Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1991, December 25, 2015   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1991 with a release date of Friday,    
   December 25, 2015 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a QST. A California amateur faces a $25,000 fine from    
   the FCC. Field Day is coming - yes, Winter Field Day. A DXer surprises    
   the world from North Korea.  And a survey says older contesters are    
   still going strong. All this and more in Amateur Radio Newsline Report    
   1991 coming your way right now.   
      
   (Billboard Cart Here and Intro)   
      
   **   
      
   CALIFORNIA AMATEUR MAY FACE $25,000 FINE   
      
   [DON/ANCHOR:] We open this week's newcast with the story of a California    
   radio amateur who has just learned the high price of interference and    
   other inappropriate transmissions on the bands. Amateur Radio Newsline's    
   Jim Damron, N8TMW, has more:   
      
   [JIM:]   
      
   In what ends a protracted FCC case against a ham for intentional    
   interference, a California radio operator faces a fine of as much as    
   $25,000.   
      
   William F. Crowell, W6WBJ, formerly licensed as N6AYJ, had received    
   warnings from the agency's Enforcement Bureau about intentional radio    
   interference as early as 2000. The Diamond Springs ham, whose license    
   expired in 2007, was nonetheless permitted to continue operating after    
   the FCC in 2008 designated his license renewal application as pending    
   and subject to a hearing. The FCC had flagged that renewal application    
   following complaints that he had been interfering with other amateurs,    
   interrupting communications, playing music and transmitting obscenities.   
      
   The latest action by the FCC came this past Dec. 18, with the release of    
   its Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture.  The notice, from the    
   office of FCC San Francisco District Director David K. Hartshorn, was    
   spurred by reports from the Western Amateur Radio Friendship    
   Association, whose members claimed direct interference from Crowell    
   during their Net in August. An investigation by the Enforcement Bureau    
   followed and it details its findings in the Notice.   
      
   The FCC Notice says, in part, that Crowell "repeatedly interrupted other    
   amateurs using noises, recordings and music, in addition to talking over    
   amateurs affiliated with the WARFA Net, so as not to allow them to    
   transmit on the frequency. His transmissions and recordings included    
   racial, ethnic and sexual slurs and epithets."   
      
   The FCC Enforcement Bureau, which was monitoring the transmissions,    
   noted too that the interference did not stop until it had shut the Net    
   down.   
      
   The FCC says Crowell acknowledged operating on 3908 kHz on most nights,    
   and that he was on the air the evening of August 27, when the    
   interference was reported.   
      
   He has been given 30 days from the release of the Notice to pay the    
   forfeiture or to file in writing seeking reduction or cancellation of    
   the proposed penalty.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jim Damron, N8TMW, in Charleston,    
   West Virginia.   
      
   (ARRL, FCC.GOV)   
      
   **   
      
   HUMANITARIAN FUND LAUNCHED BY DX ASSOCIATION   
      
   It looks like the giving spirit of the holiday season is going to last    
   quite a bit longer, thanks to a new fund known as "Hams with Hearts."   
      
   The fund is being launched by the International DX Association, with a    
   starting contribution from the fund's founder Zorro Miyazawa, JH1AJT.    
   "Hams with Hearts" aims to provide funding to humanitarian projects    
   undertaken by DXpedition teams and expects to begin providing these    
   grants in just a few weeks - as early as mid-January.   
      
   DXpeditioners who apply for the grants are being asked to provide a    
   detailed and clear plan of what project they plan to undertake, and must    
   substantiate the benefits the project will create for the local    
   population. But the applicants must meet certain standards. Projects    
   that simply leave behind radio equipment, teach Amateur licensing    
   classes or create a video will not qualify. Projects that provide First    
   Aid equipment, water purification and medical supplies, as well as    
   educational materials and clothing are more suited for grants from "Hams    
   with Hearts."   
      
