Amateur Radio Newsline(tm) Report 1755 - April 1, 2011   
      
   Amateur Radio Newsline report number 1755 with a release date of Friday,   
   April 1st, 2011 to follow in 5-4-3-2-1.   
      
   The following is a Q-S-T. Opposition grows to the proposed sell-off of 440   
   to 450 MHz, ham radio continues its role in Japan following the March 11th   
   earthquake and tsunami, a major solar storm could bring more DX and lots of   
   strange ham radio stories for April 1st. Hear it all on Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm) report number 1755 coming your way right now.   
      
      
   (Billboard Cart Here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: OPPOSITION GROWS TO SELLOFF OF 420 TO 440 MHZ   
      
   An article in USA Today about the concern by radio amateurs and others   
   involved in rescue radio over aspects of House of Representatives measure H   
   R 607 is sweeping the nation and its emergency preparedness community. And   
   it turns out that there is growing opposition to a part of the bill that   
   affects the 420 to 440 MHz band. Michael Grebert, KJ4ZZV, is here with the   
   latest:   
      
   --   
      
   According to the U-S-A Today article, those lining up in opposition to a   
   provision in H-R 607 that would sell off 420 to 440 MHz as a way off   
   offsetting part of the cost of establishing a new nationwide interoperable   
   emergency system is growing. In fact, its starting to read like a whose who   
   in emergency communications. This includes such notables as the National   
   Weather Service, the International Association of Chiefs of Police and a the   
   National Public Safety Telecommunications Council to name only a few.   
      
   As most of you are aware, Representative Peter King, of New York who is the   
   chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, introduced legislation last   
   month. Its purpose is to enhance emergency communications for first   
   responders by providing them with exclusive bansdspace for public safety   
   use.   
      
   Nobody opposes that idea. What is controversial is a provision of the   
   measure that would allow the auctioning off of 420 to 440 MHz. Those who   
   oppose that provision say that the spectrum in question is not just for   
   radio hobbyists. Rather, it is also used by hundreds of thousands of   
   Amateur Radio Emergency Service volunteers and severe-weather spotters   
   working with National Weather Service and other agencies.   
      
   And among those speaking out is Harlin McEwen. McEwen s the chairman of a   
   technology committee for the International Association of Chiefs of Police   
   and a spokesman for the National Public Safety Telecommunications Council.   
   Hes on record as saying that the reallocation of 420 to 440 MHz is a bad   
   idea and one that's not good for public safety.   
      
   But the U-S-A Today article is not the only one noting that emergency   
   responders are taking issue with Representative King's band sell-off   
   approach. Another in-depth piece the Great Falls Montana Tribune goes into   
   even greater detail than U-S-A Today. Among other things, the Tribune   
   article states that there are nearly 5,000 amateur radio volunteers in   
   Montana, and many of them provide a backup communication system that   
   emergency responders state wide and across the country depend on. This,   
   when cellular telephones, satellite phones or other radio systems don't   
   work.   
      
   Ryan Nicholls, the Director of the Office of Emergency Management in   
   Springfield, Missouri takes it even a bit further. He notes that use of ham   
   radio volunteers is the way in which that state plans to communicate between   
   hospitals and the Red Cross in the event of an emergency. Nicholls notes   
   that this is even written into that city's emergency operations plan.   
      
   Both articles do a good job of pointing out the false economy of selling off   
   the 420 to 440 MHz band.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Michael Grebert, KJ4ZZV, in Nashville for   
   the Amateur Radio Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   And all this negative publicity may be taking its toll on at least one of   
   those backing H R 607. Representative Billy Long of Missouri who is a   
   co-sponsor of the bill is quoted in USA Today as saying that he will work to   
   ensure that we are not cutting any vital emergency services and not   
   adversely affecting ham radio operations.   
      
   You can read the entire USA Today article at tinyurl.com/4tvz4br. The Great   
   Falls Tribune piece is at tinyurl.com/4typ6bg. (USA Today, Great Falls   
   Tribune, N6ZXJ, W6RH, others)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: HAM RADIO SUPPORT CONTINUES FOLLOWING MARCH 11TH QUAKE   
      
   Ham radio remains an important part of recovery and relief efforts in Japan.   
   This following the earthquake and tsunami that hit on March 11th that was   
   followed by the still ongoing problems at the Fukushima nuclear electric   
   generating plant. Amateur Radio Newsline's Norm Seeley, KI7UP reports:   
      
   --   
      
   According to Steve Herman, W7VOA, the Japan Amateur Radio League or JARL has   
   been involved in emergency communications support from the beginning of the   
   triple pronged tragedy. Steve, who spent a week in Japan reporting for the   
   Voice of America says that the initial traffic involved finding routes for   
   those first and second responders trying reach the disaster areas. That was   
   mainly done by JA3RL as control station. JA1RL took its place in the later   
   stage in forming the network for communications to and between disaster   
   scenes.   
      
