Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1960  April 10 2015   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1960 with a release date of Friday,   
   April 10, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1,     
      
   The following is a QST.  The ARRL tells the FCC that ham radio and vehicle   
   radar systems can co-exist at 76 to 81 GHz;  UK hams get 70.5 to 71.5 MHz for   
   digital experimentation by special permit; South Africa hams gain full   
   kilowatt privileges;  the Northern California DX Foundation announces a grant   
   of $50,000 to the upcoming VK0EK Heard Island DXpedition and radio tracking   
   tiny birds as they fly south over the Atlantic.  All this and more on Amateur   
   Radio Newsline report number 1960 coming your way right now.   
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW:  ARRL TO FCC:  AMATEUR RADIO AND VEHICULAR RADARS CAN JOINTLY   
   EXIST ON 77-81 GHZ   
      
   The ARRL has told the FCC that Amateur radio and vehicular radar systems can   
   co-exist in the 76 to 81 GHz band as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's   
   Don Wilbanks, AE5DW:   
      
   --   
      
   [Don] In comments filed in response to a February FCC Notice of Proposed   
   Rulemaking and Reconsideration Order the ARRL has told the Commission that it   
   should make no change in the Amateur Radio allocation at 76 to 81 GHz.  Nor   
   should it impose any additional regulatory constraints on Amateur or   
   Amateur-Satellite uses of the band.     
      
   In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Reconsideration in ET Docket 15 dash   
   26, the telecommunications regulator solicited comment on issues involving   
   expanded use of various radar applications in the 76 to 81 GHz.  This is   
   spectrum that Amateur Radio shares with other services.  The band 77.5 to 78   
   GHz is allocated to the Amateur and Amateur Satellite services on a primary   
   basis, and to the Radio Astronomy and Space Research services on a secondary   
   basis.    
      
   FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Reconsideration was in response to a   
   2012 Petition for Rulemaking RM-11666 by Robert Bosch LLC.  It also was in   
   answer to a pair of petitions for reconsideration of a 2012 Report and Order   
   addressing vehicular radar systems in the 76 to 77 GHz band.  ET 15 dash 26   
   also incorporated earlier proceedings.     
      
   In its comments, the ARRL suggested that the FCC overreached in proposing   
   unjustifiable changes at 77 to 81 GHz on its own initiative.  The League said   
   that this is not called for in the text of the Bosch Petition for Rule Making   
   or in any comments that have been filed thus far.  Nor was there any   
   suggestion that there is any incompatibility between Amateur Radio operation   
   and automotive Radars.  The ARRL also referenced a current International   
   Telecommunications Union study that has definitively established   
   compatibility between short-range automotive radars and Amateur radio   
   operations.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in Picyune ,   
   Mississippi .     
      
   --   
      
   In closing, the ARRL said should there be any unjustified displacement of   
   the Amateur or Amateur-Satellite services from any portion of the 76 to 81GHz   
   band, the FCC should allocate equivalent spectrum for those services.  The   
   League suggested the bands 75.5 to 76 GHz and 81 to 81.5 GHz as   
   possibilities.   More can be found at www.arrl.org.  (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  UK FULL LICENSE HAMS GET 70 MHZ DIGITAL SPECTRUM   
      
   Radio amateurs in much of the United Kingdom and Crown Dependencies will   
   soon have access to an extra 1 MHz of VHF spectrum from 70.5 to 71.5 MHz for   
   digital experimentation by only by special permit.  This as   
   telecommunications regulator Ofcom has agreed to the use of this spectrum by   
   radio amateurs for digital experimentation.  But there are some strings   
   attached.   
      
   Access to this part of the spectrum will be authorized under a Notice of   
   Variation, time-limited to 12 months and available to UK Full License holders   
   only.  Amateur Radio use of this spectrum will be permitted on a   
   non-protection, non-interference basis.  If use by hams is shown to cause   
   interference access will be removed immediately.     
      
   Ofcom will also retain the right to reallocate this spectrum at 70.5 to   
   71.5MHz should there be a demand for this part of business radio or other or   
   new services.  In the event of this happening, Ofcom will not consult on this   
   decision but it will provide Amateur Radio users with 12 months' notice   
   before such reassignment.  Such a notification period will be publicized on   
   the Ofcom website.   
      
