Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1990, December 18, 2015   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1990 with a release date of Friday,    
   December 18, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST.  A gun battle in Afghanistan kills a ham,    
   another typhoon hits the Philippines, the new and improved FCC website    
   goes live, it's almost time for Quartzfest, an update for Newsline's    
   EchoProducer users and part 2 of our remembrance of Bob Ferrero, W6RJ.     
   All this and more in Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1990 coming your way    
   right now.   
      
   (Billboard Cart Here and Intro)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO AMATEUR KILLED IN KABUL VIOLENCE   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: We begin this week's report with word that a ham from Spain    
   has become a Silent Key, following a gun battle inside the Spanish    
   Embassy in Kabul. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the    
   details:   
      
   [JEREMY]: Isidro Gabino San Martin Hernandez, EB1BT, from Leon, Spain,    
   was working as part of the Spanish Embassy's security team in Kabul when    
   he, another police officer, and numerous others on the diplomatic staff,    
   were killed during an extended shootout inside the embassy early Friday    
   evening, Dec. 11. The shootout closely followed the explosion of a car    
   bomb, believed to have been set by Taliban suicide bombers, outside the    
   Embassy's guest house gate. A group of gunmen then entered the embassy    
   compound and a 9-hour gun battle ensued.   
      
   According to an account posted in The Spain Report, all the attackers    
   were ultimately killed by the Afghan Police Special Forces.   
      
   A statement released by the Spanish Home Office said the Home Secretary    
   had offered the King's and the Prime Minister's condolences to Gabino's    
   widow and ordered Spanish flags flown at half-mast for three days on    
   police buildings.   
      
   Hernandez, the father of four, was 48.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham, UK.   
      
   **   
      
   FLORIDA HAM AGREES TO PENALTY   
      
   In a consent decree with the FCC, Thomas J. Warren, K3TW, of Lecanto,    
   Florida, has agreed to pay a $3,500 civil penalty for failing to    
   identify while transmitting on 20 meters.   
      
   The consent decree, issued   Dec. 9, says in part: QUOTE "In response to    
   complaints that an unidentified station was transmitting on an Amateur    
   Radio frequency at 14 MHz, FCC agents determined that the transmissions    
   were coming from Mr Warren's residence. To settle this matter, Mr.    
   Warren admits that he failed to transmit his assigned call sign,    
   violated the Commission's rules, will report any noncompliance with    
   rules governing the Amateur Radio Service, and will pay a $3500 civil    
   penalty."   
      
   The decree traces the case back to June 25 of this year, when, the    
   agency says, Warren acknowledges he may have failed to transmit his    
   station identification as required. The decree went on to say that    
   Warren's transmissions QUOTE "related to an ongoing dispute with another    
   amateur radio operator, whose intentional interference had allegedly    
   disrupted communications on the American Foreign Service Net that    
   operates weekly on 14.316 MHz."ENDQUOTE   
      
   With the issuance of the decree, the agency has concluded its    
   investigation of Warren.   
      
   (ARRL, FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   HELPING BRACE UP SOUTH BENGAL   
      
   A team of radio amateurs from Chennai, Bangalore and Kerala are    
   traveling to south Bengal to assess the communications infrastructure    
   and other assets that would help the state brace for any disaster such    
   as the cyclone that struck in May 2009.   
      
   The hams' main challenge is to study what kind of shelter is available    
   in the region, the state's disaster-management plan if any, and the    
   feasibility of creating a series of amateur radio communication bases.    
   The hams will take into account the area's access to the Internet, even    
   in remote areas.   
      
   (HINDUSTAN TIMES)   
      
   **   
      
   TACKLING THE PHILIPPINES' TYPHOON   
      
   A weather disaster in another part of the world - the Philippines - had    
   ham radio operators mobilizing well before it made landfall. And then,    
   as Typhoon Melor approached, the Philippine Amateur Radio Association    
   activated its Ham Emergency Radio Operations, or HERO.   
      
   By the time it hit on Monday, Dec. 14, the typhoon swept through the    
   central part of the nation, cutting power for millions and leaving at    
   least six dead, one of them a child.   
      