   Releasing its announcement this month, INDEXA cautioned that startup    
   will be gradual. The announcement said, QUOTE "In the early years of    
   this fund, it is likely that grants will be modest. We therefore will be    
   seeking low-cost but high-impact projects." ENDQUOTE.   
      
   The announcement also said QUOTE "With this new fund we hope to benefit    
   humanity and enhance the image of Amateur Radio around the world." More    
   details can be found at www.indexa.org   
      
   (INDEXA)   
      
   **   
      
   A FIELD DAY WHERE ICE IS NICE   
      
   DON/ANCHOR: The idea of participating in Field Day next month might just    
   leave you cold - but that's the whole point. Winter Field Day is coming    
   - and it will be here the last full weekend in January. Amateur Radio    
   Newsline's Kent Peterson, K-C-ZERO-D-G-Y, talked to organizers of this    
   alternative annual event:   
      
   [KENT'S REPORT]   
      
   **   
      
   SILENT KEY: REMOTE PICKUP PIONEER GEORGE MARTI   
      
   The ham radio community mourns the death of George Marti, W5GLJ, a    
   pioneer in the manufacture and deployment of remote pick-up broadcast    
   technology. He became a Silent Key on Dec. 13.   
      
   Marti's work not only enabled radio stations to originate broadcasts    
   away from the studio but succeeded in getting the FCC to authorize its    
   use. An early Marti remote pick-up unit of his is on display at the    
   Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.   
      
   As the owner of a local radio station, Marti developed his first remote    
   pick-up unit to enable the broadcasting of local high school sports back    
   to the radio studio, without having to rely on phone lines. A veteran of    
   the Marines and a man of varied interests, he had been licensed as a ham    
   since his teens. He later founded Marti Electronics, which he sold in 1994.   
      
   George Marti was 95 and was the mayor of Cleburn, Texas, where he died.   
      
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   CONTESTS PUT THE "O" in "OM"   
      
   Participants in the CQ World Wide Contest may be young at heart, but    
   according to recently released survey results, they're older than you    
   may think. Preliminary survey results posted by the contest committee    
   reveal that young competitors were far outnumbered by much older amateurs.   
      
   Doug Zwiebel, KR2Q, who prepared the analysis, reported QUOTE "This is    
   especially true when we look at the age distribution in North America.    
   There is very little survey participation in North America from those    
   under 40 years of age. More than 900 of the nearly 1500 respondents from    
   North America were at least 60 years old." ENDQUOTE   
      
   The survey drew 5117 responses from around the world, with the largest    
   number - 2,600 - from Europe. The good news for younger hams comes from    
   Europe, however: CQ said the age curve showed participants there to be    
   about 10 years younger.   
      
   The other good news comes from fans of CW: Without exception, Morse Code    
   remains the most popular operating mode, especially among contesters age    
   40 and older.   
      
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK HERE:   
      
   Time for you to identify your station. We are the Amateur Radio    
   Newsline, heard on bulletin stations around the world, including the    
   WR9ARC repeater of the Riverland Amateur Radio Club in LaCrosse,    
   Wisconsin on Sundays.   
      
   **   
      
   A SURPRISE FROM NORTH KOREA   
      
   [ANCHOR/DON]: Fighting some of the worst HF conditions in recent days, a    
   Polish DXer has put North Korea back on the air. Amateur Radio    
   Newsline's Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, has the details:   
      
   [JEREMY:] It was a triumph of history, meteorology, international    
   politics and most especially radio when DXer, Dom Gryzb, 3Z9DX, fired up    
   his rig and began making the first of what was to become a few hundred    
   QSOs from North Korea, beginning the 20th of December at 0000 UTC.    
   Working both 20 meters and 15 meters SSB as P5/3Z9DX, his transmissions    
   put that nation back on the amateur airwaves for the first time since 2002.   
      
   It was, by most accounts, a surprise. the Polish radio amateur had been    
   meeting with North Korea officials working out the details for next    
   year's planned operation from what is the world's most-wanted DXCC    
   entity. Pileups of anxious amateurs rallied around his call, and a few    
   hundred stations eagerly jumped in and made contact. North Korea had    
   been off the bands since the conclusion of the 2001-2002 operation by    
   4L4FN.   
      