   Since then, volunteer medical staff who are hams have been to disaster areas.   
   They have been supported by both the JARL and the Japanese Self Defense   
   Forces. Additionally, hand-held transceivers have now been supplied to   
   evacuation centers. Japan's Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications   
   has provided special call signs for each H-T so that unlicensed people can   
   use them.   
      
   As to use of the Internet by hams, Steve tells Newsline that there has been   
   some traffic passed between Japan and Europe through WIRES chat room 0522.   
   WIRES is Yaesu based radio to Internet connection system similar to   
   Echolink. Details of the traffic is viewable in the Japanese language at   
   twitter.com/#!/JARL_ARESC   
      
   And this late word from Jim Linton, VK3PC. He reports that a small amount of   
   internal High Frequency communications for disaster relief is still being   
   operated occasionally by some volunteer radio amateurs. But says Linton,   
   the Japan Amateur Radio League Headquarters stations were off the air by   
   Friday, March 25th, their local time. VHF and UHF operations are likely   
   ongoing.   
      
   Obviously, this is an ongoing story and we will have more with it in the   
   weeks ahead.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Norm Seeley, KI7UP, in Scottsdale,   
   Arizona.   
      
   --   
      
   In his note to us, W7VOA did include a ray of hope for some. He says that he   
   spotted a number of High Frequency yagi antennas in Sendai at some houses   
   close to where the tsunami struck. The good news is that those were intact.   
   (W7VOA, VK3PC, JARL, others)   
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: CHRISTCHURCH NZ QUAKE FOLLOW-UP   
      
   A follow-up to the work by hams in New Zealand following the earthquake that   
   hit the city of Christchurch last month. Amateur Radio Newsline's Jim   
   Meachen, ZL2BHF, brings us up to date:   
      
   --   
      
   Audio report only. Hear it by downloading the mp3 file of this weeks   
   newscasat at www.arnewsline.org   
      
   --   
      
   Another example of ham radio emergency communications not only in first   
   response but also has an ongoing search and rescue tool that helps to save   
   lives. (ZL2BHF)   
      
   **   
      
   BREAK 1   
      
   From the United States of America, We are the Amateur Radio Newsline, heard   
   on bulletin stations around the world including the W9RCA repeater serving   
   Indianapolis, Indiana.   
      
   (5 sec pause here)   
      
      
   **   
      
   RESCUE RADIO: NEW JERSEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB PROVIDES RED CROSS COMMMS DURING   
   RECENT FLOODING   
      
   The rains came to New Jersey and ham radio was ready. Bill Pasternak,   
   WA6ITF, is in the newsroom with more:   
      
   --   
      
   Ham radio was an essential communications tool during the recent heavy   
   flooding in Northern New Jersey. That's where the New Providence Amateur   
   Radio Club in the Watchung Hills area was asked to set up amateur radio   
   stations in Red Cross vehicles which were operating in four counties heavily   
   affected by the deluge.   
      
   The club members were tasked with supplying communications for Red Cross cars   
   and vans which were performing damage assessment in the affected areas.   
   Communications between these vehicles and a central Command Post at the   
   Chapter House in Ridgewood, kept track of the progress of the appraisal   
   process.   
      
   Three members of the NPARC Emergency Team responded on Monday March 14, and   
   two members were present during the rest of the week. These included David   
   Berkley, K2MUN, of Westfield, Vince Lobosco, KC2IZK, of Fanwood, Barry   
   Cohen, K2JV of Berkeley Heights, Barb Flynn, KC2YJB of Summit, Tony Izzo,   
   K2AMI of River Edge and Hillary Zaenchik, KC2HLA, of Basking Ridge.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, in the newsroom   
   in Los Angeles.   
      
   --   
      
   While some operators spent their time in the field with Red Cross personnel,   
   others were stationed in the control center with two of the relief agency's   
   officials. (eHam, others)   
      
   **   
      
   LICENSING: NCVEC QPC DELETES EXTRA CLASS SPREAD SPECTRUM QUESTION   
      
   The Question Pool Committee of the National Council of Volunteer Examiner   
   Coordinator has decided to delete a question from the Amateur Extra class   
   question pool. One dealing with Spread Spectrum technology.   
      
