Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1955 March 6 2015   
      
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1954 with a release date of Friday,   
   March 6th, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
      
   The following is a QST. Ham radio comes to the aid of a crash victim of an   
   Arkansas auto accident; the IARU Region 1 VHF newsletter charts the future of   
   those very high bands; the ARRL asks its members to comment on High Frequency   
   it's band planning proposal; planning continues for the VK0EK Heard Island   
   DXpedition and get ready for next summers International Lighthouse and   
   Lightship weekend. All this and more on Amateur Radio Newsline report number   
   1955 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   RESCUE RADIO: ARKANSAS HAM RESCUES DRIVER IN HIGHWAY CRASH   
      
      
   Ham radio turned out to be the hero after a road-crash rescue Saturday   
   morning, February 21st on an Arkansas Highway just south of the Missouri   
   line. Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details:   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   [WA6ITF] Jim Long, N5CXP, who lives in Baxter County, Arkansas, said he set   
   out for the town of Mountain Home to get to the truck he drives on weekends   
   for Magness Oil. But the roads were treacherously slick with ice so he   
   stopped on a hilltop, where he had a cell phone signal, and called his   
   dispatcher to say he wasn't going to make it in. The dispatcher agreed so   
   Long turned around and was heading back home. That's when he came upon a car   
   on its side at the bottom of a hill back end was up on the guardrail.   
      
      
   The driver, Ashley Miller was also on her way to work when she hit a patch   
   of black ice and felt the car spin out of control. She told the local   
   newspaper that she had blood coming out of her head but heard someone coming.   
   So she honked her car horn so they would know someone was in the damaged   
   vehicle.   
      
      
   Long heard the honking horn and a woman crying inside the vehicle. N5CXP   
   tried to open the door, but it was jammed. Then he had Miller try the cars   
   moon roof that opened enough so that he could pry it the rest of the way.   
   Miller said that Long came through the roof, reached in and cut her seat belt   
   off. Then he helped pull her out and took Miller to his truck and wrapped her   
   in a blanket to keep her warm.   
      
      
   The crash had happened at a low point on the highway near the bottom of a   
   creek where there wasn't any cellular phone service. So N5CXP used his 2   
   meter transceiver to contact Heye Wessels, N9JSM, via the Mountain Home   
   repeater who called the local 911 emergency response number and reported the   
   accident. Soon a first responder from the Clarkridge Fire Department arrived   
   followed by a Baxter County Sheriff's deputy and an ambulance. Miller was   
   taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center in Mountain Home, where she was   
   treated and released.   
      
      
   The full story including information about the Amateur Radio Club of the   
   Ozarks that Jim Long is a member of can be found at   
   tinyurl.com/arkansas-road-rescue   
      
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in Los Angeles.   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   Another example of ham radio coming through when all other lines of   
   communications fail. (Ozark County Times)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO POLITICS: IARU REGION 1 VHF NEWSLETTER CHARTS THE FUTURE   
      
      
   Region 1 of the International Amateur Radio Union has released its latest   
   VHF-UHF-Microwave Newsletter that covers the International Telecommunications   
   Union's 2015 World Radiocommunication Conference. The newsletter says agenda   
   items at WRC 2015 includes topics that could affect amateurs in the 5 MHz, 5   
   GHz, 10 GHz, 24 GHz and 77 GHz bands.   
      
   The newsletter notes that WRC 2015 also decides the agenda items for the next   
   conference that's slated for 2019. IARU Region 1 has proposals in with the   
   European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations or CEPT   
   concerning potential agenda items for a 50 MHz Amateur Satellite Service   
   allocation and also harmonization of spectrum at 3.4 GHz There may be a need   
   to raise the option of a new allocation such as 1300 to 1310 MHz in order to   
   mitigate restrictions that are appearing in the existing 23 cm band.   
      
   The complete newsletter can be found on the web at tinyurl.com/IARU-R1-VHF-65   
   (IARU-R1)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   RESTRUCTURING: ARRL ASKS MENBERS TO COMMENT ON DRAFT HF BAND PLAN PROPOSALS   
      
      
   Your opinion could help shape future amateur radio bandplans. Skeeter Nash,   
   N5ASH, explains:   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   [N5ASH] The ARRL High Frequency Band Planning Committee is recommending band   
   by band changes to the overall High Frequency bandplan and wants input from   
   its members before April 19th.    
      