   Lastly, permission will be subject to a geographical restriction and only   
   granted for use in England , Guernsey , the Isle of Man , Jersey , Northern   
   Ireland and Wales .  There is legacy use of the spectrum by the Scottish   
   Government which precludes licensing for Amateur Radio use.  (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  SOUTH AFRICA HAMS GAIN FULL KILOWATT PRIVLEGE   
      
   Hams in South Africa have been granted a transmit power increase to a full   
   kilowatt.   
      
   For decades the maximum South Africa output power was limited to 400 watts   
   peak envelope.  A workgroup was established to campaign for higher power.    
   After negotiating for several years, South African telecommunications   
   authorities were satisfied that the call was well motivated.     
      
   The updated regulation was then published in the South African Government   
   Gazette and the new 1 kilowatt output power privilege became effective on   
   April 1st.   (ZS6 FDX , SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING:  CHANGES PROPOSED TO VK LICENSE REGULATIONS   
      
   The Australian Communications and Media Authority or ACMA is seeking comment   
   on a proposal to remake the Amateur Radiocommunications License Conditions   
   and the Class of License regulations.  This to enable overseas amateurs   
   visiting Australia to operate in that nation.     
      
   At the same time, but as a separate issue, the ACMA is proposing to restrict   
   access to two segments in 3.3 to 3.6 GHz in the 9cm band for Advanced   
   licensees, where spectrum access may be required by the National Broadband   
   Network.     
      
   3400 to 3410 MHz is allocated to the Amateur Satellite Service in   
   International Telecommunications Union Regions 2 and 3.  It is also used by   
   amateurs in many countries around the world for weak signal communications   
   including moon bounce.   
      
   Commentary cutoff for Australian hams to respond on both issues is April   
   24th.  (WIA News, VK2ZRH)   
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT:  NCDXF ANNOUNCES MAJOR GRANT TO THE VK0EK HEARD ISLAND   
   DXPEDITION   
      
   In DX up front, word that the Northern California DX Foundation has   
   announced announce a grant of $50,000 to the VK0EK Heard Island DXpedition   
   planned for this coming November.  In its April 2nd press release the NCDXF   
   noted that Heard Island has moved up to the number 5 position on the ClubLog   
   Most Wanted List, after the recent Navassa operation was completed.   
      
   Within the last year the Northern California DX Foundation has given   
   $175,000 in grants to operations in Iran , the Andaman, Navassa , Eritrea ,   
   South Sandwich , South Georgia , Chesterfield islands and now Heard Island .    
   It will also be lending its support to a yet unannounced DXpedition which   
   will be in or near the Top Ten Most Wanted.   
      
   The Northern California DX Foundation has been doing this for the past 42   
   years.  It adds that the credit for these large grants goes to contributors,   
   individuals and clubs who believe in supporting it.  More is on the web at   
   www.ncdxf.org  (NCDXF)   
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT:  ASCENSION ISLAND APRIL TO 21   
      
   G3ZVW is reportedly operational as ZD8N from Ascension Island between now   
   and the April 21st.  Activity was to be on 80 through 10 meters using CW, SSB   
   and the digital modes at 100 watts into wire antennas. This will be a work   
   trip, so on the air time will be evenings, weekends and early mornings.  QSL   
   via his home callsign direct or via the bureau.  (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   DX UP FRONT:  BHUTAN APRIL 30 THROUGH MAY 5   
      
   And a group of operators from Japan will be active from Bhutan as A52AEF,    
   A52 ARJ , A52IVU, and A52 LSS , respectively between April 30th and May 5th.    
   Their operation will be on 80 through 6 meters using CW, SSB and the digital   
   modes. Maximum power will be 200 watts into various directional and wire   
   antennas.  QSL A52AEF via JH3AEF; A52 ARJ via JA3 ARJ ; A52IVU via JA3IVU and   
   A52 LSS via JH3 LSS .  See each call on QRZ.com for more details.  (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 K7   
   MRG repeater serving   Prescott , Arizona .   
      
