Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1744  - January 14 2011   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1744 with a release date of Friday,   
   January 14, 2011 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T.  The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications   
   Enhancement Act gets another chance in Congress, the long awaited Spratley   
   Island DX0DX is put on indefinite hold, repeaters in Italy are accused of   
   interfering with ham radio space ope   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO POLITICS:  AMATEUR RADIO EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS ENHANCEMENT ACT   
   REINTRODUCED BEFORE CONGRESS   
      
   New life for a ham radio emergency communications measure.  This as the   
   Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act is re-introduced before   
   Congress.  Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   The Amateur Radio Emergency Communications Enhancement Act, which died at the   
   end of the 111th Congress, has been reintroduced in the 112th Congress as HR   
   81.  According to an ARRL credited posting on Facebook, the sponsor is   
   Representative Sheila Jackson   
      
   The objective of the bill which is supported by the ARRL is for the Secretary   
   of Homeland Security to study the uses and capabilities of Amateur Radio   
   communications in emergencies and disaster relief.  Also it would identify and   
   make recommendations rega   
      
   Representative Jackson Lee first introduced the bill as HR 2160 in the 111th   
   Congress in April 2009.  It gained an additional 41 co-sponsors but did not   
   progress out of the committee of jurisdiction.  A similar bill introduced in   
   the Senate as S 1755 as m   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, In Scottsdale, Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   The new bill which was introduced by Jackson Lee on January 5th has been   
   referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.  (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   DX ADVISORY:  DX0DX OPERATION ON INDEFINITE HOLD   
      
   Some disappointing news for DX'ers.  The long awaited DX0DX operation from the   
   Spratley Islands appears to be on indefinite hold and nobody can say exactly   
   when it will take place.   
      
   According to a posting on DX World dot net by Team Leader Chris Dimitrijevic,   
   VK3FY, the decision to abort the attempt at this time was brought about by   
   what he termed as circumstances beyond the control of the DX0DX Team.   
      
   VK3FY said that the situation leading to the decision to postpone the   
   operation began when the expedition's transport by ship was damaged back in   
   October of 2010.  They then opted to fly in, as there were no ships deemed to   
   be safe to make the voyage to P   
      
   VK3FY says that they had landing permission and booked an aircraft with   
   security cleared pilots. However, there was conflicting agreements and the   
   aircraft could not get approval of its flight plan.  As time was running out   
   for this window of opportunity,   
      
   The authorities overseeing access to the islands has been advised of the   
   postponement.  Also, all of the equipment that was to be used for the   
   operation will be exported out of Philippines to comply with current   
   Philippine Customs Law.   
      
   VK3FY ends by noting that his team has a license as well as the authority to   
   land via ship.  He says that when a ship becomes available, it is his   
   intention to activate this entity sometime in 2011.   
      
   More on this story is on line at dx-world.net.  We will have more DX news   
   later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report.  (DX-World)   
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  RSGB ANALYZING FUTURE OF HAM RADIO IN THE UK SURVEY   
      
   It looks like there could be some long nights ahead for officials of the Radio   
   Society of Great Britains leadership.  This as it wades through the myriad of   
   responses to its recently concluded survey of UK hams on the future of the   
   service and the society   
      
   --   
      
   The RSGB Questionnaire on the status of amateur radio within the United   
   Kingdom closed on 31 December 2010.  Over 3,000 responses were completed, well   
   in excess of expectations, so the Society is very grateful for those who gave   
   their time to have a go at   
      
   It was particularly good to get feedback from several hundred lapsed members   
   as well as a   
   sizeable number of people who had never joined the Society.   
      
   The analysis task has now started. Whilst there are some statistics that can   
   be established quickly and easily some of the data, particularly the textual   
   comments will take many hours to gather, categorize and collate.   
      
   I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH and you are listening to the Amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   The timetable for the analysis is to complete the analysis by the summer.    
   This, so that the key findings can be used in long term planning by the   
   RSGB.   (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  ITALIAN REPEATERS ALLEGED TO BE INTERFERING WITH HAMSATS   
      
   According to a report in the Southgate News, both F-M and D-Star repeaters in   
   Italy are showing up in the Amateur Satellite segment 145.8 from 146.0 MHz.    
   These machines are said to be government approved by Italy's Communications   
   Regulatory Authority and   
      
   Some of the Italian repeaters identified in the article as operating in the 2   
   meter Amateur Satellite allocation are said to include F-M machine IRE0CK on   
   145.85 MHz plus D-Star systems IR3UEF on 145.8 Mhz and IR0CD on 145.975 Mhz.   
      
