Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1751 - March 4 2011   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1751 with a release date of Friday,   
   March 4, 2011 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Ham radio continues its role in the wake of the   
   Christchurch New Zealand earthquake. We have a report from the scene.   
   Also, a United Kingdom ham is funded to conduct a study on digital   
   communications in emergency communications and the latest on the proposal to   
   create a new 500 kilohertz ham band. Find out the details are on Amateur   
   Radio Newsline(tm) report number 1751 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: THE CHRISTCHURCH NEW ZEALAND EARTHQUAKE STORY CONTINUES   
      
   Ham radio continues to be an important factor in rescue and recovery efforts   
   in the wake of the earthquake that hit Christchurch, New Zealand, on   
   Tuesday, February 22nd. Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF, is several hundred miles to   
   the North in Auckland with the latest:   
      
   --   
      
   ZL4FZ: "At this stage were still extensively supporting the Land Star   
   operation that's the more major component. Today with 300 searchers in the   
   field we have deployed probably 50 radios to teams of operators and each of   
   those teams has each got its own radios. There are about an actual 250   
   staff on foot in the field and all of that communications is coming back   
   through AREC"   
      
   --   
      
   That's Richard Smart, ZL4FZ, who is head of the Amateur Radio Emergency   
   Communications team explaining the role that his emergency communications   
   group is currently playing in the aftermath of the 6.3 earthquake. A quake   
   that as of airtime is believed responsible for at least 160 deaths and   
   scores of injuries in and around the Christchurch area. According to Smart   
   ham radio was on scene from the time the quake hit and right though the   
   present:   
      
   --   
      
   ZL4FZ: "AREC involvement in the Christchurch earthquake has been to support   
   Civil Defense directly with the welfare centers, initially at the temporary   
   welfare center in Hagley Park. (This is) a small tent city where AREC   
   provided effectively a complete communications terminal right through to the   
   extensive support for the Land Star operation which has been visiting every   
   home in the Western suburb of Christchurch. To date a total of some   
   eighteen thousand homes have been visited by the Land Star teams and the   
   AREC teams have provided communications for upward of 300 volunteers in the   
   field at any one time."   
      
   --   
      
   Smart tells Amateur Radio Newsline that it's the ability of hams to quickly   
   adapt and respond to any emergency that masks them valuable in situations   
   such as this. He also says that those in charge of relief efforts are very   
   satisfied with the AREC ham radio operations:   
      
   --   
      
   ZL4FZ: "I believe in this case that AREC has managed to provide a solution   
   to unforeseen communications difficulties, and in the case of the Land Star   
   deployment particularly because it has become a linchpin to allow the   
   operation to work.   
      
   "We have been told by the senior management for the Land Star operation that   
   basically it would not have been possible to achieve what they have achieved   
   which is spectacular in its own right, without the assistance of AREC in   
   that role."   
      
   --   
      
   So what role will AREC play as recovery efforts continue? ZL4FZ says that at   
   this moment its hard to say:   
      
   --   
      
   ZL4FZ: "Its very difficult to tell at this stage and the difficulty is that   
   there a number of significant issues that the city is facing and there are a   
   number of agencies involved, obviously with specializations in different   
   areas. One of the things the Civil Defense emergency management teams are   
   working on is setting the appropriate team for the tasks that they have.   
   And at this stage, while this tasking is drawing nearer to a close, we are   
   waiting word as to what the next tasking may be."   
      
   --   
      
   The story of the Christchurch earthquake and the part being played by ham   
   radio in post quake recovery efforts is far from over and we will have more   
   for you in future Amateur Radio Newsline reports.   
      
   From Auckland, on the North Island of New Zealand, I'm Jim Meachen, ZL2BHF,   
   reporting for the Amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   It has to be noted that so far, this has been a VHF only operation. Word   
   from the New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters is that hams   
   providing communications support in the aftermath of the quake are using   
   only 2 meter FM. No High Frequency communications into and out of the   
   Christchurch area has been found to be necessary. (ARNewsline(tm), ZL2BHF,   
   ZL4FZ)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: UK HAM GETS FUNDING TO STUDY DIGITAL EMCOMM SYSTEMS FOR RAYNET   
      
   A member of The United Kingdom's Radio Amateurs' Emergency Network or RAYNET   
   has received two months' funding to examine how that group could best use   
   data communications to support police and other services.   
      
