. The agents   
   left copies of the June 12 Warning Letter on Johnson's front door, back   
   door, and in his mailbox to remind him of the operational restrictions and   
   the directive to immediately contact the Philadelphia Office to schedule an   
   inspection.   
      
   However the FCC says that to the day it issued the Notice of Apparent   
   Liability that Nathaniel Johnson still had not contacted the Philadelphia   
   Office, and that Office continues to receive interference complaints   
   concerning Johnson's CB station operation.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick, P.A..   
      
   --   
      
   In addition to the $18,000 proposed fine which he was given the customary 30   
   days to pay the FCC has also ordered Johnson submit a written statement,   
   signed under penalty of perjury, confirming compliance with the Quiet Hours   
   restriction. He is also ordered to specify a date and time no later than   
   forty-five calendar days from issuance of the NAL when FCC agents can   
   inspect his CB radio station. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   PUBLIC SERVICE: HAM RADIO COMMUNICATORS NEEDED FOR 2013 SUMMER SPECIAL   
   OLYMPIC GAMES   
      
   Ham radio volunteers in Southern California are needed to provide   
   communicators for the 2013 Special Olympics Summer Games. The dates are   
   June 8 and 9 with the venue being the California State University in the   
   city of Long Beach.   
      
   More than 1,100 athletes from throughout the region will showcase their   
   determination, courage, and skills at this years summer games. This event   
   is free and open to the public. If you or your group is available to   
   volunteer please contact Mark Lidikay, KE6TNM, by e-mail to MLidikay (at)   
   holdenandrew (dot) com (KE6TNM via N6ZXJ)   
      
   **   
      
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: CLYBURN NOW ACTING CHAIR OF THE FCC   
      
   Some names in the news. First up is FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn who   
   became acting chair of the agency, effective Monday, May 20th. She is   
   temporarily replacing former FCC chairman Julius Genachowski who retired   
   from that position on Friday, May 17th.   
      
   Clyburn is the first woman to hold that post and will continue to helm the   
   agency until President Obama's nominee for Chairman, Tom Wheeler can receive   
   his nomination hearing. According to a Senate Commerce Committee spokesman   
   that's not likely to happen any earlier than sometime in June.   
      
   Also up for grabs is the seat of now retired Commissioner Robert McDowell who   
   is headed for a new position at the Hudson Institute. That could take from   
   several weeks to several months. Until at least one of the two vacant   
   positions can be filled the FCC will be at operating with the bare minimum   
   of three seated commissioners that is required for a quorum. (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: JUSTIN JOHNSON, G0KSC RECEIVES AWARD FROM RSGB   
      
   InnovAntennas, Ltd. founder Justin Johnson, G0KSC, has been awarded the   
   Harold Rose Plate by the Radio Society of Great Britain. This in   
   recognition of Justin's many contributions to 50 MHz antenna technology and   
   the amateur radio community.   
      
   The award citation was presented to G0KSC at the RSGB's Annual General   
   Meeting in April. This is considered to be a very prestigious honor and was   
   made in recognition of Justin's years of design, development and teaching of   
   the tools and techniques that have led to the introduction of several novel   
   antenna designs. These include such antennas as the Loop Fed Array and the   
   Optimized Wide-band Low-Impedance Yagi. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: CQ MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES HALLS OF FAME INDUCTEES   
      
   CQ magazine has announced eight inductees to its Amateur Radio Hall of Fame.   
   Its also adding two members each to the CQ DX and Contest Halls of Fame.   
      
   The 2013 inductees to the CQ Amateur Radio Hall of Fame are longtime amateur   
   radio industry leader Evelyn Garrison, WS7A; former QST Magazine Managing   
   Editor Joel Kleinman, N1BKE; well known BBC correspondent Laurie Margolis,   
   G3UML/GPC3L; former Wireless Institute of Australia leader and Chairman of   
   IARU Region 3 Michael Owen, VK3KI; Harry Rubinstein the ex-9EEV who is   
   credited as the inventor of the printed circuit and several other devices;   
   journalist, author and historian Walker Tompkins, K6ATX; famed guitarist and   
   performer Joe Walsh, WB6ACU, and former CQ Novice Editor Bill Welsh, W6DDB.   
   Evelyn Garrison, Joel Kleinman, Michael Owen, Harry Rubenstein and Bill   
   Welsh are being honored posthumously for their contributions.   
      
