Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1877 - August 2 2013   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1877 with a release date of August 2   
   2013 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Hams in Hawaii go on alert for Pacific Storm   
   Flossie, India recognizes three hams as rescue radio heroes; more than 400   
   attend ARRL sponsored Hurricane readiness webinar; vandals topple a radio   
   tower that's home to at least one ham radio digipeter; Monitoring Times to   
   cease publication at years end and a lighthouse in the middle of the   
   Australian desert will take part in International Lighthouse and Lightship   
   weekend. Find out the details are on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report   
   number 1877 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: HAWAII HAMS RESPOND TO TROPICAL STORM FLOSSIE   
      
   Ham radio was ready when Pacific Storm Flossie took aim at the Island State.   
   Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with what we know so far:   
      
   --   
      
   KH7HO: "...there was a report of an individual that had a hole in the roof   
   that was touched by lightning; we had some trees that fell and that's about   
   it. There wasn't ant extensive flooding, no huge storm surge. So we lucked   
   out in this tropical storm."   
   --   
      
   That's Clement Jung, KH7HO, who is the State of Hawaii's Amateur Radio   
   Skywarn Coordinator summing up a severe weather event that was called   
   Tropical Storm Flossie. According to Jung, amateur radio operators across   
   Hawaii involved in various aspects of rescue radio operation were ready to   
   respond after the Central Pacific Hurricane Center issued an advisory on   
   announcing that the storm had crossed Longitude 140 into the Central Pacific   
   hurricane region.   
      
   Flossie approached from the east, heading almost due west at 20 Miles per   
   Hour. In anticipation of the storms arrival plans had been underway between   
   the National Weather Service SKYWARN and Hawaii State Civil Defense to   
   coordinate a joint net on the state-wide VHF Repeater system. Its purpose   
   would be for the passing storm information to the National Weather Service   
   Honolulu Forecast Office.   
      
   --   
      
   KH7HO: "About 8 o'clock on Monday (morning) July 29th was when the action   
   began to come up. The Hurricane Center meteorologists were concerned about   
   a development over Maui and approaching Lanai, Molokai and Oahu. The   
   development was (a storm cell) some 60,000 feet high while generating a lot   
   of lightning and thunder. They were concerned about more rain, hale and   
   possibly tornadoes."   
      
   --   
      
   Meteorologists also requested reports of heavy rainfall to confirm what they   
   were seeing on their radar. These reports were provided by amateur radio   
   operators on the SKYWARN net supplemented with messages relayed via cell   
   phones, text messages and on social media such as Facebook.   
      
   This was the first tropical cyclone in Hawaiian waters that encountered the   
   volcanoes on the Big Island. As predicted, the mass of these mountains   
   disrupted the circular motion of the storm causing a portion to separate and   
   head around South Point. It also forced the main portion of the storm to   
   head north where it encountered the mass of Mt. Haleakala on Maui. The   
   combined action of these three volcanoes caused the moisture to deflect   
   upwards, forming thunderhead clouds up to an estimated 49,000 feet. The   
   cold temperatures at that altitude caused the moisture to form ice and rain,   
   which fell as heavy downpours on the island of Maui and Molokai.   
      
   All in all Flossie did not wreak the damage that some had predicted, and with   
   the state-wide ham radio network of intertied repeaters using the ALL STAR   
   Network communications was uninterrupted throughout the event. KH7HO says   
   that it is cooperation among the various groups that makes Hawaii's ever   
   ready emergency response possible:   
      
   --   
      
   KH7HO: "...no matter what hat we wear we all work together. Whether we are   
   ARES, RACES, State RACES, DM RACES; that's the whole concept. We have   
   limited resources here; we're an island state and we all have to work   
   together. Its what we call `ohana' or family in Hawaiian."   
      