   The Southgate story says that it would appear that Italy's telecommunications   
   regulator permits repeaters anywhere within the 2 meter band on a provisional   
   basis for 60 days.  Authorization may become permanent if no complaints are   
   received.  The article    
      
   This is not the first time that there have been interlopers into the ham   
   satellite spectrum.  Over the years there have been numerous reports of   
   terrestrial business communications using these frequencies and eventually   
   disappearing.  Most of these report   
      
   The Complete story of this repeater versus ham radio satellite interference is   
   on-line at tinyurl.com/497bag7.  The website for Italy's Italy Communications   
   Regulatory Authority in the Italian language is www2 dot agcom dot it.  And we   
   will have more ham    
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  FCC DESIGNATES K1MAN LICENSE RENEWAL FOR HEARING   
      
   The FCC has designated the Amateur Service station license of Glenn A. Baxter,   
   K1MAN, for a hearing to determine if it should be renewed.  In its January   
   10th Hearing Designation Order, the Commission stated that the proceeding will   
   be held before a Commi   
      
   The Hearing Designation Order continues with the FCC stating that the record   
   before it indicates that Baxter has apparently willfully and repeatedly   
   engaged in unlawful Commission-related activities.  These include causing   
   interference to ongoing communic   
      
   The Order continues by stating that based on the information before it, the   
   FCC believes that Baxter's apparent continuing course of misconduct raises a   
   substantial and material question of fact as to whether he possesses the   
   requisite character qualifica   
      
   Baxter had filed an application to renew the license for station K1MAN on July   
   22, 2005, but this application had been set aside by the FCC pending further   
   action.  His license expired on October 17, 2005, but under Administrative Law   
   he has been permitte   
      
   The Hearing Designation Order was issued on Monday, January 10th and released   
   on Wednesday, January 12th.  In it, Baxter was given 20 days in which to   
   respond and state whether or not he will attend a hearing on his license   
   renewal at a time and place to    
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on   
   bulletin stations around the world including the Cavernaun Amateur Radio   
   Association repeater serving the city of Bordeaux, France.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  AUSTRALIA FLOODING CONTINUES   
      
   The flooding in Australia continues as does ham radios readiness to assist in   
   relief efforts.  We have more in this report:   
      
   --   
      
   Audio report only.  Hear it buy downloading the MP3 version of bthis weewks   
   newscast at www.arnewsline.org   
      
   --   
      
   Obviously this emergency is far from over and we will have more in future   
   Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (WIA Q-News)   
      
   **   
      
   COMMUNICATIONS POLITICS:  FCC RELEASES FIRST LAB REPORT ON WIRELESS TRENDS   
      
   The Federal Communications Commission has released the first in a series of   
   reports by the Office of Engineering & Technology Laboratory which looked at   
   trends in cutting-edge wireless devices.   
      
   The report shows that the number of wireless transmitters authorized by the   
   FCC in 2010 was nearly 12,000.  This is an increase of almost four times the   
   amount from a decade ago.  Its also a 700% increase since 2008 in the number   
   of devices with three or    
      
   The report also notes that new devices are becoming more useful and   
   technologically advanced.  It found that the number of new increasingly   
   sophisticated devices entering the marketplace with multiple transmitters,   
   enabling access to 4G networks, Bluetoot   
      
   The complete text of the report is available at the FCC website.  Its in   
   cyberspace as a Word document at tinyurl.com/45d67p4 or directly at   
   http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/documents/reports/wirelessdevices.doc (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  FLORIDA COMPANY PLANS NEW NETWORK USING TV ATSC THAT INCLUDES   
   EMERGENCY ALERTS   
      
   A new way to alert the public to emergencies while entertaining them is being   
   introduced to the airwaves, and it uses the current digital television   
   spectrum.  Jim Davis, W2JKD, has the details.   
      