   The 2013 inductees to the CQ DX Hall of Fame are Vladimir Bykov, UA4WHX/AC4LN   
   and Robert "Gary" Dixon, K4MQG. CQ Contest Hall of Fame inductees are Dale   
   Green, VE7SV, and Charles Fulp, K3WW.   
      
   Formal ceremonies to the CQ Contest and CQ DX Halls of Fame took place at   
   last weeks Dayton Hamvention. A more detailed descriptions of this years   
   inductees will appear in the July 2013 issue of CQ magazine. (CQ)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 3   
      
   With you 52 weeks a year, every year since 1976. 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)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO HISTORY: FIRST RADIO REPORT OF SPORTING EVENT COMMEMORATED   
      
   A bit of radio history. Were you aware that the first reporting by wireless   
   of a sporting event took place in Dublin Bay during the Kingstown Yacht   
   Regatta way back in July 1898? It did and plans are afoot for ham radio to   
   commemorate the event.   
      
   The story goes this way. At the request of the Express newspaper, famed   
   inventor Guglielmo Marconi installed wireless equipment aboard the vessel   
   the Flying Huntress and transmitted reports to the harbormaster's office in   
   the town of Kingstown which is now known as Dun Laoghaire. The results were   
   posted in a window and published even before the yachts returned to port.   
      
   Now in 2013, to commemorate the event Ireland's Howth Martello Radio Group   
   and the South Dublin Radio Club plan to set up two special event stations.   
   As the races took place off Howth Head, one station will operate from the   
   Martello Tower in Howth and the other from the Maritime Museum in Dun   
   Laoghaire.   
      
   The weekend of 20-21 July is proposed for this operation but it has to be   
   added that planning is at an early stage. As such things are still subject   
   to change. (IRTS)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO SCIENCE: NASA ROVER EXPLORING GREENLAND ICE SHELF   
      
   A new NASA wheeled explorer has been released here on mother Earth. Named   
   Grover which is an acronym for the Goddard Remotely Operated Vehicle for   
   Exploration and Research the radio equipped rover will explore Greenland's   
   ice sheets to better understand how they form, and how quickly they may be   
   melting.   
      
   Grover was developed by teams of students in the 2010 and 2011 summer   
   engineering boot camps at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, according   
   to a release from NASA. The 6-foot-tall, 800-pound vehicle is equipped   
   with ground-penetrating radar that will send pulses into the ice sheet, and   
   measure the reflections to tell researchers about the characteristics of the   
   snow and ice layers.   
      
   While radio equipped, Grover is solar-powered and semi-autonomous. It began   
   its first mission on Friday, May 3rd, and will continue through Saturday,   
   June 8th. More about this Earth based NASA explorer is in line at   
   tinyurl.com/meet-grover (NASA, Live Science)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: CALL FOR PAPERS FOR 2013 DIGITAL ARRL-TAPR DCC   
      
   Hams worldwide are invited to submit papers for publication in the printed   
   proceedings of the joint ARRL and Tucson Amateur Packet Radio Digital   
   Communications Conference. The conference slated for September 20th to the   
   22nd in Seattle, Washington but you do not have to attend to submit a paper   
   for consideration. Submissions will not be edited and authors will retain   
   all rights. If you have such a presentation that you would like to see   
   included, please send it before July 31st to Maty Weinberg, ARRL   
   Headquarters, 225 Main Street, Newington, Connecticut, 06111 or by e-mail to   
   maty (at) arrl (dot) org. (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: DARC AWARDS: PDF VERSIONS AND PAYMENT VIA PAYPAL   
      
   The national amateur radio society of Germany says that following a   
   successful test certain Deutscher Amateur Radio Club awards will become   
   available as PDF printable file at reduced fees, and payment via PayPal will   
   be accepted. At the same time fees for printed awards were adjusted to   
   their actual costs.   
      
   The DARC says that as of June onwards printed awards will cost 7 Euros while   
   an e-mailed PDF file award will be available for only 3 Euro.   
   Implementation of this new payment system will begin with the Worked All   
   Europe Award with others to follow.   
      