   Howard Winter, G1BYY, a member of Mid-Herts RAYNET, made an application to   
   the Vodafone World of Difference Scheme in November. According to the RSGB   
   News, Winter will spend two months undertaking his own research and   
   experimentation, collating the work that has already been done by RAYNET   
   Groups and comparing the experiences of members experimenting with data. He   
   will then be producing documents that will be available nationally, to   
   groups of all affiliations.   
      
   An increasing demand from emergency response services using RAYNET to have it   
   provide data links has led many groups to experimenting on a variety of   
   digital systems. RAYNET members are now using APRS to track vehicles   
   responding to incidents in remote locations, transmitting photographs from   
   the scenes of emergencies and sending data files back to their control and   
   command centers (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   RESTRUCTURING: THE LATEST ON THE 500 KHZ PROPOSAL   
      
   A possible hitch in the creation of a permanent low frequency allocation at   
   or near 500 KHz. Jeremy Boot, G4NJH is in Nottingham in the UK with more:   
      
   --   
      
   The ITU Conference Preparatory Meeting, or CPM, for the World   
   Radiocommunication Conference 2012, or WRC-12, has completed its work on the   
   agenda item that considers an allocation of up to 15kHz in the band 415 to   
   526.5kHz.   
      
   Three options, one of which is no allocation to the amateurs, are proposed.   
   Whilst initially it was hoped that spectrum around and near to 500kHz could   
   be allocated for amateur use, the maritime service has identified a new   
   requirement for this part of the spectrum. Because of this there is no   
   support from national administrations like Ofcom to support amateur   
   allocation in this part of the spectrum.   
      
   One of the remaining options agreed by the ITU CPM is the so-called Method A,   
   originally put forward by the RSGB. This is for an allocation of up to   
   15kHz between 472kHz and 487kHz. The Americans, Canadians and others within   
   their regional group, CITEL, favor a different option, Method B, which is   
   for a split allocation between 461 - 469kHz and 471 - 478kHz, totaling   
   15kHz. Method A is the main option being considered within CEPT, which has   
   yet to reach what it terms a European Common Proposal on the option.   
      
   I'm Jeremy Boot, G4NJH.   
      
   --   
      
   None of this preparatory work affects any temporary experimental access to   
   this spectrum other than tests that have been carried out by the maritime   
   service in respect of its proposed new system. Further information is at   
   tinyurl.com/lowfreq (RSGB News)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAKING DX NEWS: SABLE ISLAND MAY BE ON BY MARCH 7   
      
   And some breaking news in the world of DX. This with news that the long   
   anticipated Sable Island DXpedition may be on the air before our next   
   newscast.   
      
   Randy Rowe, N0TG, reports via the Southgate news that providing flight   
   conditions are suitable, all is set for operations to begin around 2100 UTC   
   on March 7th. Rowe also says that the team will standby and be ready to go   
   on a day to day basis should there be delay.   
      
   Three stations will be operational simultaneously as much as possible using   
   the calls N0TG/CY0, K8LEE/CY0 and N1SNB/CY0. Additional details are   
   available on line at www.cy0dxpedition.com. And we will have more DX news   
   later on in this weeks Amateur Radio Newsline report. (Southgate)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the KA9EKG repeater serving   
   Delavan, Wisconsin.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RADIO LAW: FCC GRANTS CONTROVERSIAL CONDITIONAL WAIVER TO BROADBAND PROVIDER   
   TO OPERATE ADJACENT TO THE GPS BAND   
      
   A big bru-ha-ha is building over a new service grant adjacent to the G-P-S   
   band. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP, is here with the rest of   
   the story:   
      
   --   
      
   The Air Transport Association and other aerospace companies say that a   
   project to help make broadband wireless service available to all residents   
   across the United States has the potential to interfere with the current   
   users of the Global Positioning System. Also, it that it could jeopardize   
   the cornerstone of the Federal Aviation Administration's $40 billion next   
   generation air navigation and transportation system.   
      
   At the heart of the controversy is what broadband suppliers are calling an   
   innovative project by service provider LightSquared, Inc. to rebroadcast   
   L-band satellite data and voice communications over a large terrestrial   
   network. This using a new technology that would bring terrestrial broadband   
   to 260 million people by 2015.   
      
   On January 26th LightSquared received a conditional waiver from the Federal   
   Communications Commission to rebroadcast its satellite signals using high   
   power transmitters on as many as 40,000 tower sites around the country.   
   LightSquared launched its SkyTerra-1 communications satellite in November   
   2010, and plans to launch a second satellite in 2012.   
      