   --   
      
   Ludwig Enterprises Inc., headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida, is building   
   a network of affiliates for what it's calling a nationwide world radio network   
   with emergency warning ability.  The company says it has developed and   
   patented a portable handhel   
      
   Ludwig says that its main programming will consist of 40 channels of ethnic   
   talk radio such as Filipino, Pakistani, Hebrew, Chinese, Greek and Russian.   
   The remaining 10 channels are English-language channels that include old-time   
   radio shows, news, audio    
      
   But what sets this concept apart from others is it will also be able to   
   provide an emergency alert system as well.  According to Ludwig, its radio   
   receives can receive local, regional and national emergency broadcast   
   warnings. Specific national emergency    
      
   According to Ludwig Radio, its plan calls for agreements with broadcasters to   
   lease transmit capacity.  It says that with minor modifications to the   
   existing transmitter site and no changes in FCC licensing this broadcasting   
   network could allow the compan   
      
   I'm Jim Davis, W2JKD   
      
   --   
      
   More about the new receiver and the company behind it is on line at   
   www.ludwigent.com . (RW)   
      
   **   
      
      
   COMMUNICATIONS POLITICS: W7EQI VOWS TO OVERTURN NET NEUTRALITY ACTION   
      
   Representative Greg Walden, W7EQI, the incoming chair of the House   
   Communications Subcommittee, says that the FCC has overstepped its bounds in   
   regard to Net Neutrality.  His  opinion came in a Tuesday, December 28th in a   
   conference call with reporters ab   
      
   According to news reports, Walden was joined by Energy & Commerce Committee   
   Chair Fred Upton, Communications Subcommittee Vice Chairman Lee Terry and   
   committee/subcommittee member Marsha Blackburn in pledging to get all the   
   commissioners to Capitol Hill t   
      
   Confirming Upton's promise in an interview with Multichannel News, the three   
   legislators vowed a series of hearings on the process, the legal underpinnings   
   and the policy, the last which they characterized as a job-killing, investment   
   killing, congress-by   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: DAVID HUNT APPOINTED FCC INSPECTOR GENERAL   
      
   Some names in the news.  First up is David Hunt was officially named Federal   
   Communications Commission Inspector General on Monday, January 10th.  This   
   after holding the position on an interim basis since June of 2009.   
      
   Before entering law school, Hunt ran his own computer firm building software   
   and hardware systems for the healthcare industry.  He received a B.A. from   
   George Washington University and a J.D. from Georgetown University.   
      
   Hunt joined the FCC in 1996 and served as Senior Attorney in the Enforcement   
   Bureau from 1999 through 2006.  Hunt then transferred to the Inspector   
   General's office in 2006 as Assistant Inspector General for Investigations.    
   During his tenure in that posi   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: YASME FOUNDATION NAMES EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS   
      
   The YASME Foundation which has named seven hams from around the globe to be   
   the recipients of its Yasme Excellence Awards.  This years list of winners   
   include Ramon Santoyo, XE1KK; Makoto Mori, JE3HHT; Bruce Horn, WA7BNM;  Rick   
   Meuthing, KN6KB;  Mikael St   
      
   The Yasme Excellence Awards are presented to individuals who through their own   
   service, creativity, effort and dedication, have made a significant   
   contribution to Amateur Radio.  Their contribution may be in recognition of   
   technical, operating or organiza   
      
   The Yasme Excellence Award program is sponsored by the YASME Foundation of   
   Castro Valley California.  This is a not-for-profit corporation organized to   
   conduct scientific and educational projects related to Amateur Radio,   
   including DX'ing and the introduc   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: N6R TO CELEBRATE FORMER PRESIDENT REAGAN'S 100th BIRTHDAY   
      
   To celebrate what would have been former President Ronald Reagan's 100th   
   Birthday, the Ventura County Amateur Radio Society will activate Special   
   Events Station "N6R" from Thousand Oaks, California.  This, from Saturday,   
   February 5th through Monday, Febru   
      
   According to Peter Heins, N6ZE, who is the clubs Public Information Officer,   
   operation is planned continuously from 0800 through 1800 PST on Sunday,   
   February 06, 2011 and intermittently at other times on Saturday through   
   Monday.  Operation will use CW and   
      