      
   The proposed changes differentiate among Automatically Controlled Digital   
   Stations known as ACDS, narrow RTTY and data modes having a bandwidth no   
   greater than 500 Hz, and wider data modes having a bandwidth up to 2700 Hz.   
   Here are some of the highlights for the most popular bands.   
      
      
   Starting with the 75 and 80 meter spectrum, the committee recommends that   
   the League petition the FCC to move the boundary between 80 meter RTTY and   
   data and the 75 meter phone/image band from 3600 to 3650 kHz and restoring   
   that segment to General and Advanced class licensees. Members are also being   
   asked if the League should petition the FCC to shift the ACDS band segment   
   from 3585 to 3600 kHz higher to 3600 to 3615 kHz making it consistent with   
   the International Amateur Radio Union Region 1 and 2 band plans. Also should   
   it ask to extend the current Novice and Technician CW segment up to 3650 kHz   
   as well as adding 80 meter RTTY and data privileges for these licensees.    
      
      
   At 7 MHz, the committee has concluded that it would be unrealistic to try to   
   bring the ARRL 40 meter band plan into alignment with the rest of the world.   
   They say that in Regions 1 and 3 where 40 meter operating patterns developed   
   when the entire band, including phone, was just 100 kHz wide and is still   
   only 200 kHz. While 7040 kHz is a recognized RTTY and Data DX frequency in   
   the band plan, it believes that the best place for other RTTY and Data   
   activity in the United States is above 7070 kHz.   
      
      
   For 20 meters the committee suggests using the 1 kHz International Amateur   
   Radio Union backed Northern California DX Foundation beacon network frequency   
   at 14.0995 to 14.1005 MHz as a dividing line between wide ACDS in the 14.1005   
   to 14.112 MHz segment, and narrow ACDS from 14.095 to14.0995 MHz. It also   
   recommends 14.070 to 14.095 MHz for RTTY and narrowband data, noting that   
   so-called "weak-signal" data modes often are used between 14.070 and 14.078   
   MHz.    
      
      
   On 15 meters, the committee recommends that 21.070 to 21.090 MHz for narrow   
   RTTY/data modes, the FCC-mandated ACDS segment of 21.090 to 21.100 MHz for   
   both narrow and wide automatically controlled data station activity, and   
   above 21.100 MHz for any additional wide data activity. The ARRL Board also   
   wants members to comment on the desirability of adding RTTY and data   
   privileges for Novices and Technicians in their existing 15 meter segment,   
   where they're now limited to CW.    
      
      
   On 10 meters the committee only recommends that wide data be confined to the   
   FCC-mandated ACDS spectrum at 28.120 to 28.189 MHz be separated from narrow   
   RTTY and data modes at 28.070 to 28.120 MHz.    
      
      
   Proposals for the other High Frequency bands can be found in an article on   
   the ARRL website at tinyurl.com/HF-bandplan-proposal. The League has also set   
   up a web page at arrl.org/bandplan where members can comment. Those wishing   
   to offer more detailed proposals may do so by e-mail to bandplan (at) arrl   
   (dot) org.    
      
      
   --   
      
      
   The HF Band Planning Committee will deliver its final report at the ARRL   
   Board of Directors' July meeting. (ARRL)   
      
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT: EXPEDITION LEADER GOES DOWN UNDER TO COORDINATE VK0EK HEARD   
   ISLAND PROJECT    
      
   In DX up-front, VK0EK Heard Island Expedition Organizer and Leader, Dr.   
   Robert Schmieder, KK6EK, is completing a 2-week multi stop trip to New   
   Zealand, Tasmania, and Australia. This to coordinate plans, permits, and   
   logistics for the expedition. We get more on the story from Jim Meachen,   
   ZL2BHF:   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   Schmieder was hosted for several days by team member Jacky Calvo, ZL3CW in   
   Waihi Beach. They were able to meet with other radio amateurs who will   
   provide support for the expedition including ZL2IFB, ZL2DX, and ZL2AL. The   
   latter will serve as a radio pilot for the DXpedition.   
      
