Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1931 - August 15 2014   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1931 with a release date of August 15   
   2014 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.      
      
   The following is a QST.  Ham Radio to fly around the moon before years end;   
   France says yes to direct student to astronaut contacts; a 40 meter intruder   
   leaves the airwaves; the FCC extends mandatory texting to 911 service; an   
   amateur radio club honors the Civilian Conservation Corps and  a special   
   event to celebrate the first ever contact between the United Kingdom and New   
   Zealand.  All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1931    
   coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)    
      
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: HAM RADIO TO FLY AROUND THE MOON   
      
   The Southgate News says that towards the end of the year, radio amateurs   
   will have the opportunity to receive what might just be the ultimate DX.    
   This, from a ham radio payload transmitting the data mode JT65B as it flies   
   around the Moon.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   According to AMSAT-UK, China is planning to send a lunar orbiter around the   
   Moon carrying a battery powered ham radio payload known as 4M-LXS.  The   
   amateur radio payload will transmit a JT65B signal on 145.990 MHz which can   
   be decoded by radio amateurs using the free W-J-S-T software.    
   The orbiter is one of the test models for pre-mission testing of Beijing's   
   new lunar probe called Chang'e-5.  When finally launched, Chang'e 5 will be   
   tasked with landing on the moon, collecting samples and returning to Earth.     
      
   For the initial test, the orbiter will be launched into Lunar Transfer Orbit   
   then will perform a flyby around the Moon while sending data back home.    
   After that it will make a return trip to our world and re-enter the Earth's   
   atmosphere after 9 days.   
      
   The launch of this ham radio orbiter is planned for 4th quarter 2014, and is   
   aimed at testing the technologies that are vital for the success of the later   
   Chang'e-5 round trip Lunar flight.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heather Embee, KB3TZD, reporting.   
   --   
   The orbiter has already arrived at  the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.  As   
   soon as an exact launch date is announced we will let you know.  More on this   
   story is posted at amsat-uk.org.     
   (Southgate, AMSAT-UK, xinhaunet.com)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  FRANCE SAYS YES TO DIRECT STUDENT TO ISS CONTACTS   
      
   Students in classrooms in France will finally be permitted to talk directly   
   to ham radio astronauts and cosmonauts on the International Space Station.    
   Amateur radio Newsline's Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, has more:   
      
   --   
      
   Until now, the French administration had been very restrictive.  For direct   
   ARISS school communications the operator of the ham radio station leading the   
   contact had to read the questions prepared by the students.  The kids were   
   not allowed on the air.  And even this was considered as being third party   
   traffic but was tolerated by the French regulatory authority.   
      
   But it all changed on July 16th when French State Secretary for Digital   
   Affairs, Axelle Lemaire, responded to a request by the Deputy of the   
   Haute-Vienne Province, Daniel Boiserrie, authorizing French students to   
   participate directly in ARISS educational school contacts.  This, as long as   
   they are made under the supervision of a licensed amateur radio operator.   
      
   Since the dawning of the manned ham radio in space program most European   
   countries allow students to participate directly in ARISS school contacts   
   under the supervision of a licensed amateur.  Until now, the only exception   
   was France.  Notwithstanding years and years of efforts, French   
   schoolchildren had no access to the microphone for direct amateur radio   
   communications with the ISS. The letter from the Secretary of State in charge   
   of telecommunications now changes the game.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant, K6PZW, in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   At airtime it's not known when the first of these direct to students in   
   France contacts will take place.  (ARISS, ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   INTRUDER WATCH:  IARUMS SAYS 40 METER TRESPASSER GONE   
      
   The International Amateur Radio Monitoring Service, more commonly known as   
   the IARUMS reports the transmissions on 7 dot 166 MHz, believed to be from   
   the French Centre for Telecommunication and Specialized Data Processing have   
   ceased.  The latest Monitoring Service newsletter says that contact was   
   established with the relevant administrative body and it was explained to   
   them the primary status of the allocation to amateur service of the frequency   
   band from 7 dot 000 to 7 dot 200 MHz.  This approach was successful and   
   transmissions ceased on July 7th.  (IARUMS - R1)   
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT:  NEW THREE DGIT THAI LICENSE ISSUED   
      