   --   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   Flossie faded the morning of July 30th thanks to winds that broke layers of   
   the storm apart. The ham radio operators who were a part of the first   
   response effort say that they are ready for anything that Mother Nature   
   might send their way. (ARNewsline(tm))   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: INDIA RECOGNIZES THREE HAMS AS HEROES   
      
   Three hams in India have been recognized for their efforts in the Uttarkhand   
   flood relief operations. The newspaper The Hindu says that VU3GDS, VU3HVD   
   and VU3HBT have all been honored for their contributions to public safety   
   during and in the aftermath of the Uttarakhand storms and flooding.   
      
   All three are from the city of Bangalore and were among the first to reach   
   Uttarakhand and establish a communication link from remote areas. During   
   the floods, the three were instrumental in establishing communication with   
   the local district administration in the Himalayan terrains to enable better   
   coordination for civilian relief. Communicating with the disaster control   
   center established at Dehra Dun, they relayed messages to the local district   
   administration which took appropriate measures to reach out to those   
   stranded or in need of rescue.   
      
   The Newspaper is calling the three heroes. The complete story in The Hindu   
   is on-line at tinyurl.com/india-ham-heroes. (The Hindu)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: RADIO NZ AM SIGNAL FAILED AFTER JULY 21 QUAKE   
      
   An AM radio outage takes place after an earthquake hits New Zealand. Amateur   
   Radio Newsline's Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   Radio New Zealand's AM emergency notification radio service was unable to   
   broadcast civil defense messages for about 20 minutes after the   
   6.5-magnitude quake on Sunday evening, July 21st. Radio New Zealand   
   spokesman John Barr said that the problem was caused when a fuse went out in   
   the Porirua coastal suburb of Titahi Bay.   
      
   Barr said that the company had a technician there quickly to rectify the   
   situation. He noted that the outage was isolated to the AM broadcast   
   operation and did not hamper any other civil defense capacity. Barr added   
   that Radio New Zealand had continued to operate on their FM frequency and on   
   television through Sky and Freeview.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, in Nelson, New   
   Zealand.   
      
   --   
      
   New Zealand authorities recommend that the public tune to the civil defense   
   recommended frequency of 101 FM. That is the standard FM emergency   
   notification frequency around most of that country.   
   (published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: MORE THAN 400 ATTEND 2013 ON-LINE ARRL HURRICANE WEBINAR   
      
   A record number of individuals interested in emergency preparedness were on   
   hand for the 2013 ARRL Hurricane Webinar, which was held Monday evening,   
   July 15th. According to the ARRL Letter, a total of 410 people, many of   
   them radio amateurs, participated in the event. This was the highest   
   attendance ever for an ARRL webinar, administered by ARRL Emergency   
   Preparedness Manager Mike Corey, KI1U.   
      
   Those attending heard presentations on a number of topics, including an   
   overview of the 2013 hurricane season forecasts and the role of   
   IRLP/EchoLink in disaster communication by veteran SKYWARN volunteer Rob   
   Macedo, KD1CY. Also covered was a summary of Hurricane Watch Net activity   
   by Net Manager Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, and the importance of publicizing   
   Amateur Radio communication support by ARRL Media and Public Relations   
   Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X.   
      
   For those who missed it, the webinar has been posted for download at the   
   ARRL's website. You will find it in cyberspace at   
   www.arrl.org/public-service-resources (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: ARRL SAYS THAT RECEIVER IMMUNITY STANDARDS IMPRACTICAL FOR   
   AMATEUR SERVICE   
      
   The ARRL says that receiver interference immunity standards are not needed or   
   of value to ham radio. Amateur Radfio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD,   
   reports:   
      
   --   
      
   Responding to an FCC call for comments based in part on recommendations in a   
   Technological Advisory Council white paper, the ARRL has told the FCC that   
   establishing so-called "harm claim threshold" or HCT standards for receivers   
   would not work in the Amateur Service.   
      
   HCTs, expressed in field strength or power flux density, would specify the   
   level of radio interference that receivers should be expected to tolerate   
   before a radio service could claim harmful interference. Limits would be   
   established throughout a given service's assigned frequency range as well as   
   within certain frequencies outside that range.   
      