   The Philippine government reported that more than 90,000 homes were    
   damaged, at least 8,000 beyond repair. In addition, mudslides and    
   landslides left roads blocked.   
      
   HERO has been making use of 7.095 MHz, lower side band, as its calling    
   frequency for emergency traffic, requesting that all amateurs keep the    
   frequency clear. The hams are utilizing backup power, and plan to    
   continue operations as the typhoon makes landfall throughout the    
   archipelago.   
      
   (CHANNEL NEWS ASIA, SOUTHGATE AMATEUR RADIO NEWS, WEATHER.COM)   
      
   **   
      
   FCC WEBSITE UPGRADE   
      
   For ham radio operators, not every long-awaited launch necessarily    
   involves a CubeSat. On Dec. 9, the FCC set course on a new trajectory    
   with a website designed for improved access and navigation. A statement    
   from the Commission describes the new website as featuring QUOTE "a more    
   responsive design, a new site navigation structure, and an improved    
   search capability." ENDQUOTE   
      
   The site also provides a friendlier interface for display on mobile    
   devices, tablets and other platforms beyond the desktop environment. The    
   site includes some big plusses for hams: There is now the ability to    
   link hams directly to the Universal Licensing System from the homepage,    
   and also access a direct link to the Electronic Comment Filing system,    
   which is used for input in official proceedings.   
      
   Project Manager Deanna Stephens also notes, in an agency blog online,    
   that the site's ability to offer navigation by toggling permits browsing    
   by Categories or by Bureau and Office -- hopefully providing more    
   responsiveness to user preferences.   
      
   (ARRL, FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   QUARTZFEST BRINGS A DESERT TO LIFE   
      
   The gathering bills itself as the ultimate in "hands-on for hams." And    
   it's taking place in the middle of nowhere....well, almost. It's the    
   annual Quartzfest meetup just outside Quartzsite, Arizona. From Jan. 17    
   through 23. Quartzfest brings life, activity and good QSOs to a remote    
   publicly owned campsite in the Sonoran desert.   
      
   In addition to giving attendees a chance to preview the latest advances    
   in radio technology, organizers of this free specialty convention will    
   also be conducting classes in radio theory and other ham-related    
   interests. With star-gazing, cooking classes, campfires and children's    
   programs listed as some of the many other non-radioactivities,    
   Quartzfest is not the typical hamfest. It grew out of years of informal    
   meetings that began in 1995 among ham radio operators who were also RV    
   enthusiasts.   
      
   And then, it just grew from there. The hands-on classes are part of the    
   educational focus at Quartzfest, and workshops include everything from    
   global positioning, to portable antennas, to PSK.   
      
   Visit the website, quartzfest.org to see the complete program schedule.   
      
   (QUARTZFEST.ORG)   
      
   **   
      
   KOSOVO AMATEURS JOIN IARU   
      
   Hopes were on-again, off-again, on-again for quite some time among radio    
   amateurs in Kosovo, but the wait is over: It's on-again! The Kosovo    
   Amateur Radio Association, also known by the initials SHRAK, is now part    
   of the International Amateur Radio Union, following a second vote by its    
   member societies.   
      
   Kosovo, formerly known as Yugoslavia, had been a candidate for    
   membership as early as 2014, but failed to gain admission after the    
   sufficient number of votes did not materialize before balloting    
   deadline. The IARU's Region 1 then requested a revote, which has since    
   taken place, admitting the nation into the union.   
      
   Meanwhile, the Kosovo amateurs will be on the air through the end of    
   this year as Special Event Station Z60IARU, commemorating the    
   International Amateur Radio Union's 90th anniversary -- and they'll be    
   doing it as as an official member of the union, at long last.   
      
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK HERE:   
      
   Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio    
   Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including WB3GXW,    
   the Laurel Amateur Radio Club, in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Friday,    
   Saturday and Sunday nights.   
      
   **   
      
   ECHOLINK UPDATE   
      
   If you're among the Newsline rebroadcasters offering this newscast on    
   your nets via EchoProducer, we're aware you've had struggles with audio    
   and other technical issues. We've been working on it, too, because we'd    
   like to get things resolved. Well, thanks to some insights from longtime    
   friend Kevin Duplantis, W4KEV, a broadcast engineer in Knoxville,    
   Tennessee, we may, at last, have a solution. The issues may have been    
   the result of EchoProducer pointing to the wrong directory on our    
   Newsline website.   
      