   In other DX news up front, E21EIC has told the Ohio Penn DX Newsletter that   
   he has received a special permit and license E2A contest callsign to use from   
   Thailand.  The call is good until December 31st but he can renew it every   
   year.  QSLs must be requested via the OQRS on ClubLog or E21EIC on Logbook of   
   the World.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT:  CRETE FROM AUGUST 24 TO SEPTEMBER 7   
      
   Also listen out for LZ3FN operating stroke SV9 from Crete  between August   
   24th   
   and September 7th. Activity will be on all bands, mainly CW. He plans to   
   also operate in the Y-Oh DX High Frequency Contest on August 30th and the   
   31st. QSL via LZ1PM.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   Time for you to identify your station.  We are the Amateur Radio Newsline,   
   heard on bulletin stations around the world including the W9QVE repeater of   
   the Argonne Amateur Radio Club serving Elmhurst Illinois.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  FCC MANDATES TEXT-TO-911 SERVICE TO ALL U.S. WIRELESS CARRIERS   
      
   On Friday, July 8th the Federal Communications Commission voted to require   
   all of the U.S.'s cell phone carriers and popular messaging applications to   
   allow users to text 911 when in need of an emergency response.   
      
   The FCC's text-to-911 requirements will apply to mobile carriers and to   
   interconnected text-messaging providers that enable consumers to send text   
   messages to and from U.S. phone numbers. The rules will also apply to   
   so-called over-the-top phone applications that support texting to and from   
   phone numbers, but not to messaging applications that only support   
   communications among users of social media and on-line games.   
      
   Since 2012, customers using AT&T, Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobil have been able   
   use text-to-911 service following a voluntary agreement between the companies   
   and the FCC.  However the recent FCC decision will require smaller, regional   
   carriers to follow suit by the end of the year.     
   (FCC, published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  FCC PROPOSES $100,000 FINE TO PHONE COMPANY THAT FAILED TO   
   PROPERLY FORWARD 911 EMERGENCY CALLS   
      
   Calling the 911 service the single most critical tool for citizen emergency   
   communications, on Monday, August 4th the FCC has levied a 100,000 Notice of   
   Apparent Liability to the Hinton Telephone Company of Hinton, Oklahoma.    
   This, for its alleged failure to properly route these life saving calls to   
   the proper destination.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim Davis reports:   
      
   --   
      
   In proposing the fine the FCC says that the American public universally   
   relies on 911 in a time of crisis.  When there is an emergency, citizens can,   
   should, and do trust that when they dial 911, someone will answer the phone.     
      
   The regulatory agency says that the Hinton Telephone Company of Hinton,   
   Oklahoma, Inc. undermined that trust and betrayed its customers when for   
   several months in 2013 it apparently routed 911 calls from Caddo County,   
   Oklahoma, to an automated AT&T operator message which instructed callers to   
   "hang up and dial 911" if their call is an emergency.  That trust was further   
   betrayed when Hinton allegedly continued to allow 911 calls to be routed to   
   the automated message for three months after the company discovered the   
   problem.    
      
   According to the FCC, the company returned the system to functionality only   
   after being contacted by the agency's investigators and directed to do so.    
   This says the FCC is a betrayal that in its view is particularly egregious   
   and dangerous for a rural community like Caddo County, Oklahoma, whose   
   residents may be far from help and most in need of reliable and efficient   
   emergency communications.    
      
   The Commission says that its 911 rules are intended to ensure that emergency   
   calls are routed properly and always result in contact with public safety   
   personnel.  It says that the Hinton Telephone Company Inc. apparently failed   
   to use reasonable judgment in routing its Caddo County customers' 911 calls,   
   willfully and repeatedly violating the FCC rules, and there-by created a   
   significant threat to the life and property of residents.  This says the FCC   
   that this is unconscionable and in its view warrants a substantial penalty in   
   the form of the proposed $100,000 fine.   
      
   I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD.   
      