   (5 SEC PAUSE)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE COMMUNICATIONS:  FCC FINES CENTURYLINK AND INTRADO $17.4 MILLION FOR   
   MULTI-STATE 911 OUTAGE   
      
   The Federal Communications Commission has resolved its investigation of an   
   April 2014 multi-state 911 outage that prevented more than 11 million people   
   in seven states from being able to reach emergency call centers for over six   
   hours.  This as the FCC's Enforcement Bureau has reached a 16 million dollar   
   settlement with service provider CenturyLink and a 1 point 4 million dollar   
   settlement with Intrado Communications related to the two companies failures   
   to meet their emergency call obligations during the 911 outage.  Bill   
   Pasternak, WA6ITF, has the details:   
      
   --   
      
   [Bill] Following a comprehensive report by the FCC's Public Safety and   
   Homeland Security Bureau, the agency's Enforcement Bureau took on   
   investigating the April 2014 outage.  It focused on the providers whose   
   systems served the affected emergency call centers to determine the failures   
   in those 911 systems and in notifying the affected emergency call centers.     
      
   The Enforcement Bureau concluded that the outage could have been prevented   
   if the providers had implemented basic safeguards and that the providers   
   failed to give timely notifications to the affected emergency call centers.    
   These failures resulted in some 6600 missed 911 calls.   
      
   CenturyLink served affected emergency call centers throughout Washington ,   
   Minnesota , and North Carolina .  Intrado Communications served emergency   
   call centers in Florida , South Carolina , and Pennsylvania .  The varying   
   settlement amounts reflect the different numbers of emergency call centers   
   served by each provider.   CenturyLink's settlement represents the largest   
   911 related fine ever assessed by the FCC.     
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the Newsroom   
   in Los Angeles .   
      
   --   
      
   In addition to the fines, both companies also agreed to adopt similar   
   compliance plans that require them to implement appropriate risk management   
   processes in the continued rollout of Next-Generation 911 services.  (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO:  APRIL 1ST HAM TOWER COLLAPSE IN VIRGINIA   
      
   A mother and her two children were trapped in their car on March 31st in   
   rural Virginia .  This after an 80 foot amateur radio tower fell onto their   
   vehicle on April 1st.    
      
   Spotsylvania County Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Sposa noted that the tower also   
   fell partially onto a home causing some minor damage to the roof.    
      
   No one in the home or the vehicle was injured.  County Department of Fire,   
   Rescue and Emergency Management crews were able to stabilize and remove the   
   debris to free the trapped passengers.   
      
   Officials believe high winds in the area caused the tower to collapse.  The   
   owner of the tower was not named in any news report.  (Fredricksburg Today)   
      
   **   
      
   PUBLIC SERVICE:  UTAH GROUP PUTS BROADBAND-HAMNET TO WORK FOR FOOD PROJECT   
      
   A small band of amateur radio volunteers in Utah 's Salt Lake Valley   
   successfully used a broadband WiFi network set up on the 2.4 GHz amateur band   
   to help coordinate the Boy Scouts of America's "Scouting for Food" project on   
   March 21st.    
      
   Scouting for Food is the Boy Scouts' annual community service event, in   
   which Scouts collect items for a food bank.  Local radio amateurs provide   
   both voice and digital mode communication.  This year for the first time they   
   used a Broadband-Hamnet system that coupled modified wireless router gear on   
   amateur frequencies to create a peer-to-peer WiFi network to share audio and   
   video over the food banks location.     
      
   Broadband-Hamnet is a descendent of the former ARRL High Speed Multimedia    
   or H-S-M-M Working Group efforts, earlier known as the "Hinternet." It was   
   pioneered by the late John Champa, K8OCL, and others in the early 2000s.     
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   PUBLIC SERVICE:  MEMBERS WANTED IN JOHNSTON COUNTY NC ARES   
      
   North Carolina 's Johnston County Amateur Radio Emergency Services is   
   seeking licensed amateur radio operators to help the county's Emergency   
   Management provide auxiliary communications in times of disaster.  Johnston   
   ARES meets on the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Red Cross   
   office, 805-A S. Third St. in the town of Smithfield . Training is at 7 p.m.   
   on the fourth Thursday on the Carolina 440 UHF repeater system.  For more   
   information, visit johnstoncountyares.com.   (NewsObserver.com)   
      
