Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1741 - December 24 2010   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1741 with a release date of Friday,   
   December 24th 2010 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T.  Region 3 of the International Telecommunications   
   Union nappears poised to back a proposed new ham band near 500 Kilohertz, the   
   FCC's new rules on club station calls take effect on February 14th, Butte   
   Montana hams to be excluded   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  NEW LF HAM BAND ME BE REQUESTED AT WRC 2012   
      
   ITU Region 3 will likely back a proposal to create a new, low frequency ham   
   radio allocation near 500 Kilohertz.  Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, is in the   
   newsroom with more:   
      
   --   
      
   The Asia Pacific Telecommunity or APT is currently hosting a gathering of the   
   regions telecommunications administrations.  This is one of a series of   
   meetings intended to develop common positions for all of Region 3 prior to the   
   World  Radiocommunication    
      
   Of particular interest to the amateur community is Agenda Item 1.23.  It seeks   
   an allocation of about 15 kHz in parts of the band 415 from 525.6 kHz to the   
   amateur service on a secondary basis.  The International Amateur Radio Union   
   Region 3 has represent   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom in   
   Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   For those unaware, the Asia Pacific Telecommunity is the regional   
   telecommunication organization that covers all types of electromagnetic   
   communications in ITU Region 3.   
      
   (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RULES:  NEW CLUB CALL RULES TAKE EFFECT FEBRUARY 14   
      
   The new FCC rules governing vanity and club station callsigns will go into   
   effect on February 14, 2011.  On Wednesday, December 15, new revised   
   regulations affecting vanity and club station call signs within the Amateur   
   Radio Service were published in the   
      
   Thirteen months ago, the FCC announced its intention of modifying Part 97 as   
   it applies to the vanity call sign system and club station call signs,   
   aligning the rules to prior Commission decisions. Last month, the Commission   
   released a Report and Order ou   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW:  BUTTE MONTANA TO EXEMPT HAMS FROM CELLPHONE BAN LAW   
      
   Butte, Montana, will have a driving while using a cellphone while driving law   
   with a specific exemption for ham radio operators.   
      
   According to an article in the December 17th edition of the Montana Standard,   
   County attorney Eileen Joyce has been asked to write cellphone while driving   
   ban.  Joyce says she's modeling Butte's ordinance after one already adopted by   
   the city of Billings.   
      
   Joyce says the soon to be Butte ordinance will not apply to people reporting a   
   health, safety or a police emergency.  Nor does it govern the activities of   
   others including to emergency responders, drivers using two-way radios for   
   work and citizens who are   
      
   Joyce says she plans to have the ordinance written in time for the next   
   regular council meeting on January 5th.  After it's introduced, the ordinance   
   would be read twice with the final reading as soon as February 2nd.  She adds   
   that a public hearing is no   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW:  CONGRESS PASSES LOCAL COMMUNITY RADIO ACT   
      
   The Local Community Radio Act passed the United States Senate on Saturday,   
   December 18th with a unanimous vote of approval   
      
   The bill had been held up by various senators, most of whom remained   
   anonymous.  However, minor changes inserted in the House version designed to   
   protect incumbent full power FM stations earned the support of the National   
   Association of Broadcasters. This   
      
   The second seal of approval from the Senate had been considered all but a done   
   deal. The bill now awaits President Obama's signature, which he has committed   
   to do.  (NAB Smart Brief)   
      
   **   
   RADIO LAW:  RADIO CLUB LOOSES HOME TO NEW UK SCHOOL REGS   
      
   Red tape has forced a United Kingdom amateur radio club out of the school it   
   has called home for a decade.   
      
   Great Britain's Halifax and District Amateur Radio Society has trained new   
   hams and operated from a physics lab at Rishworth School for the last 10   
   years.  Now it is set to become homeless as the Ripponden Boarding School is   
   forced to tighten security in    
      
   School Headmaster Richard Baker said the decision was made to comply with the   
   National Minimum Standards for Boarding Schools and the Independent Schools   
   Inspectorate regulations.  He said that regulations governing child welfare   
   can make it difficult for   
      
   Society chairman Martin Cox described the move as over-zealous, but added that   
   he did not blame the school.  Instead, the group is appealing to local   
   businesses or groups who may be able to offer it a new home.   
      
   There are around 60 licensed radio amateurs in the Halifax and Calderdale   
   area.  Many are part of the U-K disaster response organization known as   
   RAYNET.  RAYNET is similar to the United States ARES and RACES organizations,   
   combined.  (RSGB, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   Here for you 52 weeks a year.  From the United States of America, We are the   
   Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world including   
   the KC4HAZ repeater network serving all of central Florida.   
      