      
   In Christchurch, KK6EK met with Rodney Russ of Heritage Expeditions which is   
   providing the vessel. Heritage Expeditions indicated they can help with   
   certain facilities and logistics that will save the expedition some expenses.    
      
      
   In Tasmania KK6EK met with staff at the Australian Antarctic Division which   
   will issue the permits. The Division indicated that the expedition can expect   
   to receive permission to visit areas of the island normally off-limits to   
   visitors, and to make collections of organisms and return with them for   
   laboratory analysis. These activities are critical to the expedition's goal   
   of "Discovering Life in the Extremes," so this step gives assurance that the   
   major objectives of the expedition can be met.    
      
      
   Schmieder reports that these meetings went very well, and there is every   
   expectation that the expedition can go forward as planned. In particular, the   
   contract for the vessel is in hand.    
      
      
   According to Schmeider, it is clear that this trip was an essential step to   
   solidify the formal structure of the expedition and the coordination of the   
   team. The next steps are to assemble the cargo, suit up the crew, and prepare   
   for take- off in November. (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 including the N5YYU   
   repeater serving Clinton, Arkansas.   
      
      
      
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
      
      
   RESCUE RADIO: FCC SEEKS PUBLIC COMMENT ON DEPLOYABLE 700 MHZ TRUNKED PUBLIC   
   SAFETY SYSTEM   
      
      
   The FCC's Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau is seeking comment on a   
   recommended set of six channels available nationwide for 700 MHz deployable   
   trunked systems. These channel sets were recommended by the National Public   
   Safety Telecommunications Council and the National Regional Planning Council.   
      
      
   As outlined in PS Docket 13-87 and WT Docket 02-378, in October of 2014, the   
   Commission adopted a Report and Order revising certain rules governing the   
   700 MHz public safety narrowband channels. Specifically, the Commission   
   released twenty four 12.5 kHz channels to the narrowband reserve to general   
   use under the administration of the 700 MHz Regional Planning Committees.   
   This for the benefit of state and local public safety licensees.    
      
      
   Prior to taking further action on these recommendations, the Commission has   
   now issued the Public Notice to solicit comments on the recommended sets of   
   channels for deployable trunked systems. The full text of these proposals   
   including a chart of possible allocations is at tinyurl.com/pjrfq8u. Closing   
   date to file comments is April 2nd with Reply Comments due no later than   
   April 17th. (FCC)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   RESCUE RADIO: FCC TO HOLD CSRIC MEETING ON MARCH 18   
      
      
   If you are in any way involved in emergency communications you might find   
   this of interest. Word that the FCC's Communications Security, Reliability,   
   and Interoperability Council also known as CSRIC will meet on Wednesday,   
   March 18th to discuss a number of issues related to communications issues.    
      
      
   The CSRIC is a federal advisory committee that provides recommendations to   
   the Commission regarding best practices and actions the regulatory agency can   
   take to help ensure security, reliability, and interoperability of commercial   
   and public safety communications systems. This includes the reliability and   
   security of communications systems and infrastructure; Enhanced and Next   
   Generation 911 and emergency alerting.    
      
      
   This is the seventh and final gathering under this CSRIC charter. At the   
   meeting, three working groups will provide a report and recommendations for a   
   council vote. These are Working Group 3 on Emergency Alerting Systems,   
   Working Group 4 on Cybersecurity Risk Manage and Best Practices, and Working   
   Group 7 on Legacy System Best Practices.    
      
      
   Members of the general public may attend the meeting. The Commission says   
   that it will also provide audio or video coverage of the meeting over the   
   Internet from the FCC's web page at www.fcc.gov/live. Each of the CSRIC   
   Working Groups is described in more detail at tinyurl.com/omr8vzk. (FCC)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC AND UNIVISION ENTER INO CONSENT DECREE OVER MISUSE OF EAS   
   TONES    
      
   The FCC's Enforcement Bureau has entered into a Consent Decree to resolve   
   its investigation into whether Univision Local Media, Inc. or its station   
   WXNY-FM aired Emergency Alert System or EAS tones during the January 28, 2014   
   episode of the Luis Jimenez Show. This, in the absence of an actual emergency   
   or authorized test of the EAS. To settle this matter, Univision admits that   
   it misused the EAS Tones, will implement a compliance plan, and will pay a   
   $20,000 civil penalty.   
      