   But in its filing, the ARRL argues that there is a need for minimum, perhaps   
   even mandatory, receiver performance standards for home electronic devices,   
   but the Amateur Service should not be subject to these same type of receiver   
   immunity standards. The Leagues comments note that any performance   
   standards for amateur service receivers would be purely arbitrary, and would   
   compromise the experimental purposes of the Amateur Radio Service.   
      
   The ARRL says that hams have the technical knowledge to differentiate between   
   interference from spurious or out-of-band emissions from nearby transmitters   
   and that caused by receiver deficiencies. In other words, the suggested   
   standards would be of little or no value to receivers designed to operate in   
   or near the Amateur Service bands.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick,   
   Pennsylvania.   
      
   --   
      
   The complete ARRL filing is on the web at tinyurl.com/hct-not-needed-by-hams   
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   With you 52 weeks a year, every year since 1977, we are the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including the WD6HFR   
   repeater serving San Diego, California.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO CRIME: VANDALS TOPPLE RADIO TOWER NOT FAR FROM SAN FRANCISCO   
      
   Vandals have brought down a multi-use transmission tower East of the San   
   Francisco bay area. The structure that is the site for microwave links,   
   land mobile radio, cellular telephone, and an APRS Digipeter.   
      
   According to the East Bay Regional Park District Police the guy wires that   
   supported the structure located on Rocky Ridge near the city of Danville   
   were intentionally cut causing it to collapse early on Tuesday, July 30th.   
      
   Park police Lt. John King said the vandal or vandals went through a lot of   
   effort to topple the tower. He explained that it was in an area not easily   
   accessible and that the criminal or criminals involved had to get through   
   several gates to reach the site.   
      
   Nobody was injured in the downing of the fifty foot high antenna support   
   structure. Police are continuing the investigation of the incident. They   
   ask anyone with information to contact them at area code 510-881-1833.   
      
   According to a post by a ham on Facebook familiar with the area, losing that   
   tower will have a big impact on radio coverage in the cities of Danville,   
   San Ramon and along Interstate 680 corridor. (W6DTW, K8WHB, Published news   
   reports)   
      
   **   
      
   ELECTRONICS LAW: MOMENTUM IS BUILDING IN CONGRESS TO SQUASH PATENT TROLLS.   
      
   More laws to curb patent trolling appear to be on their way. This as   
   Representatives Blake Farenthold of Texas and Hakeem Jeffries of New York   
   introduce the Patent Litigation and Innovation Act of 2013 in the United   
   States House. Amateur Radio Newsline's Skeeter Nash, N5ASH, has the   
   details:   
      
   --   
      
   This is the sixth piece of legislation unveiled this year to address concerns   
   about patent trolls, and features some provisions that were incorporated in   
   the earlier bills. This includes forcing an infringement accuser to reveal   
   more about who is actually bringing the suit, including details about their   
   patent claims, as well as limiting discovery.   
      
   A big difference between H.R. 2639 and its predecessors is this measure would   
   permit manufacturers to essentially take over a case against an end user   
   accused of patent infringement. As such the bill adds transparency and   
   legitimacy to the thousands of cease and desist letters sent out by patent   
   trolls.   
      
   According to the National Economic Council and the Council of Economic   
   Advisors, patent trolls can threaten to sue a few or thousands of companies   
   at once, without specific evidence of infringement against any of them.   
   Some create shell companies that make it difficult for defendants to know   
   who is suing them and assert that their patents cover inventions not   
   imagined at the time they were granted.   
      
   Last May the White House said that it was taking several steps to curb patent   
   abuse and that the administration is ready to work with Congress to resolve   
   the problem.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5ASH.   
      