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  OLD ELT SAVES COUPLE ON YACHT AND GETS THEM FINED   
      
   A couple rescued by Australian emergency services has been fined almost $1,000   
   by regional police for not having the correct emergency equipment on their   
   yacht.   
      
   The 62 year-old woman and a 71 year-old man made it back safely to Port Pirie   
   in Southern Australia after their boat was battered by storms.  The   
   unregistered yacht's navigation devices were damaged while sailing in the   
   Spencer Gulf and the couple were no   
      
   Police say the fines serve as a warning to other boat owners to have the   
   proper safety  equipment on board. The Southern Australia Transport Department   
   has been informed and may take further action against the skipper.  (WIA News)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN PRINT: OFF THE GRID NEWS RECOMMENDS HAM RADIO   
      
   Ham radio is being feature in the current issue of the e-zine Off Thre Grid   
   News.  According to an op-ed article, by David M Hill, Sr., W4DMH, people   
   often ask him what the best option is for off-grid communication is.   
      
   Hill responds by saying that to him, there is only one answer to this question   
   that makes sense to him.  That being what he calls the wonderful world of   
   amateur radio or ham radio.   
      
   Hill goes on to note that ham radio is the only legal form of two-way radio   
   that you can get involved in that will provide you with all levels of   
   communication ability.  He says that no other radio service can provide all of   
   this to you, and it's very sim   
      
   This very charming and informative article can be read by taking your web   
   browser to tinyurl.com/hamfun  (Via e-mail)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO ON HE WWW:  TWO NEW IPHONE APS FOR HAMS ON THE GO   
      
   Amateur radio enthusiasts who travel to the U-K and own an iPhone may find two   
   new applications or apps from Mark Turner, G7LEU very useful.  First is Ham   
   Dashboard which is designed for hams on the move or away from home.   
      
   Ham Dashboard shows a searchable list of repeaters in the UK and Ireland,   
   along with details of input and output frequencies, a map, and a handy bearing   
   arrow for each system.  It also includes a basic APRS tracker that allows your   
   position to be sent to    
      
   Meantime Ham Tracker allows radio amateurs on the move to send location   
   updates to the Internet side of APRS from their mobile device. Once sent, your   
   position can be tracked using services such as aprs dot fi.  Using Ham Tracker   
   makes it easy to send an    
      
   **   
      
   BROKEN TECHNOLOGY:  CRACKED DROID FACEPLATE INJURES CELLPHONE USER   
      
   And now the strange story of another self destructing cellular smart phone.    
   Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   A north Texas man talking on his cell phone was rushed to a hospital after   
   thedisplay on his phone apparently exploded on Thursday morning, December   
   2nd.  According to news reports, man said he had just finished a call when he   
   said he heard a loud popping   
      
   His ear was bleeding profusely and he was transported to the emergency room at   
   Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas.  There he received four stitches but   
   suffered no hearing loss.   
      
   Later on inspection it was found that the glass faceplate on the LCD display   
   of the two day old Motorola Droid smart phone apparently shattered.  The phone   
   still appeared to be functioning and its battery was intact.   
      
   On Thursday evening, Motorola issued at statement non what had transpired.  It   
   said - and we quote:  "Motorola's priority is, and always has been the safety   
   of our customers, and all Motorola products are designed, manufactured and   
   tested to meet or excee   
   thoroughly."   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, reporting.   
      
   --   
      
   While an self destructing L-C-D displays on a cellular phone is a rare   
   occurrence, it is not unique.  Thankfully, most such accidents happen when the   
   phone is in charging mode rather than in use.   
   (KHOU, WFAA, other reports)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  W7EQI TO CHAIR HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMUNICTIONS   
      
   United States Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI, of Oregon used Morse code   
   when he tweeted the news to his followers on Twitter that he had been named   
   Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on   
   Communications and Technology.   
      
   The full text of Walden's Twitter message read - and we quote: "Will chair   
   comm and tech sub 73s w7eqi"   
      
   In a follow-up message Walden explained that hisst tweet was Morse code and   
   that it was just the ham radio operator in him having fun.   
      
   Walden is one of two ham radio operators in Congress. The other is Rep. Mike   
   Ross,   
   WD5DVR from Arkansas.   
      
   Among other things, the subcommittee Walden will chair has responsibilities   
   that include oversight of the FCC.  (Worldradio OnLine Bulletin)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  DUB CHARMAN G6CJ AERIAL CIRCUS NOW ON VIDEO   
      
   If you are in need of an interesting program for your next radio club meeting,   
   listen up.  The British Amateur Television Club has made available on-line a   
   historic video of Dud Charman, G6CJ, and his world famous Aerial Circus.   
      
   Dud Charman G6CJ was the United Kingdom's antenna guru for amateur radio   
   aerials.  There was nothing Dud did not know about the subject anf it was this   
   knowledge that was used to bring the subject to life in a lecture known as The   
   Aerial Circus.   
      
