Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1745 - January 21 2011   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1745 with a release date of Friday,   
   January 21, 2011 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T.  A writer for Worldradio Online says Morse code use   
   is on the rise, NASA ask hams to help monitor for NanoSai-D, one of the   
   Italian 2 meter repeaters interfering with ham radio space communications goes   
   QRT, Logbook of the World    
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO SURVEY: WORLDRADIO COLUMNIST SAYS MORSE USE UP   
      
   The use of Morse code is up.  So says a writer for Worldradio Online   
   Magazine.  Amateur Radio Newsline's David Black, KB4KCH, is in our South-East   
   bureau with the details:   
      
   --   
      
   In the current no-code era of amateur radio, you might think no one's using   
   code.  But that's not what an analysis by WorldRadio Online columnist Randall   
   Noon, KC0CCR, suggests.  The FCC dropped the Morse code testing requirement   
   back in 2007.   Since the   
      
   Noon writes about his analysis in February's issue of WorldRadio Online.  He   
   looked at a combination of FCC licensing statistics and published results of   
   ARRL Field Day activity from 2005 to 2009.  He used Field Day data on the   
   assumption that Field Day p   
      
   Noon compared statistics for Field Day activity with the total number of   
   licensees.  Noon determined that both the raw number and the percentage of   
   licensed hams operating in Field Day had increased since 2007.  In addition,   
   he finds that the number of  M   
      
   Since the FCC stopped requiring code tests, Noon concludes it appears that CW   
   has gained in usage--that's because newer hams licensed since 2007 appear to   
   be more actively engaged in the hobby, as the higher levels of Field Day   
   participation suggest.   
      
   Noon is no stranger to Morse Code.  He's also the magazine's FISTS columnist.    
   FISTS is an organization that promotes the use of Morse code among hams,   
   worldwide.   
      
   From the South-East bureau in Birmingham, Alabama, I'm David Black, KB4KCH,   
   reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   Noon's complete analysis appears in the February 2011 issue of WorldRadio   
   Online, which was to be posted on or about January 20 at www.wor   
   dradiomagazine.com. The magazine is available to readers on line, at no   
   charge.  (WorldRadio)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  NASA ASKS HAMS TO VERIFY SIGNAL FROM NANOSAIL-D   
      
   The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is asking ham radio   
   operators world-wide to help confirm that the NanoSail-D nanosatellite is   
   working.   
      
   On Wednesday, January 19th at 11:30 a.m. EST, engineers at Marshall Space   
   Flight Center confirmed that the NanoSail-D nanosatellite had ejected from   
   Fast Affordable Scientific and Technology Satellite. The ejection event   
   occurred spontaneously and was ide   
      
   Amateur radio operators are asked to listen for the signal to verify   
   NanoSail-D is operating. Its beacon signal can be found at 437.270 MHz.  This   
   information should be sent to the NanoSail-D dashboard at   
   http://nanosaild.engr.scu.edu/dashboard.htm.   
      
   You can read the full NASA press release at http://www.nasa.gov/   
   enters/marshall/news/news/releases/2011/11-009.html   
      
   More on this in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports.  (NASA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: INTERFERING ITALIAN D-STAR REPEATER ON 145.8 MHz SHUTS DOWN   
      
   According to a report attributed to the ISS Fan Club website, one of three   
   Italy-based amateur repeaters reported on last week as allegedly operating in   
   the satellite subband of 2 meters has gone off the air.  This as the managers   
   of D-Star repeater IR3UE   
      
   A report on the ISS Fan Club website says that the IR3UEF repeater operated by   
   the Italian Amateur Radio Association and interfering with the ISS downlink on   
   145.8 MHz is now gone.   Also, the Veneto Regional President of the Italian   
   Amateur Radio Associa   
      
   As most hams are aware, 145.8 MHz is used by the Amateur Radio station on the   
   International Space Station as a primary space to Earth communications   
   channel, especially for educational school contacts.  (ISS Fan Club)   
      
   **   
      
   INTRUDER WATCH:  OVER THE HORIZON RADAR ON 7 AND 10 MHZ   
      
   The latest issue of the free IARU Monitoring System newsletter reports on   
   Russian radar in 7 MHz.   The newsletter says that the Over the Horizon Radar   
   from Russia was active between 7000 and 7200 kHz with burst transmissions on 5   
   different frequencies on   
      
   **   
      
   QSLING:  ARRL LoTW NOW AVAILABLE TO VHF AND UHF OPERATORS   
      
   The ARRL has announced that its very popular Logbook of the World has been   
   upgraded to support awards based on Maidenhead grid squares, such as VUCC and   
   the Fred Fish Memorial Award.   
      