   The FCC approved the request from LightSquared in less than three months,   
   angering the nations aerospace industry that had requested that the normal   
   Notice of Proposed Rule Making process be followed. This, allow for more   
   time to analyze the potential impacts to air navigation. Also in opposition   
   is the GPS equipment supply industry with well known manufacturer Garmin   
   leading those who do not want to see the LightSquared rushed into place at   
   the expense of G-P-S users world-wide.   
      
   The issues involve the potential for out-of-band interference between   
   LightSquared's operating spectrum of 1525 of 1559 MHz and the GPS band of   
   1559 to 1610 MHz. A study released by Garmin, whose GPS units are installed   
   in more than 43,000 aircraft showed that aviation units would detect   
   interference, or jamming, more than 12 Nautical Miles from a simulated   
   LightSquared antenna site and suffer loss of its positional fix at 5   
   Nautical Miles. Garmin says its results were conservative, and actual   
   implementation of the LightSquared system could increase the distances.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, reporting from   
   Scottsdale, Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   Meantime, caught in the middle of this fight are the tens of millions of U-S   
   citizens who use G-P-S to navigate from one place to another. All they want   
   is to get from point A to point B without being interfered with by anyone.   
   (Various sources)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: LASER POINTER HITS COCKPIT OF PHOENIX NEWS HELICOPTER   
      
   A Phoenix news helicopter was the victim of an attack from the ground in late   
   February. This as someone shot a bright laser beam into its cockpit that   
   was also caught by the choppers on-board camera.   
      
   According to The Arizona Republic, authorities are currently investigating   
   the incident and have yet to identify the perpetrator. The newspaper goes   
   on to note that local police actually searched door-to-door in the area   
   where the beam originated but so far have come up empty handed.   
      
   A spokesman with the Federal Aviation Administration commenting on the   
   incident said that the message here is very simple. If you want to engage   
   in this kind of dangerous and irresponsible behavior, you can be caught and   
   arrested. If caught, and if prosecuted by the perpetrator of this stunt   
   could face up to 20 years in prison. (Published news reports)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO POLITICS: NEW SM ELECTED IN ARKANSAS   
      
   Turning to the ham radio political scene, in the only balloted Section   
   Manager election this winter, ARRL members in Arkansas have elected Dale   
   Temple, W5RXU, North Little Rock, as Section Manager. Temple received 362   
   votes, and his opponent, incumbent Section Manager J. M. Rowe, N5XFW, of Hot   
   Springs, received 290 votes.   
      
   Temple begins his two year term of office on April 1st. Outgoing Section   
   Manager Rowe has served in that position since December 2008.   
      
   Ballots were counted and verified at ARRL Headquarters on Tuesday, February   
   22. (ARRL)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: RADIO CLUB OF AMERICA BREAKFAST AT IWCE   
      
   On the social scene, the Radio Club of America Breakfast at IWCE Mobile   
   Communications Show is slated for Thursday, March 10th. The venue is the   
   Las Vegas Hilton Hotel from 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM. The keynote speaker is Mark   
   Crosby who will discuss Existing Licensees and the Push to Broadband. More   
   information is on line at tinyurl.com/4buj9lm. (RCA)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: HAMVENTION EXHIBITS FLOOR MAP AVAILABLE   
      
   If you plan on attending Hamvention 2011, listen up. Hamvention planners   
   have announced that a file containing a map of all the inside exhibits has   
   been uploaded to the files area of the Hamvention Yahoogroup on-line   
   discussion. If you are a Yahoogroups member you an access this map at   
   tnyurl.com/324qy9.   
      
   Hamvention 2011 is slated for May 20th to the 22nd at the Hara Arena is   
   suburban Dayton, Ohio. We hope to see you there. (AC8DE)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: RICHARD FISHER, KI6SN, NAMED NEW EDITOR OF POPULAR   
   COMMUNICATIONS MAGAZINE   
      
   And another change at CQ Communications. This with word that veteran   
   journalist and writer Richard Fisher, KI6SN, has been named the new Editor   
   of Popular Communications magazine.   
      
   Fisher will succeed Edith Lennon, N2ZRW, who is stepping down after four   
   years at the Popular Communications editors desk. This, to pursue freelance   
   editing and writing projects and to work with a non-profit organization.   
      
   Richard Fisher, KI6SN lives in Riverside, California, and is no newcomer to   
   the CQ family. In addition to his new position, Fisher will also continue   
   in his current position as Editor of WorldRadio Online magazine and will   
   also continue to write his current columns in Popular Communications,   
   WorldRadio Online and CQ magazines. KI6SN also manages three related   
   Internet sites, including blog sites for WorldRadio Online, his   
   "Trail-Friendly Radio" column in that magazine, and his "Public Service"   
   column in CQ magazine. He is also an administrator of the Facebook pages for   
   all four CQ Communications publications.   
      