   The very last time G6CJ performed this lecture was in 1981.  The Bristol ATV   
   group recorded it using an early Ampex video recorder.  Later, with a little   
   help from broadcaster HTV, it was copied and edited to 1" Type C and then   
   vaulted to preserve its his   
      
   This very interesting piece of ham radio history has been in the British   
   Amateur Television Club archive since the 1980's.  Now it has been made   
   available for public showing.  To watch it online go to www.batc.tv and click   
   on the "Archive" icon.  Then sel   
      
   A copy of the video in Adobe Flash format can also be downloaded at   
   tinyurl.com/22q5pvc  (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  THE TED RANDALL WB8PUM CHRISTMAS HAM RADIO SHOW   
      
   And if you are hearing this before Christmas, then you might want to know that   
   Ted Randall, WB8PUM, will be hosting an international radio show on the   
   evening of Christmas Day and you can be part of it.   
      
   Ted has set up a special phone line for ARRL Public Information Officers,   
   clubs and individuals to call in and leave their season's greetings. You can   
   call in through Christmas Day.  These will be played during the broadcast.   
      
   The number is area code 615-547-9520.  Just call in and leave your greeting   
   for broadcast during the show that will air live on WBCQ on 7.415 MHz and WTWW   
   on 9.480  from 8 p.m to 2 a.m. Eastern Standard time.  It will also be live   
   streamed on iTunes as we   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   News never stops and neither do we.  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 amate   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  HAM DESIGNS STEALTH RADIO ANTENNA FOR NEW CAMARO   
      
   The 2011 Chevrolet Camaro Convertible boasts new AM/FM antenna technology   
   developed by a Michigan ham radio operator and his non-ham design partner.   
      
   Supporters of the vehicle spoke out negatively after leaked photos of the new   
   Camaro revealed an AM/FM whip antenna on the rear deck lid.  So General Motors   
   turned to ham radio operator and antenna expert Don Hibbard, W8BDH, to help   
   redesign the car's ant   
      
   Hibbard and colleague Gregg Kittinger were challenged to conceal the AM/FM   
   antenna without sacrificing radio reception.  After much research they came up   
   with a new tri-band antenna design mounted inside the cars trunk airflow   
   spoiler.  More on how this w   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  FIRST MEASUREMENTS MADE OF MAGNETIC FIELD IN EARTHS CORE   
      
   A University of California at Berkeley geophysicist has made the first-ever   
   measurement of the strength of the magnetic field inside Earth's core at 1,800   
   miles underground.   
      
   Bruce A. Buffett, professor of earth and planetary science at UC Berkeley is   
   the study's author.  He found that the magnetic field strength is 25 Gauss, or   
   50 times stronger than the magnetic field at the surface that makes compass   
   needles align north-sou   
      
   Professor Buffett indicates that the result is not controversial, but do rule   
   out a very weak magnetic field and argues against a very strong one.  Buffett   
   says that a weak field of 5 Gauss or so would imply that little heat is being   
   supplied by radioacti   
      
   The results are published in the December 16th issue of the journal Naturewith   
   excerpts in Science Daily. More on this fascinating research can be found at   
   tinyurl.com/2eh9n42.   
   (Science Daily)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  IBM DEVELOPS NEW CMOS TECHNOLOGY   
      
   Researchers at IBM have unveiled a chip technology called CMOS Integrated   
   Silicon Nanophotonics, integrating electrical and optical devices on the same   
   piece of silicon.   
      
   According to IBM, this means computer chips will be able to communicate using   
   pulses of light instead of electrical signals, boosting power efficiency and   
   speed, while miniaturizing the chips themselves.  IBM claims this new CMOS   
   technology provides at le   
      
   For more information please take your web browser to inyurl.com/29tr3na.    
   (ZL1GWE)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT ON OSCAR 2011   
      
   Amsat says that you are cordially invited to participate in Straight Key Night   
   on OSCAR 2011.  There are no rules, no scoring and no logs required.  Just   
   operate Morse  on any OSCAR satellite using a straight hand key, from 0000 UTC   
   to 2400 UTC on  Januar   
      
   In keeping with the friendly nature of this event, each participant is asked   
   to nominate one of the operators worked for "Best Fist." Please send your   
   nomination to via email to  w2rs (at) amsat (dot) org.  Those nominated will   
   be recognized in an Amsat N   
      
   This year's event is dedicated to the memory of Dick Peacock, W2GFF, who   
   became a Silent Key in 2010 at age 91.  (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   DXCC UPDATE:  TWO NEW OPERATIONS APPROVED   
      