   --   
      
   Ham radio operators who produce podcasts dealing with the hobby have a vested   
   interested in this matter due to an ongoing issue involving a company that   
   claims it owns rights to the podcasting concept and has brought suit against   
   several high profile users in various areas of broadcasting and technology   
   over what that company claims to belong to it. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   HELPING HAMS: NCDXC DONATES $8,000 TO NCDXF FOR FUTURE DXPEDITIONS   
      
   The Northern California DX Club has presented an $8000 check to the Northern   
   California DX Foundation. This to assist in continuing the Foundations work   
   in fostering DX and DXpeditions where needed.   
      
   The Foundation says that this is the largest donation that it ever received   
   from a club. It says that the monies will help to provide critical funding   
   to DXpedtions high on the Most Wanted List. It adds that without this type   
   of support that such DXpedtions might not be possible.   
      
   The Northern California DX Club was founded on October 10th, 1946. The   
   beneficiary of its generosity, the Northern California DX Foundation is a   
   private non profit organization founded in 1972. Its purpose is to assist   
   worthwhile amateur radio and scientific projects with funding and equipment.   
      
      
   More details and a photo of the check being presented is on the web at   
   www.ncdxf.org and www.ncdxc.org. (NCDXF press release)   
      
   **   
      
   HELPING HAMS: YASME SUPPORTS EQUIPMENT ACQUISITION FOR NEW ETHIOPIAN   
   AMATEURS   
      
   Some good news for a nation where ham radio is re-emerging. The Yasme   
   Foundation Board of Directors has approved a grant to be used to purchase   
   amateur radio transceivers for three members of the Ethiopian Amateur Radio   
   Society. This is so that these hams can satisfy the requirements of the   
   Ethiopian licensing process.   
      
   Ethiopia came back on the air May 30, 2011, with the re-opening of the   
   Ethiopian Amateur Radio Society station ET3AA. To support the   
   reestablishment of amateur radio in that nation the Yasme Foundation issued   
   a grant to pay the fees associated with license examinations for 25 members   
   of that club. Many were successful but under Ethiopian regulations could   
   not receive a license without proof of ownership of an amateur radio   
   station. This latest Yasme grant is a step in getting individual Ethopian   
   hams back on the air. (Yasme Foundation)   
      
   **   
      
   HELPING HAMS: YASME SUPPORTS DEVELOPER OF VIEWPROP   
      
   The Yasme Foundation Board has also announced that it has made a grant to   
   support further development of ViewProp. This is a new utility for   
   propagation visualization developed by Rick Kiessig, ZL2HAM.   
      
   ViewProp integrates information from the Reverse Beacon Network and worldwide   
   spotting networks with station location information from QRZ.com and mapping   
   through DXAtlas. The result is a real-time, worldwide view of amateur radio   
   signals and overall ham radio operation.   
      
   ViewProp also supports a "playback" function to review historical data and   
   provides the user with a number of options to configure both the input data   
   stream and the way in which the information is displayed.   
      
   Currently in beta testing by a global user's group, the Yasme grant will   
   enable ZL2HAM to complete development with appropriate networked software   
   tools and release it for public use.   
      
   The Yasme Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation organized to conduct   
   scientific and educational projects related to Amateur Radio. More about it   
   is on the web at www dot yasme dot org. (Yasme Foundation)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO BUSINESS: MONITORING TIMES MAGAZINE TO CEASE PUBLICATION AT THE END OF   
   2013   
      
   Monitoring Times magazine will cease publication at the end of the year.   
   This as publisher Bob Grove, W8JHD, tells contributors in an e-mail that,   
   after 33 years, he and his wife, Judy, have decided to retire.   
      
   In his notice Grove said that a combination of a down-turned economy, as well   
   as the ready availability of free listening and technical information on the   
   Internet, has reduced sales and subscriptions throughout the marketplace.   
   Therefore Monitoring Times will be shutting down all operations after its   
   December 2013 issue.   
      