      
   WXNY-FM is one of Univision's Spanish-language radio stations serving the   
   New York City metropolitan area. Several of WXNY's disc jockeys, speaking in   
   a mix of Spanish and English, played the tones during a comedy routine, at   
   one point acknowledging it was illegal, but continuing to broadcast the   
   tones. The station's use of the EAS tones in this manner violated statutory   
   and regulatory prohibitions against the transmission of actual or simulated   
   EAS tones absent an emergency or test of the system. The Consent Decree   
   brings this matter to a close. (FCC)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO AND THE LAW: MONTGOMERY ALABAMA HAM PLATE TICKET MIXUP   
      
      
   There appears to be a partial solution to a mix-up with car license tags in   
   and around Montgomery, Alabama that includes those previously issued to some   
   radio amateurs. We get the details from Stephen Stephen Kinford, N8WB:   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   In December, Anthony Harper got a ticket for a violation caught on camera in   
   Montgomery. The ticket was mailed to him from a company in Arizona called   
   American Traffic Solutions that monitors the cameras. The problem was that   
   the car caught on camera does not belong to Harper.    
      
      
   A close view of the tag shows it with the same number as Harpers'. The   
   director of the state's Motor Vehicle division says that mix-ups happen   
   occasionally when someone has an amateur radio or civil air patrol tag. He   
   explained that the callsigns the FCC issues to some people may be the same as   
   a tag that is already assigned and cannot be changed.    
      
      
   However, in this case, these were two different tag types. One was a   
   disabled plate the other amateur radio callsign tag. When Harper tried to   
   clear himself American Traffic Solutions had problems getting the right   
   person on the phone and then getting them to see the discrepancy. So after   
   hearing several concerns about the company, the city of Montgomery is now   
   looking to possibly add a Montgomery police telephone number to the tickets   
   so those mistakenly receiving them don't get the runaround.    
      
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth,   
   Ohio.    
   (Published news reports)    
      
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO IN PRINT: AMERICAN LEGION MAGAZINE FEATURES HAM RADIO   
      
      
   This March edition of the American Legion Magazine has a two and a half page   
   article on ham radio and another one page article entitled The American   
   Legion and Ham Radio. The American Legion Amateur Radio Club is open to   
   wartime military veterans who are both members of the Legion family and   
   FCC-licensed amateur radio operators. More information and links to the   
   articles are at www.legion.org/hamradio (K0UPW)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   DIGITAL VOICE: CODEC2 MICROPHONE BASED ENCODER BEING READIED FOR DELIVEY   
      
      
   Free DV in the form of a plug in to your radio encoder microphone is coming,   
   but it won't be free. Codec2 digital voice developer David Rowe, VK5DGR, has   
   announced that the first batch of one hundred model SM1000 units are being   
   built in China right now and shipping may start in late March    
      
   The SM1000 is an a embedded hardware product that allows you to run the   
   FreeDV system without a Personal Computer. Just plug it into your SSB or FM   
   radio, and you now have Digital Voice capability.   
      
      
   The unit is based on a STM32F4 micro-controller, has a built in microphone,   
   speaker amplifier, and transformer isolated interfaces to your radio. It's   
   just 80 x 100 mm, and can be held in you hand and used like a regular push to   
   talk microphone, or set near your radio in a small box form factor.    
      