   So if you are using EchoProducer to share our report, please visit the    
   Amateur Radio Newsline website where you'll find the correct URL for    
   your system. Kevin reports that it is working for him - and so it should    
   work, as well for you.   
      
   A big thanks to Kevin, W4KEV, for his hard work, as well as another    
   Kevin - Kevin Trotman, N5PRE, our web guru, who posts the audio files to    
   our website so they're available for downloading and podcast use.   
      
   Everyone here at Amateur Radio Newsline thanks you for your patience as    
   we have sorted things out.   
      
   http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/audio/news.mp3   
      
   **   
      
   KEYING IN ON FOR ROOKIE ROUNDUP   
      
   Think of it as Straight Talk for Straight Keys: The ARRL's Rookie    
   Roundup will be held Sunday, Dec. 20 and everyone who wants to get their    
   Code in shape - or perhaps up to a greater speed - is encouraged to jump    
   in. Anyone licensed for three years or less qualifies as a Rookie and    
   can get on the air calling CQ RR. More seasoned amateurs are encouraged    
   to call CQ R, for CQ-Rookies, and go in search of newcomers.   
      
   The ARRL is also hoping that veteran operators will let new amateurs    
   give CW a try at their stations or perhaps assemble a group of newbies    
   at their shack for a multi-op.   
      
   Practice now - Straight Key Night is coming too, on New Year's Eve.   
      
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   PEOPLE IN THE NEWS: ALEX SHOVKOPLYAS   
      
   Speaking of Morse Code, Radio Amateurs of Canada has presented its    
   Amateur of the Year award to Alex Shovkoplyas, VE3NEA, the developer of    
   the free software program known as CW Skimmer.   
      
   According to various reports, the honor is being given to the Ontario    
   resident for QUOTE "outstanding and consistent contribution to the    
   welfare of amateur radio" ENDQUOTE  Although various news reports list    
   the honor as being given this past fall, there is no official statement,    
   or press release, on the Radio Amateurs of Canada website.   
      
   The award is being given for the year 2014. CW Skimmer is a contesting    
   tool that interprets call signs sent in CW over a wide receiver    
   bandwidth and also identifies waterfall traces by call sign. Once    
   extracted, the call signs can be exported for DX spotting.   
      
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   TRANSMITTING SPIRIT ON CHRISTMAS EVE DAY   
      
   Two unique transmitters -- the first, a vintage one, the second, an    
   experimental one -- are delivering a Christmas Eve message this year, so    
   listen up:   
      
   The Alexanderson Transmitter in Sweden is more than 90 years old. But    
   the tradition it inspired is perhaps 10 years old. Developed by Swedish    
   engineer and radio pioneer Ernst Alexanderson, a General Electric    
   employee in Schenectady, New York, the vintage transmitter will be tuned    
   up and transmitting on Christmas Eve, sending its holiday message in CW    
   on the VLF frequency of 17.2 kHz from Grimeton Radio/SAQ in Sweden.   
      
   The Alexanderson transmitter's tuneup will begin at 0730 UTC. The event    
   will also be webcast live on the webpage www.alexander.n.se - where    
   information about listener reports can also be found.   
      
   Once used regularly in transatlantic communications, the Alexanderson    
   transmitter is now a treasured museum piece. And it is put into action    
   only on special occasions - such as this one.   
      
   It's a special occasion too for Brian Justin, WA1ZMS, who is pressing    
   his 600-meter Experimental Station WG2XFQ  into service as well on    
   Christmas Eve. The 486 kHz transmission from Forest, Virginia, set to    
   begin at 0001 UTC, honors the 109th anniversary of Reginald Fessenden's    
   first audio transmission. The commemorative transmission will continue    
   for 24 hours and, according to Justin, will be repeated on New Year's    
   Eve and New Year's Day.   
      
   Such operations are a specialty for Justin, whose transmissions coincide    
   with - and honor - important dates in the history  of wireless    
   communications.   
      
   Send listener reports to Justin at his QRZ.com address.   
      