   **   
      
   TELECOMMUNICATIONS LAW:  FCC CHAIR CONFIDENT IN NET NEUTRALITY   
      
   The FCC's recent net neutrality rules will likely stand up to any legal   
   challenges.  This according to one of the principals behind the recent   
   Commission action.  Amateur Radio Newsline's Stephen Kinford, N8WB, has the   
   details:   
      
   --   
      
   [Stephen]  FCC chairman Tom Wheeler remains confident that the net   
   neutrality rules the agency passed last month will survive upcoming   
   challenges in court.  He crafted the prediction on March 27th while speaking   
   at the Ohio State University . Moritz College of Law as a presenter on the   
   topic of the Future of Online Regulation.   
      
   According to Wheeler, the open World Wide Web or net neutrality guidelines   
   give the Federal Communications Commission authority to stop service   
   providers from blocking or throttling content customers want to access.  It   
   also stops service providers from seeking payments in exchange for more   
   rapidly delivery.  This is a practice known as paid prioritization.   
      
   Last year, the federal court tossed out the FCC's prior open Internet   
   guidelines with the argument that the FCC was trying to impose typical   
   carrier-like regulation without stepping up and saying that these are   
   frequent carriers.  According to Wheeler the agency  has now addressed that   
   issue.  This gives him self-confidence going forward that the FCC will   
   prevail.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Stephen Kinford, N8WB, in Wadsworth ,   
   Ohio .   
      
   --   
      
   U S Telecom and Alamo Broadband have already filed separate suits in federal   
   court asking that the new guidelines be set aside since claiming that the FCC   
   acted beyond its authority to impose them.  (heraldrecorder.com)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO READING :  AMSAT PLANS DAYTON ROLLOUT FOR 2015 "GETTING STARTED"   
   SATELLITE BOOK   
      
   Gould Smith, WA4SXM's 's book titled Getting Started With Amateur Satellites   
   is being updated to tell you how you can get ready to operate through the   
   Fox-1 satellites launching later this year.  Additional chapters in the book   
   tell you about tracking software, orbital mechanics, antennas, radios,   
   Doppler tuning, and operating techniques.    
      
   Going beyond brief descriptions in Hamfest flyers, this book will provide a   
   complete reference for new satellite users to assemble a basic station and to   
   make your first satellite contacts.  It will also explain will how to   
   incrementally upgrade a simple FM only satellite station to include automated   
   tracking as well as operating through the CW and SSB linear pass-band   
   satellites.   
      
   A companion Fox-1A reference sheet is also being planned for release.  This   
   will be made available for the AMSAT's Field Operations Team for distribution   
   at Hamfests and satellite operating demonstrations.   
      
   Watch for the 2015 edition of Getting Started with Amateur Satellites book   
   and reference sheet at the AMSAT booth at the Dayton Hamvention and in the   
   AMSAT on-line store shortly after.  That u-r-l is store.amsat.org/catalog   (   
   ANS )   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO BUSINESS:  TEN - TEC AND ALPHA PURCHASED FROM RF CONCEPTS   
      
   Not even a year after TEN - TEC and Alpha Amplifiers merged under the RF   
   Concepts banner, the companies have once again changed ownership.  This as   
   RKR Designs LLC of Longmont, Colorado, announced on April 2 that it has   
   acquired the two brands.    
      
   RKR Designs leadership includes Ken Long, N0QO, Richard Gall, and Rich   
   Danielson.  Long has over 20 years in the electronics and Amateur Radio   
   industries.  He will serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of the   
   new company.     
      
   Gall and Danielson of QSC Systems in Longmont have been a successful   
   contract manufacturer for over two decades.  That company has been building   
   Alpha amplifiers for more than 5 years and boards for TEN - TEC gear since RF   
   Concepts bought the company last year.   
      
   RKR Designs LLC is a privately-held company and the terms of the acquisition   
   of the assets of RF Concepts was not disclosed.  A media release says that   
   RKR plans to expand the product lines while continuing to service their   
   customers.   (RKR press release)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  W3TN RETIRES FROM FCC   
      
   Some names in the news.  Bill Cross, W3TN, known unofficially as amateur   
   radio's point man at the FCC retired on Friday, April 3rd, after a career   
   spanning almost four decades with the regulatory agency.    
      