   The impending closure of Monitoring Times leaves CQ Publishing's Popular   
   Communications, as the only national magazine serving the burgeoning   
   shortwave listeners, CBers and scanning enthusiasts market. (CQ, MT)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: VK2DIK ON HIS WORLD JOURNEYS AND HAM RADIO   
      
   Some names in the news. First off is Australian aviator and entrepreneur   
   Dick Smith, VK2DIK , who made the first solo helicopter flight around the   
   world 30 years ago. The journey which ended on July the 22nd, 1983, was the   
   subject of an unforgettable Wireless Institute of Australia Centenary speech   
   given by Smith at his Bowylie Flying Club. During the talk he highlighted   
   the dangers of the Japan to Alaska leg, that included the finding and   
   landing on a container ship to refuel. Smith also noted that it was amateur   
   radio that assisted him to circumnavigate the globe and on other occasions   
   including his famous balloon flight in February of 2000. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: W6OBB RETURNING TO NIGHTTIME TALK RADIO   
      
   According to a posting by Art Bell, W6OBB, on Facebook, he will be returning   
   to nighttime talk radio this fall. But you won't be hearing him on your AM   
   or FM dial. That's because Bell's new program will be a part of the Sirius   
   XM satellite subscription program line-up.   
      
   More information was provided in an article on the bigstory dot com website.   
   It says that a Sirius XM company representative contacted Bell through   
   social media a few months ago. This in turn led to the creation of Bell's   
   new show to be titled "Art Bell's Dark Matter."   
      
   Sirius XM says that Bell will talk about things like UFOs, ghosts, near-death   
   experiences and the weird aspects of science. Also that he will do   
   interviews and take calls from listeners.   
      
   Like in years past, the show will originate from Art's property in Nevada.   
   Sirius XM is reportedly in the process of building a new studio facility for   
   him to originate from.   
      
   Meantime back on Facebook W6OBB posted that he could not say a word until   
   now. He added that he tried to tell his followers on Facebook that it was   
   coming without spilling the beans because he had been sworn not to. He also   
   directed those interested to see his website at artbell.com for more   
   details. You can read the in-depth bigstory dot com article at   
   tinyurl.com/w6obb-returns-to-talk-radio. (W6OBB, bigstory.ap.org,   
   artbell.com, Fecebook)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO PAST: THE VOA DELANO CALIFORNIA STORY   
      
   A oldie but a goodie from radios recent past. If you have ever had the   
   chance to listen to the Voice of America Shortwave station that operated   
   from Delano California and can recall its booming signal up and down the   
   West coast and out into the Pacific, here is the story of how it came about.   
   Also the way it operated for 63 years and its final non-descript signoff at   
   03:30 U-T-C on October 28, 2007. And there's even an amateur radio tie-in   
   when one of the stations 200 kilowatt Federal Radio transmitters showed up   
   on the ham radio airwaves calling CQ. We won't spoil it by telling you   
   more. Rather, make yourself a snack, sit back, relax and take your web   
   browser to tinyurl.com/the-voa-delano-story for a great evening of reading.   
   (RW)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is news for today's radio amateur. 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)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: A LIGHTHOUSE IN THE MIDDLE OF AUSTRALIA   
      
   An interesting story from down-under. Australia is known as a very big island   
   nation. At its geographic centre 1,500 kilometres from the coast is Alice   
   Springs, which hosts the famous Henley-On-Todd Regatta each August - albeit   
   on a usually dry river bed. What does this have to do with ham radio you   
   ask? Amateur Radio Newsline's Cheryl Lasek, K9BIK, has the answer:   
      
   --   
      
   Those living in Australia's Northern Territory and many visitors take the   
   annual regatta which began in 1962 very seriously. In fact there will   
   likely be some 3,000 people on hand witnessing the event.   
      
   There is an interesting story of how this location, in one of the driest   
   parts of Australia, connects with ham radio and also why deserves a   
   registration this year in the International Lighthouse and Lightship   
   Weekend. Its because of the Alice Springs lighthouse that is located there.   
      
   Greg Mair, VK8GM, explains that with the help of the Henley-On-Todd team, a   
   lighthouse has been built to promote the spirit of amateur radio and   
   lighthouses. Now, the Alice Springs lighthouse joining hundreds of others   
   around the world this year its pretty is certain to attract the attention of   
   local, national and international news media. After all, there are not very   
   many lighthouses out in the desert, anywhere on the planet.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Cheryl, Lasek, KB9BIK, half way around   
   the world in Zion, Illinois.   
      