   Logbook of the World ins an online system for hams to use to confirm two-way   
   contacts.  It can also be utilized that can be used for various ARRL awards.    
   Until now it has been limited to confirming contacts on the high frequency   
   bands.  Now members of th   
      
   To take advantage of the new features, you need to log in to your Logbook of   
   the World has account or create one if you are not already as user of the   
   service.  After that, just follow the outlined procedures found on the Logbook   
   of the World pages.  More   
      
   **   
      
   WASHINGTON HAPPENINGS:  PRESIDENT CALLS FOR AGENCY STREAMLINING   
      
   The CGC Communicator reports that President Obama has signed an Executive   
   Order instructing government agencies to modify, streamline, expand or repeal   
   regulations that cause unnecessary burdens.  As a result, a number of FCC   
   Rules might be eliminated or    
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  FCC NOI SEEKS TO UPDATE 911 SERVICE   
      
   The FCC is looking at ways of improving 911 emergency response services.    
   This, by allowing input from text messaging, e-mail, video and photos from   
   both mobile and landline devices in addition to traditional voice responses.   
      
   According to a Commission release, the agency considers this an important step   
   to revolutionize America's 911 services for consumers and first responders.    
   To accomplish this goal, it has issued a Notice of Inquiry titled PS Docket   
   No. 10-255.  It seeks p   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard on   
   bulletin stations around the world including the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio   
   Club repeater serving Thousand Oaks, California.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT:  ICOM ASKS HELP IN STOPPING COUNTERFEIT IC-V8 HT'S   
      
   Icom is out to stop whoever is supplying counterfeit copies of its popular   
   IC-V8 2 meter hand-held radio.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP,   
   has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   Fake transceivers, battery packs and chargers began being reported in 2010.    
   Icom says that the difference between a real model IC-V8 handheld and the   
   knock-off phony radios are so small that a blind user might not know they are   
   using a fake radio.   
      
   For example, the number 2 key on the real IC-V8 is for the "P Beep" function.    
   On the fake radio number 2 is "VOX".  Also, on the back of the real Icom   
   product the serial number tag is black while it is white on the fake radio.   
      
   Even accessories are being cloned.  The F21 Battery Pack looks like an Icom   
   but there are two differences. The fake does not have the ICOM logo, and   
   carries the Part Number BP-208 instead of BP209N as found on the real Icom   
   battery.  Lastly, the optional    
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale, Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   Icom asks that if you find a product that you may suspect is counterfeit,   
   please report it to the company's support center. You can contact Icom at 2380   
   116th Avenue NE, Bellevue, Washington, 98004 in the United States.  Or by   
   phone to area code 425-454-8   
      
   More about the products mentioned in this story is on-line at the following   
   URL's:  IC-V8 Handheld Radio - http://www.icom.co.jp/world/notice/pdf/V8.pdf   
   F21 Battery Pack - http://www.icom.co.jp/world/notice/pdf/F21.pdf   
   HM133 Microphone - http://www.icom.co.jp/world/notice/pdf/2720H.pdf   
   (Icom, Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO LAW:  FCC SEEKING MEMBERS FOR CONSUMER ADVISORY COMMITTEE   
      
   The Federal Communications Commission is seeking applications for membership   
   on its Consumer Advisory Committee which is now beginning its sixth 2-year   
   term.  Since its establishment in November 2000, the Committee has made many   
   valuable recommendations t   
      
   Applicants should be recognized authorities in their fields, including, but   
   not limited to, organizations focusing upon consumer advocacy, disabilities,   
   underserved populations, telecommunications infra-structure and equipment,   
   telecommunications services   
      
   Committee members, all of whom are volunteers, must be willing to commit to a   
   two-year term of service, should be willing and able to attend 3 one-day   
   meetings a year in Washington, D.C., and are also expected to participate in   
   deliberations of at least o   
      
   The application deadline is February 11th.  Full details on the Committee and   
   how to apply for membership can be found on-line in Adobe file PDF format at   
   tinyurl.com/4vx38d5.  (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW:  CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES NEW WIRELESS DRIVING FINES   
      
   The cost of getting caught using a non hands free cellphone or texting while   
   driving in California has gone up.  As of the first of the year a first   
   offense of driving while using a wireless phone not hands free will cost you   
   $148 while each subsequent vi   
      
   **   
      
   NEW WAVE COMMMS:  LISTENER DRIVEN RADIO ADDS NEW FEATURES   
      
   Listener Driven Radio, an interactive audio software platform for   
   broadcasters, is adding of several new features.  The company's SMS text   
   messaging capabilities now make it possible for listeners to sign up for a   
   text message to their mobile device when    
      
   For those not aware, Listener Driven Radio is a new model for radio, shifting   
   stations from broadcasts to what it calls crowdcasts.  That's where listeners   
   vote, and a stations programming is affected in real-time.  More is on-line at   
   www.ldrradio.com  (R   
      