   Officially a Program Analyst in the Commission's Wireless Telecommunications   
   Bureau Cross started with the Amateur Radio Group in what was then the   
   Private Radio Bureau. That became the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau when   
   other services were added in 1989.  Prior to that, he worked in the Common   
   Carrier Bureau which has since been renamed as the Wireline Competition   
   Bureau.
   
   A ham since 1968, the married father of two said he's still active on the   
   air but strictly on High Frequency SSB and CW.  In a recent interview he told   
   the ARRL Letter that he hopes to expand his time for ham radio once away from   
   the daily grind.  He has already achieved the DXCC Honor Roll and actively   
   participates in the Islands on the Air program.   
      
   Many radio amateurs had the opportunity to meet Cross when he conducted the   
   once popular Dayton Hamvention Amateur Radio FCC forum, which has since   
   fallen victim to FCC budget trimming.  You can read more detailing W3TN's   
   career at the FCC on the web at tinyurl.com/W3TN-retires-from-FCC   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   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 HAPPENINGS:  FOUR DAYS IN MAY QRP CONFERENCE IN OHIO   
      
   Four Days in May is the annual conference of the QRP Amateur Radio Club   
   International that takes place May 14th through the 16th and in parallel with   
   the Dayton Hamvention.     
      
   This gathering is open to everyone and should appeal to anyone interested in   
   home construction, antennas, portable operation, Arduino and more.  Seminars   
   begin on Thursday May 14th.  Friday May 15th features a late afternoon   
   Build-a-thon this year constructing four pieces of test gear.  Saturday May   
   16th will host the Four Days In May Grand Banquet with awards and prize being   
   given.  Bus service to and from the Hamvention will be available.   
      
   The venue this year is the in Holiday Inn Fairborn just to the East of   
   Dayton Ohio.  Details are on the web at www.qrparci.org/fdim
 (G4GXL)
     
      
   **
    
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS:  KD4 ETA ON BBC WORLD SERVICE   
      
   Dennis Wingo, KD4 ETA , along with freelance science writer and broadcast   
   journalist Kate Arkless Gray and others were on the BBC World Service Click   
   radio show, "Space and Citizen Science."  The program was broadcast live from   
   the BBC Radio Theatre, London on Tuesday, March 31st.   
   
   
   Talking over a telephone link KD4 ETA described how in 2014 radio amateurs   
   and other volunteers gained control of the NASA-abandoned ISEE -3/ICE   
   spacecraft.  They even succeeded in firing the spacecraft thrusters.     
      
   During the show Wingo also managed to squeeze in a mention of amateur radio   
   satellites and CubeSats.  You can listen to a recording of the show at   
   tinyurl.com/kd4eta-on-bbc  ( BBC )   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO RECORDS:  PS-37 BALLOON MAY HAVE BROKEN VK HIGH ALTITUDE RECORD
   
      
   A possible record for a high altitude balloon down-under.  Graham Kemp,   
   VK4BB, reports:   
      
   --   
      
   [Graham] A high altitude balloon flight from Deniliquin in southern New   
   South Wales has set an unofficial Australian record height before bursting   
   and sending its payload back to earth.   
      
   The latex balloon, PS-37, launched by Andy Nguyen VK3YT reached an altitude   
   of 40,903 meters which equates to 134,196 feet.   
      
   The flight sent aloft on Sunday the third of March was 328 meters higher   
   than the record set in 2011 by Project HORUS of South Australia.     
      
   The flight was tracked on APRS on 145.175MHz and RTTY using 434.650MHz under   
   the callsign VK3YT-11.  As we go to air its still not known if this was a   
   record setting flight.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Graham Kemp, VK4BB, of the WIA News in   
   Australia .   
      