   (DARC)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: THREE DECADE OLD TI9CCC DATES FINALLY APPROVED   
      
   Bill Moore, NC1L, at the ARRL DXCC Desk reports that an almost three decade   
   old operation from Cocos Island has been approved for DXCC credit.   
   According to Moore, over the years some applicants have had the TI9CCC   
   operation rejected in their DXCC application mostly due to an "Incorrect   
   Date Period." Now, the issue with the dates for this operation has been   
   resolved. If you had this operation rejected, and your confirmation falls   
   between February 15 through February 28, 1984 you are invited to send an   
   e-mail to bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org to be placed on the list for an update   
   to your record.   
      
   (ARRL DXCC)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, word that OD5SK is currently active from Jordan as JY8KS. He is   
   reported to be on the HF bands only. QSL via IZ8CLM.   
      
   Five English amateurs will use the callsign SZ8S from the Greek island of   
   Samos through the 30th of May. This will count as EU-049 for the Islands on   
   the Air Award. QSLs go via G1LAT for direct cards or via M0SCG for bureau   
   cards.   
      
   VE3DZ will be active from Bermuda through May 30th as VP9FOC He will be   
   operational on all of the High Frequency bands QSL via home call.   
      
   DJ2II will visit IOTA reference EU-042 through May 30th working stroke P on   
   80 through 10 meters. He will be using SSB and CW only. QSL via DJ2II   
   either direct or via the bureau.   
      
   K9VV and WP2XX will be visiting the Radio Reef DXers super station on St   
   Croix Island from May 21st to 28th. They will be on the air with their own   
   callsigns and as KP2M for the CQ WPX CW contest. QSL for KP2M go via   
   Logbook of the World or direct via AI4U.   
      
   UT6UD will be operational from Hiva Oa Island in the Marquesas from July 7th   
   to the 13th and from Rurutu in the Austral Islands from July 14th to the   
   22nd operating stroke F Oh. He will be active on 30 through 10 meters on CW   
   , SSB , RTTY. QSL via his home call of UT6UD.   
      
   Lastly, WB8BZK will be on the air stroke VE3 from Seseganaga Lake in Ontario.   
   Canada between May 26th and 31st. He will be operating only on 6 meters,   
   primarily on 50.135MHz running SSB and CW. Operating times are tentatively   
   each morning at 1230 GMT and then again between 22.30 and 23.00 GMT each   
   evening. If you make contact, please QSL with a self addressed, USA- stamped   
   envelope to WB8BZK at his address on QRZ.com.   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: DAYTON 2013 - THE MARGELLI REPORT   
      
   And finally this week, no report on the Dayton Hamvention would be complete   
   without a few words from someone who has quite literally devoted his entire   
   life and professional career to amateur radio. Heres a quick assessment of   
   this years Dayton gathering from Chip Margelli, K7JA:   
      
   --   
      
   Margelli: "Ive seen a lot of excited people this weekend looking to put up   
   new antennas or get new radios or looking tp learn something new.   
      
   "The theme of the convention this year is DX and to me DX is what ham radio   
   is all about. It's right at the heart and soul of everything to do with ham   
   radio.   
      
   "Everybody seems to be having a good time learning, seeing, meeting up with   
   old friends and just having a ball in Dayton."   
      
   --   
      
   Thank you Chip and our thanks also to the organizers of Hamvention 2013 for   
   yet another great show. Ands less we forget to mention, mark your calendars   
   now with the dates of next May 16, 17 and 18 for Hamvention 2014. We will   
   see you there. (ARNewsline(tm))   
      
   **   
      
   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   
      
   Before we go a reminder that the there are only about a week and a half left   
   to nominate a young ham age 18 or under for this years Amateur Radio   
   Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award. The closing date is midnight on May   
   30th and any nominations postmarked or sent to us electronically after that   
   date will not be counted for this years judging. This years winner will   
   receive an expense paid trip to the Huntsville Hamfest courtesy of Yaesu   
   USA, a week at Spacecamp Huntsville from CQ Magazine, a prize of ham radio   
   gear and a plaque commemorating the event from us here at the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline. Full details and a nominating form are on our website at   
   www.arnewsline.org/yhoty. We look forward to receiving your nominations.   
      
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Jim Davis,   
   W2JKD, saying 73 from Florida's Treasure Coast, 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)