   --   
      
   If you want to register a lighthouse, lightship or marine beacon in this   
   year's event then visit www.illw.net. This years International Lighthouse   
   and Lightship event takes place on August the 17th and 18th with almost 300   
   lit locations on the air. (VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT: SARL TO TAKE THE NEXT STEP IN 5 MHZ PROPAGATION RESEARCH   
      
   The South African Radio League says that it will activate a new propagation   
   beacon on 5 point 250 MHz by the end of August. Its transmitter will be   
   programmed to send signals at regular intervals and radio amateurs who have   
   the proper software will be able to record these signals automatically on   
   their computers.   
      
   The software to be used is called ALE. This is described as a complex   
   communications standard also known as MIL-STD 188-141 and USA government   
   standard FED-STD-1045. In the past usage it had been limited to expensive   
   military and commercial equipment with built-in controllers. All of that   
   changed with the development of software that runs on a personal computer   
   and makes use of the systems sound card. Because of this ALE is now in   
   regular use by radio amateurs all over the world.   
      
   The announcement of the new beacon was made at the Radio in Action Symposium   
   held in Port Elizabeth on Saturday July 27th. An article by Hannes Coetzee,   
   ZS6BZP, that explains the full operation will be posted on the Propagation   
   Research page on www.sarl.org.za. (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
      
   WORLDBEAT: NORDIC HF CONFERENCE AUGUST 12 TO 14 IN SWEDEN   
      
   The popular English language Nordic HF conference will take place in Sweden,   
   from August 12th to the 14th. Topics to be covered will include the design   
   of a software-defined radio; an ionospheric chirpsounder for HF propagation   
   analysis; creation of applications of advanced VLF/LF/HF-digital signal   
   processing in the amateur radio service and numerous other offerings.   
      
   The conference first took place in 1986 and initially was planned for a   
   limited audience of Nordic countries. It's now held every three years and   
   has grown steadily to a point where it now has international acclaim.   
      
   More information including a complete program and speaker listing is on the   
   web at nordichf.org. (Nordic HF Conference)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: MISSING STRaND-1 HAMSAT RETURNS TO LIFE   
      
   A missing satellite has announced its return. After 113 days of silence   
   DK3WN reported that hearing STRaND-1 and decoding telemetry. The spacecraft   
   has been silent since March 31st.   
      
   STRaND-1 transmits on frequency of 437.568 MHz. Further reports from others   
   hearing the bird would be welcome. Send them by e-mail to C.P.Bridges (at)   
   surrey (dot) ac (dot) uk (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: MEXICO SPECIAL EVENT TO CELEBRATE FMRE   
      
   On the air, members of the Mexican Federation of Radio Experimenters will be   
   operating from the resort city of Cancun from October 2nd to the 7th using   
   the special callsign XE3FMRE. This to celebrate the National Convention   
   FMRE 2013. Operation will take place on 80 through 6 meters using CW, SSB,   
   RTTY, PSK31 and possibly WSJT. QSL the event station via XE1LM.   
   (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: PA6SAIL NETHERLANDS SPECIAL EVENT   
      
   Also keep an ear open for Netherlands special event station PA6SAIL to be   
   active between August 19th and September 10th. This to support the maritime   
   event "SAIL De Ruyter" at Vlissingen.   
      
   Operation will be on the HF bands using CW, SSB, PSK and RTTY as well as   
   various times and modes on 6 and 2 meters. A special QSL card will be   
   issued for working this callsign. QSL via PA3GEO either direct or via the   
   bureau. (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   DXCC NEWS: NINE OPERATIONS APPROVED FOR DXCC CREDIT   
      
   Bill Moore NC1L, the Awards Branch Manager of the ARRL has announced a   
   plethora of operations that have been approved for DXCC credit. These are   
   the 2013 4S7NZG operation from Sri Lanka; the current W4XR expedition in   
   Laos; the one day July 9th Z8ØID operation from the South Sudan and the   
   2012 and 2013 9M4SLL operations from the Spratly Islands.   
      