   **   
      
   PUBLIC SERVICE:  HAMS NEEDED FOR BOSTON MARATHON COMMUNICATIONS   
      
   Ham radio volunteer registration for the 2011 Boston Marathon is now open.    
   The Marathon will be held on Monday April 18th with radio operators are needed   
   to provide safety communications   
   and to assist the Red Cross.  Assignments are available in Hopkinton, along   
   the route, and in downtown Boston. To volunteer, go to marc.mmra.org and   
   follow the instructions found at the website.  (K1IW)   
      
   **   
      
   THE SOCIAL SCENE:  A LOUISIANA FAIS DO DO TO HAM RADIO   
      
   Turning to the ham radio social scene we begin with this event in Cajun   
   country.  Heres Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, with the details:   
      
   --   
      
   The Acadiana Amateur Radio Association will hold its 51st Annual Hamfest in   
   Rayne, Louisiana.  Among the features of this very Southern event will be the   
   annual Crawfish Boil with the popular Fais-Do-Do and other dancing.  For those   
   of you who have never    
      
   Do-Do is basically sleep.  You tell your kids to go night-night or Do-Do and   
   Fais is a negative in Cajun French, so Fais-Do-Do literally means that you   
   don't sleep and dance all night.   
      
   The Hamfest will be open to the general public and ham community at 5:00 p.m.   
   until 8:00 p.m on Friday, March 11th and again from 8:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.   
   on Saturday, March 12th.   All times given are Central Standard in the United   
   States.  For more inf   
      
   Oh, you have a good time!!   
      
   Reporting from Cajun country, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, for the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline,   
      
   --   
      
   And now you see why we gave this one to Don.  (NA5Q)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS:  2011 DAYTON DX DINNER - MAY 20   
      
   Meantime, a couple hundred miles to the North, the SouthWest Ohio DX   
   Association will again sponsor the DX Dinner to be held in conjunction with   
   the 2011 Dayton Hamvention.  The dinner will be held on Friday, May 20th, at   
   the Dayton Marriott, which is loc   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: G4FSU NAMED IARU TECHNICAL CONSULTANT   
      
   Some names in the news.  International Amateur Radio Union President Tim   
   Ellam, VE6SH has appointed Ian Greenshields, G4FSU, as an IARU Technical   
   Consultant.  In this role, Greenshields can be called upon to represent the   
   IARU at various regulatory meetin   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  VA3DM NAMED RAC SPECIAL ADVISOR   
      
   Doug Mein, VA3DM, has been appointed as a Special Advisor to the Radio   
   Amateurs of Canada Field Organization.  Mein has an extensive background and   
   is retired from Transport Canada after 33 years of service.  During the   
   September 11th 2001 terrorist attac   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  DJ9KR PUBLISHES 40 METER BROADCAST INTRUDER LIST   
      
   And Ulrich Bihlmayer, DJ9KR, of Tuebingen, Germany,  has published a list of   
   broadcast stations still operating in the 7.0 to 7.2MHz amateur service radio   
   band.  The list can be downloaded from in Adobe PDF format at ti   
   yurl.com/4c8ootr.  The latest versi   
      
   **   
      
   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)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM TECHNOLOGY:  GLOBAL TUNES REACHES 55 RECEIVERS WORLD WIDE   
      
   You can now access 55 receivers world wide on the Global Tuners dot com   
   website.  Receivers on-line operate a variety of modes including the AM and FM   
   broadcast bands, the shortwave spectrum, HF and UHF bands in various modes.   
      
   Countries currently on-line include the USA, Australia , Finland, France,   
   Germany , Greece , Italy , Hong Kong , the Netherlands, the Slovak Republic,   
   Sweden and the United Kingdom to mention only a few.  So far there are 33,777   
   registered members and you   
      
   For more information take your web browser to www.globaltuners.com and global   
   tuners is spelled as one word.  (Global Tuners)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  ARISSat-1 UPDATE   
      
   The ARISSat-1 amateur radio experimental satellite is now in Kazikstan.  The   
   NASA Phase 3 Safety Review for ARISSat was scheduled for last Thursday January   
   20th with the Russian Progress 41P launch carrying ARISSat-1 scheduled for   
   liftoff late this month.   
      