   Bill Moore, NC1L, the ARRL Awards Branch Manager, reports that two more   
   operations hve been approved for DXCC credit.  These are the 7Z1HB from Saudi   
   Arabia that began in 2007 and continues to the present.  The other is the   
   H40HP Temotu Provinceo peration   
      
   Moore says that if you had these operations rejected in a recent application,   
   please send an E-mail to the ARRL DXCC Desk.  You likely will not get a direct   
   response but updated results will appear in Logbook of The World accounts, as   
   well as online on th   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, DG1FK and DK9FN will be active from the rare DXCC entity of Temotu from   
   December 21st through January 3rd. They will use the calls H40FK and H40FN   
   from the island of Nendo.  QSL this one as directed on the air   
      
   DL5RMH will be active portable TG9 from Guatemala City through January 13th.   
   Activity will be CW only on 40 through 10 meters with preference given to 30   
   meters.  QSL cards should be sent via bureau or direct to his home callsign.   
      
   G7BXU is on the air as 9L1BXU from Freetown in Sierra Leone from until January   
   7th. He is using a FT-897 and a G5RV antenna. QSL via G7BXU.   
      
   AB7FS is on the air as E51AND from Rarotonga.  He will be on the island   
   through January 1st. QSL via home callsign.   
      
   ZS1HF stroke ZS8M on Marion Island is partially QRT for a while until he finds   
   a way around some e electronic interference from the new base.  He thinks it   
   may be from the fire alarm system and the air handling units.  Once switched   
   on, they cause severe    
      
   Lastly, K8LJG will be active stroke 4 from Amelia Island until January 4th.    
   He will operate SSB and CW on or around the Islands on the Air frequencies.   
   Again, QSL this one via his home call.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  RADIO STATION REPLACES BURNED DOWN CITY CHRISTMAS TREE   
      
   And finally this week, when thieves attempting to steal wire accidentally   
   burned down Birmingham,  Alabama's official Christmas Tree, it was radio to   
   the rescue.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, is at the   
   South-East bureau with the details o   
      
   --   
      
   It was ten nights before Christmas, and all through the city,   
   lights, trees and decorations were looking very pretty.   
      
   The city's 35-foot tree stood proudly in the park....   
   But evil grinches struck while it was still dark.   
      
   The bandits noticed copper attached to insulation made of plastic;   
   If they could get the copper separated from that stuff, they thought it would   
   be fantastic.   
      
   They used gasoline to try get to their coveted wire,   
   Instead, by mistake, they wound up starting a fire.   
      
   In their haste to make off with copper that's worth quite a bit per pound, the   
   75-hundred dollar tree wound up burning to the ground.   
      
   The situation was anything but funny,   
   especially since the city had no tree replacement money.   
      
   But this is not a story that is all sad.   
   A Birmingham Radio Station vowed, the city would not be had.   
      
   Radio station KISS-98.7 said we'll bring the city residents some glee.   
   We'll do it, they said, by getting a new tree.   
      
   --   
      
   Kori White:  "Christmas is something that's held so sacred to so many people   
   and that's one symbol we are not going to let anybody take away."   
      
   --   
      
   Kori White is the radio station's operations manager.  He helped arrange   
   finding a replacement tree and having it delivered less than 12 hours after   
   the first tree had burned.   
      
   --   
      
   Kori White:  " When the tree rolled up, there were some individuals in the   
   park and this lady ran up to me and she said: `Are you guys going to put the   
   Christmas Tree back up?'   
      
   And I said: "Of coarse, there it is right there."   
      
   And she just started crying."   
      
   --   
      
   People could ask why even bother getting a new tree?   
   Why deal with it?   
      
   But White says this is Christmas, and he wouldn't hear it.   
      
   --   
      
   Kori White:  "Everybody is excited that we were able to do it and do it so   
   quickly because a lot of times you have companies and governments that get   
   caught so much in the bureaucracy that nothing is going to happen.  We said:   
   `Forget about it. We are jus   
      
   "No matter the cost. No matter what we need to do, we were going to put this   
   joy back into the city of Birmingham.  And that's exactly what we did."   
      
   --   
      
   For a time, this copper caper might have left residents feeling in a pinch.    
   But in Birmingham at Christmas, being a grinch is no cinch.   
      
   From Birmingham, I'm David Black, KB4KCH, for the Amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   Yet another case where radio creates joy from sadness and gives that happiness   
   freely to an entire community.  (RW, 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 and Australia's WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm).  Our e-mail a   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Jim Davis,   
   W2JKD, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Amateur   
   Radio Newsline.  73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2010.  All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
   As a service to the HAM Radio Community and HAM Radio Operators all around   
   the world, this Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) message has been gated and posted   
   to the Fidonet LS_ARRL echo by Waldo's Place USA, 1:3634/12. We hope you   
   enjoyed it!   
      
   Please address all comments and questions to the ARNewsline 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.   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)