   In March, the FCC eliminated the requirement that amateur stations   
   transmitting Spread Spectrum use Automatic Power Control to reduce   
   transmitter power. At the same time, the Commission reduced the maximum   
   power of a Spread Spectrum emission from 100 to 10 watts PEP.   
      
   According to the Question Pool Committee, when the Spread Spectrum rule   
   change goes into effect, the answer to question E1F13 in the Amateur Extra   
   class question pool will no longer be correct. It must be deleted by the   
   time the new rule on Spread Spectrum goes into effect 30 days after   
   publication in the Federal Register. (NCVEC)   
      
   **   
      
   ENFORCEMENT: FCC AFFIRMS $20,000 FINE FOR UNLICENSED OPERATION ON 156.8 MHZ   
      
   The FCC has affirmed a $20,000 monetary forfeiture issued to Vincent E.   
   Aversa, Jr. of Indialantic, Florida. This, for his alleged willful and   
   repeated violations of section 301 of the Communications Act of 1934 and   
   section 80.13 of the Commission's rules.   
      
   The violations involve what the FCC claims is Aversa's purported operation of   
   radio transmission equipment without a license on 156.80 MHz. This is the   
   International Distress, Safety, and Calling Channel in the Marine Radio   
   Service. It's also known as Channel 16.   
      
   On February 8, 2011, the Enforcement Bureau's Tampa, Florida Office issued a   
   Notice of Apparent Liability for Forfeiture in the amount of $20,000 to   
   Aversa. Since that time Aversa has not filed a response to the NAL.   
      
   Based on the information before it, the FCC has now affirmed forfeiture and   
   has given Avisa the customary 30 days to pay the amount in full or to file   
   an appeal. (FCC)   
      
   **   
      
   COMMUNICATION: 51% OF ALL AMERICANS ON FACEBOOK   
      
   More than half of Americans age 12 and up are communicating on Facebook.   
   This according to Arbitron and Edison Research in their upcoming 2011   
   Infinite Dial Report.   
      
   Edison Research spokesman Tom Webster said they have been tracking the growth   
   of Facebook since 2008. In that time they have watched the social network   
   grow from 8% penetration just three years ago to 51% today. This, says   
   Webster makes it the dominant player in social networking, with more users   
   than MySpace, LinkedIn and even Twitter.   
      
   The study, conducted in January, indicates that 51% of all teens, men and   
   women have a profile on the Facebook. In another area, the research company   
   says that back in 2001, that some 98% of those surveyed used television and   
   96% used radio. By comparison, in 2011, while television use remained the   
   same, local AM/FM radio use had dropped. (Edison OnLine Reasearch)   
      
   **   
      
   NAMES IN THE NEWS: K0NEB PRESENTS HAMVENTION - THE EARLY YEARS ON YOU TUBE   
      
   A new slide show that depicts the early years of the Dayton Hamvention is now   
   available for public viewing. The presentation titled "The Early Years" was   
   produced by Kit Building expert Joe Eisenberg, K0NEB, of Lincoln, Nebraska   
   for presentation at a recent meeting of the Dayton Amateur Radio   
   Association. Set to the music of Mason Williams and Mannheim Steamroller   
   the show contains photos from Joe's collection dating from about 1984 to   
   2001. This and all of Joe's slide shows are available on-line at   
   www.youtube.com/joehusker. (K0NEB)   
      
   **   
      
   HAMVENTION NEWS: ON LINE RESERVATION SYSTEM NOW OPERATING PROPERLY   
      
   Bill Curtice, WA8APB, says that the Hamvention's on-line reservation system   
   at www.hamvention.org is functioning properly. In a posting to thr on-line   
   Hamvention List that he moderates, Curtice says that those in charge are   
   aware that a month or more ago there had been a problem with Flea Market   
   spaces that was isolated to pricing of end-cap spaces that could have caused   
   an issue with credit card statements. This was a database error that they   
   believed was corrected.   
      
   Curtice says that the fix required hand editing, which took time and notes   
   that it is entirely possible that some requests were missed. If you are one   
   of those, Curtice asks that you contact them directly and that they will be   
   happy to remedy the situation for you.   
      