   --   
      
   Both high-altitude and low-altitude floater balloons equipped with radio   
   tracking devices have become staples of ham radio experimentation in its   
   exploration of the final frontier.  (WIA News, VK3PC)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO TECHNOLOGY:  2 METER SCATTER TESTS USING THE ISS   
      
   Pieter Jacobs, V5IPJ, at Rosh Pinah , Namibia and Marcos Turbo, PY1MHZ, in   
   Rio de Janeiro , Brazil are planning 2 meter scatter tests using the   
   International Space Station as a reflector.     
      
   The ISS maintains an orbit with an altitude of between 205 and 270 miles   
   above Earth by means of boost maneuvers using the engines of the Zvezda   
   module or those on visiting spacecraft.   The two-way distance of the scatter   
   path between V5IPJ and PY1MHZ is about 3100 miles with the midway distance to   
   ISS at 1550.     
      
   V5IPJ says that his new kilowatt amplifiers have arrived, but his normal   
   co-axial cable will have to be replaced to handle the higher power.  He adds   
   that at his station he will conduct initial tests with a 10 element Yagi   
   until ZS6OB has completed a new antenna system for him.  No specific dates   
   for the start of these scatter tests has been announced.  (SARL)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, the German team of  DH2AK and DL1HTM are now active slant PJ2 from   
   Curacao and will be there until April 23rd.  Activity is on the high bands   
   using SSB and maybe some digital modes. QSL via their home callsigns, direct   
   as shown on QRZ.com or by the bureau.   
      
   N3SY will be operational stroke HI3 from the Dominican Republic through   
   April 22nd. His activity will be on all HF bands using about 70 watts into a   
   1.5 meters Vertical and some other antennas. QSL only direct to his home   
   callsign.   
      
   E7NX will be active stroke P4 from Aruba through April 24th. Activity will   
   be holiday style a few hours a day working mostly CW, but may switch to SSB   
   if needed. He will not have Internet access from the hotel. QSL via VE7NX.   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM:  HOW A RADIO TRACKED SONGBIRD CAN FLY 1700 MILES OVER OPEN   
   OCEAN   
      
   It weighs only as much a tablespoon of sugar, and it flies almost two   
   thousand miles over open ocean without a single break.  Now its been tracked   
   by radio as we hear from Amateur Radio Newsline's Heather Embee, KB3TZD:   
      
   --   
      
   [Heather]  Thanks to radio, scientists can now conclusively say that the   
   pocket-sized Blackpoll Warbler makes the longest overseas migration of any   
   land bird.     
      
   The Blackpoll Warbler is a songbird native to North America , weighing on   
   average of  only 12 grams.  Every winter, these tiny birds migrate to South   
   America in droves but for more than a half-century, scientists have been   
   unsure exactly how they got there.   
      
   Other warblers native to the continent fly south through Mexico .  But   
   reports of Blackpolls landing on boats in stormy weather suggest that they   
   were taking an alternate route over the Atlantic Ocean .  Some ornithologists   
   were skeptical so an international team of researchers fit 40 birds in   
   Vermont and Nova Scotia with radio tracking devices to follow the journey.     
      
   The flight takes just two to three days, but requires a great deal of   
   preparation.  To avoid drowning, the birds must complete the entire migration   
   of up to 1,700 miles without stopping for rest.  By equipping a number of the   
   birds with the tiny geolocating backpack transmitters researchers were able   
   to map out the grueling migration route.    
      
   The extreme flight does take its toll on blackpoll warblers in that only   
   half survive the trip.  But even that is a feat that researchers say is on   
   the brink of impossibility.   
      
   According to one of the scientists on this project, the Blackpoll Warblers   
   don't have the option of failing or coming up a bit short.  Rather it's a   
   fly-or-die journey that requires all the energy the tiny bird has to give.     
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Heaher Embee, KB3TZD, in Berwick ,   
   Pennsylvania .     
      
   --     
      
   The study's findings appeared Tuesday March 31st in Biology Letters.  More   
   is in cyberspace at tinyurl.com/warbler-migration-flight.  (CSMonitor.com)   
      
   **   
      
   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 and Puerto Rico , or any of the Canadian Provinces.   
   The individual must also hold a currently valid United States or Canadian   
   Amateur Radio license.   
      
   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, in care of   
   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 plus our news   
   team world wide, I'm Skeeter Nash, N5 ASH , in Topeka, Kansas, 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)