      
   While no final price has been announced, its believed that the unit will   
   retail for under $200 in the United States putting open source digital voice   
   within the reach of most hams. (Southgate, www.rowetel.com/blog/?p=3125)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   RADIO READING: MARCONI AND THE UK POLDHU MARCONI CENTER    
      
      
   An article published in the United Kingdom newspaper The Register about   
   inventor Guglielmo Marconi and his Poldhu radio laboratory contains an   
   interview with radio amateur David Barlow, G3PLE. Barlow is a warden or   
   administrator at the Poldhu Marconi Center that these days houses modern   
   radio equipment, which can be used by licensed amateur operators. The author   
   notes that the wardens like Barlow also take delight in demonstrating the   
   16,000-volt spark transmitter still at the center. The complete article can   
   be found by using the search feature at www.theregister.co.uk (Southgate)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE CERTIFICATE COMMEMORATES ISS SSTV EVENT AND BIRTHDAY OF   
   FIRST MAN IN SPACE   
      
      
   Radio amateurs in Poland have created a certificate commemorating the recent   
   SSTV activity from the International Space Station on the occasion of the   
   80th anniversary of Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's birthday. This   
   certificate dedicated to the first man in space also coincides with the 85th   
   anniversary of the Polish Amateur Radio Union which was established February   
   24th, 1930.    
      
   If you wish to receive a printed version of the certificate printed with your   
   name and call sign first share your images received from the ISS by uploading   
   them to tinyurl.com/ariss-sstv-upload. Once that's done e-mail a report to   
   koordynator (dot) ariss (at) gmail (dot) com describing your working   
   conditions, equipment and antennas used for reception of the signals from the   
   ISS. Please mention your first and last names, your call sign and your grid   
   locator.    
      
      
   Please note that some published photos will possibly be used in the future   
   for educational purposes. If you publish pictures on the page you   
   automatically agree to this. (SP7CBG)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   WORLDBEAT: GB2RS BROADCAST FROM GERMANY TO CHANGE FREQUENCY   
      
   The Radio Society of Great Britain advises that as of Sunday, March 8th that   
   its GB2RS transmission at 10.00 UTC from Germany will change frequency to   
   7.127 MHz. This change is being made to accommodate contest activity that   
   competes for spectrum on the band. The 10.30 UTC transmission of the news by   
   GM3JIJ from the town Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides of   
   Scotland will continue on 7.150 as usual. (GB2RS)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   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)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   HAM RADIO VIDEO: WRTC 2014 DOCUMENTARY RELEASED   
      
      
   James Brooks, 9V1YC, has made available a video about the amateur radio   
   World Radiosport Team Championship 2014.    
      
   The World Radiosport Team Championship better known as WRTC is a competition   
   between two-person teams of amateur radio operators testing their skills to   
   make contacts with other Amateur Radio operators around the world over a 24   
   hour period. Unlike most on-the-air competitions, all stations are required   
   to use identical antennas from the same geographic region, eliminating all   
   variables except operating ability.    
      
      
   The show, produced in high definition, runs an hour. Its on line at   
   vimeo.com/119947598 (Southgate)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   SOUNDS FROM SPACE: NASA RELEASES SOUNDS OF SPACE RINGTONES   
      
      
   NASA has released a set of sound files suitable for use as ringtones or   
   computer notifications. One of them is one of the Morse code "HI" messages   
   picked up from the Juno instrument during the earth flyby in 2013.    
      
      
   Other tones include NASA sounds from historic spaceflights and current   
   missions including the roar of a space shuttle launch or Neil Armstrong's   
   "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" every time you get a   
   phone call.    
      
      
   The tones are available in both MP3 as well as M4R format for iPhone users.   
   The MP3's are at tinyurl.com/space-ringtones. The M4R files must be   
   downloaded and imported via iTunes. (KD0L )   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   ELECTRONIC HAPPENINGS: APEC 2015 MARCH 15 - 19 IN CHARLOTTE NC   
      
      
   The 30th annual Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition is   
   slated for March 15th through the 19th at the Charlotte Convention Center,   
   Charlotte, North Carolina. APEC as its known focuses on the practical and   
   applied aspects of the power electronics business. In addition to displays   
   the show will present professional development courses taught by world-class   
   experts, presentations of peer-reviewed technical papers covering a wide   
   range of topic as well as time to network and enjoy the company of fellow   
   power electronics professionals. More information including links to the   
   technical presentations is at www.apec-conf.org (PSD.com)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: PRE-REGISTRATION FOR INTERNATIONAL DX CONVENTION ENDS APRIL 8   
      
      
   Advance registration for those planning to attend the International DX   
   Convention ends on April 8 as we hear from Geri Goodrich, KF5KRN:   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   This years program includes DX University and Contest Academy sessions,   
   ARRL, DX, and Contest forums, and a long list of DX and technical   
   presentations, as well as an entire exhibition hall of displays and vendors.    
      