   WA8APB also notes there is some confusion about General Admission Tickets vs.   
   Vendor Admission Tickets. Flea Market Vendors should always choose Vendor   
   Admission, not General Admission, unless directed otherwise by the   
   Hamvention. Curtice says that this has caused some problems as well.   
   (WA8APB via Hamvention(r) List)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: THE NORTH CORK RALLY AND ELECTRONICS FAIR IN IRELAND IN   
   SEPTEMBER   
      
   If you are planning a trip this fall to Erin's Isle, then you might want to   
   include stopping by Irelands North Cork Radio Group second annual rally and   
   electronics fair on Sunday September the 11th. The venue is the Blarney   
   Golf Resort in Tower County Cork. The doors open to the public at 11.30   
   a.m. local time and the hamfest will run throughout the afternoon. Dealers   
   on hand as of this writing include South East Communications, Long   
   Communications and JBT Trading. Further details can be found via the   
   group's website, www.ei1nc.com.com. (IRTS)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM HAPPENINGS: INTERNATIONAL MARCONI DAY - APRIL 30TH   
      
   And a reminder that International Marconi Day takes place this year on   
   Saturday the 30th of April. This is not a contest but there are several   
   nice awards available for working the officially listed stations, each of   
   which has an historic connection with Marconi. The event is organized by the   
   Cornish Amateur Radio Club. For more information please visit the club's   
   website at crac.g4usb.net/cracblog. (RSGB)   
      
   **   
      
   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)   
      
   **   
      
   WEIRD SCIENCE: MAN BECOMES DENTAL TRANSMITTER   
      
   From the "stranger than strange file" comes this story about some odd radio   
   transmissions. You are not going to believe where they came from. Bruce   
   Tennant, K6PZW, tries to put the pieces together.   
      
   --   
      
   We have all heard stories about people who had dental work and then started   
   hearing radio signals due to the amalgam in their teeth. Well, this one   
   goes a bit further. It seems a man, who has asked us to keep his identify   
   private, had major reconstructive jaw surgery in the medical center of the   
   University of Southern North Dakota. This involved some dental wiring and   
   internal jaw bracing. Somehow, some way, the new metal work came into   
   contact with previously existing silver fillings - that combination created   
   some sort of transmitter.   
      
   The condition was first noticed when the patient coughed. His loud coughing   
   started reverberating through the medical center's public address system   
   causing everyone to wonder what was going on. Then a conversation he had   
   with his wife came through some car radios in the hospital parking lot,   
   specifically at the lower end of the FM broadcast band. Finally, physicians   
   relaxing in the doctor's lounge heard loud scratching noises through a   
   desktop FM radio - this turned out to be the patient brushing his teeth.   
   The man himself found out what was going when his sneezing fit was heard   
   over an MP3 player being used by a patient two floors up, who came down to   
   see what the racket was.   
      
   Due to confidentiality riles, no one would talk to us on the record about   
   this case. But the man in question, know known by local amateur radio clubs   
   as the first "human repeater," has had the necessary wire adjustments for   
   this strange phenomenon to go away. He was said to be much relieved that he   
   can now clear his throat and not worry about blowing away someone's hearing   
   aid.   
      
   For the Amateur Radio Newsline, I'm Bruce Tennant in Los Angeles on this   
   first day of April.   
      
   --   
      
   A spokesman for the Federal Medical Radio Commission which investigates these   
   weird April 1st phenomena says that this is one of those odd instances where   
   the forces of nature and advances in technology combine to wreak havoc on   
   the radio spectrum. None the less it is considering issuing the unlucky   
   patient a Notice of Violation for operating as a radio transmitter without a   
   license. (K6PZW)   
      
   **   
      
   HAM RADIO IN SPACE: SA AMSAT POSTPONES SPACE SYMPOSIUM   
      
   South Africa AMSAT has postponed its Space Symposium originally planned for   
   April 2nd to a later date. School holidays in the city of Gauteng and too   
   many other amateur radio related activities around the same time seem to be   
   one of the reasons for the low registration rate. A new date will be   
   announced in the near future. (SA AMSAT)   
      
   **   
      
   RADIO IN SPACE: NASA TO MAKE FINAL EFFORT TO CONTACT STUCK MARS ROVER   
      
   NASA will make a last-ditch effort to communicate with the stuck Mars rover   
   Spirit, which fell silent a little over a year ago. The solar-powered rover   
   became stuck in what's believed to be loose sand in April 2009. Despite   
   efforts to maneuver it free, Spirit remained stuck and could not tilt itself   
   toward the sun as the Martian winter approached.   
      
   Without an adequate amount of energy reaching its solar panels, it went into   
   hibernation last March. Engineers had expected Spirit to wake up once there   
   was maximum sunlight where it's trapped. But the South Mars summer solstice   
   came and went earlier with no response.   
      