   While it all caught the rest of the world quite unexpectedly, North    
   Korean officials were, of course, privy to what was going on: Gryzb took    
   to the bands to demonstrate for them what it would be like in February    
   2016, during his longer, hoped-for operation there.   
      
   The sun, it turns out, proved to be the biggest obstacle in play, as a    
   huge coronal mass ejection raised the A index to 66 and the K index to    
   6, producing some of the worst HF conditions recently. By the dawn of    
   Monday, the 21 of December, conditions had grown less favorable. Gryzb    
   is now working out the remaining logistics in preparation for February    
   when, hopefully, the sun will cooperate too.   
      
   In the meantime, stations were being advised to keep contacts short out    
   of courtesy to other operators.   
      
   For Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH, in Nottingham, the UK.   
      
      
   [DON/ANCHOR]: In the latest news reports, Gryzb was heading back to    
   Poland for Christmas and to make preparations to return to Korea for his    
   2016 DX adventure.   
      
      
   (ARRL, DX.NET)   
      
   **   
      
   IRELAND'S COMPETITIVE COUNTIES   
      
   Friday, Jan. 1, doesn't just mark New Year's Day: In Ireland, it is also    
   "80 Meters Counties Contest Day" for radio amateurs. The wide-ranging    
   contest has both fixed stations and portable sections, with SSB only or    
   mixed modes. The competition runs from 1400 to 1700 UTC, using 32 EI and    
   GI counties as multipliers.   
      
   Good news for operators who enjoy CW: to encourage more CW in the mixed    
   mode sections, organizers are giving a bonus of 1,000 points to any    
   entry that includes at least 10 valid QSOs done in CW with an EI or GI    
   station. The contest has also set 3522 kHz as its suggested "center of    
   activity" for CW.   
      
   May the best contesters win.   
      
   (IRISH RADIO TRANSMITTERS SOCIETY)   
      
   **   
      
   NEW TOOL FOR DISASTER COMMUNICATIONS   
      
   It's still more than a year away, but researchers at the Hume Center for    
   National Security and Technology are very excited about the 2017 launch    
   of an amateur radio transponder with a special disaster mission.   
      
   The geosynchronous satellite amateur radio payload is being dispatched    
   to assist in emergency communications, according to the center's    
   Director of Research, Bob McGwier, N4HY. McGwier described the ambitious    
   goals for the payload by saying QUOTE "It will allow rapid deployment to    
   disaster areas and support long-haul communications for first    
   responders," ENDQUOTE It would become the first amateur payload in a    
   geosynchronous orbit.   
      
   The Hume Center has been working with Federal Emergency Management    
   Agency officials on the project. We expect to hear more over the next    
   year as efforts go forward.   
      
   (SOUTHGATE ARC)   
      
   **   
      
      
   PEOPLE IN THE NEWS   
      
   The ARRL's Alaska Section welcomes its new manager, Ray Hollenbeck,    
   K-L-ONE-I-L (KL1IL), of Wasilla, Alaska, who has been appointed to    
   succeed Jim Larsen, AL7FS.   
   Hollenbeck, who begins his term on Jan. 1, has been an ARRL Emergency    
   Coordinator for almost 7 years.   
      
   Larsen, who is from Anchorage, has served as section manager for the    
   past eight years and decided not to seek another term. Hollenbeck was    
   appointed by ARRL Manager of Field Services and Radiosport Dave Patton,    
   NN1N, in consultation with Northwestern Division Director Jim Pace,    
   K7CEX, and Larsen.   
      
   Larsen, who will complete his fourth term as Alaska SM at year's end,    
   decided not to run for another term after serving for the past 8 years.   
      
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   LESSONS IN ALASKA TAUGHT BY RADIO   
      
   In one school in a remote Alaskan Eskimo village, ham radio has    
   graduated with honors.   
      