      
   Jeanne Socrates, KC2IOV, will keynote the Saturday banquet. Socrates holds   
   the Guinness World Record as the oldest woman to sail solo and nonstop around   
   the world.   
      
      
   The Sunday DX Convention Breakfast speaker will be Bob Allphin, K4UEE, who   
   will talk on the recent K1N DXpedition to Navassa Island. Allphin also is   
   scheduled to speak at the Friday Top Band Dinner about the team's 160 meter   
   experiences.    
      
      
   This year's 66th annual International DX Convention is being sponsored by   
   the Northern California DX Club. It will take place April 16th to the 19th at   
   the Visalia Convention Center in Visalia, California.    
      
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Geri Goodrich, KF5KRN.   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   More information is available on the convention website. You can find it in   
   cyberspace at www.dxconvention.com (IDXC, ARRL)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: FOUR NEW ASTROHAMS GET LICENSED   
      
      
   Four astronauts have recently passed their Technician Class license exams.   
   Those who sat for their exams include Thomas Pesquet, KG5FYG; Jack Fischer,   
   KG5FYH; David Saint-Jacques, KG5FYI and Kathleen Rubins, PHD., KG5FYJ   
      
      
   Thomas Pesquet was selected as an ESA astronaut in May 2009. He will be   
   leaving our planet for six months November 2016 as a flight engineer for   
   Expeditions 50 and 51, returning in May 2017.   
      
      
   Jack Fischer was selected in July 2009 as a member of the 20th NASA   
   astronaut class. He completed astronaut candidate training in July 2011.   
      
      
   Saint-Jacques was selected in May 2009 by the Canadian Space Agency and   
   moved to Houston to also be one of 14 members of the 20th NASA astronaut   
   class as was Dr. Rubins. She has been assigned as a flight engineer for ISS   
   Expedition 48 and 49 launching in May of 2016. (NASA, ESA, ANS)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: RCA BREAKFAST MARCH 19 TO FEATURE DR. WALT MAGNUSSEN   
      
      
   And while a last minute announcement, word that the next Radio Club of   
   America breakfast gathering will take place from 7:30am to 9:00 am Pacific   
   time on Thursday, March 19th, This, in conjunction with the 2015   
   International Wireless Communications Expo.    
      
      
   The venue will be room N246 of the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas,   
   Nevada. This years guest speaker will be Dr. Walt Magnanimous who has been   
   the Director of the Texas A&M Internet2 Technology Evaluation Center since   
   2004. Reservations for this event are required prior to March 12th.    
      
      
   A reservation form in PDF format returnable by mail, fax, or e-mail can be   
   downloaded at tinyurl.com/RCA-at-ICE (RCA)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: BEARTOOTH ADDS VHF AND UHF VOICE AND DATA COMMUNICATION   
   CAPABILITY TO SMARTPHONES   
      
      
   You have all heard of Bluetooth and some of you may be familiar with   
   goTenna. Now add a new communications device called Beartooth that adds VHF   
   and UHF voice and data communications capability to smartphones. We get more   
   from George Thomas W5JDX:   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   According to its experimental license grant WH2XLW, the Beartooth can   
   operate anywhere in the 137 to 174 MHz and 400 to 470 MHz bands with an   
   Effective Radiated power of two watts. According to Comsearch's FCC emission   
   designation decoder the license appears to cover amplitude modulation and   
   phase modulation transmitting voice, data and telegraphy for automatic   
   reception.    
      
      
   The Beartooth unit is described as a software-defined radio receiver and   
   transmitter that interfaces with supported devices and includes a battery to   
   double smartphone battery life. Uses include personal communications,   
   industrial communications services, and public safety.    
      