   Ground controllers are attempting to contact the Spirit over a wide range of   
   frequencies and at various times during the day. This, in case the rover's   
   internal clock stopped working and it lost track of its Earth time schedule.   
   They also are commanding the Spirit to turn on its backup radio transmitter   
   in case the main one failed.   
      
   If there's still no contact with Spirit within the next month, NASA says that   
   it will scale back its listening operation for the out of service rover and   
   then focus on collecting Mars data using Spirit's still operational twin   
   named Opportunity. (Science OnLine)   
      
   **   
      
   DX   
      
   In DX, EI9FBB, will be operating portable 3A from Monaco from April 20th to   
   the 22nd. Activity will be limited to the afternoons. All QSOs will be   
   uploaded to Logbook to the World and eQSL. For those who need a paper QSL,   
   please send yours along with sufficient postage to his home callsign as   
   listed on QRZ.com.   
      
   UV5EVJ is on the air as 5X1VJ from Uganda through June 8th. Activity is on   
   the HF bands using CW and SSB. QSL via his home callsign.   
      
   EA8AY will be active from the Canary Islands as ED8A during the CQWW WPX CW   
   Contest from May 28th to the 29th as a Single-Operator, All-Band entry. QSL   
   only via Logbook to the World.   
      
   Lastly, the United Kingdom's Macclesfield and District Amateur Radio Society   
   will be operational from the Isle of Arran off the coast of Scotland from   
   April 2nd to the 7th. Four club members will be transmitting on the HF   
   bands and making as many contacts across the UK, Europe and around the world   
   as possible. A special commemorative card will be available. QSL as   
   directed on the air.   
      
      
   **   
      
   THAT FINAL ITEM: SPECTRUM USE FEES ON THROUGH THE HORIZON   
      
   And finally this week, as the U-S government looks for new ways to increase   
   revenues without raising taxes, some of the bean counters in Washington are   
   getting very creative. But it may be ham radio operators who wind up paying   
   in the end. By shortwave, our April 1st roving reporter Pierre Pullinmyleg   
   has details from the nation's capitol:   
      
   --   
      
   The bill in Congress that would auction off most of the 70-centimeter ham   
   band to commercial interests has been getting the headlines in amateur radio   
   news reports, but there is about to be another bill introduced that could be   
   even worse for radio amateurs. While it would leave all of our allocations   
   intact, this new plan calls for auctioning off the ionosphere itself,   
   layer-by-layer, to the highest bidder. The F-Layer would be put up for bids   
   first, because it permits the greatest propagation distance for radio   
   signals and because it is actually comprised of two layers, F-1 and F-2, so   
   it is expected that it would generate higher bids than the other layers. The   
   F-layer auction would be followed by an auction of the E-layer and finally   
   the D-layer. Layers A through C continue to be under strict military   
   control.   
      
   The successful bidders would pay large amounts of money up front to the U-S   
   government and would then recover their investments by charging radio users   
   access fees to bounce signals off of the various layers. Fees would vary by   
   frequency, time of day and distance to be covered, and would have to be paid   
   in advance. Radio transmitters would be programmed to send out a digital   
   license code, which would permit signals to access the layer in question.   
   Credits would be applied to the user's account if the ionosphere does not   
   support the registered communication at the time of transmission.   
      
   In addition, amateurs conducting moonbounce or satellite communications would   
   need to pay a transit fee for passing signals through each layer of the   
   ionosphere. These fees would be higher during the day, when the D-layer is   
   energized. The only radio transmissions that would not be subject to these   
   fees would be those on line-of-sight paths. There would be special discounts   
   for emergency service and military users, but everyone would have to pay   
   something.   
      
   The bill was scheduled to be introduced today, April the first, and has not   
   yet received a bill number.   
      
   From the U-S Capitol subway, this is Pierre Pullinmyleg reporting for   
   Newsline.   
      
   --   
      
   Pierre will, of course, keep you posted on any developments regarding this   
   proposed legislation. More than likely, he will have his next report a year   
   or so from today. (The Pierre Pullinmyleg Institute of April 1st News)   
      
   **   
      
   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 WIA News, that's all from the Amateur Radio   
   Newsline(tm). Our e-mail address is newsline@arnewsline.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   
      
   For now, with Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, at the editors desk, I'm Fred Vobbe,   
   W8HDU, saying 73, a very happy and laugh filled April 1st, 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)