   Richard Fisher, KI6SN, assumes the Popular Communications Editors mantle   
   effective with the June 2011 issue. (CQ)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: UTAH'S WOMEN IN RADIO CELEBRATE NUMBER 10   
      
   And the group Women in Amateur Radio, the largest class for female ham radio   
   operators in Utah, for and taught by women, is celebrating its 10th   
   anniversary on March 7th. According to Linda Reader, N7HVF, most of those   
   who graduated from that class are still active in the hobby, with some   
   involved in emergency and public service communications. The group hopes to   
   make these classes a regular event for those women in Utah seeking to become   
   radio amateurs. (N7HVF)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 2   
      
   This is ham radio news for today's radio amateur. From the United States of   
   America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline with links to the world from our   
   only official website at www.arnewsline.org and being relayed by the   
   volunteer services of the following radio amateur:   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
   **   
      
   EMERGING TECHNOLOGY: NEW STUDY FINDS CELLPHONES AFFECT BRAIN WAVES   
      
   A newly completed study indicates that electromagnetic radiation from the   
   antenna of cellular telephones may be altering the way we think and behave.   
   This according to an article published Tuesday, February 22nd in the   
   Journal of the American Medical Association.   
      
   According to news reports, researchers peered inside the brains of 47 healthy   
   subjects using Positron Emission Tomography to measure the location and   
   timing of brain activity by detecting signs that cells were consuming   
   energy. They found that despite official skepticism including statements   
   issued by the Food and Drug Administration that cellphones' electromagnetic   
   energy exerts any influence on nearby cells.   
      
   The preliminary study, led by a respected neuroscientist at the National   
   Institutes of Health provides what other researchers are calling solid   
   evidence that cellular telephone use has measurable effects on brain   
   activity. It also suggests that the peoples attachment to its millions of   
   wireless phones may be altering the way we think and behave in subtle ways.   
   (Various published reports)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA   
      
   On the air, keep an ear open for members of the Republic of China Centenary   
   Foundation who will be activating special event station BV100 during the CQ   
   WW WPX SSB Contest on March 26th and 27th. The operators from Taiwan will   
   then be on the air from Shaio-Liu-Chiu Island until the end of the year as a   
   special event is to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their homeland.   
   Operations will be on all bands and modes. Complete details, a operating   
   schedule and information as to how to earn a BV100 award is available at   
   www.bv100.tw/EN. QSL's go via BV2KI. (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: CELEBRATING THE UNIFICATION OF ITALY   
      
   And keep on the lookout for special event station IO4UI to be active between   
   March 1st and September 30th. This operation is to celebrate the 150th   
   anniversary of the Unification of Italy. All of QSOs will be confirmed   
   automatically via the bureau. More details are available on QRZ.com. QSL   
   this one via I4JEE. (OPDX)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: 90 YEARS FOR THE LINCOLN SHORTWAVE CLUB   
      
   The United Kingdom based Lincoln Short Wave Club is celebrating its 90th   
   anniversary this   
   year. According to GB2RS, anyone working the club callsign G5FZ will receive   
   a limited edition   
   QSL card that will only be available through December 31st. (GB2RS)   
      
   **   
      
   ON THE AIR: K5B - THE BATAAN MEMORIAL DEATH MARCH MARATHON   
      
   Closer to home, the Mesilla Valley Radio Club of Las Cruces, New Mexico will   
   be operating special events station K5B on March 27th. This in conjunction   
   with the 22nd annual Bataan Memorial Death March Marathon held at the White   
   Sands Missile Range from 10:00 to 23:00 UTC.   
      
   K5B will be operating on or near 3.893, 7.225, 14.330 and 21.337 MHz. QSL   
   cards go to   
   Special Events Station K5B in care of the Mesilla Valley Radio Club, P. O.   
   Box 1443, Las Cruces, New Mexico 88004. Please put `K5B' on the lower, left   
   hand corner of your outer envelope. Complete information on this event is   
   on-line at www.n5bl.org/bataan. (WB4AEJ)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, DO1BEN and DO1IQ will be on the air portable OZ from Lolland Island   
   between April 22nd and the 29th. Operation will be on 80 through 10 meters   
   using SSB and some digital modes. QSL each operator via their home   
   callsigns, either via the bureau or direct. For updates, visit   
   www.do1ben.de   
      
   EI7CC, will be active as 7P8PB from his brother-in-law's 7P8CC station in   
   Maseru, Lesotho between March 9th and the 23rd. His operating time will be   
   limited because he will be on a family holiday. QSL via EI7CC via the   
   bureau or direct. Logs will be uploaded to Logbook if the World immediately   
   upon his return to Ireland.   
      