   Also now approved is the 2010 through 2011 9Q6CC operation from the   
   Democratic People's Republic of the Congo; the 2013 XWØYJY outing from   
   Laos; the 2013 9XØEME from Rwanda and 6OØLA from Somalia Last but by no   
   means least is the 2012 T6JM operation from Afghanistan   
      
   According to NC1L, if you've had any of these rejected in a prior   
   application, send a note to bmoore (at) arrl (dot) org to be placed on the   
   list for an update to your record. Also, please note the submission date   
   and/or reference number where the rejection was noted to expedite the search   
   for any rejected QSOs. And we will have more DX related information later   
   on in this week's Amateur Radio Newsline report. (ARRL - DXCC)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, TU5DF will be on the air from the Ivory Coast until sometime in   
   October. His operation is 40 through 6 meters using CW with some SSB and   
   PSK31. QSL via F5SWB   
      
   UX0HX, UZ1HZ and UT5UY will be active from Namibia signing stroke V 5 from   
   August 1st to the 8th. Their operation will be on 80 through 10 meters   
   using SSB and Morse. QSL each operators home call either direct or via the   
   bureau.   
      
   EA4GBA will be operational from Mozambique through December 27th signing   
   C91GBA. He is reported to be active on all of the High Frequency bands on   
   SSB however no operating schedule has yet been announced. QSL via his home   
   call, direct only.   
      
   DL1AL is now active as 5A1AL from near Tripoli, Libya. His operation so far   
   has been on 40, 30, 20 and 6 meters using CW. He recently told the Ohio   
   Penn DX Newsletter that he will eventually be active on the H-F bands and 6   
   meters using CW and SSB. He also plans to try PSK but at this time the   
   modem does not work. No matter. Whichever way you make contact please QSL   
   via DL1AL.   
      
   HB9ARY is currently operating stroke 3B8 from Mauritius Island. He is   
   reportedly active on all of the High Frequency bands. QSL to his home   
   callsign.   
      
   Lastly, DL7BC will be on the air stroke F H from Mayotte between March 21st   
   and April 4th, of 2014. Operations will be on 20-10 meters with 40 meters   
   also a possibility. He also plans to participate in the 2014 CQ World Wide   
   WPX SSB Contest signing TO7BC. QSL via his home callsign, direct or by the   
   Bureau.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: A PEN FROM GERMANY THAT CORRECTS YOU   
      
   From our emerging technology file comes this story a new writing instrument   
   that warns its user when it thinks that he or she is about to make a   
   mistake. No we are not kidding as we hear from Wireless Institute of   
   Australia's Col Herbert, VK3LED:   
      
   --   
      
   VK3LED: The New India Express has reported on the invention of a new pen   
   which will vibrate if it senses that the writer is making a spelling mistake   
   or his or her handwriting is messy.   
      
   The brainchild of two German entrepreneurs, Learnshift which means learning   
   pen in German is a regular pen with real ink but it has a special motion   
   sensor inside and a small battery operated Linux operated computer with a   
   WiFi chip which allows the pen to recognize specific movements, letter   
   shapes and a wide assortment of words. It vibrates if the user is not   
   careful with letters or writes inelligently.   
      
   Arguably, it will be able to correct those whose dependence on spell checks   
   and typing has played havoc with their spelling and handwriting, but it is   
   doubtful that how many of we adults use a pen these days; even a fancy one   
   that vibrates.   
      
   I'm Col, VK3LED.   
      
   --   
      
   Now the only thing this pen needs is to find a way to convince the buying   
   public that its something that it really needs. With more and more people   
   turning to PC's, tablets and smart-phones for texting, that job may not   
   prove easy. (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   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   
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   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)