   Requests for schedules may be sent to n6rn6r at aol dot com.  QSL with a self   
   addressed stamped envelope to N6ZE at his Callbook or QRZ.com address.  Sorry   
   but no electronic QSL's will be accepted for this operation.  More is on-line   
   at www dot qrz dot co   
      
   And for those not aware, the special N6R callsign has been used for many years   
   in a multi-club Field Day operation from the grounds of the Ronald Reagan   
   Presidential Library and Museum which is located in Simi Valley, California.    
   (N6ZE)   
      
   **   
      
   THE SOCIAL SCENE:  PALM SPRINGS HAMFEST JANUARY 29   
      
   Turning to the ham radio social scene.  This years Palm Springs California   
   Hamfest is slated for Saturday, January 29th.  Gates open to the public at   
   9:30 AM and the event runs until 4:30 PM Pacific Standard Time.  Admission is   
   only $1.  More information    
      
   **   
      
   THE SOCIAL SCENE:  DAYTON TOP BAND DINNER MAY 20   
      
   The 22nd annual Dayton TopBand Dinner is slated for Friday night, May 20th in   
   conjunction with the 2011 Dayton Hamvention.  The venue will be the Crowne   
   Plaza Hotel on East 5th Street in downtown Dayton. The social hour starts at   
   6:15 PM with dinner serve   
   (W8UVZ, K8GG, K3LR)   
      
   **   
      
   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 followi   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  MISSISSIPPI JAILS TO EXPAND INMATE CELLPHONE BLOCKING   
      
   Mississippi corrections officials say a new inmate phone-block system has   
   worked so well at the Parchman penitentiary they will expand it to other state   
   prisons.   
      
   Corrections Commissioner Christopher Epps told The Clarion-Ledger newspaper   
   that the use of the technology has blocked more than 600,000 unauthorized   
   texts and cell-phone calls originating inside Parchman since August.   
      
   Last fall, the state Department of Corrections announced it had signed a   
   contract with its telecommunications provider for a program designed to   
   immobilize illegal cell phones used by inmates at the Parchman prison.  Epps   
   said the system stops cell transm   
      
   Since 2007, officials said, more than 8,700 cell phones have been confiscated   
   at Mississippi jails and prisons.  Epps said those cell phones have been used   
   to plan escapes or to bring contraband into the prisons.  He adds that the   
   system will be installed   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY:  ESPN TO LAUNCH ALL 3D TV NETWORK   
      
   ESPN will launch the broadcast industry's first 3-D television network.    
   Called ESPN 3-D, the new network will showcase a minimum of 85 live sporting   
   events during its first year, beginning with the FIFA World Cup match on June   
   11th that will pit South Af   
      
   Sean Bratches is ESPN's executive vice president of sales and marketing.  He   
   describes the new venture to be a meaningful step to drive adoption of 3-D   
   television sets and at the same time afford opportunities for its affiliates   
   to create value through ne   
      
   According to its press release, ESPN has been testing its 3-D technology for   
   more than two years.  Last fall the network produced the USC vs. Ohio State   
   college football game in 3-D.  It was  shown in select theaters as well as to   
   6,000 fans at the Galen    
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  TURKEY TO LAUNCH VOICE HAMSAT IN 2012   
      
   Turkey plans to send its first ham radio communications satellite into orbit   
   in September of 2012.  This according to a December 28th report published by   
   the semi-official Anatolia news agency.   
      
   The report says that the satellite is to be called 3USAT.  Also that it is   
   being developed at the Department of Space Engineering of the Istanbul   
   Technical University.  The project will be launched by Turkey's satellite   
   communications operator Turksat.   
      
   Alim Rustem Aslan heads up the team manufacturing the satellite.  He says that   
   it will provide wireless voice transmission over an amateur band between two   
   groups of people at two distant locations, but he did not specify which bands   
   or what modes the new   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: PROGRAMMER NEEDED FOR SOUTH AFRICAN CUBESAT PROJECT   
      
   The planned South African CubeSat project is in need of a volunteer with   
   expertise in the area of programming PIC or 8051 microprocessors.  According   
   to Hannes Coetzee, ZS6BZP, this person will be a critical member of the   
   CubeSat team and will be responsi   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  COMMEMORATING THE FIRST MOONBOUNCE EXPERIMENT   
      