   Meantime, the Russian Soyuz manufacturer RSC Energia is also calling the   
   ARISSat-1 satellite KEDR.  This is in honor of Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's   
   callsign and also in celebration during the 50th anniversary of the first   
   manned space flight that took place    
      
   R-S-C Energia has information and photographs about the satellite at its news   
   site.  Sergey Samburov, RV3DR is shown in the photos with the satellite.  The   
   URL to see them is tinyurl.com/46altbf  (WA4SXM)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE:  RUSSIA TO RESUME SPACE TOURIST FLIGHTS IN 2013   
      
   Listen out for space tourists to once again operating on-orbit from the   
   International Space Station sometime in or after 2013.  This after Russia   
   announces that it will start selling multimillion-dollar tourist tickets to   
   the International Space Station a   
      
   Virginia-based Space Adventures has had no seats to sell for the zero-gravity   
   voyage since billionaire Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte flew to the   
   orbiting outpost back in October 2009.  But according to recent news reports,   
   beginning in 2013 it wi   
      
   Russia has again found room for paying private customers aboard the cramped   
   three-seat Soyuz due to plans to increase annual production of the single-use   
   craft from four to five in 2013.  The Soyuz is carried to orbit by Russian   
   rockets that are launched    
      
   **   
      
   WORLDBEAT:  NEW LOOK FOR THE UK REPEATER WEBSITE   
      
   If you are planning a trip to Great Britain and will be taking a VHF or UHF   
   radio with you, listen up.  The United Kingdom repeater website been given a   
   new look for the New Year, making it easier to find information.  There are   
   improved search facilities   
      
   **   
      
   CONTEST CORNER:  CONTEST UNIVERSITY 2011 REGISTRATION NOWQ OPEN   
      
   Turning to radiosport news, Tim Duffy, K3LR, has announced that registration   
   for the Contest University 2011 is now open. This will the 5th year of holding   
   the event just prior to the Dayton Hamvention.  The date is  Thursday, May   
   19th, at the Crowne Plaz   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, word that OM5AM is active as D2AM from Luanda, Angola through March   
   17th.  Operation is mainly 20 meters SSB with some RTTY. QSL via his home   
   callsign, direct or by the Bureau.   
      
   BX5AA will be active from Taiwan during the CQ World Wide WPX SSB Contest on   
   March 26th and 27th.  If you work him QSL via BX5AA.   
      
   VK4FEAT is now active from the Solomon Islands as H44DX.  His length of stay   
   on the island was not provided but his operation so far has been on 40, 20 and   
   10 meter SSB. QSL via VK4FEAT and not via OH2BN as listed on QRZ dot com.  And   
   yes, that callsign t   
      
   RD3AF to be active as EF8M from the Canary Islands during the CQ 160-Meter CW   
   Contest rom January 28th to the 30th.  This as a Single-Operator, all band   
   high power entry. QSL via UA3DX.   
      
   And look for C31CT will be active from Andorra during the CQWW 160m SSB   
   Contest from February 25th to the 27th as a single operator entry. QSL this   
   one via EA3QS.   
      
   Lastly, UR9IDX is once again active as 8Q7VR from Naifaru Island in the   
   Maldives.  The length of his stay not known at this time but so far he's been   
   heard on 80 and 12 meters CW.  QSL via UR9IDX only direct.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  QCWA ASKS HAM COMMUNITY TO HELP CELEBRATE THE 100TH BIRTHDAY   
   OF WORLD RADIO LABS FOUNDER W0GFQ   
      
   And finally this week, the founder of World Radio Labs, Leo I. Meyerson,   
   W0GFQ, is about to celebrate his 100th birthday.  And in his honor QCWA   
   Chapter 154 in Palm Springs, California is holding a special celebration of   
   this event.  Bill Pasternak, WA6IT   
      
   --   
      
   For those that are new to the hobby or simply do not remember Leo Meyerson,   
   W0GFQ, owned and operated World Radio Laboratories in Council Bluffs, Iowa   
   from the 1940's through the 1970's.  During that period of time he also   
   founded Globe Electronics and la   
      
   The Globe logo first appeared on the 1948 model Globe Champion transmitter.   
   These early units produced 150 watts input on phone or CW with coverage from   
   160 to 10 meters.   
      
   Perhaps his most successful product was the Globe Scout 680 transmitter series   
   that operated on 80 through 6 meters.  These gave many a new General or   
   Technician his or her first taste of A-M phone operation at an affordable   
   entry level price.  For his ma   
      
   Now, to commemorate Leo Meyerson's personal centenary, the Quarter Century   
   Wireless Association is requesting that hams world wide take a QSL card, write   
   'Happy 100th Birthday Leo' on it and send it to him.  His direct mail address   
   is Leo Meyerson, W0GFQ,   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom in   
   Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   Bob Roske, N0UF, is the National President of the Quarter Century Wireless   
   Association.  He says that he hopes that Leo gets hundreds or maybe even   
   thousands of birthday cards.  This, to help make this a very special day for a   
   ham that has devoted so much   
      
   **   
      
   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 Damron,   
   N8TMW, saying 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)