      
   Since the device is an SDR with a wide frequency range, it not only supports   
   the same type of personal communications provided by the the recently   
   introduced goTenna, but also adds the ability to communicate with any analog   
   radios operating on Family Radio Service, General Mobile Radio Service or   
   Multi-Use Radio Service spectrum. The device is also said to be usable on the   
   amateur 2 meter and 70 centimeter bands.   
      
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, Im George Thomas, W5JDX, in Jackson,   
   Mississippi.   
      
      
   --   
      
      
   Beartooth was introduced at the recent Techcrunch gathering looking at new   
   and future communications devices. More on is at www.beartooth.com.   
   (Beartooth.com, Communications Daily)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: VK HAS LOTS OF LIGHTHOUSES   
      
      
   And finally this week:   
      
      
   (VK4BB) Its pretty well known that Australia has lighthouses dotted around   
   its vast coastline. There are also several in the lightship category, with up   
   to 70 regularly active each August thanks to amateur radio. And many are a   
   part of and event called International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend   
   that's held every August. Graham Kemp, VK4BB, reports:   
      
      
   Starting the tradition in Australia was the co founder of International   
   Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend, the late Mike Dalrymple, GM4SUC, who in   
   1998, was invited down-under to join the International Lighthouse and   
   Lightship Weekend festivities.    
      
      
   Those also signing on included the Greencape Lighthouse by VK2SEA; the   
   Australian Naval Amateur Radio Society by VK2CE; VK7TS from Eddystone Point   
   in Tasmania and the Brisbane Amateur Radio Club operating VK4BAR and VK4RAN,   
   both at the Queensland Maritime Museum.    
      
   Why has Australia embraced this event with such fervor and enthusiasm? Well,   
   initially there was some reluctance and misunderstanding by some lighthouse   
   owners. But with lots of diplomacy explaining the fun-event, and the   
   publicity that flowed from it, there was a decided positive change of   
   attitude.   
      
   Through a lot the early hard work the number of Australian stations has   
   increased with it peaking at 72 in the 2012, and not that far behind since.   
   Arch rival in the event is Germany which also had 72 a year later in 2013,   
   and the USA that had 93 to top the list last year.   
      
   So far International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend 2015 has attracted 130   
   registrations from 20 countries for the weekend of August the 15th the 16th.   
   If you would like more information or to register on line then please visit   
   www.illw.net on the World Wide Web.    
      
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, from the land of   
   many lighthouses in Queensland, Australia. (VK3PC, WIA News)   
      
      
   **   
      
      
   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 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.   
      
      
   Before we go, a reminder that Amateur Radio Newsline is seeking nominations   
   for its 2015 Young Ham of the Year Award. For consideration, a nominee must   
   have used amateur radio in some way that has benefited his or her community   
   or encouraged technological development directly or indirectly related to   
   communications.    
      
      
   Nominees must be 19 years or younger, and reside in the United States   
   including Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, and Puerto Rico or any of the Canadian   
   Provinces. The individual must also hold a currently valid United States or   
   Canadian Amateur Radio license.   
      
      
   This award is not a contest. The person selected as 'Young Ham of the Year'   
   is judged on his or her overall accomplishments and contributions. Any prizes   
   awarded are secondary in nature.    
      
      
   The deadline for submitting an application is May 30th 2015 and the decision   
   of the judging committee is final. To obtain an application, send a self   
   addressed, stamped envelope to 2015 Young Ham of the Year Award % Amateur   
   Radio Newsline, 28197 Robin Ave. Santa Clarita, CA 91350. You can also   
   download a form in Microsoft Word format at www.arnewsline.org/yhoty,   
   clicking on the word "here" and saving the file to print at a later time.   
      
      
   Presentation of the 2015 Amateur Radio Newsline Young Ham of the Year Award   
   will take the weekend of August 15 and 16 at the Huntsville Hamfest in   
   Huntsville Alabama.    
      
      
   For now, with producers Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF in Los Angeles and Skeeter   
   Nash, N5ASH in Topeka, plus our news team world wide, I'm Ralph Squillace,   
   KK6ITB, in La Quinta, California, saying 73 and as always we thank you for   
   listening.    
      
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2015. 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)