   The Nashua Telegraph newspaper reports on the anniversary of the first   
   Moonbounce transmissions that took place on January 10, 1946.  That's when the   
   U.S. Army Signal Corps performed an experiment dubbed Project Diana to see if   
   a radio signals could be se   
      
   The transmissions took place at Camp Evens, Wall Township New Jersey using an   
   antenna that resembled a pair of bed springs.  This experiment has been   
   commemorated on a web page sponsored by the Ocean-Monmouth Amateur Radio   
   Club.  You can find it in cybers   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY DATE CHANGE FOR 2011   
      
   A date change for this years International Marconi Day.  As the event would   
   have fallen on Easter weekend the organizers have changed the date to Saturday   
   April 30th for this year only.  Look for details on International Marconi Day   
   2011 to be posted on-l   
      
   **   
      
   QSL CORNER:  ARRL TO INSTITUTE NEW OUTGOING QSL SERVICE RATE STRUCTURE   
      
   Effective January 17th, a new pricing arrangement will go into effect for the   
   ARRL Outgoing QSL Service.  With the new rate structure, amateurs will no   
   longer need to count outgoing cards and then guess as to what to pay based   
   upon a half-pound rate.  Ins   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX,  SP2FUD will be on the air portable 3B8/SP2FUD from Mauritius Island   
   between February   
   8th and the 17th.  He will then move on and operate portable 3B9 from   
   Rodrigues Island between February 18th through the 22nd. Activity from both   
   places will be on the HF bands using SSB and   
   RTTY.  QSL via his home call sign.   
      
   DL9HCU is once again in the Pacific and will be active as 3D2HC from Fiji.  He   
   likes 20 meters CW so listen out for him on 14 dot 002 or 14 dot 025 MHz   
   between 0500 to 0800 U-T-C.  Also, watch oyut for him on 14.183 MHz after   
   05:00 UTC as he will sometime   
      
   UT5EO will be active as 4L0A from Obcha during the CQ 160-Meter CW Contest   
   slated for January 28th to the 30th.  This, as a Single-Operator High Power   
   entry.  If you work him please QSL electronically via Logbook of the World.   
      
   SM6LRR will be active from Sri Lanka between January 22nd and February 5th as   
   4S7LRG.  His operation will be holiday with a focus on 160, 80 and 40 meters.    
   QSL via his home SM6LRR callsign.   
      
   Lastly, N3ME and W3UR will be active from Barbados as 8P9ME and 8P9UR,   
   respectively, between January 26th and February 14th.  Their operation will be   
   on all HF bands using CW, SSB, PSK and RTTY.  QSL via their home callsigns,   
   direct, by the Bureau or elec   
      
   (Above from various DX News sources)   
      
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  10 YEAR OLD DISCOVERS SUPERNOVA   
      
   And finally this week, the story of a 10 year old Canadian girl who is being   
   credited as the youngest person ever to discover supernova.  Bill Pasternak,   
   WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with her story:   
      
   --   
      
   Kathryn Aurora Gray, of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, made her discovery   
   this past New Year's Eve.  This, after noticing what was later determined to   
   be a magnitude 17 supernova, or exploding star.   
      
   The supernova took place in the distant galaxy known as UGC 3378 which is   
   about 240 million light years away from Earth.  The Royal Astronomical Society   
   of Canada says that at age 10, Kathryn is definitely the youngest person ever   
   to make such a discovery   
      
   Kathryn's father, Paul Gray, helped her make the discovery by taking the steps   
   to rule out asteroids and checking the list of current known supernovas.  Paul   
   Gray is also an amateur astronomer.  He says that his daughter expressed an   
   interest in the field   
      
   Paul Gray gave Kathryn a test run last November using some old files.  When   
   she did it on her own on New Years Eve she made her discovery after going   
   through only the fourth of 52 images that had been e-mailed to her father by   
   amateur astronomer Dave Lane   
      
   Talk about a little girl with a big future in the world of scientific and   
   astronomy.  We say congratulations.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   The last known supernova in our galaxy occurred several hundred years ago.    
   The new one discovered by Kathryn has been named 2010LT.  (Science OnLine)   
      
   **   
      
   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 Don Carlson,   
   KQ6FM, in Reno, Nevada, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2011.  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)