   --   
      
   The Hinton Telephone Company of Hinton, Oklahoma, was given the customary   
   thirty calendar days after the release date of the Notice of Apparent   
   Liability to pay the full or to file a written statement seeking reduction or   
   cancellation of the proposed forfeiture.  (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   SWL CORNER:  SW RADIO AFRICA IS CLOSED    
      
   S W Radio Africa, known as the independent voice of Zimbabwe, has announced   
   its last broadcast took place on August 10th.  According to a management post   
   at the stations website, there are a few key archive programs on the main   
   page for the interest of their listeners until the site is taken down.  They   
   also add that their thirteen year sound archive will be hosted by archive.org   
   and as soon as that becomes accessible they will get the word out to   
   listeners.   (Southgate)**   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  2014 D-DAR QSO PARTY SEPTEMBER 19 - 21   
      
   The 2014 D-STAR QSO Party will take place starting Friday September 19th at   
   00:00 UTC and running through Sunday, the 21st at 24:00 UTC.  The goal of the   
   D-STAR QSO Party is to communicate through as many D-STAR repeaters as   
   possible around the world during the contest period.  All operators who   
   submit an approved log will be eligible for the prize drawing with 10 lucky   
   winners randomly selected to each win a great prize.  Full details of this   
   event is on the web at tinyurl.com/2014-DSTAR-QSO-PARTY.  (ICOM)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  AMATEUR RADIO CLUB HONORS CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CORPS   
      
   On Saturday, July 9th the Lawton-Ft. Sill Oklahoma Amateur Radio Club   
   honored the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps.  This with a special   
   event held in the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge.     
      
   Santos Rubio, KB5MQL, is the special events coordinator for the club.  He   
   said amateur radio and the history of the Civilian Conservation Corps are   
   intertwined.     
      
   According to Rubio, in the past each one of the Civilian Conservation Corps   
   companies had a radio operator and since they didn't have telephones, or cell   
   phones like we do today.  In order to communicate back home they used amateur   
   radio, adding that much of it using Morse code.   
      
   After the set up was completed the club demonstrated ham radio to those   
   attending.  Some 20 contacts were completed during that presentation.  (KC5FM)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  WEBCAST OF HUNTSVILLE HAMFEST AUGUST 16 - 17   
      
   The Huntsville Hamfest is taking place as this newscast goes to air but if   
   you cannot be there in person there's another way to join in on the fun and   
   excitement.  This, thanks to Tom Medlin, W-5-K-U-B, who is streaming the   
   gathering on August 16th and 17th over the Internet at W5KUB.com.     
   During the Huntsville Hamfest, Tom will interview vendors regarding their   
   latest products.  He will also have several special guests including several   
   ham radio operators from all over the world.  .   
      
   Once again, that's the Huntsville Hamfest, taking place August 16th and 17th   
   live at w5kub.com  on the world-wide-web.  And if you are on Facebook you are   
   invited to join Toms group simply by putting W5KUB into the search bar.    
   (W5KUB)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  RADIO SWEDEN'S GEORGE WOOD RETIRES Some names in the   
   news,  Famed Radio Sweden international broadcast personality George Wood has   
   retired.  According to a posting on his Facebook page on Friday, August 8th,   
   that was his final day at the international broadcaster.   
      
   Wood began as a freelance reporter at Radio Sweden in 1975.  Following the   
   retirement of Arne Skoog in 1978 he took over the writing and presenting of   
   the program Sweden Calling DXers and its successor MediaScan.   In 1994   
   MediaScan became the first radio program in Sweden and the second in Europe   
   to have its audio posted on the Internet.    
      
   In addition to his on the air duties, Wood has been Radio Sweden's Webmaster   
   since Swedish Radio's first website launched in 1995.  (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  DL7UXG NEW EDITOR OF DXNL   
      
   Johannes Amchiewicz, DK8JB, has announced that he will retire as editor of   
   the German-based DX Newsletter or DXNL.  DK8JB took over as editor three   
   years ago and has been supported by Klaus Poles, DL7UXG, who oversaw the   
   Islands on the Air reporting.  It is now reported that Poels will be the new   
   editor of the weekly DX information publication with support by Friedrich zur   
   Hellen, DL4BBH.  DL4BBH will be responsible for Islands on the Air and other   
   special areas of interest.  (DARC, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  COMMISSIONER PAI AT UPCOMMING NAB RADIO SHOW   
      
   National Association of Broadcasters president Gordon Smith will engage in a   
   one-on-one chat with FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai.  This, the annual Radio   
   Luncheon at the upcoming joint 2014 NAB and Radio Advertising Bureau   
   gathering slated for September 10th to the 12th in Indianapolis. Indiana.     
      