   With support from the local district, the Pilot Station School recently    
   made amateur radio an integral part of its curriculum. The Pilot Station    
   School Radio Club, WL7CXM, is now moving from simply being an    
   after-school program to a serious during-school offering.   
      
   The club was created by fifth grade teacher, Donn Gallon, KL7DG, with a    
   variety of goals: to teach geography, to help students' command of the    
   standard English language, to give them confidence by expressing    
   themselves on a microphone, and also to help them read and be more social.   
      
   Gallon said QUOTE "Many of the kids have trouble imagining the world    
   beyond our region or Alaska as a whole. They are excited to pull down    
   the globe off the shelf and find the places we are talking or listening    
   to. This has helped them in social studies as they are getting their    
   world view expanded by radio." ENDQUOTE   
      
   The club, which began as an informal, after-school activity, now is a    
   district-sanctioned educational program. The club has already    
   participated in the School Club Roundup, where it achieved its Worked    
   All States award by landing its 50th contact - an amateur in Oklahoma.   
      
   Gallon said his next goal is to set up a team to work with the Amateur    
   Radio Emergency Service. That would put Alaska's youngest amateurs, not    
   just in the classroom itself, but unquestionably at the head of the class.   
   (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   THE WORLD OF DX   
      
   Henrik, OZ6TL, is active as E51TLA from Raratonga Island (OC-013)    
   through January 9th. He is working holiday style on the HF bands,    
   usually mainly CW and RTTY on 30 and 20 meters. QSL via his home    
   callsign or LoTW.   
      
   Hardy, DL7LL, is also active on Raratonga Island. He is working as    
   E51LLA through December 28. He did not indicate what bands or modes,    
   however, but be listening. QSL via DL7LL.   
      
   Jean-Pierre, F6ITD, will be active as FG/F6ITD from Guadeloupe and two    
   of its islands between January 20th and March 28th. These islands    
   include Basse Terre Deshaies (main island, between January 20th and    
   February 2nd) and La Desirade Island (between March 3-8th). He will work    
   all HF bands, both on SSB and in digital modes. Listen for the callsign    
   TO6D. QSL via his home callsign, direct or LoTW.   
      
   Bill, K9HZ, is working as J68HZ from his villa at Labrelotte Bay,    
   Castries, St. Lucia through January 3rd, with activity mostly on 160-2    
   meters using CW, SSB and RTTY. He will emphasize 160 and 80 meters on    
   all modes. QSL via his home callsign, although he will also use LoTW,    
   ClubLog and eQSL.   
      
   (OHIO PENN DX NEWSLETTER)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSLINE ALUM MERT GARLICK, N6AWE - SK   
      
   One final sad note.  Longtime Newsline listeners will remember the voice    
   of Mert Garlick, N6AWE.  We're saddened to report that Mert became a    
   silent key Wednesday December 23rd.  Mert was an engineer with Fox    
   Television in Los Angeles from 1966 until his retirement in 2003.  He    
   worked with the late Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF at Fox 11. Over the years he    
   did every job a broadcast engineer could perform at a television    
   station.  From manning the transmitter atop Mt. Wilson to microwaving    
   signals back from the scene of a breaking news story to covering the    
   annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Mert did it all and then    
   some.  The funeral will be held December 30th in Long Beach, California    
   and he will be buried alongside his late wife in Wyoming.  Sadly, she    
   just passed 4 months ago.  He is survived by 3 children, 2 of which are    
   also hams.  Mert Garlick, N6AWE was 75.   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs; the ARRL; CQ Magazine; DX.NET; Hap Holly and    
   the Rain Report; The Hindustan Times; Irish Radio Transmitters Society;    
   INDEXA; the Ohio-Penn DX Bulletin; 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, wishing you the merriest of Christmases and happiest of    
   Holidays.  73 and as always we thank you for listening.   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
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   -73- ARNTE-0.1.0-OS2 build 42   
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