   **   
      
   OHIO HAMS HELP NEEDY FAMILIES   
      
   Another holiday transmission, this one of hope and caring, comes to us    
   from Ohio. The Center of Hope in Ravenna, Ohio, has a special Santa in    
   the form of the Portage County Amateur Radio Service. The group's    
   president, Rick Kruis, K8CAV, and vice president, Jim Wilson, AC8NT,    
   recently donated a check for nearly $4,000 to the Center, which provides    
   free hot meals 5 days a week for 75 to 100 low-income residents in the    
   area. The Center's work is especially important in areas where no food    
   pantries exist.   
      
   The check was accepted by Mark Frisone, chief executive officer of    
   Family & Community Services Inc. He said: QUOTE "This is truly a clear    
   example of the impact that the Center has on our community," ENDQUOTE   
      
   The Portage County group is an ARRL-affiliated special service club.   
      
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   MERRY CHRISTMAS de SANTA   
      
   The spirit of Santa is everywhere. And just in case you missed a QSO    
   with the guy in the red suit, there's still time. As expected, Santa's    
   on the move - and he's even DXing.   
      
   For the 30th consecutive year, you can talk to Santa, OF9X - Old Father    
   Nine Christmas- as he travels from the Arctic Circle westward toward the    
   U.S. The station OF9X is active now through Dec. 28 on all bands,    
   including 472 kHz. The Radio Club of Arctic Circle, OH9AB, and the Radio    
   Club of Pusula, OH9W, with support from Radio Arcala, OH8X. There is    
   also an opportunity for contact with OH9SCL in Finland. QSLs should be    
   sent to either OH2BH or via the ClubLog at OF9X.   
      
      
   Closer to home in the U.S. is the Santa Claus Net on Dec. 23 and Dec.    
   24. The Net will be on 14.305 to 14.325, sponsored by the 14.300 Net,    
   from 1400 to 2000 Eastern Time. Check with the Maritime Mobile Service    
   Net on 14.300 MHz for the actual operating frequency for Santa or    
   perhaps Mrs. Claus. Or if you're looking to volunteer to be an on-air    
   Santa, send an email to Bob at cpalawyer@att.net   
      
   The DoDropInn EchoLink Conference Server, Christmas Eve Santa Watch Net    
   that starts at 1800 hrs eastern time. Dave N3NTV will be calling the net    
   and keeping track of Santa's location.  Like last year, Santa has a    
   radio in his sleigh and may chat with the kids again. Once again, Santa    
   Watch on Christmas Eve at 1800 hrs eastern on the *DoDropIn* Echolink    
   conference server #355800.   
      
   And then there's the Santa Net on 3916, which took to the air right    
   after Thanksgiving and continues through Dec. 24. Check it out at 7:30    
   p.m. Central Time, nightly. To check in via email first, send a quick    
   note to Pete, KE5GGY, at ke5ggy@gmail.com   
      
   **   
      
   KICKER:FINAL THOUGHTS ON HRO FOUNDER BOB FERRERO, W6RJ   
      
   And finally this week, we wrap up our conversation with Chip Margelli,    
   K7JA, on the passing of his friend - and Ham Radio Outlet founder, Bob    
   Ferrero, W6RJ. Chip, wasn't one of Bob's passions DX?   
      
   (AUDIO OF DON/CHIP 1:44)   
      
      
   Memories of Ham Radio Outlet's Bob Ferrero, W6RJ.   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
   With thanks to Alan Labs; the Alexander Association; the ARRL; Channel    
   News Asia; Chip Margelli, K7JA, CQ Magazine; Hap Holly and the Rain    
   Report;  The Hindustan Times; Quartzfest; Radio Arcala, Southgate    
   Amateur Radio News; TWiT TV; weather.com and you our listeners, that's    
   all from the Amateur Radio Newsline. Our email address is    
   newsline@arnewsline.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, CA 91350.   
      
   For now, with Caryn Eve Murray, KD2GUT, at the news desk in New York,    
   and our news team worldwide, I'm Don Wilbanks, AE5DW, in Picayune,    
   Mississippi, 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   
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   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73- ARNTE-0.1.0-OS2 build 42   
   (text/plain utf-8 quoted-printable)   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)