   Commissioner Pai has been very outspoken on just about every aspect of   
   broadcasting and telecommunications since his appointment back in 2012.  He   
   and Smith are expected to discuss communications policy and how it affects   
   free, local radio broadcasting.   (TalkMedia)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio 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)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  LITHIUM CARBON BATTERIES MAY OFFER HIGHER ENERGY   
   PORTABLE POWER SOURCE   
      
   Yet another new type of battery is on its way that holds promise for more   
   power capacity in a small space.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephan Kinford,   
   N8WB, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The journal known as Nature Scientific reports on a new chapter in the   
   development of very high energy rechargeable batteries.  This using a system   
   called Insitu Induced Fluorination of a Carbon Nanotube Cathode are in   
   development.     
      
   According to the report, the advantages of using carbon are that it is   
   cost-effective, safe to use, and the energy output is five to eight times   
   higher than lithium-ion batteries currently on the market.  This new battery   
   technology also performs better than two other future technologies being   
   explored.  These are lithium-sulfur batteries and lithium-air batteries.    
      
   The research team developed the new battery technology for energy storage   
   using carbon nano-materials and a process called induced fluorination.  They   
   claim that among other things that the  induced-fluorination technology could   
   be used to produce cellphone batteries that would charge faster and last   
   longer.     
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, reporting.   
      
   --   
      
   You can read an in-depth article on the work to develop these new high   
   performance batteries at tinyurl.com/lithium-carbon-future.    
   (nextbigfuture.com)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO TO SPACE: NASA ANNOUNCES NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR CUBESAT SPACE   
   MISSIONS   
      
   NASA is opening the next round of its CubeSat Launch Initiative.  This, as   
   part of the White House Maker Initiative which is an effort to engage the   
   growing community of space enthusiasts that can contribute to NASA's space   
   exploration goals.   
      
   Applicants must submit their proposals electronically by 4:30 p.m. Eastern   
   Time on November 25th.  NASA will select the payloads by February 6th, 2015,   
   but selection does not guarantee a launch opportunity.  Chosen experiments   
   will be slated to be flown as auxiliary payloads on agency launches or be   
   deployed from the International Space Station beginning in 2015 and running   
   through 2018.     
      
   The CubeSat Launch Initiative gives students, teachers and faculty a chance   
   to get hands-on flight hardware development experience in the process of   
   designing, building and operating small research satellites.  It also   
   provides a low-cost pathway to space for research in the areas of science,   
   exploration, technology development, education or operations consistent with   
   NASA's Strategic Plan.  It must be noted that NASA does not provide funding   
   for the development of these small satellites and this opportunity is open   
   only to U.S. non-profit organizations and accredited educational   
   organizations.   
      
   To date, NASA has selected 114 CubeSats from 29 states, 17 of which have   
   already been launched.  Nine more CubeSats are scheduled to go into space in   
   the next 12 months   
      
   For additional information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program,   
   visit nasa.gov/cubesats  (NASA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  CALL FOR PAPERS FOR AMSAT SPACE SYMPOSIUM A first call   
   has been issued for presentations to be made at the 2014 AMSAT Annual Meeting   
   and Space Symposium.  Proposals for papers, symposium presentations and   
   poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur   
   satellite community.     
      
   Abstracts and papers should be sent as soon as possible to Dan Schultz at   
   n8fgv (at amsat (dot) org.  The final copy must be submitted by September   
   15th for inclusion in the printed proceedings.    
      
   The symposium will be held on the weekend of October 10th to the 12th at the   
   DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton, located at Baltimore-Washington International   
   Airport in Baltimore, Maryland.   (ANS)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIOSPORTS:  YOUTH ORIENTED EUROPEAN RADIO TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP  2014 FINAL   
   RESULTS PUBLISHED   
      
   The IARU Region 1 website site has published the results of the recent youth   
   oriented European Radiosport Team Championship.  ERTC 2014 was held in   
   Finland one week after the World Radiosport Team Championship in the United   
   States.  In ERTC fifteen three person youth teams were seated in one room in   
   front of computers and connected to a global amateur radio simulator over the   
   internet in a virtual reality setting.    
      
   When the dust settled, the team of OK2SVA, OK1NOR and OK1JD from the Czech   
   Republic took home the Gold Medal.  Italy's IZ6TSA, IT9RGY and IT9DBF took   
   the Silver with Estonia's ES1XQ, ES5-TA and ES6AXS awarded the Bronze.   
      