   A team of six operators from Italy will be active as from Albania as I2GPT   
   portable ZA between March 9th and the 13th. Their operations will be on 40,   
   30, 20 and 17 meters using CW and SSB. QSL to I2GPT, either direct or via   
   the bureau.   
      
   MJ0ASP is returning to Marrakech, Morocco, between March 14th through the   
   21st, and will be active as CN2MR. Operation will be on 40 through 10   
   meters using CW. He says that he will focus on the 30, 17 and 12 meter   
   bands. QSL via MJ0ASP.   
      
   Listen out for Antigua on the air as W4OWY and W9OP will once again be active   
   as V25WY and V25OP, respectively. They will be on the island between March   
   8th and the 18th. Operation will be on 160 through 6 meters using CW, SSB   
   and RTTY. QSL via their home callsign. Either direct or via the bureau.   
      
   Lastly, DL3KWR and DL3KWF will be active portable CT9 from Madeira between   
   March 10th and April 6th. Their operation will be on 30, 17 and12 meters   
   using mostly CW. DL3KWF is expected to try some RTTY and PSK31. QSL via   
   their home callsign. And if you are a Limeliters fan you might say to this   
   one, have some Madeira, my dear.   
      
   (Above from various DX news sources)   
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: WISE RADIOS ITS LAST SPACE PHOTO BACK HOME   
      
   And finally this week, its 73 to a NASA sky-mapping telescope that spent 13   
   months scanning cosmic objects as it roamed through space. The agency's   
   Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer, nicknamed WISE, captured one last   
   snapshot of a portion of our Milky Way galaxy as the spacecraft shut down   
   for good.   
      
   During its thirteen months of operation, WISE scanned the sky taking about   
   1.8 million images of asteroids, stars and galaxies that it dutifully   
   radioed back to Earth. The spacecrafts mission netted some nineteen   
   previously unseen comets and more than 33,500 asteroids. The latter   
   included 20 near Earth objects which are items in space with orbits that   
   pass relatively close to our Earth's own orbit.   
      
   The final image it took and sent home shows thousands of stars in the   
   constellation Perseus covering an area three times the size of the full   
   moon. Its one of those spectacular photos that once seen is hard to forget.   
   You can view it and read more abut the WISE mission on-line at   
   tinyurl.com/4ce63wd. (Space)   
      
   **   
      
   NEWSCAST CLOSE   
      
   With thanks to Alan Labs, AMSAT, the ARRL, the CGC Communicator, CQ Magazine,   
   the FCC, the Ohio Penn DX Bulletin, Radio Netherlands, Rain, the RSGB, the   
   Southgate News and Australia's W-I-A News, that's all from the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is Newsline (at) arnewsline (dot) org.   
   More information is available at Amateur Radio Newsline's(tm) only official   
   website located at www.arnewsline.org. You can also write to us or support   
   us at Amateur Radio Newsline(tm), 28197 Robin Avenue, Santa Clarita   
   California, 91350   
      
   Before we go, a reminder that Amateur Radio Newsline is looking for a radio   
   amateur planning to attend Hamvention 2011 and who is a professional   
   television newsman or an actor with on-camera experience. This to take part   
   in this years Ham Radio Town Meeting.   
      
   This years session is titled "How To Make A Ham Radio Video In The 21st   
   Century." Among the many topics we want to cover is how to properly appear   
   when the camera lens is on you and tape is rolling. Obviously nobody has   
   better expertise in this area than a TV newsman or an actor who regularly   
   appears on TV or in the movies.   
      
   If you want to take on this volunteer role, please contact us or send your   
   resume with your contact information to Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, who is   
   producing and moderating the session. Our e-mail address is still newsline   
   (at) ix (dot) netcom (dot) com and we look forward to hearing from you.   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editor's desk, I'm Jim Damron,   
   N8TMW, and I'm Jeff Clark, K8JAC, saying 73 and we thank you for listening.   
      
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) is Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.   
      
      
   ***   
      
   As a Service to the HAM Radio Community and Ham Operators all around the   
   world, this Amateur Radio Newline(tm) message has been gated from the internet   
   and posted to you by Waldo's Place USA, 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 concerning   
   the actual posting of this message service, you may address them to   
   hamfdn -at- wpusa.dynip.com.   
      
   Thank you and good day!   
      
   -73-   
      
      
    * Origin: (1:3634/12)