   In all, the 2014 European Radiosport Team Championship attracted hundreds of   
   young licensed radio amateurs within the forty-four participating  countries.   
   More background on this event including team scores is at   
   tinyurl.com/ertc-2014  (IARU-R1)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR:  BATTLE OF ARNHEM SEPTEMBER 1 - 28   
      
   PA0FAW will activate special event station PA44AH between September 1st and   
   the 28th.  This to commemorate the World War 2 Battle of Arnhem.  The   
   operation will primarily use CW and the Digital modes but there is the   
   possibly some SSB.  QSL via PA0AW and SWL reports are also very welcome.  The   
   complete story of the Battle of Arnhem can be found on the web at   
   tinyurl.com/4zweod.  (OPDX, Southgate Wikipedia)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, four operators will be active as RI1O and R7AL/1 from Morzhovets   
   Island between August 15th and the 17th.  Their operations will be on the   
   High Frequency bands only.  QSL R1O via R7AA and R7AL/1 direct or by the   
   Bureau.   
      
   JH1UVV will be on the air as T88UN from the West Plaza by the Sea Hotel   
   rental shack on Koror Island between August 28th to the 31st.  Activity will   
   be holiday style on the HF bands. QSL cards go via his home callsign only. No   
   electronic QSL's will be available for this one.   
      
   EA5IDQ will be on the air signing 9H3JA from Malta between September 18th to   
   the 25th. Activity will be holiday style on 40 through 10 meters using SSB   
   and the digital modes. QSL via his home callsign either direct or via the   
   bureau.      
      
   JH3LSS, will be operational as A52LSS from different areas in Bhutan between   
   September 4th through the 10th.  Activity will be on the High Frequency bands   
   using CW, SSB and the Digital modes. QSL via his home callsign or   
   electronically using Logbook to the World.     
      
   M5RI and G8DX will be operational as GJ8DX from Jersey between October 29th   
   and November 4th.  Activity will be on all bands using CW, SSB and RTTY with   
   a focus on the 30, 17 and 12 meter bands. QSL using Logbook to the World,   
   ClubLog Oh-QRS or direct to G8DX.  Cards sent to the bureau will not be   
   answered.   
      
   (This weeks DX News courtesy of OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  COMMEMORATING FIRST TWO-WAY CONTACT BETWEEK THE UK ANS ZL    
      
   And finally this week the RSGB reports that the special event station 2SZ   
   will be on the air from North London from October 11th to the 18th.  This to   
   celebrate the first two way radio communication between the United Kingdom   
   and New Zealand.      
   On October 18, 1924, the first radio communication contact between the UK   
   and New Zealand took place between 2SZ at the Mill Hill School and 4AA in   
   Shag Valley, South Island, New Zealand.  The contact attracted the attention   
   of the national press and was reported in the Daily Mail newspaper on October   
   21, 1924.   
      
   To commemorate the 90th anniversary of this historic contact, radio amateurs   
   at stations in Mill Hill School and Shag Valley will recreate the first   
   contact, hopefully on a wavelength close to that was used in 1924. The   
   callsign 2SZ will be used at Mill Hill School in the UK from October 11th to   
   the 18th and GB2NZ will be operational from September 20 to October 18.   
   This is believed to be only the second time that the U K regulator Ofcom has   
   permitted radio amateurs to use three character callsigns to commemorate a   
   special event. The first was way back in December 2001 when 2MT was used in   
   Chelmsford, Essex to celebrate the centenary of Marconi's reception of a   
   transatlantic radio signal.  (Southgate, RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, CQ Magazine, the FCC, the Ohio   
   Penn DX Bulletin, Rain, the RSGB, the South African Radio League, the   
   Southgate News, TwiT-TV, Australia's WIA News and you our listeners, that's   
   all from the Amateur Radio Newsline.  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, 28197 Robin Avenue,   
   Santa Clarita California, 91350.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors' desk, I'm Skeeter   
   Nash, N5ASH, in Victoria, Texas, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.     
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2014.  All rights reserved.   
      
   ***   
      
   As a Service to the HAM Radio Community and HAM Operators all over the   
   world, this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the   
   internet and posted to you by Waldo's Place USA, fidonet node 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 related   
   to the actual posting of this message, you may address them to   
   hamfdn(at)wpusa.dynip.com.   
      
   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73- ARNTE-0.1.0-OS2 build 42   
   (text/plain utf-8 base64)   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)